nd by oar
combined exertions, we managed for a mo ment or two to keep the foe at bay. But the strength of both of us was failing rapidly, and already I found myself bleeding from numerous flesh wounds. A few stabs and one musket shot killed the horse of my friend, \vho Avas by this means brought to the same desperate strait as myself.
"It is all over, Frank," he groaned, as a blow on the head staggered him back against mo.
"Never pay die," I shouted, as with my remaining strength I sprang forward and plunged my knife into the breast of the aggressor, whose hatchet was already raised for a final and fatal stroke.
Partly recovering from my lunge, a blow on the back of my neck brought me to my knees; and before I could regain my feet, I saw another aimed at my head by a powerful Indian, who was standing over me. At this moment, when I thought my time had come, and " God have mercy on my soul!" was trembling on my lips, Kit Carson, like an imbodied spirit of bat tle, thundered past me on his powerful charger, and bending forward in his sad dle, with a motion quick as lightning itself, seized the scalp lock of my antagonist in one hand, and with the other completely severed his head from his body, which he bore triumphantly away. I now sprang to my feet, only to see my friend struck down, and be felled senseless to the earth myself.
CHAPTE R XV.
CONSCIOUSNESS PAINFUL SURMISES THE
MYSTERIOUS OLD INDIAN APPEARANCE OF
PRAIRIE FLOWER HER DEVOTION OUR
SINGULAR CONVERSATION REGARDING HER SELF AND TRIBE, THE FIGHT, MY FRIENDS, AND MANY OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS.
WHEN consciousness was again restored, I found myself lying on a pallet of skins, in a small, rude cabin, curiously construct ed of sticks, leaves, earth and a few hides of buffalo.
The first sensation was one of painful confusion. I felt much as one does on awaking from a troubled dream, without being able to recall a single event con
nected with it, and yet feeling the effectj of all combined. I was aware that either something terrible had happened, or I had dreamed it; but what that -something was, I had not the remotest idea. The most I could bring to mind, was a painful sen sation of death. Perhaps I was dead? Horrible thought! I tried to rise, but could not could not even lift my head from its rude pillow. Ey great exertion I raised one hand a little but the effort exhausted all my strength, and it fell bacb heavily, causing me the most excruciating pain.
What did all this mean? Surely I was not dead! for dead people, I thought to myself, feel no suffering. But where was I, and how came I here, and what was my ailment? And then strange thought who was I? Laugh if you will, reader but I had actually forgotten my own name, ami for a moment could not recall a single event of my existence. I had a confused idea of having lived before of having been somebody of having ex perienced sensations both of pleasure and pain; but beyond these, all was blank and dark as a ray less night.
Suddenly one remembrance after an other began to flash upon me. First my youth my school -boy days my collegi ate course; and then, the train once fired, years and events were passed with th velocity of thought itself; and in one briel moment, everything, up to the time of my fall in the fight, rose fresh in my memory.
But still the mystery was as dark as ever, and my curiosity as much unsatisfied. How had the battle gone? Were my friends the victors? But no! that were impossible, or I should not be here. Had they all been killed or taken prisoners? And Huntly my friend! Great Heaven! the very thought of him made me shudder with dread. Alas! he was dead. I knew it I felt it. I had seen him fall, and of course he could not have escaped. Poor, poor Charles Huntly my bosom com panion friend of my happier days! The very thought of his untimely fate cut off in the prime of lite made me groan with anguish.
But where was I, and how came I here? Why had I been saved and not my friend? But it might be that he was df
