TRAILING. 407 



Bandera and several other much used passes, Fort Lincoln 

 was an important position, and it was extremely necessary 

 that a thoroughly competent and reliable man, well posted 

 in all the wiles of the Indians, should be selected as guide 

 and trailer for the troops stationed there. The choice fell 

 on Espinosa. For many years he served the Government 

 well and faithfully, and at last yielded up his life in 

 fidelity to it. 



Some time after the close of the war of the rebellion, 

 a friend wrote me from Texas giving the last scene in the 

 life of Pedro Espinosa. In 1861, when the traitor Twiggs 

 had planned and was consummating the surrender of all 

 the troops and material of war in Texas, Espinosa was 

 selected to carry despatches from Union men in San 

 Antonio to Colonel Eeeve, then on his way to the coast, 

 notifying him of the condition of affairs, and warning him 

 to turn back and take his command to the States by way 

 of Santa Fe. While executing this office Espinosa was cap- 

 tured by some of the forces sent to intercept Eeeve, and the 

 despatches found on his person ; after reading which the 

 captors drew their pistols and shot him to death. 



A ' trail ' is the succession of marks left on the ground 

 or grass by anything moving to a definite end- as a trail 

 of troops, an Indian trail, a deer trail, a waggon trail. 

 ' Sign ' is evidence, more or less positive, that something 

 has been present on that ground. A ' trail ' is made up of 

 ' sign ; ' but ' sign ' is by no means a ' trail.' Feeding deer 

 make 'sign;' but it maybe impossible to 'trail 'them, 

 There may be an abundance of ' sign ' in and about au 

 abandoned Indian camp ; yet it make take the keenest 

 eye and closest scrutiny to detect the trail by which 

 they left it. The safety of a party may depend on 

 the proper reading of ' sign ; ' the success of a pursuit 

 upon the greater or less ability of the pursuer to follow 

 4 trail.' 



The weakness of the Indian is his trail. Could he get 

 rid of it he would be unconquerable. Fortunately for his 



