Suddenly there was a sharp Bang! Bang! Bang! and a thunder of hoofs.
"Indians! They've shot the herders and stampeded the cattle!" cried McCarthy.

"Get under the banks of the river, boys--use 'em for a breastwork!" We obeyed orders quickly.

The Platte, a wide, shallow, muddy stream, flows under banks which vary from five to thirty feet in height.

Behind them we were in much the position of European soldiers in a trench.

We had our guns, and if the Indians showed over the bank could have made it hot for them.
McCarthy told us to keep together and to make our way down the river to Fort Kearney, the nearest refuge.