le from the trail; their object apparently was to overlap the train
and either head it off or divide it; but their beasts were too frantic to
be governed fully. Before long there were two lines of straggling flight,
running parallel with each other at a distance of perhaps one hundred
yards, and both storming toward the still unseen rivulet. A few arrows
were thrown; four or five unavailing shots were fired in return; the hiss
of shaft and _ping_ of ball crossed each other in air; but no serious and
effective fight commenced or could commence. Both parties, guided and
mastered by their lolling beasts, almost without conflict and almost
without looking at each other, converged helplessly toward a verdant,
shallow depression, through the centre of which loitered a clear streamlet
scarcely less calm than the heaven above. Next they were all together,
panting, plunging, splashing, drinking, mules and horses, white men and
red men, all with no other thought than to quench their thirst.

The Apaches, who had probably made their cruel journey without flasks,
seemed for the moment insatiable and utterly reckless. Many of them rolled
off their tottering ponies into the rivulet, and plunging down their heads
drank like beasts. There were a few minutes of the strangest peace that
ever was seen. It was in vain that two or three of the hardier or fiercer
Chiefs and braves shouted and gestured to their comrades, as if urging
them to commence the attack. Manga Colorada, absorbed by a thirst which
was more burning than revenge, did not at first see the slayer of his boy,
and when he did could not move toward him because of fevered mustangs, who
would not budge from their drinking, or who were staggering blind with
hunger. Thurstane, keeping his horse beside Clara's, watched the lean
figure and restless, irritable face of Delgadito, not ten yards distant.
Mrs. Stanley had halted helplessly so near an Apache boy that he might
have thrust her through with his lance had he not been solely intent upon
water.

It was fortunate for the emigrants that they had reached the stream a few
seconds the sooner. Their thirst was first satiated; and then men and
animals began to draw away from their enemies; for even the mules of white
men instinctively dread and detest the red warriors. This movement was
accelerated by Thurstane, Coronado, Texas Smith, and Sergeant Meyer
calling to one and another in English and Spanish, "This way! this way!"
There se