84 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



" What does my brother want," he asked, " that he lopes 

 like a wolf round the fires of the white hunters ? " 



" Is my brother's skin not red ? " returned the Apache, 

 "and yet he asks a question that needs no answer. Why 

 does the medicine-wolf follow the buffalo and deer ? For 

 blood and for blood the Indian follows the treacherous 

 white from camp to camp, to strike blow for blow, until 

 the deaths of those so basely killed are fully avenged." 



" My brother speaks with a big heart, and his words are 

 true ; and though the Taos and Pimo (Apache) black their 

 faces towards each other (are at war), here, on the graves 

 of their common fathers, there is peace between them. 

 Let my brother go." 



The Apache moved quickly away, and the Taos once 

 more sought the camp-fires of his white companions. 



Following the course of the Gila to the eastward, they 

 crossed a range of the Sierra Madre, which is a continua- 

 tion of the Rocky Mountains, and struck the waters of the 

 Rio del Norte below the settlements of New Mexico. On 

 this stream they fared well ; besides trapping a great 

 quantity of beaver, game of all kinds abounded, and the 

 bluffs near the well - timbered banks of the river were 

 covered with rich gramma grass, on which their half- 

 starved animals speedily improved in condition. 



They remained for some weeks encamped on the right 

 bank of the stream, during which period they lost one' of 

 their number, shot with an arrow whilst lying asleep within 

 a few feet of the camp-fire. 



The Navajos continually prowl along that portion of the 

 river which runs through the settlements of New Mexico, 

 preying upon the cowardly inhabitants, and running off 

 with their cattle whenever they are exposed in sufficient 

 numbers to tempt them. Whilst ascending the river, the 

 trappers met a party of these Indians returning to their 

 mountain homes with a large band of mules and horses, 

 which they had taken from one of the Mexican towns, 

 besides several women and children, whom they had cap- 

 tured as slaves. The main body of the trappers halting, 

 ten of the band followed and charged upon the Indians 



