Year: 1871


saw. There were mounted men be-
tween me and the fire. and they were
urging tleir horses with frantic ef-
forts. as they fed before the leaping
flames. ! could see the light of the
fire flash upon their arms, helmets
and metal shields, and knew they
were Navajoes.


"Still beyond them there was a
long dark line OF swiftly moving OBJ
iccts. stretching away OH either hand
as tar as my eye could reach.


"These were butfaloeS, al immense
herd Of them. and aS saw the re-
markable condition of affairs, great
as the danger was, | could not help
laughing heartily. Here was a pral-
rie fire chasing herd of butfalocs,
the buttaloes after a war party OF
Navaioes. and these last, as well as
the others. all laundering down on
me. single man, ont OF reach OF the
faintcst chance OfeScape, and with no
alternative but to stand and take it.


!: But | had no idea of giving up
without a trial for it, any how.


IL knew running-i was Oh foot,
YOU will remembcr-would be worse
than useless. There was no cover.
not bush nor a crack in the earth,
into which could squeeze myself,
Ny only chance was to reach the
mountains | had left some hours be
fore. But how to get there was the
question.


{" 4 man in such a fix as that will
think fast, and it did not takeme long
to make up my mind that there was
but one way out of the difficulty.
And that was to knock one of the
advancing warriors out Of his saddle,
and run the risk Of catching his horse
afterward. 1t was a desperate Ven
ture. and the chances were about ten
to one against me, but that one |
must go for.


Looking hastily around, | selec
ted a heavy tutt of grass and weeds
for my cover, marking the fact that
it lay directly in the path of the adj
vancing braves.


"The band numbered about TWEEN
ty, and were riding in tolerably com
pact order. | would have preferred
them a little more scattered, but |
had to put up with it as it was.


" By the time | had got fairly into
position the band was within less
than mile, and were coming down
like a thunderbolt. 1t was a terribly
risky undertaking.


Given after had shot my man,
the chances were that | would be
trampled under hoof before I could
catch the riderless horse, or he might
break away to the right or left, and
SO defeat my purpose. But | was
not allowed much time for thought.
The Indians were upon me, and |
must act promptly.


II selectMl q warrior near the
centre of the band, WHO judged,
from the direction he was coming,
would pass over or very near my pO-
sition.


He was a fine looking fellow, and
rode a large dun-colored mustang,
that [ saw at glance was the best
of the lot.


II held my fire until they were
within fifteen feet of where | stood,
and then, as my fellow turned his
head to glance back at the fire, | let
him have it right through the base
of the skull, the ball severing the
spinal cord just at the point Of june
ture. =,


"The effect was what | expected
it to be, and with a convulsive spring
upward, the Navajo threw himself
clear out of the pad, and landed head
foremost on the prairie.


" In a second the horse, who never
ceased OF checked his speed, was be-
side me, and | lad grasped the bride
rein, ,jerked him back upon his haun-
ches. and, almost before he had
Strengthened up, wason his back and
off like rocket, heading directly
tovGrd the fire.


"The whole thing was done so
quickly that the Navajoes did not
seem to comprehend what had oc-
Cured until they had ridden some
hundred yards or more. Isaw them
suddenly halt, and wheel about as
though to give chase; but the sight
of the fire, together with the swiftly
advancing herd of maddened buffa-
loes, was too much for them, and
with yell of rage, they turned tail
and again put out for safer quarters,
II had now time to think mo-
ment, but only moment.


"To follow directly in the trail Of
the Indians would be only putting
myself eventually in their hands.


"As long as they were in front of
the herd they could not halt this side
of the hills, even after striking the
green short grass where the fire must
cease, for they would be trampled
under foot by the mass.


"There was but one thing to do.
/ must get between the fire and the
buffaloes. A risky thing to under
take, but it was a time when some
risk must necessarily be run.


II determined to ride straight for
the centre of the herd, and at short
range shoot the leading bull, and
trust to the chance of their parting
right and left sufficient for me to
pass through. .r.sz
q Now this thing. YOU will under