which, for an
hour or two, created some little stir and excitement among part of
the men present. A large Newfoundland dog belonging to an officer had,
accidentally, been allowed to follow the soldiers. By his pranks and
his good disposition he had become a general favorite among them.
While attempting to drink, this animal lost his foot-hold on the ice
and slipped into the swift current of the river, which was partially
frozen over. The dog at once attempted to extricate himself, but with
all his efforts he could do no more than stem the flood, making no
progress against it. His situation was very precarious, for, should
his strength begin to give out, he was certain to be carried under the
ice and lost. The sympathies of the men were soon well awakened in his
behalf, and many plans were devised to rescue him, but they all proved
abortive until, at last, a Mexican approached him with a lasso, and
after making several vain attempts, succeeded finally in encircling
the dog's head with the slip noose. On tightening the rope he found
that he had the animal firm, and soon dragged him from his perilous
position.

The spies were not long in discovering a trail made by the Indians, to
which they led the main portion of the command. This trail had been
so frequently used of late by the Indians in driving stolen bands
of sheep and cattle over it, that it was now a well-trodden road and
therefore there was no difficulty in keeping on it at all hours of the
day and night.

Being accustomed to perform his duty carefully, and, at the same time,
to use dispatch, the Colonel, in the course of a few days, led his
party to the entrance of the Saquachi Pass, which is the great natural
opening in the mountains that bound, on the west, the valley of San
Luis. As they approached the mouth of the pass, the men were traveling
close under the hills, therefore, on coming to it, and in order to
follow it up, it was necessary to turn off almost at a right angle.
The spies, as was usual when the command was on the march, were
considerably in the advance. They had hardly entered the pass and had
just reached the summit of a knoll which lay in their path, and which
had hitherto prevented their seeing up the valley, when, all at once,
the long looked for Indians were presented to their view. They were
but a short distance off, and as if surprised at thus so suddenly
discovering each other, both parties halted. During this state of
suspense, the w