LIFE IN THE FAR WEST 185 



In their further advance, hunger and thirst were their 

 daily companions : they were compelled to kill several 

 of their animals for food, but were fortunate enough to 

 replace them by a stroke of good luck in meeting a party 

 of Indians returning from an excursion against one of 

 the Californian settlements with a tolerably large band 

 of horses. Our hunters met this band one fine morning, 

 and dashed into the midst at once; half a dozen Indians 

 bit the dust, and twenty horses were turned over from 

 red to white masters in as many seconds, which re- 

 mounted those whose animals had been eaten, and 

 enabled the others to exchange their worn-out steeds 

 for fresh ones. This fortunate event was considered a 

 coup, and the event was celebrated by the slaughter of 

 a fat young horse, which furnished an excellent supper 

 that night a memorable event in these starveling 

 regions. 



They were now devouring their horses and mules at 

 the rate of one every alternate day ; for, so poor were 

 the animals, that one scarcely furnished an ample meal 

 for the thirteen hungry hunters. They were once 

 more reduced to the animals they rode on ; and after 

 a fast of twenty-four hours' duration, were debating on 

 the propriety of drawing lots as to whose Rosinante 

 should fill the kettle, when some Indians suddenly 



trappers, performed a feat surpassing the one described above, 

 inasmuch as they were but two. They charged into an Indian 

 village to rescue some stolen horses, and avenge the slaughter of 

 two New Mexicans who had been butchered by the Indians ; 

 both which objects they effected, returning to camp with the 

 lost animals and a couple of propitiatory scalps. 



