of my treacherous nerves, and, bounding past Smith, and

had almost abandoned hope of rescue.

Having brought with me over the mountains a few head of beef cattle

for the hungry Indians, without thinking of running any great

personal risk I had six beeves killed some little distance from my

camp, guarding the meat with four Soldiers, whom I was obliged to

post as sentinels around the small area on which the carcasses lay.

The Indians soon formed a circle about the sentinels, and impelled by

starvation, attempted to take the beef before it could be equally