CHAPTER XV.
_Adventure on the Prairie .-- I borrow a horse without leave .-- Rapid traveling one whole night .-- Apology for using other men's horses .-- My manner of living on the road._ Early in the morning I left the Indian territory as I have already said, for fear I might be pursued by the three white men whom I had seen there over night; but I had not proceeded far before my fears were magnified a hundred fold.
I always dreaded to pass through a prairie, and on coming to one which was about six miles in width, I was careful to look in every direction to see whether there was any person in sight before I entered it; but I could see no one.

So I started across with a hope of crossing without coming in contact with any one on the prairie.

I walked as fast as I could, but when I got about midway of the prairie, I came to a high spot where the road forked, and three men came up from a low spot as if they had been there concealed.

They were all on horse back, and I supposed them to be the same men that had tried to get lodging where I stopped over night.

Had this been in timbered land, I might have stood some chance to have dodged them, but there I was, out in the open prairie, where I could see no possible way by which I could escape.
They came along slowly up behind me, and finally passed, and spoke or bowed their heads on passing, but they traveled in a slow walk and kept but a very few steps before me, until we got nearly across the prairie.