Chap. HI. MEETING WITH APACHES. 461 
Limpias, after the snow-storm. The first watering-place to 
be looked for, a little spring among the rocks on its north- 
ern side, known to the Mexicans by the name of Agua 
Escondida, or Los Barriles, was still about two English 
miles distant, and our animals had not tasted a drop of 
water for two days. On a sudden our progress was stopped 
by a band of eighty to a hundred Apaches, all well-armed. 
They rode directly across our road, and stuck a lance into 
the ground, as a sign that we were not allowed to proceed. 
Hitherto we had only had to contend with natural obstacles, 
but it appeared now that we should have to cut our way 
by force of arms. The meeting presented a very exciting 
scene. As soon as the advanced party of our caravan 
perceived the Indians descending a hill in regular file, 
and carrying a banner before them, the foremost waggons 
at once began to form into a corral, as the cry of " Los 
Indios!" ran quickly through our train, from the van to 
the rear, where I happened to be. I had dismounted, 
intending to proceed a little way on foot, and had left my 
fire-arms in the waggon. On a sudden this cry reached 
my ears, and I saw all our waggons driving off at full 
gallop. The teams of mules, with the bell-mares and loose 
animals, dashed past me. The entire caravan hurried to 
the spot where the corral was being formed, and I saw 
myself left behind alone and unarmed, whilst the Indians 
began to advance from their centre, a wing right and left, 
to surround us in a wide circle. With the utmost exertion 
and difficulty I just succeeded in reaching the corral before 
being cut off. 
Matters, however, had meanwhile taken a more peace- 
able turn than we had at first anticipated. Our move- 
ments had been made with great rapidity and order ; and 
although some of our Mexicans had behaved in a cowardly 
