," said Garey. "They'll be out o' sight in
three skips o' a goat."

"Yes! stay where we are a bit," added another; "some of them may ride
back; something may be forgotten."

This was not improbable; and in spite of the promptings of our
appetites, we resolved to remain a while longer in the defile.

We descended straightway into the thicket to make preparations for
moving--to saddle our horses and take off their mufflings, which by this
time had nearly blinded them. Poor brutes! they seemed to know that
relief was at hand.

While we were engaged in these operations, our vidette was kept at the
top of the hill to watch both bands, and warn us when their heads should
sink to the prairie level.

"I wonder why the Navajoes have gone by the Ojo de Vaca," remarked our
chief, with an apparent anxiety in his manner. "It is well our comrades
did not remain there."

"They'll be tired o' waitin' on us, whar they are," rejoined Garey,
"unless blacktails is plentier among them Musquites than I think for."

"Vaya!" exclaimed Sanchez; "they may thank the Santisima they were not
in our company! I'm spent to a skeleton. Mira! carrai!"

Our horses were at length bridled and saddled, and our lassoes coiled
up. Still the vidette had not warned us. We grew every moment more
impatient.

"Come!" cried one; "hang it! they're far enough now. They're not
a-goin' to be gapin' back all the way. They're looking ahead, I'm
bound. Golly! thar's fine shines afore them."

We could resist no longer. We called out to the vidette. He could just
see the heads of the hindmost.

"That will do," cried Seguin; "come, take your horses!"

The men obeyed with alacrity, and we all moved down the ravine, leading
our animals.

We pressed forward to the opening. A young man, the pueblo servant of
Seguin, was ahead of the rest. He was impatient to reach the water. He
had gained the mouth of the defile, when we saw him fall back with
frightening looks, dragging at his horse and exclaiming--

"Mi amo! mi amo! to davia son!" (Master, master! they are here yet!)

"Who?" inquired Seguin, running forward in haste.

"The Indians, master; the Indians!"

"You are mad! Where did you see them?"

"In the camp, master. Look yonder!"

I pressed forward with Seguin to the rocks that lay along the entrance
of the defile. We looked cautiously over. A singular sight met our
eyes.

The camp-ground was lying as the Indians had left it. The s