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Show FORTY. YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 145 discharge just then. He flew into a terrible passion, say-ing that he could not settle his accounts unless I signed the vouchers. I replied that I had nothing to do with settling his accounts, all I wanted was my transfer back to the command. This he refused me, so we went and bought two mules on credit and went back to the com-mand. We met them at Taos. The quartermaster was glad to see us, as he needed our services. I took the position of both guide and interpreter, Moore continuing as assistant. We got into the farming district about harvest time. There was no forage to be had except fields of grain. These were bought at high prices when animals were turned in over night and a guard placed around them. Often the animals would get into other fields doing some damage. The Mexicans made great complaint, often asking several hundred dollars for damages. The pasturage generally cost from $ 150 to $ 200 per night. The quartermaster would generally hand me $=; ooand tell me to settle. Sometimes I would be two jr * J or three hours settling, as the damage sometimes was on various patches. The people were at times unreasonable in their demands. When I could not get a reasonable settle-ment I would refer to the authority. I made the people understand that they could not get anything only what was just and reasonable. When they found that I under-stood them they became much easier to deal with. In that country what you do today always gets to the next camping place before you do. When all my accounts were settled for the day I would hand what money was left to . the quartermaster, sometimes it would be over $ 100. |