Page:Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains.djvu/546

418 He was riding a mare of fine breeding, as black as a coal and as fleet an animal as there was in the whole command. By this time the Indians had crossed over the ridge and were then traveling up a little ravine, and by keeping ourselves secreted they would cross the ridge near us. Just as they turned, over the ridge referred to, we were to make the charge. I was riding a roan horse that I had bought in San Francisco that could run like a deer, for when in this bnsiness I would not ride a horse that was not swift, but I never had him in an engage- ment of this kind. Being very hard-mouthed, I thought he was liable to run away with me, and I did not know whether he would run in the opposite direction or after the Indians. The Lieutenant and Geo. Jones said that if he would only run after the Indians they would follow me up closely. As soon as the last Indian had

The Lieutenant was riding a mare of fine breeding,

passed over the ridge out of sight we made a charge, and that black mare went like she was shot out of a cannon. The Indians were all armed with