ircling about until the trail leaving was
taken up. Even the temporary camp of the robbers was found in close
proximity to the chosen spot. The experienced eye of this officer soon
determined the number of men, though they led several horses. It was
a cool, daring act of Peg-Leg and three men. Afterward, when his past
history was learned, his leadership in this raid was established.

Peg-Leg Eldridge was a product of that unfortunate era succeeding
the civil war. During that strife the herds of the southwest were
neglected to such an extent that thousands of cattle grew to maturity
without ear-mark or brand to identify their owner. A good mount of
horses, a rope and a running-iron in the hands of a capable man, were
better than capital. The good old days when an active young man could
brand annually fifteen calves--all better than yearlings--to every
cow he owned, are looked back to to this day, from cattle king to the
humblest of the craft, in pleasant reminiscence, though they will come
no more. Eldridge was of that time, and when conditions changed,
he failed to change with them. This was the reason that, under the
changed condition of affairs, he frequently got his brand on some
other man's calf. This resulted in his losing a leg from a gunshot at
the hands of a man he had thus outraged. Worse, it branded him for all
time as a cattle thief, with every man's hand against him. Thus the
steps that led up to this September night were easy, natural, and
gradual. This child of circumstances, a born plainsman like the
Indian, read in plain, forest, and mountain, things which were not
visible to other eyes. The stars were his compass by night, the heat
waves of the plain warned him of the tempting mirage, while the cloud
on the mountain's peak or the wind in the pines which sheltered him
alike spoke to him and he understood.

The robbers' trail was followed but a few miles, when their course
was well established. They were heading into the Sangre de Cristo
Mountains. Several hours were lost here by the pursuing party, as they
were compelled to await the arrival of a number of pack horses; so
when the trail was taken up in earnest they were at least twelve hours
behind the robbers.

In the ascent of the foot-hills the dogs led the posse, six in number,
a merry chase. As they gradually rose to higher altitudes the trail
of the robbers was more compact and easy to follow, except for the
roughness of the mountain slope. Freq