We had made a morning drive and had camped for dinner.

The wagon-masters and a majority of the men had gone to sleep under the mess wagons; the cattle were being guarded by three men, and the cook was preparing dinner.

No one had any idea that Indians were anywhere near us.

The first warning we had that they were infesting that part of the country was the firing of shots and the whoops and yells from a party of them, who, catching us napping, gave us a most unwelcome surprise.

All the men jumped to their feet and seized their guns.