Yet in him natural bravery had a qualifying caution, which was here obviously well justified.

The Mexican made direct assault, rushing on with battle axe poised as though to end it all with one immediate blow.

With guard and parry he was more careless than the wild bull of the Plains, which meets his foe in direct impetuous assault.

White Calf was not so rash.
He stepped quickly back from the attack, and as the _mozo_ plunged forward from the impulse of his unchecked blow, the Indian swept sternly at him with the full force of his extended arm.

The caution of the chief, and the luck of a little thing, each in turn prevented the ending of the combat at its outset.