d the mesa.

On getting within about half-a-mile of our position, they turned sharply
towards the west, and rode as if to make round to our rear!

This manoeuvre of course placed us upon their flank; and now outlined
against the sky, we could distinctly trace their forms and note their
habiliments and armour. Nearly all wore broad-brimmed sombreros, with
jacket, sash, and calzoneros. They carried lances, lazoes, and carbines
or _escopettes_. We could distinguish sabres and _machetes_--the
universal weapon of the Mexican ranchero. They could not be drilled
troops. Their costumes, as well as a certain irregularity in their
manoeuvring, forbade this supposition. Their lances, moreover, were
borne in all sorts of ways--some couched, some resting in the stirrup
and held correctly, while others were carried over the shoulder like a
firelock! No, they could not be a troop of regulars. They were either
_guerrillos_ or true _salteadores_.

After riding nearly a half-circle round--still keeping at the same
distance--the troop suddenly made front towards as, and halted.

We had been puzzled by their going round; we could not divine their
object in so doing. It could not be to cut off our retreat. The timber
in the back direction was miles off. Had it been near enough, we should
certainly have retreated to it long before; but we knew it was too
distant. Rube and his old mare would have been overtaken by our
well-mounted enemies long ere we could have gained the woods; we knew
this, and therefore did not think of making the attempt. On the other
side was the _mesa_, which, by their late movement, had been left open
to us. It was but a half-mile off, and perhaps, by making a dash, we
might have reached it; but not a tree grew near it--except those on its
summit--and its rocky wall apparently offered no advantage to us, any
more than the open plain. The enemy seemed to be aware of this, else
they would not have ridden round, and by so doing left the way clear.

Until the moment of their halt, therefore, we remained ignorant of their
motive in moving to our rear. _Then_ it was explained. Their object
was evident to all of us: they had halted between us and the sun!

It was a cunning manoeuvre--worthy of a war-party of Indians--and told
us we had no common enemy to deal with. By approaching us from that
direction, they would have a decided advantage: our aim would be spoiled
by the sun--now low down upon the horiz