e were collected. Some were slaughtered for immediate use, and the
rest placed in charge of vaqueros, to be driven on the hoof. Most of
the Indian horses were lassoed and brought in, some to be ridden by the
rescued captives, others as the booty of the conquerors. But it was not
safe to remain long in the valley. There were other tribes of the
Navajoes to the north, who would soon be down upon us. There were their
allies, the great nations of the Apaches to the south, and the Nijoras
to the west; and we knew that all these would unite and follow on our
trail. The object of the expedition was attained, at least as far as
its leader had designed it. A great number of captives were recovered,
whose friends had long since mourned them as lost for ever. It would be
some time before they would renew those savage forays in which they had
annually desolated the pueblos of the frontier.

By sunrise of the next day we had repassed the canon, and were riding
towards the snowy mountain.

CHAPTER FIFTY SIX.

EL PASO DEL NORTE.

I will not describe the recrossing of the desert plains, nor will I
detail the incidents of our homeward journey. With all its hardships
and weariness, to me it was a pleasant one. It is a pleasure to attend
upon her we love, and that along the route was my chief duty. The
smiles I received far more than repaid me for the labour I underwent in
its discharge. But it was not labour. It was no labour to fill her
xuages with fresh water at every spring or runlet, to spread the blanket
softly over her saddle, to weave her a _quitasol_ out of the broad
leaves of the palmilla, to assist her in mounting and dismounting. No;
that was not labour to me.

We were happy as we journeyed. I was happy, for I knew that I had
fulfilled my contract and won my bride; and the very remembrance of the
perils through which we had so lately passed heightened the happiness of
both. But one thing cast an occasional gloom over our thoughts--the
queen, Adele.

She was returning to the home of her childhood, not voluntarily, but as
a captive--captive to her own kindred, her father and mother!

Throughout the journey both these waited upon her with tender assiduity,
almost constantly gazing at her with sad and silent looks. There was
woe in their hearts.

We were not pursued; or, if so, our pursuers never came up. Perhaps we
were not followed at all. The foe had been crippled and cowed by the
terrible chast