ey had been for some days on
short commons. "They will be safe enough," said this speaker. "We have
seen no Indian sign, or if any of you think there is danger, let some
one go up to the bluff, but by all means let the poor brutes have a good
meal of it."

This proposal was accepted. Lanty was despatched to stand guard over
the horses, while the rest of us remained by the fire conversing as
before.

The Irishman could scarcely have had time to get among the animals, when
our ears were saluted by a medley of sounds that sent the blood to our
hearts, and caused us to leap simultaneously from the fire.

The yells of Indians were easily understood, even by the "greenest" of
our party, and these, mingled with the neighing of horses, the prancing
of hoofs, and the shouts of our guard, were the sounds that readied us.

"Injuns, by God!" cried Ike, springing up, and clutching his long rifle.

This wild exclamation was echoed by more than one, as each leaped back
from the fire and ran to his gun.

In a few seconds we had cleared the brushwood that thickly covered the
bottom, and climbed out on the bluff. Here we were met by the terrified
guard, who was running back at the top of his speed, and bellowing at
the top of his voice.

"Och, murther!" cried he, "the savage bastes--there's a thousand ov
thim! They've carried off the cattle--every leg--mules an' all, by
Jaysus!"

Rough as was this announcement, we soon became satisfied that it was but
too true. On reaching the place where the _cavallada_ had been
picketed, we found not the semblance of a horse. Even the pins were
drawn, and the _lazoes_ taken along. Far off on the prairie we could
discern dimly a dark mass of mounted men, and we could plainly hear
their triumphant shouts and laughter, as they disappeared in the
distance!

We never saw either them or our horses again.

They were a party of Pawnees, as we afterwards learned, and no doubt had
they attacked us, we should have suffered severely; but there were only
a few of them, and they were satisfied with plundering us of our horses.
It is just possible that after securing them they might have returned
to attack us, had not Lanty surprised them at their work. After the
alarm they knew we would be on the look-out for them, and therefore were
contented to carry off our animals.

It is difficult to explain the change that thus so suddenly occurred in
our feelings and circumstances. The prospect before