heartily congratulated them upon their fortunate | because he intended to "put out" in a day or escape. So much for military tactics. Absurdly ridiculous as the foregoing may appear, it is but one of a thousand similar cases which might be cited, explaining satisfactorily the causes of numerous failures and disasters apparently unaccountable to those unacquainted with the circumstances that occasioned them. It is an axiom which must sooner or later become perfectly lucid in the eyes of Congress, that methodical tactics, and armies of regulars ever so large, may frighten, but never subdue Indians. Put an experienced old "mountain-man," like Kit Carson or Bill Bent, at the head of thirty others like him, and they will accomplish more than a regiment of troops-especially in those cases where ambuscades and the wiles and cunning of the Indian are to be combated. In the open field the same is true. The Indians will never meet an enemy in open fight except with tremendous odds in their favor. Nowadays they are almost invariably mounted when on the war-trail or a thieving expedition. Of course infantry can do nothing, and are next to useless. If too numerous, the Indians will take good care to keep out of rifle-range; if too few, their fate is certain. Mounted men alone can effect any thing. Dragoons are better than infantry. If they can not conquer their foe, they can at least escape by running away. But of what possible use can even dragoons be if all their movements are to be regulated by such tactical machinery as requires them to move and act with an automatic precision which, in nine cases out of ten, prevents them from taking advantage of auspicious circumstances to strike an effective blow; allows the enemy to slip through their fingers unscathed; or, forsooth, permits a massacre of their own countrymen almost within hail of their voices? two, being in haste to reach St. Vrain's, his destination. Knowing that he had goods to dispose of, the Indians were anxious to trade, and continually came into camp. At first they behaved with propriety, but soon became insolent and troublesome. Small parties were observed moving stealthily about, and Bent's suspicions were fully aroused. During the morning, signals were frequently interchanged between parties stationed on the neighboring eminence, and thin spiral columns of smoke curled upward from various points. noted. All these ominous signs were duly At length it was perceived that among the crowd that thronged the camp were many with their faces blackened, an indication that their intentions were by no means peaceable, which was evident enough from their insolent bearing and abusive language. Large parties were continually arriving upon the ground, all with faces blackened, and kept up a most hidcous din, yelling and shouting, and rattling their spears against their shields, and galloping hither and thither, until the dust became not only almost suffocating, but so dense as to conceal from view those not in the immediate vicinity, so that it was quite impossible to judge of their numbers. Several of the chiefs now came up, and demanded something "on the prairie" (free gift), and even attempted to seize sundry blankets and loose articles lying about. This last act of impudence was too much for the old trader's equanimity, and he fumed and swore desperately. He fully comprehended the danger of his situation, knowing well enough that the least concessions on his part would only make the Indians bolder, instead of pacifying them or inducing them to leave the camp. In reply, therefore, to their importunate demands, he told them distinctly that he would see them in a much warmer climate before he would give them a thing. The Indians, incensed at his obstinate refusal, pronounced him "wah keitcha" (bad medicine), murmured because he did not freely "open his hand," and ceased a while from their importunities only to gather fresh insolence from increasing numbers. The United States furnishes her cavalry with excellent horses, which, when mounted by men who know their business, and competent officers to command, could soon run the Indians out of the country, or punish them into good behavior and a proper regard for human life and the laws of meum and tuum. Let the Ranger | system, then, be adopted in place of the old discipline-a system in which each man, acting in concert with his fellow, yet fights on his own hook; a system which would not prevent nine-terred only by the ever ready pistol, which was teen men from saving a massacre because a twentieth could not aid in the action-and government has found the true remedy for one of her greatest ills. IV. Petty annoyances soon grew into open assaults, and twice did a daring brave attempt to snatch the very trinkets from Bent's hand, de each