All went well till I got about halfway between the two posts, when at Pawnee Rock I was suddenly jumped by at least forty Indians, who came rushing up, extending their hands and saying, "How ?" "How ?" These redskins had been hanging about Fort Larned that morning.

I saw that they had on their warpaint, and looked for trouble.
As they seemed desirous to shake hands, however, I obeyed my first friendly impulse, and held out my hand.

One of them seized it with a tight grip and jerked me violently forward.

Another grabbed my mule by the bridle.

In a few minutes I was completely surrounded.
Before I could do anything at all in my defense, they had taken my revolvers from the holsters and I received a blow on the head from a tomahawk which rendered me nearly senseless.