nd the promptings of the tribal
vendetta. On other occasions, they are sufficiently careful of their
skins--more especially in an encounter with the white trappers, or even
travellers who tenter the prairies from the east. Of all other weapons,
they dread the long rifle of the hunter. It is only after stratagem has
failed--when _do or die_ becomes a necessity--that the horse-Indian can
bring himself to charge forward upon the glistening barrel. The mere
hope of plunder will not tempt even the boldest of red-skinned robbers
within the circle of a rifle's range. They all know from experience the
deadliness of its aim.

Most probably plunder had been their motive for attacking the train; but
their victims could only have been some straggling unfortunates, too
confident in their security. These had not succumbed without a
struggle. The death of all of them proved this: since not a prisoner
appeared to have been taken. Further evidence of it was seen upon the
sward; for as the crowd scattered, I observed through, the glass several
corpses that were not those of white men. The robbers, though
victorious, had suffered severely: hence the vengeful yells with which
they were charging down upon us. With all their menace both of signs
and sounds, I had no fear of their charging; up the mound, nor yet to
its base. There were fifty yards around it within range of our guns;
and the first who should venture within this circle would not be likely
to go forth from it alive.

"Not a shot is to be fired, till you are sure of hitting! Do not one of
you pull trigger, till you have sighted your man!" This was the order
passed around. On the skill of my comrades I could confide--on
Sure-shot with all the certainty which his _soubriquet_ expressed; and I
had seen enough of the young hunter, to know how he handled his rifle.
About the Irishman alone was there a doubt--only of his coolness and his
aim--of his courage there was none. In this, the infantry was perhaps
equal to any of us.

The words of caution had scarcely parted from my lips, when the enemy
came galloping up. Their yelling grew louder as they advanced; and its
echoes, ringing from the rocks, appeared to double the number of their
wild vociferations. We could only hear one another by calling out at
the top of our voices. But we had little to say. The time for talking
had expired: that of action had arrived. On come the whooping; savages,
horrid to behold: the