Our camp was broken up on the next morning, and we continued, in an almost westerly line, our course. We were advancing into a thickly inhabited Indian country. From time to time what we believed signals were given and answered from either side of the train. No Indians were, however, visible.
It became clear, when we encamped for the night by Raft River, that if the natives put in any show at all, it would be a hostile one.
The result of this was, that after our brief supper was over, Captain Crim detailed me to make a reconnoissance of the country round our camping-place. We had long since begun to employ military terms. The reconnoissance proved him to have been right. Low and partially smothered Indian fires were detected by me, through the smoke rising from them, upon every side, and on my report being made, our guards for the night were doubled.
Next day, by its events, amply proved the advisability of this vigilance.
We had reached the City of Rocks, some seven or eight miles from the point at which we had crossed the last-mentioned stream. The advanced guard under me were moving cautiously along, exploring, almost, I had said, every inch of the road, and occasionally throwing a quick and marvellous glance at the springing spires, stretching battlements, cupolas and towers which bore witness to the plentiful imagination of the great Primal Architect and Supreme Master Mason of the earth, when we began to discover visible traces of Indian life. Some ten minutes after, the whole of this strange city of the unliving was literally blackened by live and threatening red-skins. The word, inappropriate as it may be to their color, must be pardoned. There was, and consequently is, no more time to pick phrases than to indulge in any descriptive power I may possess.
Giving the alarm, we fell back on the main body of our party.
Never before had I so much occasion afforded me to admire the natural nerve and military capacity of our leader, in a position of emergency.
The wagons of the train were formed in a close circle, with the horses hobbled inside, so as to prevent the chance of a stampede.
As for ourselves, we were posted under cover of our improvised fortification, to await the attack, which was not long before it burst upon us.
These preparations had been as speedily made, as the orders had been readily given.