178 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
word of command, and don’t get disheartened! And you, 
muleteers; scatter out your animals, keep them sheltered as 
much as possible, and avoid all disorder. Now, everybody | 
keep cool, for every man’s life hangs upon a single movement 
here; and if a panic breaks out, all is lost, and the latest | 
tragedy in the great Apache war, which they say has been 
waging against the Spaniards and Americans for over two _ 
hundred years, will have been enacted!” Soon the sharp, 
clear voice of the adjutant rang out from behind a huge rock - 
in the channel, his carbine at a “ready,” and without moving 
his eyes from the cliff—‘ Sergeant, send six men to scale that 
side of the cafion !” 
As they moved out, General Gregg joined them and directed _ 
their movement. 
I gave the next order to the little escort I had brought 
from New Mexico: “Sergeant Miller, station five men 0D 
this side of the caiion to cover that scaling party with their 
fire. Let them take shelter behind the rocks.” This was” 
done, and the devoted little band began slowly to ascend — 
what seemed an almost vertical wall of sandstone. 
Until now, although the yells had rung all around us, the 
firing was confined to the west side of the cafion, but at this 
moment a very close shot was fired from the other side, and 
our plans could not be carried out unless this was stopped. 
Another scaling party of six men was accordingly detailed, of 
which I took command, and began ascending the eastern cliff, 
covered by the fire of a second small party in the cafon. | 
This disposed of all our fighting force, the remainder being 
required to take care of the animals. How we got up, God | 
knows; I only remember hearing a volley from below, shots © 
from above, Indian yells on all sides, the grating roar of 
__ tumbling boulders as they fell, and the confused echoing of | 