time intruded between his eyes. Matters had now so nearly approached a crisis that it became evident that help must be obtained from the fort; but this seemed utterly impossible, as the least attempt in that direction would be immediately intercepted by their wary foes, who were now momentarily becoming more determ For two days succeeding Bent's arrival at the fort the Indians remained remarkably quiet, and showed no signs of hostility. But still the de-ined and excited. What, then, could be done? linquent agent came not to relieve the Indians of their suspicions, or the whites of their anxiety, and affairs once more grew dark and omin ous. King's party still remained within the fort, but Bent had camped a quarter of a mile up the river, partly for the ake of pasturage, and also Matters could not continue long as they were, for already were the Indians heard conversing in their own language, and inciting each other to strike the first blow. At the same time they were vigorously plying the old trader to give them presents. Meanwhile Bent's old favorite, Yellow Bear, sat upon his blanket near one of the wagons, quietly playing with his knife, thrusting it into the ground, or spearing the little hummocks of grass before him, apparently heedless of all that was transpiring, but, in reality, listening most attentively to all that was said. He knew the peril of his friend, and was prepared to aid him to the best of his ability; but he had not yet observed such indications of immediate danger as would warrant the risk of conveying intelligence to the fort. But now a sound, low and ominous, like the distant sighing of the wind presaging a storm, was heard passing from group to group of the assembled braves. Commencing at first with those most remote, it came gradually nearer and nearer, as each grim warrior took up the warning note; and, like a pestilential infection, soon seized those around and in the camp. They, too, joined in the dread precurse. All else was painfully still-no shouting, no clash of arms, nought but the neverceasing, doleful murmur that thrilled the hearts of those who knew its dread import. The Bear now quietly rose, and, without deigning a word or look to either friend or foe of all the motley throng around him, moved slowly from the camp. So noiseless and unaffected was his departure that but few noticed him, and these gave him only a passing glance, allowing him to pass on unheeded. But Bent's eye, ever-watchful, twinkled brightly for an instant, and the anxious expression of his face was succeeded by a momentary flush of pleasure, for he knew why the Bear had so suddenly left him. But while his hopes and the sugar rapidly grew less, and he was well-nigh despairing of opportune relief, and the temporary lull of the war-song had once more given place to a fullmeasured chant, a mounted Comanche darted suddenly out of the dim pall of dust, and came dashing into the midst of the throng, with the news that the troops and teamsters were coming up from the fort, and were close at hand. Indeed, the quick tramp of their horses' feet could now be distinctly heard. The intelligence spread like wild-fire. The chanting suddenly ceased, and in a moment, with one piercing, parting yell, every Indian had "vamosed the ranche." Thus was the camp again saved from the rankling vengeance of the savages. But the end was not yet, though the Comanches desisted from further hostilities during the remainder of the day. Night came on, and all was quiet within and without the fort. The guards were going their unceasing rounds, and their tramp alone was heard above the sighing of the winds; for the wind blew fitfully, and the clouds were lowering, portentous of a storm. Their footfalls alone were heard, for moccasined feet of Indians prate not of their vicinage, even though thousands were prowling about in the gloom. Fitzwilliam slept uneasily, and, like a weasel, with one eye open. As he lay stretched upon his mattress on the bottom of one of the wagons, in a state of semi-consciousness, he was startled by the sound of stealthful footsteps at his side; and presently a hand carefully drew aside the Osnaburg covering, a head was thrust warily in, and a tremulous voice whispered: "For God's sake, Fitz, give us a gun! We are 'gone beaver,' sure-the whole of us! The Indians are inside the fort!" "Nonsense, man; that's all in your eye, I reckon," replied Fitzwilliam, quickly raising himself up, and handing a rifle to his compan 66 But now the murmur, at first so faintly heard, gradually increased in volume and in tone, and a doleful, measured chant succeeded. The sea of red-skinned warriors surged heavily to and fro, while the snorting of their mettled steeds, and the dull, leaden tramp of hoofs upon the yielding turf mingled with the sound. On