As it was, the mountaineers were by no means safe even when acting on the defensive.

If the red men should charge upon them with their old time fierceness, it was by no means certain they would not destroy the whites.

The fight would necessarily be of the most sanguinary nature, but when guns and small arms were useless for lack of ammunition, nothing short of a miracle could save them from annihilation.
Several hours had gone and Carson and his men wondered what could delay the reserves.

Time always passes slowly to those in waiting, and to some of the hunters the tardiness of their friends was unaccountable.

Carson was on the point of sending messengers back to hurry them forward, when the whole party appeared and the situation changed.
But those who expected the Blackfeet to flee in panic when they observed the doubling of the assailing forces, were much mistaken.