nta Fe," and
came out upon the open plain beyond.

My attention was attracted by a small group of wagons parked upon the
plain a short distance off, and I walked towards them, thinking perhaps,
to fall in with some of my own countrymen, of a different class from the
brutal roughs I had lately met. The wagons were but four in number, and
the party to which they belonged comprised only twelve or fifteen
persons. They were mostly Americans, and from their dress and manner I
took them to be a party of miners. All were stout, hardy looking men,
with an air that bespoke familiarity with hardships and adventure. They
had just struck camp, and were evidently preparing for departure. One,
who seemed to act as their leader, was directing operations, and
apparently exercised a degree of authority unusual among men of this
class. He was a stout, broad-shouldered man, with a good natured
expression of countenance, and from his voice and features, easily
distinguishable as an Englishman. The others addressed him as "Harding,"
or "Ned." One or two giving him the familiar appellation of "Hard Pan,"
which seemed a sort of _sobriquet_ by which he was known. There was
something in his appearance which inspired me with the belief that in
him I might find a friend; and impelled by this feeling I approached
him, and addressed him as "Mr." Harding, explained that I was a stranger
and destitute, in what was to me a strange land, and implored him to
give me employment of some kind with his party, so that I might in time
be enabled to return to my home in the distant East.

"Where do ye come from, lad?" said he, looking at me with some interest,
and noticing the ineffaceable marks upon my face--my legacy from the
Camanches, and which I am destined to carry to my grave.

In as few words as possible I told him my story, interrupted by many
exclamations of wonder and sympathy from my simple-minded listener. As I
concluded he slapped me on the back, and declared that I should join his
party, and should never want for a bite or sup while Ned Harding was to
the fore. By this time the other men of the party had gathered around,
and I was compelled to repeat my tale, which excited both pity and
interest in the breasts of the kind-hearted miners, who declared that
the "cussed Kimanch ought to be wiped out." "Aye, every mother's son of
them," added Ned, "for playing such tricks upon travelers, the
bloody-minded heathen."

It was soon agreed upon that