neither grass nor water on the route; and a halt under the hot sun would
not have refreshed us.

Early in the afternoon a dark line became visible, stretching across the
plain. As we drew nearer, a green wall rose before us, and we
distinguished the groves of cotton-wood. The hunters knew it to be the
timber on the Paloma. We were soon passing under the shade of its
quivering canopy, and reaching the banks of a clear stream, we halted
for the night.

Our camp was formed without either tents or lodges. Those used on the
Del Norte had been left behind in "cache." An expedition like ours
could not be cumbered with camp baggage. Each man's blanket was his
house, his bed, and his cloak.

Fires were kindled, and ribs roasted; and fatigued with our journey (the
first day's ride has always this effect), we were soon wrapped in our
blankets and sleeping soundly.

We were summoned next morning by the call of the bugle sounding
reveille. The band partook somewhat of a military organisation, and
everyone understood the signals of light cavalry.

Our breakfast was soon cooked and eaten; our horses were drawn from
their pickets, saddled, and mounted; and at another signal we moved
forward on the route.

The incidents of our first journey were repeated, with but little
variety, for several days in succession. We travelled through a desert
country, here and there covered with wild sage and mezquite.

We passed on our route clumps of cacti, and thickets of creosote bushes,
that emitted their foul odours as we crushed through them. On the
fourth evening we camped at a spring, the Ojo de Vaca, lying on the
eastern borders of the Llanos.

Over the western section of this great prairie passes the Apache
war-trail, running southward into Sonora. Near the trail, and
overlooking it, a high mountain rises out of the plain. It is the
Pinon.

It was our design to reach this mountain, and "cacher" among the rocks,
near a well-known spring, until our enemies should pass; but to effect
this we would have to cross the war-trail, and our own tracks would
betray us. Here was a difficulty which had not occurred to Seguin.
There was no other point except the Pinon from which we could certainly
see the enemy on their route and be ourselves hidden. This mountain,
then, must be reached; and how were we to effect it without crossing the
trail?

After our arrival at Ojo de Vaca, Seguin drew the men together to
deliberate on this mat