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Show 228 TEAVELS AND ADVENTUEES IN THE FAE WEST. CHAPTER XXXV. Preparations to Cross the Jornada-Fifty-five Miles without Water or Grass-Deserted Wagons on the Road-Dead Oxen and Mules-Emigrant Party-Clouds of Dust- Oasis-Delicious Water-Extraordinary Fresh Water Buoyant Spring-Impossibility for a Man to sink in it-Never before Described-Another Jornada of Forty Miles- Col. Reese's Train-Detention-Reese Cut off-Snow-Capped Mountains-Bad Roads -Mineral Springs-My Mule in Harness-Animals giving out. 28th.-At about three o'clock, the order was given to fill up the water cans, as we were about to traverse thir immense desert where water was not to be had ; eve' vessel that could possibly be used, was immediate put in requisition-canteens, kegs, bottles, cans, etc. At four o'clock, having harnessed up the horses, an saddled my mule, we were on the road, which let through a loose stony ravine, with much sand ; it wat very heavy travelling, and our animals moved through it with a great deal of difficulty. We travelled thus for eleven miles, and then gradually ascended the table land, on a harder and better road. We commenced our journey in the afternoon, that we might have the benefit of the night air to travel in; a cool, north wind tempered the atmosphere, and we continued the journey through this sterile, bare, and uncovered country, until,midnight, when we halted and refreshed our animals with water from our reservoirs. After a rest of three hours, we resumed our journey, and at ten o'clock in the morning of the 29th, we had |