A wagon stuck
fast in the mire, which caused my companions a great deal of labor
and much delay. At last I halted to await the coming of the other
teams. Suddenly there fell a shot from the dense growth of a wild
sunflower copse. It missed my head by a very close margin and just
grazed the ear of one of the mules. I believe that if I had attempted
to rejoin the train then I would have been killed from ambush.
Instead, I quickly secured the brake of my wagon, then I unhooked the
trace chains of the mules and quieted them and lay down under the
wagon, ready to defend myself. I was, however, not further molested
and my companions came along after a while. They had heard the shot
and thought it was I who had fired it.
CHAPTER IV. A STRANGE LAND AND STRANGER PEOPLE
We were now within the boundaries of the Territory of Colorado and
approaching the northern line of New Mexico. When we passed through
Trinidad, which was then a small adobe town, we met Don Emilio Cortez
again. He was at home in this vicinity and came for the express
purpose of persuading me to come with him. "My good wife charged me
to bring her that little gringo," he said; "she longs for an American
son." "Our daughter, Mariquita, is now ten years of age, and has been
asked in marriage by Don Robusto Pesado, a very rich man.
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