"They
chased me from the Los Vallecitos trail. They number about a hundred."
Without waiting for more definite information, I told the boys, who
were hastily getting into their clothes, to stay in the cabin, and,
going for Sergeant Cunningham, ordered him to parade the company under
arms without delay; then, taking my glass, I went to the top of the
ridge. Lying down before reaching the crest, I looked through the
screening grass and saw a party of eighty-three Indians, halted and
apparently in consultation. They were in full war costume, and were
painted and feathered to the height of Indian skill.
III
WARLIKE PUEBLOS
The party of Indians halted for nearly ten minutes, evidently in
excited dispute, accompanying their talk with much gesticulation. I
had time to notice that the details of dress were not like those of
the Navajos with whom we had recently had a fight; but as the old
hunter Cordova had pronounced them Navajos, I gave the matter little
consideration. They did not seem to be aware of the existence of an
encampment of soldiers in the valleys, and after a brief delay moved
on towards La Puerta.
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