es
have ceased to blaze, but by the light of the moon I can distinguish the
prostrate bodies of the savages. White objects are moving among them;
they are dogs, prowling about in search of the remains of their supper.
These run from point to point, growling at one another, and barking at
the coyotes that sneak around the outskirts of the camp. Out upon the
prairie the horses are still awake and busy. I can hear them stamping
their hoofs and cropping the rich pasture. At intervals along the line
I can see erect forms standing motionless; these are the guards of the
caballada. At length I begin to grow drowsy, and lying down upon my
robe, I wrap myself in my _serape_, and in a few moments am asleep.

CHAPTER XXIV.

MY FIRST SCALP.

I was roused before dawn by the stir and bustle around me. On rising to
my feet, I found the party preparing to march. Every warrior ran out for
his horse; the pickets were drawn, and the animals led in and watered.
They are bridled; the robes are thrown over them and girthed. We pluck
up our lances, sling our quivers, seize our shields and bows, and leap
lightly upon horseback. Our line is already formed, and, wheeling in our
tracks, we ride off in single file to the northward.

From conversation with my companions the night previous, I had
discovered that only the leaders of the party knew our destination. The
rank and file were as ignorant of the intentions of their commanders as
is usually the case among the armies of more civilized peoples. The
young braves who were my chosen companions on the march and in the camp,
neither knew nor cared whither we were bound. They expected the
expedition to result in our return with an abundance of scalps and
plunder, and that was all they cared about. During the forenoon we
passed over a "_motte_" of prairie or park. Its surface was nearly
level, but it was studded here and there with clumps and coppices of
cottonwoods and other trees and shrubs.

To the north the horizon was shut in by a lofty mountain chain which
seemingly barred our pathway, although at a great distance, and between
us and this barrier was a range of much less elevation, such as are
called "foot hills" in this region.

About noon we came upon a small stream which crossed our line of march,
running off to the eastward. Upon its banks we halted for a short
period, watering and feeding our horses, and satisfying our own
appetites from our supply of dried meat. This done w