they came, giving vent to the most blood-curdling yells
it had ever been my fortune to hear.

In this desperate strait my father alone preserved his coolness; the
warlike spirit of the old frontiersman was roused in an instant. With
lightning-like rapidity he had unhitched his team and so disposed them
with our horses and the wagon as to form a sort of square, the horses
and mules were tied together and to the wagon, thus avoiding the danger
of their being stampeded. Inside this square we placed ourselves, and
levelling our rifles across the backs of our living bulwark awaited the
attack. My poor mother and wife, terrified almost to the verge of
insensibility, we compelled to lie down in the bottom of the wagon, and
so arranged its cargo as to protect them from any stray shot which might
strike it.

At first it seemed that the savages intended to ride us down by sheer
force of numbers, which they might easily have done; but our determined
aspect and the three shining tubes aimed at them, each ready to send
forth its leaden messenger of death, evidently changed their
determination; for before getting within range, their headlong gallop
became a moderate lope, then a walk, and they finally halted altogether.
A short council followed, during which we had an excellent opportunity
to observe our foes, and concert our plans for defence. Father cautioned
us to hold our fire until absolutely certain of our mark, and that, if
possible, but one must fire at a time, as it was of the utmost
importance to be prepared for a sudden dash. We examined the loading of
our rifles and pistols, put on fresh caps, and with wildly beating
hearts and nerves strained to their utmost tension, awaited the
onslaught.

Our enemies now seemed to have arrived at some determination, for their
consultation was at an end--an old Indian who, from his dignified
bearing and authoritative manner appeared to be their chief, made a sign
with his hand, and spoke a few words in a loud tone. The incessant
jabbering which they had kept up from the moment they halted instantly
ceased, and one after another a number of young warriors, perhaps
twenty, rode out in single file upon the prairie. After gaining a
distance of about one hundred yards from the main body they increased
the intervals separating them to some fifty paces, and then inclining
the course so as to form a sort of half circle, they increased their
speed and came on with the evident intention of ci