es: they seemed so. In
reality, the time must have been considerable. The drops of sweat that
had started from my brow were chasing each other over my cheeks, and
trickling down upon my breast. So prolonged was the suspense, I began
to fancy that the Arapaho was designedly dallying with his aim, for the
purpose of sporting with my fears. He may have had such motive for
procrastination. I could have believed it. Distant though he was, I
could mark his fiendish smile, as he repeatedly dropped the piece from
his shoulder, and then returned it to the level. That he meant more
than mere menace, however, was proved in the end. Having satisfied
himself with several idle feints, I saw him make demonstration, as if
setting himself more determinedly to the work. This time he was
certainly in earnest. His cheek lay steadily along the stock--his arms
appeared more rigid--his finger was pressing on the trigger--the moment
had come!

The flash from the pan--the red stream poured forth from the muzzle--the
hist of the bullet, were all simultaneous. The report came afterwards;
but, before it had reached my ears, I knew that I was untouched. The
lead had already whizzed past, at a distance--as I could judge by the
sound--of several feet from my body. I heard a scratching behind me;
and the instant after, a swarthy face was thrust before my eyes. It was
that of the artist, who had painted me for the part I was playing. I
had been under the impression that he had gone down to the plain, but I
now perceived my error. He had remained near me, concealing his body
behind the rock. I saw that he was now enacting a different _role_--
that of marker for the marksmen. Running his eye over my body, and
perceiving that I was nowhere hit, he telegraphed the intelligence to
his comrades upon the plain; and then glided back to his covert.

I was relieved from the terrible anxiety; but only for a short moment--a
mere interval of about a dozen seconds' duration. The Red-Hand, after
firing, had resigned his place; but this was instantly occupied by one
of his sub-chiefs, who, armed with another musket, in turn stepped up to
the line. Again I saw the gleaming barrel brought to the level, with
its dark tube pointed upon my body. This marksman was more expeditious;
but for all that, it was to me a time of racking torture. Again did the
drops bead out upon my brow, and chase one another down my cheeks.
Again had I to undergo all the ag