ie by myself like a worn-out old wolf, or
other wild beast in the desert."

The Raggets and I expressed our satisfaction at the thoughts of having
so experienced a hunter as our companion, and that matter was settled
off-hand. The Dacotahs had retired when they saw the Pawnees drawing
off. They probably tried to ascertain the cause of this desertion.
They made but one more very faint attack, and finding, as we supposed,
that their chance of success was less than ever, finally retired out of
sight into the wood. We could not restrain our Indian allies from
rushing out to scalp the slain, though we warned them against surprise,
and charged them not to touch the wounded; but I suspect they did not
much heed our words. They came back with fully thirty scalps, saying
that our bullets had made such sure work, that every one was killed
outright. As the day drew on, we were more and more convinced that our
enemies had had enough of it. We sent out our scouts, who felt their
way cautiously, following their trails. The chief body of the Dacotahs
had gone off to the north and east, while the Pawnees had taken the
direction of the north-west. The latter had retired with deliberation
and order, while the former had made a hurried retreat. A little later
in the day a scout came in, saving that the Pawnees had halted about
five miles off.

"Then I know the reason why," observed Short. "Noggin has persuaded
them to halt, and, depend on it, he will try to escape with his wife.
If some of you would aid me, I should like to go and meet him, to help
him along."

Obed and I and John Pipestick agreed to accompany him, with four of our
Indian allies. As soon as it was dusk we set off on our expedition. We
crept cautiously along from the very fist in Indian file, the scout who
had discovered the trail leading, and Short going next. Indeed, the man
who wishes to keep the scalp on his head cannot be too cautious when in
the Indian country, and with enemies in the neighbourhood. Not a word
was spoken, scarcely a sound was heard, while we kept our rifles
trailing by our sides, ready for use at a moment's notice. We could not
tell, of course, whether the Dacotahs or Pawnees might not have taken it
into their heads to come back and attack us, or, at all events, might
not have left some scouts to watch our proceedings. We went on thus,
till the sounds of drums beating, bones rattling, keeping time to the
voices of human beings, cre