en impossible to
select. Every one was armed with a short heavy bore rifle, a keen
sabre, and a long sharply pointed lance; while their horses were the
very perfection of chargers, swift, full of bone and sinew, and looking
as if, could their riders but get a chance, four times the number of
Indians would go down before them like dry reeds in a furious gale.

"Are you only going to take fifty?" said Bart to the captain.

"That's all, my lad," was the reply. "Is it not enough?"

"There must have been five hundred Indians before the camp," replied
Bart.

"Well, that's only ten times as many," said the captain laughingly,
"Fifty are more than enough for such an attack, for we have discipline
on our side, while they are only a mob. Don't you be afraid, my boy. I
daresay we shall prove too many for them."

"I am not afraid," said Bart, stoutly; "but I don't want to see your
party overwhelmed."

"And you shall not see it overwhelmed, my boy," replied the captain.
"Do you see this sabre?"

"Yes," said Bart, gazing with interest at the keen weapon the officer
held out for his inspection. "It looks very sharp."

"Well," said the captain, smiling, "experience has taught that this is a
more dangerous weapon than the great heavy two-handed swords men used to
wield. Do you know why?"

"Oh! yes," cried Bart; "while a man was swinging round a great
two-handed sword, you could jump in and cut him down, or run him through
with that."

"Exactly," said the captain, "and that's why I only take fifty men with
me into the desert instead of two hundred. My troop of fifty represent
this keen sharp sword, with which blade I can strike and thrust at the
Indians again and again, when a larger one would be awkward and slow.
Do you see?"

"Ye-e-es!" said Bart, hesitating.

"You forget, my boy, how difficult it is to carry stores over the plain.
All these waggons have to go as it is, and my experience teaches me
that the lighter an attacking party is the better, especially when it
has to deal with Indians."

"And have these men ever fought with Indians?"

"A dozen--a score of times," replied the captain. "Ah! here is our
friend the governor. Why, he is dressed up as if he meant to ride part
of the way with us."

"Ah! captain! Well, my young Indian runner," said the governor,
laughing, "are you ready for another skirmish?"

"Yes, sir, I'm ready now," said Bart promptly. "I can saddle up in five
minutes."

"I shall b