every side, far and near, the monotonous "hi-ya, hi-ya, hi-ya, hi-ya!" kept up its unceasing cadence. It was the war-song of the Coman-ion, while he himself seized another, and thrust ches! Louder it grew every moment, and more himself, feet foremost, out of the end of the threatening, swelling like the voice of the rising wagon. "Show us your Injuns! Where's the storm, and Bent momentarily expected an at- guard ?" tack. There was but one last resort which could save his scalp and hold the Indians in check until the Bear returned with help. He had a keg of sugar in his wagon. Obtaining this, and knocking out its head with a single blow, he stepped upon a box beside him, and notified the chiefs that he wished to have a "talk," at the same time directing their attention to the saccharine consoler at his side. Instantly the chiefs and headmen of the braves gathered around him; and while he talked to them in "honeyed accents," with an iron spoon he titillated their palates with the sugar, doling out a spoonful to each of the big-mouthed savages as they came up in turn, with jaws agape, like yearling infants, anxious to be fed. In this way, soothing and sweetening, talking continually, but sparing not the sugar, he eked out a long half hour; still no help came. 'Humph! the guard be hanged! Where are they if they ain't asleep, I should like to know. What else could you expect of such Greeks as them?" "Well, where's the red-skins? see 'em inside, yourself?" Did you "No; but they're scaling the walls. Didn't I see a dozen tarred heads pop down the moment I showed my face? I heard the varmints, too, afore I jumped up from my bunk." While they were yet speaking sounds were distinctly heard at the other side of the fort, and presently the whole place was aroused. All was commotion. Men and women, soldiers and teamsters, all were rushing hither and thither, anxiously seeking the cause of the disturbance. Startled so suddenly from their slumbers as they were, their fears amounted almost to a panic. The drums beat to arms, "Yes, you may be sure the Injuns have fixed their flints for 'em," rejoined the soldiers. They are all murdered!" chimed in the women, feeling their own heads mechanically to test the safety of their scalps. "They are murdered--the soldiers are killed! But where are the Indians?" "Sure enough," replied some of the men, roused from a fit of abstraction, "where are the Injuns ?" But no Indians were to be found or seen. That they had been prowling about, however, was but too certain; for they could be distinctly heard, as they galloped over the prairie, in the distance. A confused noise and loud sounds of voices were now heard in the direction of Bent's camp, and it was evident that they, too, had been aroused from some cause as yet inexplicable. There was a mystery about the whole affair that baffled explanation. None doubted at first that the soldiers had been murdered; but when the fact that they had slept in their quarters with the rest of the garrison was considered, this seemed impossible. Other reasons were therefore assigned for their absence. At length all became quiet again in the fort, and the inmates gradually recovered from their alarm. The garrison, however, was kept under arms the rest of the night. At length morning came, and brought welcome light to their eyes and joy to their hearts. The mystery was soon cleared up, though it brought a shudder to all, when they learned the danger they had so providentially escaped. A concerted plot had been laid by the Indians to attack the fort and Bent's camp at the same time, and by a well-directed coup de main totally annihilate the whites to a man. They had been foiled, however, when just upon the point of carrying it into execution, by the camp's being alarmed, together with the movements of the four soldiers, who, it appeared, had deserted, and while in the act of leaping the walls frightened the Indians from their purpose. The whole party had narrowly escaped a massacre! From the disclosures afterward made it was learned that the question of desertion had been agitated by many of the soldiers for several days. They had become terribly alarmed, and saw not the slightest chance of eventual escape. They chose to run all risks rather than remain longer within the fort. More would undoubtedly have deserted had not their courage failed. Of those that escaped one made his way to Salt Lake, and the others to the States; and these were they who brought the intelligence, which was very generally believed, that Fort Atkinson had been taken by the Indians and the garrison massacred. They alone had escaped to tell the tale! Nothing of importance occurred that day until toward noon, when the whites observed a great commotion among the Indians. In the distance far up the