was not one to give way to a panic. All three remained
cool and collected, as they listened to my hurried detail of the plan I
had sketched out for our defence. There was no difficulty in inducing
them to adopt it. All agreed to it eagerly and at once: in short, all
saw that there was no alternative. Up the mound again--this time
followed by my three comrades--each of us heavily laden. In addition to
our guns and ammunition, we carried our saddles and mule-packs, our
blankets and buffalo-robes. It was not their intrinsic value that
tempted us to take this trouble with our _impedimenta_: our object was
to make with them a rampart upon the rock. We had just time for a
second trip; and, flinging our first loads up to the table, we rushed
back down the declivity. Each seized upon such objects as offered
themselves--valises, the soldiers' knapsacks, joints of the antelope
lately killed, and the noted meal-bag--all articles likely to avail us
in building our bulwark.

The animals must be abandoned--both horses and mules. Could we take
them up to the summit? Yes, the thing could be accomplished, but to
what purpose? It would be worse than useless: since it would only
render them an aim for the arrows of the enemy, and insure their being
shot down at once. To leave them below appeared the better plan. A
tree stood near the base of the mound. To its branches their bridles
had been already looped. There they would be within easy range of our
rifles. We could shelter them so long as there was light. To protect
them might appear of little advantage; since in the darkness they could
be easily taken from us. But in leaving them thus, we were not without
some design. We, too, might build a hope on the darkness. If we could
succeed in sustaining the attack until nightfall, flight might _then_
avail us. In truth, that seemed the only chance we should have of
ultimately escaping from our perilous situation. We resolved,
therefore, to look well to the safety of the animals. Though, forced to
forsake them for a time, we might still keep the enemy off, and again
recover them? The contingency was not clear, and we were too much
hurried to dwell long upon it. It only flitted before our minds like a
gleam of light through, the misty future.

I had just time to bid farewell to my Arab--to run my fingers along his
smooth arching neck--to press my lips to his velvet muzzle. Brave
steed! tried and trusty friend! I coul