thorns of which did not, in the least, save me
from being hurt. On regaining my feet, I found that my injuries were
but slight, and that I still retained my bridle rein, therefore
I quickly regained my seat in the saddle and started on again,
remembering the old proverb, which says, "All is fair in war." While
riding on, I was joined by a soldier whose horse had broken down in
the charge. As we now advanced together, our route led us by some
large sand hills, behind which several Indians had sought refuge,
when hotly pursued. Seeing that they had been overlooked during the
excitement of the moment, they remained quiet until we came along,
when they made a dash at us and commenced firing their arrows in
fine-style. We returned their volleys with our revolvers, but, whether
we produced any result further than preventing their coming too
near, it is difficult to say. Several of their arrows came in close
proximity to our bodies, and one struck, the soldier's horse in the
neck and wounded a main artery, which bled, for a time, furiously. As
danger was thick about them, the Indians soon left us to effect their
own escape; when, we halted and attended to the wounded horse, whose
life we were so fortunate as to save, by putting a ligature about the
bleeding vessel.

The night succeeding the day on which this fight occurred, with a
single exception, passed by quietly. A soldier, who lay near the
centre of the camp, had retired to rest, perhaps impressed with the
belief that he and his comrades would be attacked by the Indians
before morning; this train of thought had led him into dreams of
war, and while reveling in them, he imagined that danger was at hand.
Suddenly starting up, and seizing his rifle, he fired at random. His
bullet came near striking a Mexican sentinel who was on duty, and who
was making his rounds. The sentinel was very naturally startled by
this unaccountable noise in the camp, and supposing that the Indians
had, unobserved, crept within the lines, he returned the compliment
by discharging his piece in the direction of the supposed danger.
The report of these firearms had the effect of arousing the entire
command. The men were quickly on their feet and ready for active
service. In the confusion which ensued, several more rifles were
fired, but fortunately no harm was done, and as soon as the cause
of the trouble was explained, quietness and order was promptly
established.

At the break of day, on the nex