roach of our party. This was not strange, as the major,
mounted upon his great gaunt charger, loomed up against the blue sky
like a colossus. The Mexicans, doubtless, had never seen anything in
the way of horseflesh bigger than the mustangs they were riding; and
this apparition, with the long line of uniformed soldiers descending the
hill, was calculated to alarm them severely.

"Them fellers is gwine to put, Cap'n," said Lincoln, touching his cap
respectfully.

"You're right, Sergeant," I replied; "and without them we might as well
think of catching the wind as one of these mules."

"If yer'll just let me draw a bead on the near mustang, I kin kripple
him 'ithout hurtin' the thing thet's in the saddle."

"It would be a pity. No, Sergeant," answered I. "I might stop them by
sending forward the guide," I continued, addressing myself rather than
Lincoln; "but no, it will not do; there must be the appearance of force.
I have promised. Major, would you have the goodness to ride forward,
and prevent those fellows from galloping off?"

"Lord, Captain!" said the major, with a terrified look, "you don't think
I could overtake such Arabs as them? Hercules is slow--slow as a crab!"

Now, this was _a lie_, and I knew it! for Hercules, the major's great,
raw-boned steed, was as fleet as the wind.

"Then, Major, perhaps you will allow Mr Clayley to make trial of him,"
I suggested. "He is light weight. I assure you that, without the
assistance of these Mexicans, we shall not be able to catch a single
mule."

The major, seeing that all eyes were fixed upon him, suddenly
straightened himself up in his stirrups, and, swelling with courage and
importance, declared, "If that was the case, he would go himself."
Then, calling upon "Doc" to follow him, he struck the spurs into
Hercules, and rode forward at a gallop.

It proved that this was just the very course to start the vaqueros, as
the major had inspired them with more terror than all the rest of our
party. They showed evident symptoms of taking to their heels, and I
shouted to them at the top of my voice:

"_Alto! somos amigos_!" (Halt! we are friends).

The words were scarcely out of my mouth when the Mexicans drove the
rowels into their mustangs, and galloped off as if for their lives in
the direction of the corral.

The major followed at a slashing pace, Doc bringing up the rear; while
the basket which the latter carried over his arm began to eject its
conte