Year: 1871

/ TO one against me, but that one
must go for.


Looking hastily around, selected
heavy tuft of grass and weeds for a
! cover, marking the fact that it lay di-
rectly in the path of the advancing
| braves.


''The band numbered about twenty,
and were riding in tolerable compact
order. l would have preferred them
little more scattered, but / had to
put up with it as it was


'tBy the time had fairly got into
position the band was within less than
a mile, and were coming down like a
thunderbolt. It was a terribly risky
undertaking,


Gwen after 1 had shct my man,
the chances were that would be tram
pied under hoof before l could catch
the riderless horse, or he might break
away to the right or left, and so de-
feat my purpose. But Twas not al
lowed much time for thought. The
Indians were upon me, and l acted
promptly.


Il selected q warrior near the CEN
tire of the band, who 1 judged, from
the direction he was coming, would
pass over or very close. to my po-
sition.


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


Down they came like whirlwind,
each plying his short IA Wilde thong,
that served in place of spurs, evident
lv determined to get all out OF their
| horses that could be got


Il held my fire until they were
within fifteen feet of where L 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 juncture.


"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 Il second the horse, which never
ceased or checked its speed, was be-
side me, and l had grasped the bride
rein, jerked him back upon his haun-
ches, and, almost before he had got
Strengthened up, was on his back, and
off like a rocket, heading directly to-
| aUGrd the fire.


"The whole thing was done so very
quickly that the Navajoes did net seem
to comprehend what had occurred un.
til they had ridden some hundred OF
more yards. / saw them halt, and
wheel about as though to give chase;
but the sight of the fire, together with
the swiftly advancing herd of mad.
| dcned bufaloes, was too much for
them, and with yell of rage, they
turned tail and again put out for SAT.
er quarters.


''l now had time to think moment,
but only a moment.


"To follow directly in the trail oi
the Indians would be only putting my
self eventually in their hands.


'tAs long as they were in front oi
the herd of buffalo they could not halt
this side of the hills, even after strik-
ing the short green grass where the
fire must cease, for they would be trod
under foot by the mass.


There was but one thing to do
l must get between the fire and the
bulIaloes. A risky thing to undertake
but it was time when some risk had
necessarily to be run.


81 determined to ride straight fol
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,


'sNow this thing you understand
will fail nine times out of ten; but il
sometimes will work, and it was my
only alternative. Giving the mus
tang the rein, [ rode a. full speed di
rectly on the advancing mass.


"At fifty yards 1 cooked my rifle
and brought her forward.


cat twenty 1 suddenly pulled up,
dropped the reins, and let drive at the
leading bull.


"He went down, heels over head,
with below that could be heard
above the thunder of ten thousand
hoofs, and like mighty wave that is
parted by some obstruction, the herd
opened and swept by on either side.


"In five minutes they had passed,
and Instantly turning about | sped
away, hanging close in their wake.


81 reached the edge of the weed
prairie some distance in advance of
the fire, and then bearing off toward
the north, rode along the edge of
the burnt section until it had cooled
sufficiently, and then ventured across.


81 saw no more of the Navajoes, at
least that band, and after one or two
light slueezeS, reached Bent's, where 1
met the General"
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