To the Gulf of Cortez 



to be had on the road ; for the next thirty 

 miles are dry. The saw-mill was built to 

 supply timber to the mining town of Alamo, 

 some twenty-five miles south. The camp is 

 now in an expiring state and needs no timber, 

 but is said to shelter some rough and vio- 

 lent men. The road from the mill was deep 

 in sand, and our pace was slow. The dark- 

 ness was coming cold and fast when we finally 

 drove on to the water and halted to camp. 



Two men were there before us, with a sad-' 

 die-horse each, and no other apparent equip- 

 ment. When we arrived, the men were water- 

 ing their animals, and at once turned their 

 backs, so as not to be recognized. Then they 

 retired to the brush. We supped and staked 

 out the mules, and then sent Oscar to look up 

 our neighbors. Oscar went and shouted, but 

 got no answer, and could find no men. We 

 thought that our mules were in some danger, 

 and J. B., who is a yachtsman, proposed to 

 keep anchor watch. So Oscar remained awake 

 till midnight, when he awoke me and retired 

 freezing, saying that he had seen the enemy 

 prowling around. I took my gun and visited' 

 the mules in rotation till 2:30. Then J. B. 

 awoke, chattering with cold, but determined, 



63 



