line matter, rendering it unpalatable to man.

The animals

drank it, though with apparent distaste. Considerable inconvenience was experienced from the state of the water. The supply brought in the water-kegs, greatly to our inconvenience, was soon consumed, leaving us but the chance of being able to replenish the stock the next day.

At the usual hour, on the morning of the twentieth, we moved across the Cimmaron flats to the main stream. The ground for miles around had the appearance of a heavy hoar frost, occasioned by the large quantity of gypsum with which the soil was impregnated. The stream of the Cimmaron was about twentyfive yards wide and a foot deep, with a treacherous bottom of shifting sands Rising from this basin the surface became hard, and a fine trail for the wagons was found tending in a southeasterly direction.

During the afternoon, the chief of the Indian trailers, in the presence of his warriors, formally took the war-path. The columu was moving along at a steady gait. The Indians, riding about a mile in advance, suddenly left their position and galloped to the top of a cone-shaped mountain, some distance out of the direction of the trail. Here they dismounted, and after smoking and observing other necessary forms, the chief, who was known as Sam Johnson, gave his own name to the mountain, and assumed the pretentious title of Big Wolf, which was to express the cunning he expected henceforth to display when he encountered any of his red enemies.

This night the column went into camp on an island, in the Beaver river, near the mouth of Trout creek. Headquarters' tents were pitched beneath the overshadowing branches of an immense cotton-wood. The camp furnished an abundant supply of excellent water. In the expansive valley, which spread out from the south side of the Beaver, several small herds of buffaloes were seen grazing apparently unsuspicious of our presence. Hunting-parties were allowed to leave camp in pursuit, in hopes of bringing in a supply of fresh meat, which was very much needed, especially for the men.

As the parties were leaving, the Commanding General and the writer strolled about a mile from camp, to a high knoll, from which a fine view could be had of the chase. Under cover of a skirt of timber along the banks of the creek, the hunters succeeded in closely approaching a herd. Suddenly the hunters emerged from the timber and high grass and dashed forward. The buffaloes, bewildered at this unexpected visitation, stood for a moment as if to satisfy themselves, and then set off at a rapid gallop, the hunters in hot chase after them. The race lasted for at least fifteen minutes. when two of the herd were seen to drop behind wounded, and were soon dispatched. While the successful hunters were attending to the "meat" they had taken, the others were to be seen, scattered in all directions, galloping hither and thither, each one bent upon some choice animal he had cut off.

While still observing the graceful evolutions and caracoling of the buffalo hunters, our attention was attracted to the sun, which was about disappearing behind a distant range of low hills. Nowhere, except perhaps within the tropics, is the daily exit of the great luminary characterized by greater splendor than upon the extensive plains of the west. Our position was such as to afford a rare opportunity to take in all the varied changes of beauty, as the effulgent orb descended from its path in space into the apparent bosom of the earth. From the knoll which we occupied, the vast low lands of the Beaver spread around in all directions. The silvery waters of the river, winding in graceful curves, coursed through the valley. Upon its banks the buffalo, the deer, and the wolf found an undisturbed existence. Along the line of the horizon stretched a range of hills, encircling the valley almost completely, while the intermediate gentle undulations broke the monotony of a rigid plain The grasses, robbed of their vitality by the biting frosts of autumn, covered the surface with a carpet of sombre tinge, intermixed here and there with patches of different varieties and varied tints. A few towering trees or a dense underbrush grew now and then along the stream. The pure blue of the great

dome of nature spread in sublime expanse overhead. In the west the sun threw out a parting glare, changing the atmosphere from a colorless waste to a vast etherial sea of gold. The effect was indescribably grand. All nature seemed to glow with surpassing brightness. The heavens were illuminated with great lines of light, diverging from a common centre on the horizon, completely covering the azure field above, and shedding golden tints of more or less brilliance upon the earth beneath. Immediately surrounding the sun itself were masses of vapor in every form. The evening mists at first slowly gathering, formed in masses from leaden banks to pearly films. A fringe of gold and silver and purple, in graceful and ever-changing outline, bordered the beautiful folds of this vaporous curtain, gradually dropping around the last moments of the vanishing grandeur of day. From golden tints the atmosphere suddenly became of crimson hue, and a moment more the mantle of night covered the face of nature in silent darkness.

