366 Reminiscences of 



where, and occasion more or less loss to cattle, though 

 seldom striking men, who are warned of their prox- 

 imity by ominous rattling, and they have a habit of fall- 

 ing into old mining shafts, and these will hold them 

 from escape for weeks, until death finally gives release. 



Hearing no shots I cautiously looked out of my 

 haven, and saw our party on guard, and that no firing 

 had occurred from either side. This state of sus- 

 pense continued for a while longer, and from Slaw- 

 son's not having been fired at while getting control 

 of his horse it was concluded that we had better 

 pull out as soon as possible and retrace our way 

 to the Rio Grande. Securing our horses we aU moimted 

 and retired without molestation. 



It was our view that the Indians were either out 

 of ammunition, or limited in number, or, if in force, 

 were opposed to taking the risk as situated, but might 

 attempt to head us off elsewhere on our route. We 

 therefore, without indulging in the refreshments we 

 had expected, made as rapid time as we could back 

 again with due caution, and felt much relief when we 

 arrived on the open mesa, where little risk of being 

 ambuscaded would occur. 



We found, after arriving at the Rio Grande settle- 

 ment, fresh reports of Mescallaro Indians, a branch 

 of the Apaches, having been heard from in the moun- 

 tains we were in, and also that the Apaches were 

 off their reservation below in Grant County, and 

 were committing many destructive raids. This con- 

 vinced us it was not prudent to attempt our visit 

 to the Zuni reservation, remote from railroad and 

 settlements of whites; and as the Santa F6 railroad 

 was just being completed to Deming, further south. 



