A BIG FIRE. 347 



presence in the neighbourhood we had been informed by 

 Pah-Squal, and we had come upon them while busily 

 engaged either in dividing their plunder, preparatory to 

 scattering, or making it up into more portable shape than 

 it had been hitherto in ; for there were strips of freshly- 

 peeled bark twisted into strings lying about, several newly 

 made-up and tied bundles, and many articles scattered 

 around loose or partly packed. Not only had these things 

 been abandoned by the Pinalas, but many had left their 

 bows and quivers lying on the ground where they had placed 

 them, while employed making up their packs ; a most con- 

 vincing proof of the completeness of the panic which had 

 seized them, and an excellent reason for their not rallying. 

 We gathered up the weapons as trophies and articles of 

 curiosity. For a like reason we despoiled the big Indian of 

 his plaques, of his gorget, of his silver Mexican buttons, and 

 his other braveries. 



It went against our principles, being men who had often 

 suffered from hunger, to destroy good food ; but, considering 

 the distance still before us, X. decided the remainder of the 

 captured articles could not be taken along, and so a bonfire 

 was made of them, which we finished off with a grand ex- 

 plosion of the thirty pounds of blasting-powder. Our dinner 

 was then cooked and eaten with the good appetite engen- 

 dered by our long tramp and lively skirmish. 



There was much speculation amongst us all as to the 

 numbers of the Final- Apaches who had been killed and 

 wounded. Each participant in the pursuit was confident of 

 having made several successful shots, which, indeed, was 

 quite possible. All were too experienced to become excited, 



