Page:The Prairie Flower; Or, Adventures In the Far West.djvu/71

 let our hor*

feed here till dark, and then ride through the forest for a couple of miles or so, cache them, and take it afoot. I've got the plan fixed in my head, and will tell you more then. And now let's feed and smoke while we've got time."

We had provided ourselves with a good supply of jerk, and as none of us had eaten a morsel since leaving the fort, we proceeded to satisfy the demands of na ture. This done, we lighted our pipes and smoked and talked till the shades of night warned us to be again on the move. Guided by Kit, we entered the thicket and advanced slowly, cautiously, and si lently, for the better part of an hour, when we came to a dense cover of cot- tonwood.

"Halt and rope," said Kit, in a low tone.

In a moment each man was on the ground, and engaged in attaching his horse securely to a tree, though so dark was it here that everything had to be done by the sense of touch.

"See that all your arms ar about you, and ready, and then follow me, Indian file," said Carson again; and in less than three minutes, with stealthy tread, sixteen de termined men, one after another, glided from the thicket into an open wood, like so many specters stalking from the tombs of the dead.

CHAPTER XIV.

IIIE EVENING'S CAMP OUR STEPS RETRACED OUR SECOND ADVANCE TERRIBLE AM BUSCADE THE BLOODY CONTEST KIT CAR- SON'S WONDERFUL FEATS REINFORCEMENT

OF THE ENEMT IMMENSE SLAUGHTER

MY HORSE KILLED A FOOT ENCOUNTER

DESPAIR KIT'S EFFORT TO SAVE ME

UNCONSCIOUSNESS

SOME three-fourths of amile brought us to the brow of a hill, whence we^could overlook the stronghold of the enemy. Immediately below us were several lodges made of skins, around which we could faintly perceive numerous dark figures moving to and fro, and evidently, as we nought, preparing to turn in for the night. A. litile beyond this was another encamp

ment, or cluster of lodges, and still beyond another the three taken together number ing not less than a hundred and fifty or two hundred warriors. And here stood we, a little band of sixteen men, about to assail, at the least calculation, ten rimes our own force. What rashness! what a fool-hardy undertaking!

"Charles," whispered I to my friend, "it is well that you and I are single men."

"Why so, Frank?"

"Because neither wife nor child will be left to mourn our loss."

"That is true," answered he with a sigh. " But do you then think our doom certain?"

"If we attack I do; or least, that we have ten chances against us to one in our favor."

"It won't do," whispered Carson at this moment, retreating a few paces, and mo tioning us to follow him. Then he added in a low tone :

"We're too soon, and it will never do to try it afoot. I must stick to my first cal culation. Our only chance of escape from certain death must be by our horses. We'll return to them and await the mid- watch of night. Then we must dash among them, raise all the hair we can, and split for cover, or we shall be rubbed out before we know it. I thought when I re- connoitered, it would do better to steal in among them and work silently but I see now our only hope is by storm."

Accordingly we retraced our steps, and having gained the cover where our animals were concealed, squatted down upon the earth. As it was yet too early for our meditated attack, we once more replenished our pipes, and enjoyed the refreshing fra grance of some prime tobacco.

"I say, Kit," observed Black George, "what d'ye think o' that thar Injin gal, hey?"

"Think she's a mysterious one."

"Ever seed her afore?"

"Never."

"I have augh! Think she's a speret, hey?"

"No! think she's a human."

"Well, I'll be dog-gone ef I do! I je believe she's got wings and ken fly ef I don't, call me a nigger and put me among the cotton plants augh! '