ith his deadly arrow, all inspired
me with fear such as I had never before known.

In the cyclone which had overtaken our good ship in mid-Atlantic, where
we lay tossing about at the mercy of the waves for thirty-six long
hours, I had expected to yield my body to the dark and grewsome depths
of the ocean. I had almost felt the cold arms of Death about me; but
compared to the sickening dread of the cruel Apache, my fears then had
been as naught. Facing the inevitable at sea, I had closed my eyes and
said good-bye to Life. But in this mysterious darkness, every nerve,
every sense, was keenly alive with terror.

Several of that small party around the camp-fire have gone from amongst
us, but I venture to say that, of the few who are left, not one will deny
that he shared in the vague apprehension which seized upon us.

Midnight found us still lingering around the dead ashes of the fire.
After going to our tent, Jack saw that I was frightened. He said: "Don't
worry, Martha, an Apache never was known to attack in the night," and
after hearing many repetitions of this assertion, upon which I made him
take his oath, I threw myself upon the bed. After our candle was out, I
said: "When do they attack?" Jack who, with the soldiers' indifference
to danger, was already half asleep, replied: "Just before daylight,
usually, but do not worry, I say; there aren't any Injuns in this
neighborhood. Why! Didn't you meet General Crook to-day? You ought to
have some sense. If there'd been an Injun around here he would have
cleaned him out. Now go to sleep and don't be foolish." But I was taking
my first lessons in campaigning, and sleep was not so easy.

Just before dawn, as I had fallen into a light slumber, the flaps of the
tent burst open, and began shaking violently to and fro. I sprang to my
feet, prepared for the worst. Jack started up: "What is it?" he cried.

"It must have been the wind, I think, but it frightened me," I murmured.
The Lieutenant fastened the tent-flaps together, and lay down to sleep
again; but my heart beat fast, and I listened for every sound.

The day gradually dawned, and with it my fears of the night were
allayed. But ever after that, Jack's fatal answer, "Just before
daylight," kept my eyes wide open for hours before the dawn.

CHAPTER X. A PERILOUS ADVENTURE

One fine afternoon, after a march of twenty-two miles over a rocky road,
and finding our provisions low, Mr. Bailey and Jack went out to sh