Within an hour, they caught sight of the Indians and the stolen animals.

The warriors were in camp and were enjoying a breakfast of horse meat, several of the stock having been killed to furnish the food.
Before the Indians could detect their pursuers, the latter dismounted and hid their steeds where they were not likely to attract notice.

They then started to crawl in among the stolen animals, which were grazing a short distance from camp.

This was an exceedingly delicate task, for the horses were likely to give the alarm, even if the warriors did not detect their presence; but patience and skill succeeded, and, after a time, they were among the drove.
But the very thing they dreaded took place.

They had scarcely reached the animals, when one of them became frightened by the appearance of the strangers, and began rearing and snorting.