a
set o' bunglin' yaller-bellies air like ter take up. As for startin'
the horses, that's easy as fallin' off a log. Let me do it."

"Do it."

"Take holt o' one then, Cap. Unbuckle the neck strap and pull off the
bridle, when you see me do so wi' t'other. It is a pity to act cruel to
the poor brutes arter the sarvice they've did us; but thar ain't no help
for 't. Riddy, air ye?"

"Ready!"

The Texan had taken out his knife; and in another instant its blade was
through the horse's ear, the bridle jerked off at the same time. The
animal, uttering a terrified snort, reared up, spun round, and broke
away in frenzied flight through the thorny _chapparal_. The other, also
released, bounded after, both soon passing out of sight.

"_Bueno_--_bravo_!" cried the Mexican, admiringly, relieved of his
dilemma. "Now, senors, we must continue the march afoot, and over
ground that'll need help from our hands, too. _Vamonos_!"

Saying which, he took up the bridles, and tossed them over the crest of
the cliff; then ascended himself, helping Kearney. There was no path;
but some projections of the rock--ledges, with the stems of cactus
plants growing upon their--made the ascent possible. The Texan swarmed
up after, with hunchback at his heels; as he got upon the top, turning
suddenly round, laying hold of the chain, and with a "Jee up," hoisting
the creature feet foremost!

Another second and they were all out of sight; though not a second too
soon. For as they turned their backs upon the cliff, they could hear
behind, on the farther edge of the thicket through which they had
passed, the signal calls of a cavalry bugle.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

THE PEDREGAL.

Interesting as is the Mexican Valley in a scenic sense, it is equally so
in the geological one; perhaps no part of the earth's crust of like
limited area offering greater attractions to him who would study the
lore of the rocks. There he may witness the action of both Plutonic and
Volcanic forces, not alone in records of the buried past, but still
existing, and too oft making display of their mighty power in the
earthquake and the burning mountain.

There also may be observed the opposed processes of deposition and
denudation in the slitting up of great lakes, and the down wearing of
hills by tropical rain storms, with the river torrents resulting from
them.

Nor is any portion of this elevated plateau more attractive to the
geologist than that known as