Across the Mexican Mountains 117 



looked to their saddle-bags and blankets; all was 

 rest, at least from travel, and I unpacked my paper 

 and pencils and made a sketch of the "Fourth 

 of July Camp." 



Wild cattle were abundant, and noon saw our 

 camp in possession of a fine heifer shot by Rhoades. 

 Steaks were broiled and fried, ribs roasted, brains 

 stewed in the skull ; delicacies under such circum- 

 stances unequalled by the cuisine of a palace. 



When evening came. Mess No. 4, all good 

 singers, gave us some beautiful choruses from 

 operas, as well as simpler songs, and as night 

 brought the solemn quiet, and the moon glided in 

 its ordained course, "Old Hundred" was sung with 

 the most solemn feelings of reverence and adora- 

 tion. 



July ^th. Gabilana. Four o'clock saw us on 

 our way. We rode some hours along the valley, 

 rich in grass, shade-trees and springs of delicious 

 water; then came a steep ascent, and most of us 

 had to walk. We lost another mule today, but 

 before leaving it succeeded in getting it to the 

 table-land at the top of the gorge we had just 

 ascended. It was a beautiful grove of pines and 

 plenty of short green grass was under foot, and, 

 most welcome sight, a log house looking so like 

 home that a dozen of the boys rode ofif to see "a 

 white woman;" but their disappointment was 

 great — it was simply the house of a Mexican who 



