bout to kill him; but, at the instigation of
the brave who had hitherto saved him from being put to death, they
resolved to bind him to the tree and leave him. In all likelihood, his
friend had proposed this with the intention of afterwards returning and
setting him free.

As Bartle would certainly be unable to move for some time, Gideon and I
remained by him, while Piomingo returned to inform Sergeant Custis of
our success, and also to warn him that the enemy were not far ahead.
The sergeant, we afterwards heard, pushed rapidly on, and in a short
time came up with the party, and, by the careful way in which he
approached, took them completely by surprise. They attempted to defend
themselves, but the greater number were cut to pieces--a few only
escaping to the southward.

Gideon and I, I have said, had been left on the mountain-side to look
after Bartle. The first thing Gideon did was to take off his own coat
and wrap it round our friend, whose limbs were swollen by the pressure
of the cords, while he was chilled by long exposure to the cold air;
indeed, most men would have sunk under the sufferings he had endured.
How were we to get him down the mountain? was the next question. He
could not walk, and Gideon and I together were unable to carry him. The
spot was exposed to a hot sun by day, and to cold winds by night, and
there were no materials at hand to build a hut; indeed, but little wood
even to form a fire. At last I proposed setting off to try and obtain
help,--though, should the troops or the Indians who accompanied us have
gone south, it might be a long time before I could fall in with any one.
There was nothing else to be done, however, as far as we could see,
although I greatly feared that before I could return Bartle would have
succumbed.

"Quick, Ralph," said Gideon, as I rose to set off. "Do not forget some
food; and bring a litter, or something of that kind, to carry Bartle
on."

I had scarcely got a hundred feet down the mountain when I saw two
Indians in the distance, coming towards me, each carrying something on
his back, and a long pole in his hand. I waved to them, and they made
signals in reply. They were soon close to me, and on coming up they
said that they had been sent by Piomingo, and that they carried
materials for forming a litter. He had thought of the very thing we
required. It was rapidly put together; and placing Bartle on it, we
each of us took the end of a pole, and bega