s into two bodies. (There
were about thirty of them in all, of the Cheyenne tribe. I will
shortly state how they were numbered.) One party starting in
pursuit of the horsemen, and the other remaining with the coach to
take it.

The situation was most critical. I soon saw that the horses did not
keep the road, but turned out of it towards the Platte River (the
river and the road run parallel about half a mile apart, as you
probably know), and I knew that the _driver was not guiding them_!
Putting my revolver in my side-pocket, I opened the door and,
taking hold of the railing above, looked first to see if the driver
was indeed gone. He was not there! I did not turn back; to stay
inside was sure death. If there was any chance of escape, it was
from the outside. I sprang out to the driver's seat above, but
judge of my dismay to find the _reins on the ground_! I intended to
get control of them. I knew not what to do, but had an idea at
first of jumping to the ground to get the reins. While standing
there thinking how to manage to get the reins, I was the only mark
for the Indians, and was fired at a number of times. Such was the
situation, standing alone on the coach-box,--the Indians before and
behind endeavoring to shoot me and to stop the coach,--and yet I
escaped. I have yet the coat, with a bullet-hole in the sleeve,
which I had on. My escape was in this wise: I saw that the reins
might be reached from the headstalls of the wheel-horses. I
therefore sprang down on to the tongue of the coach to get them,
but just then the horses had reached a slough about two rods wide
and as many feet deep, with a sharp bank on either side. They did
not stop, but plunged into and across it. I fell fortunately over
the nigh horse's back, just clearing the wheels. The horses and
coach went on and I was left in the slough. That fall to me at the
time appeared sure death. I expected to be killed instantly. But,
sooner than I can tell it, I was upon my feet upon the bank, my
revolver in my hand, determined not to be taken alive; for well
enough I knew what that would end in. To my astonishment, the
Indians did not stop to give me a shot even; being under a full
run, they barely glanced at me as they passed in pursuit of the
coach. I saw the reason of this. I was on foot, and between me and
"God