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Show GEFFROY'S TRIALS. 67 But whether the few green plats were the beginning of mother nature's mighty reform, to redeem the whole desert, or the last survivals in the long struggle against increasing barrenness, we could not know. The stream is large, and the water pure through this part of its course, but as soon as we emerged upon the great plain, the Cimarron shrunk to a mere rivulet, and in a little while vanished entirely. Thence for hundreds of miles, it is said, scarcely a shrub or spear of grass adorns its banks. The high plains between the Cimarron and Arkansas we found even more desolate. There only the transient showers and melt-ing snows of spring produce, in the most fa-vored spots, a faint tinge of green. Then a few pearly drops spatter eras; and peak, or "'^^ KjS^^ SSK^ L^ // .. & J . f . , . & , , *. ' \^ mmftmmHir'-\ Hi lmg( v, Q on the plain as though desolation halt relented the work she had to do, or mother nature sorrowed for her short- lived offspring ; but soon all this is passed, and summer with scorching days and dewless nights hastens to ravish the evanescent beauties of spring and, turn her green to stubble. " Reaching the Santa Fe trail, we met a friendly party of Arapahoes, who told us that four hundred Mexican cavalry had gone north in search of us only two days before. GETTING DOWN TO THE CIM-As this was confirmed by evidences on the trail, we strained every nerve to get across the desert and effect a junction with the rest of the force. The season was already well advanced, and, to avoid heat and thirst, we traveled as far as possible that night. During the entire distance of some forty miles we found no water, and till late the next afternoon men and horses suffered the agonies of thirst. The animals finally became almost unmanageable, and our principal pack- horse stampeded, carrying off considerable ammunition, and could not be recovered. Coming up to the rendez-vous, what was our disappointment to find, not the expected detach-ment from the States, but the handful we had left a few weeks before on the Arkansas. Discouragement and discontent now threatened open mutiny. The season was late, and the hottest weather approach-ing ; the water- holes were fast drying up, the Mexicans fully apprised of our plans, and the whole country on our line of advance scoured by their cavalry. Colonel Warfield hurriedly set forth the situation ; then, with one of his nervous magnetic appeals, urged us to strike at least one blow before retiring. By unanimous vote a new plan was |
