ss a verdant and apparently boundless prairie. Far
as the eye could reach it was a level plain, without landmarks,
trackless as the sea, covered with a living carpet of emerald green. At
another time I could have spent hours in gazing upon its vast expanse,
and fancying its changed appearance when its surface should be furrowed
by the plow and its fruitful soil reward the farmer's labor; but the
presentiment of evil which I found it impossible to shake off, oppressed
my spirits rendering me anxious and fearful.

A few moments took us out of sight of the cottonwood grove, and but for
the aid of father's pocket compass we could have had little idea of our
direction, but by its assistance we traveled steadily in a southwesterly
coarse, father being confident that we had strayed north of the trail
and that by taking this course we must sooner or later regain it. Until
nearly noon we kept steadily on, seeing nothing to indicate that we were
near the trail. Just before noon we halted to rest and feed the animals
and prepare a meal for ourselves.

The morning had been sultry and we were all sufficiently fatigued to
find a brief rest very acceptable. Refreshed by half an hour's rest, we
were preparing to start, when my brother who had moved off in advance,
suddenly exclaimed, "father's right after all, there are mounted men
ahead, it must be the train!" Animated by the hope that our solitary
wanderings were nearly over and our perils past, we pushed ahead, urging
our animals forward with all possible speed.

The distant horsemen were moving parallel to our route, and apparently
had not perceived us. We shouted and fired our rifles, a commotion was
visible among them, they halted, wheeled, and a number suddenly galloped
towards us with the speed of the wind. My brother, who had ridden far
ahead of us swinging his cap and hallooing loudly, suddenly pulled up
his horse and with a cry of terror rode back to us with his utmost
speed. We were not long at a loss to understand the meaning of this
proceeding; as he neared us his warning shout of Indians! Indians! was
borne to us upon the breeze. But it needed not that to apprise us of our
peril; ere he reached us the advancing horsemen had approached so near
that we could plainly, see instead of the friends we sought, a horde of
hideous savages, naked to the waist, besmeared with war paint in many
strange devices, their tall lances waving, their ornaments glittering in
the sun--on, on