rcling round us.

These manoeuvres had not escaped our notice, but neither my brother
nor myself understood their import. That my father did so, however, was
evident.

"Surround!" he muttered, the instant the movement began. "I thought
they'd try it, blame their ugly picters." "Now boys," he continued,
"keep cool and keep your eyes skinned, don't throw away a shot, and
don't fire 'till I give the word." He then explained the method of this
peculiar stratagem of Indian warfare. The twenty picked men were about
to ride around us in a circle, at top speed, delivering flights of
arrows as they passed, their object being to disconcert us and draw our
fire; our guns once empty, the main body whom we observed held
themselves in readiness, would ride in, and by a sudden dash, end the
skirmish by our death or captivity.

Father's warning was delivered in far less time than it has taken to
write this--and it was barely concluded before the attacking party were
circling round us, uttering their vengeful war cries, and gradually
drawing nearer and nearer. Standing back to back, we watched their every
movement, my brother and myself expecting every moment to have an
opportunity to tumble one or more of the bold riders from their horses;
but a few seconds showed us the futility of this. As they came within
range, each Indian _disappeared behind the body of his horse_. A hand
grasping the withers of the horse, and a foot just showing above his
back, were all that could be seen--perhaps a painted face would be seen
for an instant under the horse's neck, but instantly disappearing--while
the hiss of an arrow would tell that the rider had sped the shaft to its
mark; the horse all the while going at full gallop. At no moment could
any one of us have fired with any chance of hitting an Indian. The
horses we could have shot without difficulty, but this was just what our
enemies wanted. Could they but induce us to waste our fire upon the
horses, we would soon be at their mercy. So, with an effort, we
restrained our inclination to risk a shot, and watched their every
movement with the cat-like vigilance of men who knew that their lives
were trembling in the balance.

Round and round went the circle of the hunt, flight after flight of
arrows whistled past us, or spent their force against the wagon, still
we were unharmed; although our escapes were narrow and incessant. The
mules and horses were struck repeatedly, but so tightly were they b