d to the teeth. The great majority were
dark-skinned Mexicans, but here and there I noticed the American
frontiersman, the professional buffalo hunter and scout. These were men
of proved courage, and I observed that the Mexicans avoided looking
them squarely In the face; and when meeting on the public thoroughfare,
they invariably gave them precedence of passage.

I found opportunity to hire out to a pleasant-looking young Mexican as
driver of a little two-mule provision wagon. In this manner I earned my
passage across the plains. Don Jose Lopez, that was his name, said that
I need not do much actual work, as he would have his peons attend to
the care of the mules and have them harness up as well. He also told me
that we would have to delay our departure until every team present in
the town had its cumulation of cargo. They dared not travel singly, he
said, for the Indians were very hostile. In consequence whereof our
departure was delayed for six weeks. I camped with the Mexicans and
accustomed myself very soon to their mode of living. The fact that I
understood their language and spoke it quite well was a never-ending
surprise and mystery to them. I took dally walks over the prairie to
the junction of two creeks, a short distance from the town, bathed and
whiled away the time with target practice, and soon became very
proficient in the use of firearms.

The banks of these little streams would have made a delightful picnic
ground, covered as they were by a luxuriant growth of grasses and
bushes and some large trees also, mostly of the cottonwood variety. But
there were no families of ladies and children here to enjoy the lovely
spot. A feeling of intense uneasiness seemed to pervade the very air
and a weird presentiment of impending horror covered the prairie as
with a ghostly shroud. The specter of a wronged, persecuted race ever
haunted the white man's conscience. In vain did the red man breast the
rising tide of civilization. In their sacred tepees, their medicine men
invoked the aid of their great Spirit and they were answered.

The Spirit sent them for an ally, an army of grasshoppers, which
darkened the sun by its countless numbers. It impeded the progress of
the iron horse, but not for long. Then he sent them continued drouth,
but the pale face heeded not. "Onward, westward ever, the star of
empire took its course."

We camped out on the prairie within a short distance and in full sight
of the town. I made t