

LIFE IN THE FAB WEST. 157 



Fat Fray Augustin likewise waved his arm, but groaned 

 in spirit as he beheld the noble band of mules and horses 

 throwing back clouds of dust on the plain where they had 

 been bred. One noble roan stallion seemed averse to leave 

 his accustomed pasture, and again and again broke away 

 from the band. Luckily old Walker had taken the precau- 

 tion to secure the " bell-mare " of the herd, and mountec 

 on her rode ahead, the animals all following their well 

 know leader. As the roan galloped back, the padre was 

 in ecstasy. It was a favourite steed, and one he would 

 have gladly ransomed at any price. 



" Ya viene, ya viene ! " he cried out, " now, now it's 

 coming ! hurra for the roan ! " but, under the rifle of a 

 mountaineer, one of the Californians dashed at it, a lasso 

 whirling round his head, and turning and twisting like a 

 doubling hare, as the horse tried to avoid him, at last threw 

 the open coil over the animal's head, and led him back in 

 triumph to the band. 



" Maldito sea aquel Indio curse that Indian ! " quoth 

 the padre, and turned away. 



And now our sturdy band less two who had gone under 

 were fairly on their way. They passed the body of their 

 comrade who had been killed in the fight before the Mis- 

 sion ; the wolves, or Indian dogs, had picked it to the 

 bones ; but a mound near by, surmounted by a rude cross, 

 showed where the Californians (seven of whom were killed) 

 had been interred the pile of stones at the foot of the 

 cross testifying that many an ave maria had already been 

 said by the poor Indians, to save the souls of their slaugh- 

 tered companions from the pangs of purgatory. 



For the first few days progress was slow and tedious. 

 The confusion attendant upon driving so large a number 

 of animals over a country without trail or track of any de- 

 scription, was sufficient to prevent speedy travelling ; and 

 the mountaineers, desirous of improving the pace, resolved 

 to pursue a course more easterly, and to endeavour to 

 strike the great SPANISH TRAIL, which is the route follow- 

 ed by the New Mexicans in their journeys to and from the 

 towns of Puebla de los Angeles and Santa Fe. This road, 





