e they ran on: for they saw if once the redskins could get hold
of the horses' heads, they would be completely in their power. All this
time several of the things were tumbling out of the wagon, but we could
not stop to pick them up. Why the rest of the party, who were ahead,
did not come back to our assistance, I could not tell. I thought that
they also were probably attacked. We four ran on for some way, keeping
the Indians at a respectful distance, for they are cowardly rascals--
notwithstanding all the praise bestowed on them--if courageously
opposed. I was loading my rifle, and then taking aim at four mounted
Indians who appeared on the right with rifles in their hands. They
fired, but missed me, as I meantime was dodging them behind the wagon.
During this, I did not see where Obed was. I hit one of them, and
either Simri or Joab, who fired at the same time, hit another. The
other two wheeled round, and with some companions, hovered about us at
some little distance. Just then, not hearing Obed's voice, I looked
round. He was nowhere to be seen. I was shouting to his brothers to
stop and go back with me to look for him, when half-a-dozen more
Indians, joining the others, galloped up at the same moment to attack
the headmost wagon. Simri and Joab, lashing their horses, rushed on to
the assistance of their family. The savages fired. I was springing on
when I felt myself brought to the ground, grasping my rifle, which was
loaded. A shot had gone right through both my legs. I tried with
desperate struggles to get up, but could not lift myself from the
ground. All the horror of my condition crowded into my mind. To be
killed and scalped was the best fate I could expect. Just as I was
about to give way to despair, I thought I would make an attempt to save
my life. From my companions I could expect no help, for even if they
succeeded in preserving their own lives they would scarcely be in a
condition to come back and rescue me. Poor Obed I felt pretty sure must
have been killed. A small stream with some bushes growing on its banks
was near at hand. I dragged myself towards it, and found a pretty close
place of concealment behind one of the bushes. Thence I could look out.
The wagons were still driving along furiously across the prairie with
the Indians hovering about them on either side, evidently waiting for a
favourable moment to renew the attack. Thus the whole party, friends
and foes, vanished fr