fire and baked
bread for the wily Indians as a ransom for his cattle. Of course then
the missing oxen were soon brought up, and we lost no time in getting
under way.

Until midnight we traveled, as Don Juan was very anxious to get away
from the reservation of these Indians, which is seventy-five miles
across. This night we experienced a repetition of the tactics of the
night before, as regarded the safety of our herd, but Don Juan had to
pay a higher ransom in the morning. While we were awaiting the arrival
of the Indians with our lost steers, Chief Manuelito honored us again
with his presence. He sat down at our fire, and producing a greasy deck
of Spanish playing cards, he challenged Don Juan to a game of monte.
That was an irresistible temptation for my companion. By the smiling
expression of his wizened features I divined that he thought he saw his
chance for revenge. Manuelito undoubtedly had a strain of sporting
blood in his veins, as he offered to stake his horses, blankets,
squaws, and everything he had against the Mexican's wagons and cargo. I
warned Don Juan to have a care, as I knew the cunning of the Navajo
tribe, having dealt with them before, and advised him to play the traps
he had bought from them with liquor against a chipper little squaw who
was richly dressed and had come with Chief Manuelito, mounted on a
white pony. I believed her to be the chief's daughter. When she
understood the import of the conversation, she looked haughtily and in
a disdainful manner at Don Juan, but appeared to be pleased with me and
eyed me with symptoms of curiosity. Of course, I expected her to defy
Don Juan to take her, and simply ride off in case he should win the
game. At any rate, I meant to take her under my protection, if
necessary, and send her home to her people. In fact, the liquor which
Don Juan had sold these Indians had belonged to me and had been
presented to me by a friend as an antidote for possible snake bites on
the road to Arizona.

The gambling began, and my Mexican companions became so engrossed in
the enjoyment of their alluring national game of monte that they forgot
everything else. The drivers were as interested as their employer and
bet the poor trinkets they possessed on the result of the game. There
arrived more Indians continually, and I observed a familiar face
amongst these and saw that I myself was recognized. The game was ended
as I had foreseen, with Don Juan as the loser. He was an easy