o
divulge the secret of his gold mine. Consequently, they overcame the
Indian, and when they threatened him with torture and death, he yielded
and said that he had found the gold in the Rio de San Francisco, a
mountain stream of Arizona. He promised to guide them to the spot where
he obtained the nuggets, saying that the bottom of the stream was
literally covered with golden sand, which might be seen from a
distance, as it shone resplendently in the sun. Then every able-bodied
Mexican in town who possessed a horse prepared to join a prospecting
expedition to the wild regions of mysterious Arizona. They organized a
company and elected a captain, a man of courage and experience. The
captain's first official act was to place a guard of four armed men
over the Navajo to prevent his escape, otherwise they treated their
prisoner well.

The women of the town cooked and baked for the party, and undoubtedly
each lady reveled in the hope to see her own man return with a sackful
of gold; and as a result of these fanciful expectations they were in
the best of spirits, laughing and singing the livelong day.

At last the party was off, and what happened to them I shall relate, as
told me by the captain, Don Jose Marie Baca y Artiaga, and in his own
words as nearly as I can remember them. "Valga me, Dios, Senor! What an
experience was that trip to Arizona! It began and ended with
disappointment and disaster. All the men of our party seemed to have
lost their wits from the greed of gold. They began by hurrying. Those
who had the best mounts rushed on ahead, carrying the Indian along with
them, and strove to leave their companions who were not so well mounted
behind. The first night's camp had of necessity to be made at a point
on the Rio Puerco, distant about thirty-five miles. As the last men
rode into camp, the first comers were already making ready to leave
again. In vain I remonstrated and commanded. There was a fight, and not
until several men were seriously wounded came they to their senses and
obeyed my orders. I threatened to leave them and return home, for I
knew very well that unless our party kept together we were sure to be
ambushed and attacked. I cautioned my companions as they valued their
lives to watch the Navajo and shoot him on the spot at the first sign
of treachery. This devil of an Indian led us over terrible trails,
across the roughest and highest peaks and the deepest canyons of a
wild, broken country. He seem