river, and away to the right, the thin yellowish clouds of dust, which ever lingered above the Indian camp, and served to mark its site, now began to roll up in dense surging volumes like the smoke of a thousand furnaces. Swiftly it spread over the adjacent plain, rising here and there at irregular intervals, as if stirred by miniature whirlwinds, and speeding onward, borne on the wings of a tempest, until it covered the fort, and cast a vail over the sun, through which he looked with a dull red glare. Meanwhile all the hangers-on around the fort-every Indian in the neighborhood-had hastily gathered up their trappings and whatever movables they had, and galloped away up the river toward the "big village" with all possible speed. From time to time some half a dozen of the stragglers, far down the river beyond the fort, came dashing swiftly past, all intent upon reaching the goal beyond. Anon, a single horseman, with spear bristling at his side, his body inclining forward, his hair and horse's mane and tail streaming in the wind, would suddenly emerge from the dim cloud below, and flying swiftly past, visible for a moment only, as suddenly disappear in the thick pall beyond, Singly and in groups they followed on in quick succession, while, betimes, great dogs and little curs, gaunt and starveling, individually and in packs, barking and yelping, ran streaking it after their flying masters. Thus, for the space of half an hour, a continuous phantasmagoria of Indian, dog, and horse was all that greeted the eyes of the astonished soldiers at the fort. Speculation speculated in vain to divine the cause of so sudden and unaccountable a movement. The whole vicinity was silent and deserted-not an Indian remained, Most potent must have been the influence that could have dispersed so great an army, and suspended siege operations in so short a time! While they yet wondered, and in vain endeavored to solve the mystery, one of Bent's men came in with the intelligence that the Comanches were breaking up camp! This was news, joyful as unexpected, and brought relief to every mind. Instantly all who were not on duty set out for the village to witness so rare and interesting a spectacle; and, sure enough, the Indians were in the act of evacuating the place. Every thing was in motion, and the greatest bustle and confusion prevailed. On all sides squaws were diligently removing their blankets, pots, and other utensils from the lodges, preparatory to taking them down. The men were busy with the horses-some hurriedly adjusting their bridles and saddle-blankets, while others secured and drove in the loose animals. Nude and semi-nude children wandered hither and thither-useful as other children in their place, but always out of place-and receiving constant reminders from the women, which sent them yelling and sprawling over the ground in every direction. Papooses squalling, dogs yelp- | with a succession of jumps and kicks, never ing, horses neighing, women scolding, men swearing and shouting, the tramp of hoofs and rush of feet, the clash of iron and ring of steel, added to the excitement of the scene, and afforded rich harmony to those who had no ear for music. failing, in the end, to extricate himself from the annoying apparatus dangling at his heels. Then followed a series of evolutions truly amusingfun, indeed, to all outsiders; not pleasant otherwise. As squaws and brats, dogs and kettles, and all the contents of the travée went bounc fusion, threatening every moment to be thrown to the ground, the squaws clutched desperately at the poles, clinging to them with one hand, and holding their screaming children by the other, and so for a while heroically retained their places; but the rest of the furniture was jostled over the side, piece by piece-here a dog, and there a pot, blankets, trinkets, and what not, went flying out, one by one, strewing the ground for rods behind. At length the squaws themselves, by an extra kick and plunge of the horse, were fairly somerseted, and thrown into the dirt together, while the frightened animal, now relieved of his burden, went careering wildly on, until a lasso dexterously thrown by the nearest Indian brought him to a sudden stop. Then the strewn contents of the primitive vehicle were hastily gathered up, the travée readjusted, and the delayed family followed on at the tail of the posse. At length all was ready for striking the lodging violently along together, in ridiculous cones, and, at a given signal, down, with a crash and a squelch, came every lodge simultaneously to the ground. In the twinkling of an eye every one was flat. Where but an instant before one thousand wigwams dotted the plain, now all was level as a floor. Now, with renewed activity, all set to work stripping off the hides and buffalo robes from