The horses were picketed, guards posted, and a lunch distributed, and
all not on duty lay down to wait. Time dragged slowly. About one
o'clock a noise on the opposite side of the creek attracted attention,
and Cooler crept away in the darkness to ascertain its cause. In half
an hour he returned with the information that the party of Mezcalleros
who had taken the northern trail had rejoined their friends and turned
their animals into the general herd. Upon learning this I despatched a
messenger to call in the six men sent to guard the defile.
When the time for starting arrived one man only was left with the
picketed horses, and the rest of us slipped down the slope to the
river-bottom, taking care not to rattle arms and equipments, and began
a slow advance along a narrow pathway, the borders of which were
lined with the spiked vegetation of the country.
Moving on for some time, I judged from the sound of flowing water that
we were nearing the camp, and, halting the party, sent the scouts to
reconnoitre. They returned with the information that the camp was
close at hand, and contained thirteen mat and skin covered tents, or
huts, and that the stolen stock and Indian ponies were grazing on a
flat just beyond.
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