Part 33 (1/2)

We lie congratulating ourselves, and watching every movement of their camp. Our hopes continue rising as the day falls.

Ha! there is an unusual stir. Some order has been issued. ”Voila!”

”Mira! mira!” ”See!” ”Look, look!” are the half-whispered e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns that break from the hunters as this is observed.

”By the livin' catamount, thar a-going to mizzle!”

We see the savages pull down the tasajo and tie it in bunches. Then every man runs out for his horse; the pickets are drawn; the animals are led in and watered; they are bridled; the robes are thrown over them and girthed. The warriors pluck up their lances, sling their quivers, seize their s.h.i.+elds and bows, and leap lightly upon horseback. The next moment they form with the rapidity of thought, and wheeling in their tracks, ride off in single file, heading to the southward.

The larger band has pa.s.sed. The smaller, the Navajoes, follow in the same trail. No! The latter has suddenly filed to the left, and is crossing the prairie towards the east, towards the spring of the Ojo de Vaca.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

THE DIGGERS.

Our first impulse was to rush down the ravine, satisfy our thirst at the spring, and our hunger on the half-polished bones that were strewed over the prairie. Prudence, however, restrained us.

”Wait till they're clar gone,” said Garey. ”They'll be out o' sight in three skips o' a goat.”

”Yes! stay where we are a bit,” added another; ”some of them may ride back; something may be forgotten.”

This was not improbable; and in spite of the promptings of our appet.i.tes, we resolved to remain a while longer in the defile.

We descended straightway into the thicket to make preparations for moving--to saddle our horses and take off their m.u.f.flings, which by this time had nearly blinded them. Poor brutes! they seemed to know that relief was at hand.

While we were engaged in these operations, our vidette was kept at the top of the hill to watch both bands, and warn us when their heads should sink to the prairie level.

”I wonder why the Navajoes have gone by the Ojo de Vaca,” remarked our chief, with an apparent anxiety in his manner. ”It is well our comrades did not remain there.”

”They'll be tired o' waitin' on us, whar they are,” rejoined Garey, ”unless blacktails is plentier among them Musquites than I think for.”

”Vaya!” exclaimed Sanchez; ”they may thank the Santisima they were not in our company! I'm spent to a skeleton. Mira! carrai!”

Our horses were at length bridled and saddled, and our la.s.soes coiled up. Still the vidette had not warned us. We grew every moment more impatient.

”Come!” cried one; ”hang it! they're far enough now. They're not a-goin' to be gapin' back all the way. They're looking ahead, I'm bound. Golly! thar's fine s.h.i.+nes afore them.”

We could resist no longer. We called out to the vidette. He could just see the heads of the hindmost.

”That will do,” cried Seguin; ”come, take your horses!”

The men obeyed with alacrity, and we all moved down the ravine, leading our animals.

We pressed forward to the opening. A young man, the pueblo servant of Seguin, was ahead of the rest. He was impatient to reach the water. He had gained the mouth of the defile, when we saw him fall back with frightening looks, dragging at his horse and exclaiming--

”Mi amo! mi amo! to davia son!” (Master, master! they are here yet!)

”Who?” inquired Seguin, running forward in haste.

”The Indians, master; the Indians!”