the lodge-poles. The working horses were led up, ready to be harnessed into the travées. Lashing the poles of the lodges half of them on each side of a horse, with their ends trailing on the ground some fifteen feet behind, transversal bars were strapped upon them. Upon this frame-work the skins were secured so as to form a hammock-like bag, but raised so as not to strike the ground. These were the "travées"-a unique arrangement, by which the portable lodges were most conveniently carried, and at the same time converted into traveling-carriages for the party. Into these the squaws, papooses, children, small dogs, pots and kettles, were very expeditiously and unceremoniously tumbled together-the word was given, and away they started! Then followed a scene that would have made even Diogenes, that stolid old stoic, split his sides for laughter. Away went the whole promiscuous posse, pell-ing, snorting, and splashing through the impetmell, helter-skelter, at full speed toward the river, stirring the dust into blinding and suffocating clouds, and creating such a din as made "confusion worse confounded." The lash of countless whips mingled with the cries and yells of the drivers, as they urged on the sluggish and overworked pack-horses; the clash of ringing metal; the blended voices of women, dogs, and children; and the incessant and grating cranch, cranch of the lodge-pole travées, as they jerked along with the rapid movement of the horsesall added strange discordance and excitement to a scene which already beggared description. Horses and mules were continually breaking from the guard, and the guard as continually running after them and bringing them in. From time to time, as they passed over uneven ground, the springy poles of the travées would send their heterogeneous burdens of animate and inanimate nondescripts up in the air with a bound, halfthrowing them out of the bag; and not only once, but again and again, until a series of successive jolts and jars had deranged their original position beyond all recovery. Sometimes, from lack of being properly secured, the horses would break from the travées, and at once leave their burdens behind them in a state of passive non sequitur; or the fastenings of one side only would break, letting the whole concern fall to the ground, dragging by the other poles. This would frighten the horse, and off he would dash, In this way the retreating Comanches proceeded until they reached the ford of the Arkansas. Then commenced a scene even more exciting than any before. With whip and spur and fiercest yells the frightened steeds were urged into the rushing wave, and went plung uous current, stirring up the muddy bed of the river into a caldron of boiling chocolate, which went seething, and foaming, and whirling, and rippling for a quarter of a mile below. Breastdeep was the water, yet easily crossed by the horsemen. With the travées the task was greater, and not without its perils; for though these floated buoyantly upon the surface, yet they were liable to disaster from the swiftness of the tide. Being secured only at one end, they were easily swept around, and acting as a powerful lever, carried the struggling beasts with them, frequently taking them off their feet, and plunging them beneath the waves. This would, of course, upset the travée, and its contents would suddenly vanish from sight-the pots and similar utensils to rise no more, but the squaws to instantly reappear, clutching desperately their almost amphibious progeny, and striving to gain a footing on the bottom. Still grasping the lodge-poles, they would finally find their way across without assistance, improved in appearance, if not well pleased with the bath. In this way the fording was accomplished at last. It was noon when they commenced to cross, and it was not until six o'clock that the last horse was over. In six hours ten thousand men, women, and children, with their horses, were safely landed on the opposite side. Now whipping up their steeds once more, the hindmost warriors galloped rapidly after the advance, amidst a tre upon the hill over which the road wound as he came in sight of the city, to survey scenes familiar to his eye, and sacred to the memories of earlier days. "Use thy whip, then, Gallicio, and go forward at what pace may please thee," answered the horseman. "The way thou hast pressed on all the evening, one would guess thou wert un va to meet her at sunset by Fountain del Moro, where all the pretty young women meet at eve to draw water and make love to their sweethearts. Well, I am the last man to mar a lover's happiness! So let us forward, for I fain would enter the city ere it grow dark." It remains but to explain the mystery of the Indians' sudden departure. This was cleared up the following day by the