"Well, on the east and south sides there is a trail between the peaks,
four in all, and one good bridle-path to the Pueblo of Jemez. That
descends from the valley level to the Jemez River bottom, a drop of
nearly three thousand feet, in a distance of three miles, zigzagging
twice that distance."
"And to the west and north?"
"To the north there is a trail to Abiquiu, rarely used, and to the
west there is only La Puerta, into which all the other trails from the
east and south concentrate. It is to watch La Puerta that this camp
was established."
"And you say you have seen no Navajos or signs of them since you
came?"
"Yes, plenty of signs, but no Indians. Parties have passed here in the
night, but none were driving stock."
I learned all I could of the captain while his men hurried their
baggage into the wagons, but he was too much excited over the prospect
of leaving the Great Valleys, as well as curious to know of events in
Santa Fe, to give me much information. When the guard of regulars
relieved the volunteer guard, I placed my sentinel on a beat a dozen
yards in rear of the guard-house, which enabled him to see several
hundred yards back of the ridge, and yet not show himself prominently
to an approaching foe.
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