h lodge shall be placed where it will not
interfere with the common good. The internal economy of these
habitations is arranged on a social system which, in many respects,
is commendable. When one person is poor, generally speaking, the whole
tribe is found to be so. The herds of horses and mules belonging to
the tribe, are turned loose in one body as if they were the property
of one man. If game exists in plenty and danger is not apprehended,
happiness holds complete sway within these Indian homes. The
proverbial caution of the red man rarely allows him to be surprised;
therefore, even in times of peace, he keeps his fleetest horse tied
at the door of his lodge, so that he may make haste and collect his
property, and be away before his enemy can harm him. These favorite
animals are fed by hand. Before trusting his body in sleep, some
warrior, in whom the tribe repose the utmost confidence, must ascend
a neighboring eminence, if there chance to be one, and examine the
country in search of dangers. Parties are always kept out as spies,
and, at the least appearance of suspicious signs, they become easily
aroused and vigilant, and if danger really exists, word is immediately
sent to their village to be ready to move. This is a homely but
literal interpretation of the term Indian village.

The reader has seen that the dragoon horses gave out before the
fatigues of the march, while the Mexican ponies performed their tasks
so admirably and easily.

This was a painful subject to contemplate and one which no man who
loves the noble horse could wish to witness the second time. The
dragoon horses, reduced to skeletons from starvation while retaining
all their natural spirit, with tottering limbs, faithfully tried to
perform the labor which their riders, seemingly, asked of them. Long
before the arrival of the time when they could no longer support a
burden, the soldiers had humanely relieved them from this work and
were assisting them, by all the means in their power, to reach a haven
of safety, where food, so essential in restoring their sinking powers
of life, existed in abundance. As their little remaining strength
was leaving them, they would exhibit the fact by staggering. Finally,
breaking down in their hinder legs, they would sink to the ground, but
not until they had made the effort to drag themselves along with
their fore feet. To relieve them from their agonies and prevent their
falling into the hands of the Indians,