arrival of the Com-der a pledge to some nut-brown maid of Cordomandant of the Fort, with Major Sanderson, at the head of two companies of mounted riflemen, which had been dispatched to the aid of the beleaguered garrison. The Indian scouts, ever on the watch, had given their people notice of the approach of the troops almost twenty-four hours before the whites were apprised of their coming! The three horsemen now galloped rapidly They did not care to wait longer for presents forward, the Castilian now and then half drawunder this new aspect of affairs, and according-ing rein to gaze upon the beautiful landscape ly took themselves out of the way, doubtless believing discretion to be the better part of valor. of valley, hillside, vineyard, garden, and villa, mingled in rich profusion before him and around him on either side of the road; while in their This single incident illustrates the necessity midst flowed, like a necklace of minute lakes, of the promptest action in all military move-the irregular and meandering river from which ments against the Indians. It is almost im- all borrowed their beauty and glory. possible for any military force to approach the As the guide drew near the town, he pointed Indians unawares, especially by the regularly-out with his whip, from the back of his galloptraveled routes; for their scouts are stationed ing ass, now the ruins of the old castle, once all along the road, at all times, to give speedy the prison of Don John of Portugal, and now intimation of danger, or of the approach of trad- the summer abode of the Princess Isabella de ers' trains, which they are on the alert to rob. Cordova; and he would have gone on pointing These facts are still better exemplified in the re-out others, but the Castilian, whom he had escent expedition of Colonel Sumner, when the very Indians he was seeking to punish slipped down between his divided forces, and plundered a wagon-train almost before his very eyes, without his knowledge. THE FAIR DOÑA BELLA. A TALE OF CORDOVA, IN SPAIN. "AD corted from Madrid, bade him ride on in silence, as all these places were well known to him. "Si, Señor! I perceive thou art no stranger about Cordova!" answered Gallicio, discomfited, for it was his delight, as it is of all guides, to play the intelligent showman to poor, ignorant travelers. As they drew nigh the gates of the city they encountered large companies of peasants and market-folk coming out, hurrying to reach their homes in the suburbs ere deep nightfall. DELANTE, Señor! it is necessary your Excellenza goes forward! It is two and a half good leagues to Cordova yet, and the shadows have crept up two-thirds of the height Having shown his passport at the portal of of the tower of Santa Maria del Alma! Mira!" the great gateway, the Castilian rode slowly and the speaker, who was an Andalusian mu-forward, looking about him with the looks of leteer, gayly dressed, and mounted upon a one recognizing, with the peculiar and strange frisky, lion-colored ass, with ears of enormous delight of a long-absent citizen, places familiar length, extended his right hand, gay with gold to his memory. rings, with a dramatic air toward the city, the He had sent his servant forward with the Anlower portion of which was wrapped in soft twi-dalusian, to prepare a room for him at the chief light, while the tops of the spires and loftier towers were glittering in the splendor of an Hispanian sunset. The person addressed was a young Spanish cavalier-his fine, large, sparkling eyes, olive complexion, and extremely handsome features, betraying clearly his Castilian blood. He was not more than five or six-and-twenty, and well mounted upon a superb Andalusian steed, and his air and general appearance, the richness of his dress, and the elegance of his trappings, showed that he belonged to the first class of Spanish grandees. He was attended by a servant, who also rode on horseback-a short, swarthy-looking Spaniard, with grisly beard, and long, grayish locks. The Castilian had been lingering hotel, saying he would ride on leisurely through the Prado. He soon turned from the Calle del Pedro, which led from the gate into the heart of the city, and issued upon the noble Alameda, or Park, of the city. It was, as he expected to find it, thronged, at that twilight hour, with all the beauty and chivalry of Cordova. Around the fountains crowds were standing gazing upon the long lines of open carriages, filled with tastefully-attired ladies, glittering with jewels, as if dressed for a ball, who, as they rode past, drawn by horses or mules richly caparisoned along the avenues of gazing and admiring friends, nodded to some in recognition, smiled on others, signaled secretly with their fans to lovers, and to other cavaliers beckoned, who, obediently spur |