to their charge against them. Both parties had gained a thorough
taste of each other's mettle, and the conclusion reached was like
that of two trained pugilists -- their strength was so nearly equal
that neither could afford to throw away his advantage by leading
in the assault.

Undoubtedly Carson and his men would have withdrawn but for the
hope that the reserves were close at hand. The trappers had fought
valiantly but not more so than the Indians, who still possessed
plenty ammunition while that of the whites was nearly exhausted.
Had they advanced and encountered the warriors again, the latter
would have swept everything before them. As it was, the mountaineers
were by no means safe even when acting on the defensive. If the red
men should charge upon them with their old time fierceness, it was
by no means certain they would not destroy the whites. The fight
would necessarily be of the most sanguinary nature, but when guns
and small arms were useless for lack of ammunition, nothing short
of a miracle could save them from annihilation.

Several hours had gone and Carson and his men wondered what
could delay the reserves. Time always passes slowly to those in
waiting, and to some of the hunters the tardiness of their friends
was unaccountable. Carson was on the point of sending messengers
back to hurry them forward, when the whole party appeared and the
situation changed.

But those who expected the Blackfeet to flee in panic when they
observed the doubling of the assailing forces, were much mistaken.
The feeling among the Indians could not be described as in the least
"panicky." They quietly surveyed the new arrivals and prepared with