EL PASO. 163 
a pevery: comfort their position was susceptible of, con- 
_ tinued reckless and indifferent, even to the last moment. 
Butler alone was affected. He wept bitterly, and 
excited much sympathy by his youthful appearance, 
a ng but 21 years of age. His companions begged 
him “not to ery, as he could die but once!” 
; The sun was setting when they arrived at the place 
of execution. The assembled spectators formed a 
a around a small alamo, or poplar tree, which had 
j been selected for the gallows. It was fast growing 
- dark, and the busy movements of a large number of 
_ the associates of the condemned, dividing and collect- 
ing again in small bodies at different points around 
- and outside of the party, and then approaching nearer 
4 to the centre, proved that an attack was meditated, if 
the slightest opportunity should be given. But the 
‘Sentence of the law was carried into effect. 
The entire proceedings were’ intensely interesting, 
and the scene of acharacter which none present desired 
ever again to witness. The calm but determined 
Citizens on the one side, and the daring companions 
f the condemned wretches on the other, remained 
ee wehont keenly on the watch: the first for the 
‘otection of life, and the support of good order in the 
is 
‘appointed and infuriated demons, who, to rescue their 
companions, would have been willing to sacrifice a 
hundred additional lives. 
All three of the criminals had been connected with 
ne Boundary Commission. Wade wasan Englishman, 
had driven one of the teams in my small party. 
was found to be a desperate villain, and I took the 
