arrows, or old and not infrequently crooked barrelled muskets, with powder made not to throw a ball over the most limited distance, it is quite possible we might not evince much more courage than they do.

The white men, even in much smaller numbers, have so great an advantage that we can hardly blame the Indians for not attacking them, unless with a greatly superior force.

Again, the Indian is physically not nearly as strong as we are; so that if in a contest between a white and red man both got disarmed, the former would have the result of the battle entirely in his power.

I do not for a moment wish to save the Indians from the aversion or even hatred with which they are usually regarded; for there is no doubt that they are a cruel, vindictive, blood-thirsty race, who never spare age or sex, unless under extraordinary circumstances, as when they fear that the relatives of their prisoners are sufficiently numerous to retaliate.

This is so frequently the case on the United States frontier, that they have ceased to a great extent to persecute the small farmers and settlers; for they know that they cannot do so with impunity, but on the frontier of Mexico, it is almost a daily occurrence for them to make descents upon the villages, and not only carry off all the cattle they can lay their hands upon, but also the women, and to kill and scalp all the males that fall into their hands.

The Mexicans are a cowardly, ignorant, and superstitious people, and have never been able to inspire the same respect among the Indians as the Americans.

CHAPTER XIV.

SANTA FÉ AT LAST!

As I have said, we had at last gained a country where the Camanche were less numerous and dangerous, and where it was improbable that braves from other tribes were to be met with, and as fresh food, that desideratum to the hard-worked and weather-exposed traveller, was in great demand, having first learned our probable route, I determined, with the consent of Bonté, to make a forced march ahead of some hours, then commence hunting, and wait for the arrival of the waggons.

No sooner was my purpose known than over the camp fire the night before I left, several attempted to dissuade me from it; but once having stated my intention, nothing would induce me to draw back. And there can be no doubt my reputation for courage would have sunk even in the estimation of those who advised me against going, if I had listened to their advice.

"Go I would and chance it," I stated.

Well, Johnny Bull, you'll lose the number of your mess, that's a fact, and your mother and sisters will have a good cry over you, leaving alone that chubby red-faced girl that you promised to love for ever and a day; but there's not so much harm in that, for after you're gone there'll be more fixings for all of us here, and a chance for some other gaining the heart of that sweetheart of yours, and these comely girls of yours are

tarnation nice, wish I was there, I do, that's a fact. Guess our minister would put me into something fat." So spoke one of our best tempered, most chaffing comrades, one that loved his grog and tobacco, but was not accredited with much go-a-headness, but in the earlier part of his speech all concurred; so I almost commenced to wish I had not thought of such a trip, or asked permission to undertake it.

One fellow, a rough boor of the half-horse, halfalligator type, made me feel inclined to be savage, when he made the remark, " that if I didn't care about losing my own scalp, he didn't see the right, d-n him if he did, to risk losing such a mare as mine to the squad."

After having cleaned my arms and made all necessary preparations for an early start, I retired to my waggon early, and was about to close my eyes when I perceived some one parting the cover that hung over the back board.

"Are you asleep Jack?"

"No, not yet; will be soon though," I answered the unknown.

"Well, wake up for a moment," was the response. "Sooner not, for I have to make an early start," I replied.

"I know you have, old fellow, I won't keep you long, it is me, Serge, Serge Soldatenkoff. I want to have ten minutes' talk with you, not an instant more," and he crept into the waggon and lay down upon the baggage beside me.

"Excuse me for interrupting you, old fellow, for I

know you require as much rest as possible; but I have made up my mind to go with you to-morrow, now don't say no," for I made an uneasy turn on my resting place which he seemed to construe into my disapproval of his proposition.

"I have asked Bonté, and he has given me his consent," moreover, he added, "that if he had not already given you permission to go he would refuse to sanction your proceeding so far ahead of the teams, but as it was so, it was better by long odds that you had a companion. So you see I am resolved to go with you, and if there are any adventures on hand this time I shall have a chance of participating in the fun. Bonté has lent me one of his best horses, so my mount cannot as formerly be made the ground for declining my company. Good night, pleasant dreams, never fear, I shall be ready at cock-crow."

Serge was true to his promise, I had not a moment to wait for him; so before the sun had well cleared the eastern horizon, we were both in the saddle and riding nearly due south-west.

I was very glad of such a companion. From our avocations being so different I had not seen half as much of my friend since we had joined the train at St Joseph's as I desired; true, we frequently had a pipe and a chat over the watch fires, but our intercourse seldom amounted to more, for both were too tired to spend much time in talking of bye-gone days.

Game was remarkably scarce and wild; however, Serge, at long range, made two beautiful shots, each killing an antelope, which he soon had fast to the

cantles of our saddles; and as it was now noon, and as there was no prospect of further sport, we resolved to seek shelter and eat our lunch. The horses we tied to some brush, giving them as much line as possible, so as to permit them to eat what herbage was near; while stretched upon the grass we enjoyed our ease without much thought of dignity.

Serge had made up his mind to leave Bonté at Santa Fe, and wished me to do likewise; of course we were both justified in such a course, for there our engagements terminated, unless we chose to renew them.

The only objection I could make to such a step was want of funds. However my companion would not listen to this, he had sufficient to take us both to San Francisco, and there he was certain a remittance would await him.

Thus being overruled in my objection, I surrendered at discretion, and we pleasantly chatted about the future and the good things it had in store for us.

An hour might thus have passed when Serge, without the slightest warning, raised his rifle and instantly fired. I cast my eye forward to know what he aimed at. Beside the horses lay an Indian apparently dead, while another was in the act of untying my mare. In a moment I had a bead upon him; but although I disabled the red-skin, still I had done no more. With one accord we rushed to the horses, we had scarcely reached them when half a dozen howling savages came at us. So close were they that we had not time to mount. Blood they were evidently resolved to have, and calculated that there was no difficulty in obtaining it, now