In a few minutes more the Indians hove in sight.  They were in less than a quarter of a mile of us before they could see the whole train.  As soon as they got a good sight of us the whole band stopped.  The leader of the band was a war chief.  We knew this by his dress.  As soon as they stopped, Jim and I rode out towards them, waving the scalps like a flag.

The old chief looked at us a moment, then turned and seemed to be talking with some of the other braves a few minutes.  Then the whole tribe pulled out in a westerly direction from us, and in a short time they were out of our sight, and their pace was lively the reader may be sure for the sight of the scalps had frightened them, as they feared they would meet the same fate if they did not get away from us quick.

I followed them quite a distance to make sure that they had gone.  When I got back, everything had quieted down and the company was just sitting down to supper.

After Jim and I had got through eating, two of the committee came to us and as many as forty or fifty women, old and young, were with them.  The men said to us, “These women have asked us to come to you and tender their most heartfelt thanks to you for what you have done for them today, for we are all sure we would have fallen victims to the savages if you had not been with us to protect us from them.  It was the easiest-won battle that I ever heard of, and all because you knew how to fight the savages with their own weapon.”

Jim answered, “Didn’t I tell you that them scalps was worth an army of soldiers to us, and hasn’t this proved my words to be true?  What would a hundred soldiers have done with that whole tribe of Indians?  There wouldn’t have been a man of them left in an hour to tell the story, and every one of their scalps would be hanging to the Indians’ belts, and I want you to all bear in mind that for the next three hundred miles we are liable to have just such another experience any hour of the day or night, and I want to ask you all to do as you done this time.  Only keep cool and obey our orders, and I think we will get you through in safety, and I want to say this for the ladies, they showed great bravery today in keeping so quiet and having good sense staying under cover, and I did not hear a sound from any of them, and I will tell the girls that I will recommend them to the best-looking young frontiersmen I am acquainted with, as wifes, especially if they learn to dance to the Coyote’s music.”

This made a laugh all around and took the edge off of the danger that had clouded the people’s faces, which was the motive Jim had in view in making the joking remarks, for no one knew better than Jim did how necessary it is to keep a company in good spirits, and to keep them from dwelling on the danger that might threaten them.

There was nothing to interrupt our slumbers that night, and we arose refreshed the next morning, ready for the day’s journey and whatever was before us.