Returning to camp before total darkness set in, while crossing the dry bed of one of the channels of the Beaver, we discovered a distinctly defined lodge-pole trail and pony tracks. It was certain these indications were not there when we passed out, and the conclusion was natural that during our absence a small party of Indians had crossed between us and the camp, and under cover of the banks of the stream.

The same night, an hour after retiring, the stillness which prevailed was suddenly disturbed by several shots fired in rapid succession. In a moment the bugles sounded the alarm and called the troopers to arms. The picket reported seeing in the shadow of a tree a mounted figure approaching stealthily. He challenged and received no answer, though the moving figure halted. After a few moments the figure again advanced, and still keeping in the shade was now within twenty-five yards. Instantly the trooper brought his carbine to his shoulder and fired. Bang, came a bullet in reply. The object turned and broke into the moonlight. It was an Indian warrior. As he fled he was followed by two other mounted figures, which dashed

out of the bushes near by. The three savages were evidently stealing up in hopes of cutting the sentinel off quietly and thus get into the midst of the camp without creating alarm.

At the first fire a detachment was sent out to the support of the picket. The savages had fled; several troopers, taking advantage of the moon, examined their tracks. They had evidently been prowling around the camp in search of some vulnerable point, and this, being better covered, was selected for the purpose.

At another point on the picket-line about the same time, as the officer of the guard was approaching one of the posts, he heard, in tolerably good language, a voice in moderate tones : "Are you pickets?" The reply was the cocking of pieces and a discharge of carbines from the picket. A small party, hidden from view by the undergrowth, wheeled and fled, making no little rustling of bushes.

There seemed to be no doubt now about the presence of a war-party in the vicinity, but as to their numbers all was uncertainty. One of the hunting detachments which had been sent out during the afternoon, upon reaching camp about dusk, reported being chased by a few warriors, who followed them within a short distance of camp. The General himself, during the afternoon, while observing the hunting-parties, by means of his glass, remarked seeing a large number of figures moving rapidly about on the crest of the range of hills across the valley. It was then impossible, however, to define whether they were warriors mounted, or buffalo, though their peculiar movements were decidedly in favor of the former.

To be prepared for an emergency an extra officer of the guard was detailed for duty during the night, and a strong reserve was mustered to remain under arms. The officers and men were cautioned to employ the utmost vigilance, especially towards daylight, as the attack, if made at all, would be made. then.

The defence of a camp, and particularly a small camp, against even an insignificant party of Indians is a matter of no little dif

ficulty. An Indian warrior invariably approaches his enemy by stealth, sometimes in the guise of an animal. By a sudden blow, or a fatal arrow from his bow, he noiselessly removes the obstacle in his path, and passes on without alarm. It has frequently occurred that warriors have stolen their way into a sleeping camp in this way. Once within the sentinels the wily savage creeps about unpicketing the animals. He now passes out, either taking the animals with him, or, by a preconcerted signal, causing an attack to be made by a war-party, stationed for that purpose, under cover close to the pickets. At such times, in order to effect a stampede of the stock, an Indian pony, with a buffalo robe dangling at his heels, is started into the camp. During the confusion caused by the presence of the pony, or more particularly his appendage, the alarm soon communicates itself to the other animals, the savage warriors dash about, yelling furiously, adding to the terror of the already terrified brutes. To control the animals at such times is an impossibility, and to oppose them would be attended with. serious casualties, Stampeding the stock is usually the first aim of the savage in a fight. If the party be small he then feels sure of securing his prey at his leisure.

At three o'clock the following morning, November 21st, the camp was aroused, tents struck and packed, horses saddled, and troopers under arms. The camp-fires of the night before were smouldering in their ashes, and were allowed to remain so to prevent an undue exposure; but no attack being made at sunrise, the troops resumed their march.

Our course now lay in an easterly direction, following a range of high hills several miles south of Beaver creek. During the day traces of the recent presence of the advance column indicated that we were not far in the rear. At noon we halted on the banks of a creek, which the night before had been the site of Sully's camp. The fires were still burning, and other indications were visible which set aside all doubts as to the whereabouts of the main body of the troops.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, from a commanding emi

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