midnight march
It could not be they ! At this crisis a new thought came into my mind . More than once in my life had I witnessed a spectacle similar to that now under my eyes -- more than once had I looked upon it with dread . That serried line was an old acquaintance : it was a band of Indian warriors on their midnight march -- upon the war-trail ! The actions of the spy were explained : he was an Indian runner . The party to whom he belonged was about to approach the mesa -- perhaps with the design of encamping there -- he had been sent forward to reconnoitre the ground . What effect his tale would have , I could not guess .