88 
FREDERICKSBURG 
Ponds.” It was a slight depression in the prairie. 
Not a particle of water was to be found, nor did there 
appear to have been any for a long time. The earth 
was much trampled by deer and mustangs, which had 
doubtless resorted here in numbers for water. Made 
our breakfast from bits of cold meat and bread which 
we had taken with us, and did not stop the train until 
three o’clock, p. m. Finding a spot where there was 
plenty of dry grass, the train was stopped and the 
animals turned out to graze. The poor creatures 
seemed much fatigued, having been in harness ten 
hours without water or food. They ate the withered 
grass and browsed on the twigs of the mezquit bushes 
with eagerness. Gave each animal one gallon of water. 
They could not have suffered much for want of this, 
as the weather had been quite cool during the day. 
Built fires with the dry bushes, and made coffee. No 
meat was cooked. Our cold pork, and some of the 
ducks that remained from yesterday, with hard bread, 
gave us a luxurious dinner. At least so it seemed to 
us; for on no day since we commenced our journey 
had we relished a meal more. The cool and bracing 
air of the prairie had given all good appetites. 
Had a narrow escape from one of those accidents 
which, in spite of every precaution, will sometimes 
occur. One of the cooks, contrary to my express 
orders, built his fire near the dry grass without dig- 
ging a hole. The grass took fire, spreading on all 
sides, and advanced with fearful rapidity towards the 
wagons, in the direction of which the wind was blow, 
ing. All hands ran to the rescue with blankets and 
cloths to beat down the fire; and those who could 
