aches had
been there.

With the discharge of fire-arms a silence immediately fell upon the
scene, in marked contrast to the shrieking and yelling of a moment
before. The bonfire burned low, and went out. Once more we were in
darkness.

We believed the Indians would make no further demonstration, and an
hour later a scouting party ascertained that they had gathered their
dead and departed. Sentinels were posted, the ambulance run in by
hand, the stock fed, and a midnight meal cooked.

While sitting by the camp-fire, listening to the sizzling of the bacon
and sniffing the aroma of the coffee, Mr. Hopkins introduced me to his
men and guests, and I heard an explanation of the tracks and blood at
Soldiers' Holes.

Early that morning three gentlemen, who had passed the night at the
ranch, started for Prescott. They were a Mr. Gray, a Scotch merchant
at La Paz; Mr. Hamilton, a lawyer of the same place; and a Mr.
Rosenberg, a freighter. When near the Holes, Mr. Hamilton, who was
riding in advance, was shot by Indians concealed in the sage-brush.
Mr. Rosenberg's mule was wounded, and plunged so that his rider fell
to the ground. Mr. Gray, seeing the plight of the freighter, rode to
his side, seized him by the collar, and aided him to leap to a seat
behind him.

It is probable that this act of generous daring might have ended in
the death of both men but for a diversion caused by the sudden and
unexpected appearance of the military expressman. He came up a slope
from a lower level, and, taking in the situation at a glance, let fly
three shots from his breech-loading carbine that caused the Indians to
lie low. The three men rode to the ranch, and Mr. Hopkins and his
three workmen accompanied them to bring in the body of Mr. Hamilton.
The Indians did not begin to concentrate at the creek until after the
burial.

Supper being over, the boys and I were getting into our blankets for
the rest of the night, when Mr. Hudson, who had been preparing to
depart, came to bid us good-bye.

"I seem to take frequent leave of you, these times, lieutenant," he
said.

"Yes; and your farewell ride with the Whipple mail so far seems to
have been anything but monotonous. I think the _Anabasis_ would be a
more suitable subject of study on this route than the _Memorabilia_."

"'Hence they proceeded one day's journey, a distance of five
parasangs, and fell in with the barbarians,' might well be said of
this trip, for a fact."

"Hadn't you