234 IN THE OLD WEST 



San Joaquim the party halted a few days to re- 

 cruit themselves and animals, feasting the while 

 on the fattest of venison and other game. They 

 then struck to the south-east for two days, until 

 they reached a branch of the Las Animas, a 

 clear stream running through a pretty valley, 

 well timbered and abounding in game. Here, 

 as they wound along the river-banks, a horseman 

 suddenly appeared upon the bluff above them, 

 galloping at a furious rate along the edge. His 

 dress approached in some degree to civilized at- 

 tire. A broad-brimmed sombrero surmounted 

 his swarthy face; a colored blanket, through a 

 slit in which his head was thrust, floated in the 

 air from his shoulders ; leathern leggings incased 

 his lower limbs; and huge spurs jingled on his 

 heels. He rode in a high-peaked Mexican saddle, 

 his feet thrust in ponderous stirrups, and in his 

 hand swung a coil of ready lasso, liis only of- 

 fensive aiTti. One of the trappers knew a little 

 Spanish, and instantly hailed him. 



" Compadre," he shouted, " por onde va? " 

 The Californian reined in suddenly, throwing the 

 hors€ he rode on its very haunches, and, darting 

 down the bluff, galloped unhesitatingly into the 

 midst of the hunters. 



*' Americanos! " he exclaimed, glancing at 

 them ; and continued, smiling — " Y cahallos 

 quieren, por eso vienen tan lejitos. Jesus, que 

 mala gente! " — " It's horses you want, and for 



