dead man they found, as their
mate had called. Dragged from under the mesquite and carried to the
fire, Loving was found still breathing. The spark of life was very
low, however, and the mescal given him as a stimulant did not serve to
rouse him from his stupor. But the next morning, rested somewhat from
his terrible hardships and strengthened by more mescal, he was able to
take some food and tell his story. The Mexicans bathed and dressed his
wound as well as they could, and promised to remain in camp until his
friends should come up.

Before noon Goodnight and his six men galloped in. They had reached
his entrenchment that morning, guided by the Indian sign around about
it, and had discovered and followed his trail. Goodnight hired a party
of the Mexicans to take one of their _carretas_ and convey Loving
through to Fort Sumner. With the Fort still more than two hundred
miles away, there was small hope he could survive the journey, but it
must be tried. A rude hammock was improvised and slung beneath the
canvas cover of the carreta, and, placed within it, Loving was made as
comfortable as possible. After a nine days' forced march, made chiefly
by night, the Mexicans brought their crazy old carreta safely into the
post.

While with rest and food Loving had been gaining in strength, the heat
and the lack of proper care were telling badly on his wound. Goodnight
had returned to the outfits, and, after staying with them a week, he
had brought them through as far as the Rio Penasco without further
mishap. Then placing the two herds in charge of the Scott brothers, he
himself made a forced ride that brought him into Sumner only one day
behind Loving.

Goodnight found his partner's condition critical. Gangrene had
attacked the wound. It was apparent that nothing but amputation of the
wounded leg could save him. The medical officer of the post was out
with a scouting cavalry detail, and only a hospital steward was
available for the operation. To trust the case to this man's
inexperience seemed murder. Therefore, Goodnight decided to send a
rider through to Las Vegas, the nearest point where a surgeon could be
obtained.

Here arose what seemed insuperable difficulties. From Fort Sumner to
Las Vegas the distance is one hundred and thirty miles. Much travelled
by freight teams carrying government supplies, the road was infested
throughout with hostile Navajos, for whom the freight trains were the
richest s