IN SOUTHWESTERN CHIHUAHUA. 267 
fresh eggs. The chickens had vanished 
on the evening of their arrival, but the 
eggs furnished us a royal breakfast with 
the usual bill of fare, bacon and coffee. 
An early morning in the Sierra Madres, 
even in midsummer, will make the teeth 
chatter. The only comfort one can get, 
after piling on heavy coats, is to pass the 
time in revolving about the camp fire just 
out of reach of the smoke till breakfast is 
ready. Any attempt at washing is sure 
to be a failure, for the water is as cold as 
ice and the fingers refuse to work in the 
frosty air ; so it is generally about mid¬ 
day before dirt and the traveler cease to 
be companions. After we had thawed 
out with the hot coffee, and all the packs 
had been strapped on the mules, the 
animals were started ahead, with Fran¬ 
cisco’s assistant, a muscular Indian, run- 
