he Llanos stretching away
to the north, south, and east. It was just the sort of hiding-place we
required for our object.

In the morning it became necessary to descend for water. For this
purpose we had provided ourselves with a mule-bucket and extra xuages.
We visited the spring, and filled our vessels, taking care to leave no
traces of out footsteps in the mud.

We kept constant watch during the first day, but no Indians appeared.
Deer and antelopes, with a small gang of buffaloes, came to the
spring-branch to drink, and then roamed off again over the green
meadows. It was a tempting sight, for we could easily have crept within
shot, but we dared not touch them. We knew that the Indian dogs would
scent their slaughter.

In the evening we went again for water, making the journey twice, as our
animals began to suffer from thirst. We adopted the same precautions as
before.

Next day we again watched the horizon to the north with eager eyes.
Seguin had a small pocket-glass, and we could see the prairie with it
for a distance of nearly thirty miles; but as yet no enemy could be
descried.

The third day passed with a like result; and we began to fear that the
warriors had taken some other trail.

Another circumstance rendered us uneasy. We had eaten nearly the whole
of our provisions, and were now chewing the raw nuts of the pinon. We
dared not kindle a fire to roast them. Indians can read the smoke at a
great distance.

The fourth day arrived and still no sign on the horizon to the north.
Our tasajo was all eaten, and we began to hunger. The nuts did not
satisfy us. The game was in plenty at the spring, and mottling the
grassy plain. One proposed to lie among the willows and shoot an
antelope or a black-tailed deer, of which there were troops in the
neighbourhood.

"We dare not," said Seguin; "their dogs would find the blood. It might
betray us."

"I can procure one without letting a drop," rejoined a Mexican hunter.

"How?" inquired several in a breath.

The man pointed to his lasso.

"But your tracks; you would make deep footmarks in the struggle?"

"We can blind them, captain," rejoined the man.

"You may try, then," assented the chief.

The Mexican unfastened the lasso from his saddle, and, taking a
companion, proceeded to the spring. They crept in among the willows,
and lay in wait. We watched them from the ridge.

They had not remained more than a quarter of an hour when a herd of