He had agreed that he would appear in the
vicinity with his Indians, who were to throw their blankets around them
and come dashing down upon us, firing and whooping in the true Indian
style.
This program was faithfully carried out. I had been talking about
Indians to McCarthy, and he had become considerably excited, when just
as we turned a bend in the creek we saw a band of them not half a mile
away. They instantly started after us on the gallop, yelling and
shooting.
"McCarthy," said I, "shall we run or fight?"
He did not wait to reply. Wheeling his horse, he started at full speed
down the creek. He lost his gun and dropped his hat, but never once did
he look back to see if he were pursued. I tried to stop him by shouting
that the Indians were Pawnees and our friends. He did not hear me, but
kept straight on, never stopping his horse till he reached the camp.
I knew he would tell General Carr that the Indians had jumped him, and
that the general would at once start out with troops. So as soon as the
Pawnees rode up, I told them to remain there while I rode after my
friend.
When I had reached camp, he had given the alarm, and the general had
ordered out two companies of cavalry to go in pursuit of the Indians.
I told the general the Indians were only Pawnees, and that a joke had
been put up on McCarthy. I neglected to tell him who had put up the
joke.
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