But they gradually dropped out, and before morning the most of them were secured by their owners.

As there were at least two thousand horses and an equal number of dogs in the part of the Indian camp which had been thus overrun by the wild mustangs, the turmoil, as may be imagined, was prodigious! Yet, strange to say, no accident of a serious nature occurred beyond the loss of several chargers.
In the midst of this exciting scene there was one heart which beat with a nervous vehemence that well-nigh burst it.

This was the heart of Dick Varley's horse, Charlie.

Well known to him was that distant rumbling sound that floated on the night air into the fur-traders' camp, where he was picketed close to Cameron's tent.

Many a time had he heard the approach of such a wild troop, and often, in days not long gone by, had his shrill neigh rung out as he joined and led the panic-stricken band.