One morning just about daybreak I built a fire, and while Rolla and I were warming ourselves we were fired upon by some forty Indians.  Rolla fell, pierced through the heart, and died instantly.  How I escaped I know not, for the balls whistled all around me, knocking up the fire, and even piercing my clothing, yet I was not so much as scratched.

“I ran to my horse, which was saddled and tied near by, and flinging myself on his back, dashed across the prairies.  The Indians followed, whooping and yelling like devils, and although their ponies ran well, they could not overtake my swift-footed Selim.  I had got well ahead of them, and was congratulating myself on my escape from a terrible death, when suddenly Selim fell headlong into a ravine that was filled with drifted snow.  It was in vain I tried to extricate him; the more he struggled the deeper he sank.  Knowing the Indians would be up in a few minutes, I cut the saddle-girths with my knife, that the horse might be freer in his movements, and then, bidding him lie still, I took my pistols and burrowed into the snow beside him.  After I had dug down a little way, I struck off in the drift, and worked myself along it toward the valley.  I had not tunnelled far before I heard the Indians coming, and, pushing up my head, I cut a small hole in the crust of the snow, so I could peep out.  As the savages came up they began to yell, and Selim, making a great bound, leaped upon the solid earth at the edge of the ravine, and, dragging himself out of the drift, galloped furiously across the prairies.  Oh! how I wished then I was on his back, for I knew the noble fellow would soon bear me out of reach of all danger.

“The Indians divided, part of them going up the ravine and crossing over to pursue Selim, while the rest dismounted to look for his rider.  They carefully examined the ground all around to find my trail, but not finding any, they returned and searched up and down the ravine for me.  Two or three times they punched in the snow near me, and once an Indian passed within a few feet of the hole.  Great drops of perspiration stood on my forehead, and every moment I expected to be discovered, dragged out, and scalped, but I remained perfectly still, grasping my pistols, and determined to make it cost the redskins at least three of their number.

“After a while the Indians got tired searching for me, and drew off to consult.  I saw the party that had gone in pursuit of Selim rejoin their companions, and I was not a little gratified to observe that they did not bring back my gallant steed with them, from which I knew he had made his escape.

“The Indians mounted and rode down the ravine, examining every inch of ground for my trail.  As I saw them move off, hope once more revived in my breast; but in an hour they came back and again searched the drift.  At last, however, they went off without finding