72 
FREDERICKSBURG 
often the case when the grazing is poor ; and parties 
should take particular care on these occasions to see 
that their animals are well secured. Left three or 
four men to continue the search after the mules, as we 
had no animals to spare. Found Brady’s Creek did 
not terminate here, as my guide stated, but led 
towards the south-west. Followed it three or four 
miles, then crossed it, and took a course a little north 
of west, and reached a pool of deep water, with excel- 
lent grass on its margin, about four o’clock. Believing 
this to be the head waters of the creek we had been 
following, and having travelled nine hours pretty 
steadily, determined to stop here for the night. The 
country passed over to-day has been very flat, and of 
the same character as that the two days previous. As 
we are now on the high table-land, the trees diminish 
in number and in size. A few mezquit trees, stunted, 
deformed, and decayed, appear on the prairie, and 
occasionally a '•’'mot''' of live-oaks. The community 
and domain of the prairie dogs, which we entered 
two days ago, continues. 
The men we left to search for the missing mules 
rejoined us, and, greatly to my disappointment, with- 
out the animals. They had scoured the country for 
miles around; and having seen “Indian sign,” as it is 
termed, about a mile from our trail, keeping by us for 
many miles, they believed our mules had been stolen, 
and that a band of Indians were following us. It is 
not necessary that the savage should be seen, to judge 
of his presence. He always leaves marks behind him, 
which are soon understood by the sagacious travellers of 
the prairie, and are as unmistakable as his own red skin. 
