Sometimes large trees were mischievously felled across the trail.

Grape-vines were tied across from tree to tree, to trip up the passers-by or to sweep off their caps.

It was a great joke for half a dozen young men to play Indian.

They would lie in ambuscade, and suddenly, as the procession was passing, would raise the war-whoop, discharge their guns, and raise shouts of laughter in view of the real or feigned consternation thus excited.
The maidens would of course shriek.

The frightened horses would spring aside.