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Show DOLORES. 85 rivulets where rank, green grass hung over the brim of the pool, and strange, bright flowers spoke of life, and love, and hope. " A day's rest was imperative, and as soon as possible I filled my can-teens and hastened back to find our horses. They had toiled on till morning; then one had fallen exhausted, while the other had halted in the shadow of a cliff, barely able to stand. A canteen full of water, which he drank from my Mexican sombrero, greatly revived him, but the other was past hope. I succeeded in getting the one to the mouth of the gorge, and after a dozen trips for water, he was so far restored as to graze upon the bunch- grass. Next morning we set out again, now with but one horse, and late the next night, having found the trail, reached the water- hole, which was to have been our stopping place the day we were lost. There we again rested a day, which so far restored the animal that he was able to carry Dolores and our little stock of provisions, as fast as I could walk beside him. Again we journeyed on, turning aside at night into a cailon, and keeping near the base of the mountains by day. Once past the divide of the tierra tem-plada and upon the slopes leading down to the Arkansas, water- holes could be found three or four times every day. Our progress was now encouragingly rapid, and in due time we turned the last point on the mountain trail, and with a glad shout hailed the yellow Arkansas. Another day, and we should be on American soil ; the land would be better watered, my gun would supply us with game, and we might trav-el more leisurely. " We turned eastward and down to the plain, to reach the main cross-ing on the Santa Fe trail, and late the next day, while our hearts beat high with satisfaction, descended to the sandy border of the Ar-kansas. A shout was borne to our ears from the heights behind, and turning, we saw a party of mounted Mexicans rapidly nearing us. For an instant our hearts stood still with fear; the next I bounded on the horse in front of Dolores, and urged him fiercely forward. I remembered with agony that I had no traders' permit from the Spanish authorities, and could give no plausible explanation of my condition; capture might mean death, it would certainly mean loss of Dolores. Soon we were in the middle of the stream, at that " THE BALLS WHISTLED AROUND us." |
