A STORM. 21 



inches broad,) were riding at their ease ; while others, half naked, were 

 trudging along on foot, driving their teams, or following the erratic mules 

 of the caravan, to heap upon them the ready maledictions of their prolific 

 vocabulary. Passing on, we were accosted : 



" Como lo pasa, cabelleros ?" 



The salutation was returned by a simple nod. 



" Habla la lengua Espanola, senors ?" 



A shake of the head was the only response. 



" Es esta el camino de Independenca ?" 



No reply. 



" Carraho ! Que quantos jornadas tencmos en la camino de Indepen- 

 denca ?" 



Still no one answered. 



" Scha ! Maldijo tualmas ! Los Americanos esta dijabelo !" 



By this time the crowd had passed and left us no longer annoyed by its 

 presence. The conclusion irresistibly forced itself upon my mind, " if 

 these are true specimens of Mexicans, it is no wonder they incite both the 

 pity and contempt of the rest of the world." Subsequent intercourse with 

 them, however, has served to convince me that first impressions, in this 

 case, instead of exceeding the reality, fell far short of the true mark ! 



Continuing our course, we saw large numbers of prairie-hens, and suc- 

 ceeded in kiUing several. These birds assimilate the English grouse in 

 appearance, and are of a dusky-brown color, — with short tails, and narrow- 

 peaked wings, — and little less in size than the domestic fowl. Their flesh 

 is tender and of superior flavor. When alarmed, they start with a cack- 

 hng noise, and whiz through the air not unlike the partridge. They are 

 very numerous on the frontier prairies, and extend to the Rocky Moun- 

 tains, Oregon, California and New Mexico. 



About sundown we reached a small creek known as Elm Grove, and 

 encamped for the night, with every indication of an approaching storm. 

 Strict orders were accordingly given for securing the animals, and the 

 process of "picketing" was speedily under way. This consisted in 

 driving small stakes ("pickets") firmly into the ground, at proper dis- 

 tances apart, to which the animals were severally tied by strong cords, — a 

 plan that should find nightly practice among all travellers of the grand 

 prairies, to prevent those losses which, despite the utmost precaution, will 

 not unfrequently occur. 



Timber proved quite scarce in this vicinity, and it was with great difficulty 

 we procured sufficient for cooking purposes. The men now began to 

 prepare for the coming storm. Some disposed of themselves in, and 

 others under, the waggons, making barricades to the windward ; others 

 erected shantees, by means of slender sticks, planted in parallel rows five 

 or six feet apart, and interwoven at the tops, so as to form an arch of 

 suitable height, over which was spread a roofage of robes or blankets, — 

 while others, snugly ensconced beneath the ready pitched tent, bade de- 

 fiance to wind and weather. 



Being one of those selecting a place under the waggons, I retired at an 

 early hour to snooze away the night ; and despite the anticipations of an 

 unpleasant time, I soon lost myself in a sweet slumber, utterly uncon- 

 scious of every tfiing around me. In thoughts I wandered back to the 



