us that this could not be the design. There
were but two points by which we could pass down to the plain--on
opposite sides of the butte--why then should they _surround_ it? It
could not be for the purpose of cutting off our retreat? That could be
done as effectually without the circular deployment.

Their design soon became apparent. We observed that the muskets were
distributed among the groups, three or four to each. With these they
now opened fire upon us from all sides at once, keeping it up as fast as
they could load the pieces. The effect was to render our situation a
little more perilous. Not having the means to make our parapet
continuous, we were at several points exposed. Had we had good marksmen
to deal with, we should have been in danger. As it was, we drew well
back towards the centre of the platform; and were screened by its outer
angles. Now and then a shot struck the rock, sending the splinters in
our faces; but all four of us escaped being hit by the bullets.

We had made an observation that rendered us uneasy: we had observed a
weak point in our defence. We wondered that our assailants had not also
noticed it. Around the butte, and close up to its base, lay many
boulders of rock. They were prisms of granite, that had become detached
from the cairn itself, and rolled down its declivity. They rested upon
the plain, forming a ring concentric with the circular base of the
mound. Many of these boulders had a diameter of six feet, and would
have sheltered the body of a man from our shots. Others, again, rested
along the sloping sides of the butte--also of prismatic shapes, with
sides overhanging. These might form ramparts for our assailants should
they attempt to storm our position. Even the spreading cedars would
have hidden them from our sight. They were the trailing juniper of the
western wilds--very different from the Virginian cedar. They were of
broad bushy forms, with stunted stems, and tortuous branches, densely
set with a dark acetalous foliage. They covered the sides of the butte,
from base to middle height, with a draping perfectly impenetrable to the
eye. Though there was no path save that already mentioned, assailants,
active as ours, might unseen have scaled the declivity. Should the
Indians make a bold, dash up to the base of the butte, leave their
horses, and take to the rocks, they might advance upon us without risk.
While working their way up the slope, they would be