Disaster in Rio Grande Valley 71 



reports of those at Roma, Langdon Havens was 

 recovering, and out of fifty-two more or less ill, 

 only two had died, though twenty were yet too 

 weak to move. 



Horde, Upshur and Simson were taking most 

 vigorous measures to recover our stolen money, and 

 we again had Hughes on trial. He swore falsely 

 again and again, that he knew nothing of it. We 

 stood guard on him until we were compelled to 

 rejoin our party, having recovered only about three 

 thousand five hundred dollars, and lost all my 

 papers, receipts, accounts up to date, besides 

 letters of credit and introduction. I walked down 

 to Camp Ringgold to see if possibly I might have a 

 letter from home by a steamer just arrived, and on 

 the road met Lieut. Browning on his way to join 

 our company. I introduced myself to him and 

 appointed an hour to meet him at the hotel at 

 Davis's rancho, and went on to Major La Motte's 

 tent for letters. He was engaged when I arrived, 

 and too weary to sit down, I stretched myself on the 

 rushes he had for the floor of his tent and com- 

 menced a conversation with Captain McCown, on 

 the subject of our troubles. He did not know me, 

 and began by: "The Audubons are well known 



in their profession, but ." I interrupted him 



by telling him he was too hard on me at first sight, 

 and he was a little confused, but his frank apology 

 soon put us on a friendly footing. 



