TO SAN ANTONIO. 
23 
read on this occasion was from the 20th Corinthians, 
giving the narrative of St. Paul’s voyage and shipwreck, 
which seemed an appropriate one : a hymn was after- 
wards sung, in which the greater portion joined. This 
being over, all returned to their tents, or beneath the 
adjacent trees, and passed the remainder of the day in 
quietness. Much satisfaction was expressed at this 
observance of the Sabbath, and it was hoped that it might 
continue to be thus kept during our long march. 
September l^h. The weather continues hot, the mer- 
cury reaching 99^ to day, which of course kept us 
quietly in camp as before. Early in the day I set olf 
with my gun in search of game, but was unsuccessful 
in finding any thing but a few quails : the prairie fowls 
which were so abundant on the great plain between 
Victoria and Indian ola had disappeared. 
A calf was killed and brought into camp by one of 
the men, who declared that he took it for a deer ; and a 
few hours after several claimants appeared demanding 
pay for the animal. They did not come together, nor 
did either of them know that there were other appli- 
cants besides himself. The first, on my questioning him 
as to the color of the calf, said it was blach. The next 
one said it was red^ and a very valuable animal, more 
so indeed than a full-grown ox. A third declared it to 
be of some other color. I expressed my willingness 
to pay for the slaughtered innocent if I could know its 
rightful owner, and requested the several applicants to 
call on me again towards evening. In the mean time I 
sent for the skin, which was not found to correspond 
with the description given by either of the claimants, 
whom I then dismissed. 
