CHIHUAHUA WESTWARD. 169 
morning Francisco, a most excellent 
packer, by taking one horse to carry a 
few light bundles, had animals enough to 
make a start. Horses are of no service 
whatever in these mountains. On the 
steep, rough, dangerous trails the small 
Mexican mule is the only animal that can 
possibly cling, crawl, and climb up and 
down the dizzy heights. The motley and 
scraggy assortment of beasts led up for 
our inspection that morning gave us the 
uncomfortable feeling that we would 
never reach any place if we trusted to 
them. A little before ten o’clock my 
train of fourteen mules was started ; 
and we were told we must ride fast, as 
the trail just out of the town was good, 
and it was necessary to make the noon 
camp at a certain spot. The trail we 
took was one seldom used, except by the 
