letter from his pocket and thrust it under the man’s

trail becoming more and more distinct all the time, I suddenly saw in

front of me the Pit River Indians.

This caused a halt, and having hurriedly re-capped our guns and

six-shooters, thus preparing for the worst, I took a look at the band

through my field-glass. They were a half-mile or more in our front

and numbered about thirty individuals, armed with bows and arrows

only. Observing us they made friendly demonstrations, but I had not

implicit faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement