look for
some "cottontails" while supper was being prepared. Believing we were
well out of the range of hostile Indians, I did not object to their
going alone. They passed a considerable distance beyond the growth of
_Cereus giganteus_, over a level stretch covered with knee-high
bunch-grass and desert weeds, without seeing a hare. Pausing on the
brink of a shoal, dry ravine, they stood side by side, and rested the
butts of their guns upon the ground. Just then a shout of "Supper!
supper!" came from the group at the camp-fire.

"Hate to go back without anything," said Frank, so I afterwards heard.
"Strange we can't see a rabbit now, when we saw dozens on the way to
the Tanks."

"That's because we didn't have a gun," said Henry.

"You don't believe the rabbits knew we weren't armed then and know we
are now?"

"Hunters tell bigger stories than that about 'Brer Rabbit.' Not one
has bobbed up since we got our guns."

Suddenly from the flat surface of the plain, not twenty yards from
where the boys stood, where nothing but bunch-grass and low shrubbery
grew, sixteen Indians sprang up to full height, like so many
Jacks-in-a-box.

XIV

ON THE DESERT WITHOUT WATER

The boys were frightened. Their hearts leaped into their throats, and
it was difficult for them to restrain an impulse to turn and run; but
a soldierly instinct brought them to a "ready," with eyes fixed upon
the probable enemy.

"Quick, Henry! shoot!" exclaimed Frank, intending to reserve his own
fire.

The younger sergeant raised his double-barrelled shot-gun to his
shoulder and pulled both triggers. Down went the sixteen Indians as if
the bird-shot had been fatal to all. The plain became in an instant as
objectless as it was a moment before.

"Load, Henry, and, backward, march!" said Frank, ready to fire
whenever a head showed above the grass, and at the same time moving as
rapidly as possible towards the camp-fire.

"How! how! how!" was chorused from the direction of the Indians, and
several naked brown arms were stretched upward, holding rifles
horizontally in the air.

"That means peace," said Henry. "They aren't going to fire. Let's
answer. How! how! how!"

"How! how! how!" Frank joined in, and at once the sixteen redmen
sprang to their feet, apparently none the worse for Henry's double
charge of bird-shot at short range. They held their weapons above
their heads, and continuing to utter their friendly "How!" rapidly
advanced towa