MEET WITH OLD FRIENDS. 95 



himself an excellent shot, and a hunter of unflinching 

 courage. Yet he frankly acknowledged that I could 

 learn him much in regard to the methods of getting within 

 rifle-shot of game. Each day exalted the character of 

 this gentleman in my eyes, and, upon his part, he omitted 

 no opportunity of showing that I had his esteem. His 

 conversation was full of instruction. How could I regret 

 having exchanged such company as that of honest, but 

 narrow-minded, Joe Blaney, for that of Mr. Barrill ? 



On the eleventh day after leaving Orphan creek, we 

 struck the Taos valley settlement on Arroyo Hondo, and 

 pushed on at once to the village of Fernandez, sometimes 

 called Taos. As we dashed through the village, the doors 

 of the adobe houses were thrown open, and numerous 

 dark-eyed beauties appeared, each smoking a cigarito. 

 All replied to our salute, " Adios Americanos !" believing 

 us both to be American mountaineers. I was well known 

 in the valley, having visited it on two or three occasions, 

 in company with a party of mountaineers. We rode to 

 the house of an old mountaineer, who had long been re- 

 cognised as the entertainer of the hunters when they vi- 

 sited the Taos valley, and were somewhat agreeably sur- 

 prised to find two stalwart trappers from the Yellow Stone 

 stopping there. They gave us a hearty welcome, invited us 

 to a fandango, which they had arranged for that evening, 

 and seemed exceedingly desirous of securing our good 



