hat."

"Ah, my horse! my brave Moro! I have lost him."

"Your horse is standing at the maize-trough, not ten paces from where
you lie. I think you will find him in somewhat better condition than
when you last saw him. Your mules are without. Your packs are safe.
You will find them here," and he pointed to the foot of the bed.

"And--"

"Gode you would ask for," said he, interrupting me. "Do not be uneasy
on his account. He, too, is in safety. He is absent just now, but will
soon return."

"How can I thank you? This is good news indeed. My brave Moro! and Alp
here! But how? you say my horse saved me. He has done so before: how
can this be?"

"Simply thus: we found you many miles from this place, on a cliff that
overlooks the Del Norte. You were hanging over on your lasso, that by a
lucky accident had become entangled around your body. One end of it was
knotted to the bit-ring, and the noble animal, thrown back upon his
haunches, sustained your weight upon his neck!"

"Noble Moro! what a terrible situation!"

"Ay, you may say that! Had you fallen from it, you would have passed
through a thousand feet of air before striking the rocks below. It was
indeed a fearful situation."

"I must have staggered over in my search for water."

"In your delirium you walked over. You would have done so a second time
had we not prevented you. When we drew you up on the cliff, you
struggled hard to get back. You saw the water below, but not the
precipice. Thirst is a terrible thing--an insanity of itself."

"I remember something of all this. I thought it had been a dream."

"Do not trouble your brain with these things. The doctor here
admonishes me to leave you. I have an object, as I have said," (here a
sad expression passed over the countenance of the speaker), "else I
should not have paid you this visit. I have not many moments to spare.
To-night I must be far hence. In a few days I shall return. Meanwhile,
compose yourself, and get well. The doctor here will see that you want
for nothing. My wife and daughter will nurse you."

"Thanks! thanks!"

"You will do well to remain where you are until your friends return from
Chihuahua. They must pass not far from this place, and I will warn you
when they are near. You are a student. There are books here in
different languages. Amuse yourself. They will give you music.
Monsieur, adieu!"

"Stay, sir, one moment! You seem to have taken a strange