A PARTY OF AMERICANS, 51. 
with the exception of a wound in the thigh 
received by one, which was not at the time 
considered dangerous. 
During the siege, the Americans were in 
great danger of perishing from thirst, as the 
Indians had complete command of all the 
water within reach. Starvation was not so 
much to be dreaded; because, in case of neces- 
sity, they could live on the flesh of their slain 
animals, some of which lay stretched close 
around them. After being pent up for thirty- 
six hours in this horrible hole, during which 
time they had seldom ventured to raise their 
heads above the surface without being shot 
at, they resolved to make a bold sortie in the 
night, as any death was preferable to the fate 
which awaited them there. As there was not 
an animal left that was at all in a condition 
to travel, the proprietors of the money gave 
permission to all to take and appropriate to 
themselves whatever amount each man could 
safely undertake to carry. In this way a few 
hundred dollars were started with, of which, 
however, but little ever reached the United 
States. The remainder was buried deep in 
the sand, in hopes that it might escape the 
cupidity of the savages; but to very little pur- 
pose, for they were afterwards seen by some 
Mexican traders making a great display of 
specie, which was without doubt taken from 
this unfortunate cache. i‘ : 
With every prospect of being discovered, 
overtaken, and butchered, but resolved to sell 
their lives as dearly as possible, they at last 
