TO HORSE-HEAD CROSSING. 
67 
October l^th. All up before day ; dispatched break- 
fast, struck tents, and were off at 6 o’clock. The morn- 
ing was clear and cold, the mercury standing at 36^ 
at sunrise. This low temperature affected us sensibly 
after the very hot weather we had had. The country 
was thinly wooded with live-oak. Passed a range of 
high hills, with two conical ones standing directly in 
our path, between which we passed. Left my mule 
and walked to the summit, whence there was presented 
a fine view of the surrounding country, consisting of 
an alternation of hills and prairie, with scattering trees, 
chiefly mezquit. Leaving this valley we ascended to 
a plateau, the surface of which was quite level. We 
now looked anxiously for the mark, where Judge 
Ankrim directed us to leave the Emigrants’ Poad, and 
soon discovered a broken limb suspended from a tree, 
precisely as described to us. Here, with some reluc- 
tance and not a little uneasiness, I left the beaten road 
and struck off into a broad and open prairie in a north- 
westerly direction, with no trail or path, and no guide 
but my compass. The man hired at San Antonio 
proving entirely ignorant of localities and destitute of 
useful information, I sent him to the rear of the train, 
preferring my maps and compass to his doubtful 
suggestions. Had the country presented a pleasant 
aspect, we would have entered the untrodden field with 
more satisfaction ; but, unfortunately, a recent fire had 
burned off all the grass, destroying every green thing 
and leaving only a black stubble, from which slabs of 
limestone protruded. The soil appeared good. 
We had hoped to meet the San Saba River soon 
after leaving the road ; but coming to a small stream 
