94 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
for their evil deeds, had died when the thermometer stood — 
at 120° in the shade. The next day they sent back in all 
haste for their blankets. 
Our “outfit” consisted of the following :—Van Alstine, 
riding a miserable grey horse which had seen better days 
and was now on his last legs, carried a pair 
of saddle-bags, a blanket, carbine, one six- 
shooter, a large tin mug, and a canteen. I carried my 
buffalo robe instead of a blanket, and had, I regret to say, 
one six-shooter extra; in other respects I was similarly 
equipped. My saddle-bags contained dry biscuits, a lump of © 
raw bacon, coffee, and salt; also ammunition, tooth-brush, © 
a flannel shirt, hnadketcliists, soap, and socks. 4 
We had so far to travel, and so little time at our 
disposal, that I had exchanged my mare, Kitty, for a 
mule, before leaving Camp Grant. This mule belonged | 
to Reed, the guide, and was one of the best specimens | 
of these useful animals I have ever met with. He was as | 
strong as a lion, and as plump as a partridge. He was 
very docile, well used to all kinds of hardships, and could — 
keep up a fast walk, or “rack”—as the Americans call it— 
of five miles an hour from sunrise to sunset. On entering - 
Tucson I became an object of suspicion directly because 4 
rode this mule. Reed lives in the Mesilla valley, at the 
other side of New Mexico, but an old pal of his recognise A 
the animal at once, and, eyeing me suspiciously, asked, “ 4 
that ar your mule?” Smothering a slight feeling of resen 
ment, I said it was; at which he replied, ‘Then ?’m d——d 
if some chap han’t Tosi and stole it from my old chum, 
Reed, though I haven’t seen him these three years.” Hew 
disgusted when he heard that Joe Reed had really parted wi 
his old beast of burden, and, giving me a slight wink by way 
Dee. 2, 
a 
