spect--the
aspect of the "rolling" prairie. Gentle declivities, with soft rounded
tops declining into smooth verdant vales, along which meandered streams
of clear and sparkling water. Here and there along the banks stood
groves of trees, such as the evergreen live-oak, the beautiful "pecan"
with its oblong edible nuts, the "overcup" with its odd-looking acorns,
the hackberry with its nettle-shaped leaves and sweet fruits, and the
silvery cotton-wood. Along the swells could be seen large trees
standing apart, and at almost equal distances, as though planted for an
orchard. Their full leafy tops gave them a fine appearance, and their
light pinnate leaves, with the long brown legumes hanging from their
branches, told they were the famous "mezquite" trees--the American
acacia. The red mulberry could be seen in the creek bottoms, and here
and there the beautiful wild-china-tree with its pretty lilac flowers.
The whole surface both of hill and valley was clad in a rich mantle of
short _buffalo_ grass, which gave it the aspect of a meadow lately mown,
and springing into fresh verdure. It was a lovely landscape, and no
wonder the wild bulls of the prairies chose it for their favourite
range.

The cibolero had not travelled far through this favoured region until he
came upon the buffalo sign--"roads", "wallows", and "bois de vache;" and
next morning he found himself in the midst of vast herds, roaming about
like tame cattle, and browsing at their leisure. So little shy were
they, they scarce deigned to make off at his approach!

Of course he had reached the end of his journey. This was his great
stock-farm. These were his own cattle--as much his as any one else's;
and he had nothing more to do but set to killing and curing.

As to his trade with the Indians, that would take place whenever he
should chance to fall in with a party--which he would be certain to do
in the course of the season.

Like all men of the prairie, rude trappers as well as Indians, Carlos
had an eye for the picturesque, and therefore chose a beautiful spot for
his camp. It was a grassy bottom, through which ran a clear "arroyo" of
sweet water, shaded by pecan, mulberry, and wild-china-trees, and under
the shadow of a mulberry grove his carretas were halted and his tent was
pitched.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

Carlos had commenced his hunt, and was making rapid progress. In the
first two days he had slaughtered no less than twenty buffaloes, and h