As they had done more than fifty miles since the morning, and the
horses were much distressed with the effect of the dust, it was
resolved to encamp at once. The horses received a little water, and
were picketed out to graze. The fire was soon lit, and the ducks
cut up and spitted upon the ramrods.
All were so much exhausted with the heat, the ashes, the fatigue,
and the want of sleep of the previous night that, the tea and pipes
finished and the watch posted, the rest lay down to sleep before
the sun had been an hour below the horizon.
All rose at daybreak, refreshed with their quiet night's rest, and
were soon in the saddle and on their way northward.
They had nearly an hour's ride before they came upon the trail.
There it was unmistakably--at first sight as broad and as much
trampled as the other; but after a careful examination of it there
was but one opinion, namely, that the number of animals who had
passed was decidedly less than those who had gone south.
One of the Gauchos now told Mr. Hardy that he knew that at a short
distance further to the west there was a spring of water much used
by the Indians, and where he had no doubt they had halted on the
night of the fire. Finding that it was not more than half an hour's
ride, Mr.
Pages:
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319