nearly a dozen mounted warriors coming on
at full gallop. To throw ourselves from our horses, and to get our
rifles ready for firing, was the work of a moment.

The Indians had expected to see us take to flight, so on observing our
determined attitude they pulled rein. They stopped and watched us for
some time; and then, apparently considering that the risk they would run
of certainly losing two of their number, if not more, was not worth the
object to be attained, they wheeled round and galloped off in the
direction from whence they had come.

We continued watching them until they had disappeared in the distance;
and when we turned about and again looked for the runaways, they were
nowhere to be seen.

"Never fear," I observed; "we shall soon catch them up. But I would
rather that those Redskin fellows, if they are enemies, had not been in
the neighbourhood; for they may take it into their heads to pay us a
visit while we are encamped at night. Knowing, however, that we are well
armed, and likely to be prepared for them, they will not attack us
openly; yet they will, if they can, steal up to our camp, and try to
take us by surprise."

Our great object now was to find a secure camping-ground; so we pushed
on, and I led my companion across the stream by a ford somewhat further
up. But still we saw nothing of Klitz or Gillooly, while the waning
light prevented me from discovering their trail, had they crossed where
we did. Some way ahead was a large wood, which extended to the very foot
of the mountains, and within its recesses we should be able to shelter
ourselves from any onset of horsemen, although the trees would favour
the approach of enemies who might attempt to take us by surprise.

We rode on, skirting the forest as long as we had sufficient light to
distinguish objects at any distance, still with the hope that we might
find the runaways encamped, in case they should not have seen us. That
they had not perceived us, near as we were to them, was quite possible,
as their backs had been turned towards us the whole time they were in
sight; and their moving on so quickly might be accounted for by their
wish to reach a good spot for camping on before dark.

We ourselves, after searching about for some time, and being unable to
find any traces of them, resolved to encamp in a small recess in the
wood which presented itself. There was water near, from a rivulet which
came winding through the forest, and plenty of