It sounded like a clap of thunder, and I jumped up, coming slap-bang against the brute's nose so blamed hard it knocked me flat; and then, when I fairly got my eyes open, I saw five Sioux Indians creeping along through the moonlight, heading right toward our pony herd.

I tell you things looked mighty skittish for me just then, but what do you suppose I did with 'em ?" "Eh--eat 'em, likely," suggested McNeil, thoughtfully, "fried with plenty of--eh--salt; heard they were--eh--good that way." Mr.Moffat half rose to his feet.
"You damn--" "O Mr.McNeil, how perfectly ridiculous!" chimed in Miss Spencer.
"Please do go on, Mr.Moffat; it is so exceedingly interesting." The incensed narrator sank reluctantly back into his seat, his eyes yet glowing angrily.

"Well, I crept carefully along a little gully until I got where them Indians were just exactly opposite me in a direct line.
I had an awful heavy gun, carrying a slug of lead near as big as your fist.

Had it fixed up specially fer grizzlies.

The fellow creepin' along next me was a tremendous big buck; he looked like a plum giant in that moonlight, and I 'd just succeeded in drawin' a bead on him when a draught of air from up the gully strikin' across the back of my neck made me sneeze, and that buck turned round and saw me.