a torrent, and
roared through its course with a clamor almost deafening. A vast amount
of water had fallen within the few hours, and it would have been very
perilous had any of the party remained where the fire that cooked the
antelope was kindled. A yellow stream some six feet in depth rushed
furiously through the narrow passage, like some river when compressed
into its narrow canyon.

The Indians stood as motionless as the rocks themselves until the storm
was over. Each had his blanket slung over his shoulder, extending down
to his knees, and effectually protecting their bodies from the rain
which had so thoroughly soaked poor Elwood. None of them sported the
defiant scalp-locks so common among the more northern Indians; but their
long, black, stiff hair, resembling precisely that of a horse's mane,
dangled around their shoulders, neck and ears and over their breasts.
Mixed in among the hair on the crown were a number of painted feathers,
which, having had a touch of rain, drooped down like those of an humbled
chanticleer that has been rescued from the river by some kind hand.
Their faces being daubed over with green, yellow and red, mixed and
mingled with a sublime disregard of proportion, gave their features a
peculiarly unnatural appearance, such as we see when we survey our
particular friends through differently and highly colored pieces of
glass. They were fine specimens of the "noble red man" that are
occasionally met with now-a-days; but they are of that species of sights
of which it may be said "distance lends enchantment to the view."
However, they were happy, for as yet they had not come in contact with
civilization, and had had no taste for the white man's "fire-water,"
that scourge of the aboriginal race, and which seems destined finally to
sweep them from the continent.

Elwood occupied himself in looking from one of these Indians to the
other, and speculating regarding their thoughts and opinions about
himself, of whose presence they seemed so unconscious. Indeed, they
scarcely looked at him except when he sneezed, and then their heads shot
round as suddenly as if they were moved by machinery and the spasm had
let on the steam.

Finally, when the falling of the rain ceased, two of the Indians went
out to look for the remainder of their prisoner's party, which they
knew, if not already there, had been so recently among the hills. The
vast rush of water, of course, had obliterated all signs where they h