_August 24._--Left Pechacio village at daylight, this time with another guide; reached the top of the _Mesa_ through a cañon and road some three miles long. We are now crossing the _jornada_ of 65 miles, between La Mesilla and Cook’s wells. We found the road somewhat muddy, the result of the recent rains. We had a fearful thunder storm at noon to-day, and in about half an hour every one was wet through to the skin; afterwards the sun came out warm and pleasant and dried us to a cheerful temperature again. To-day our conductor, Captain Holliday, who is an experienced voyageur on the plains, discovered a natural tank in the rocks. He was first attracted to it by noticing a pair of doves which flew over his head and alighted there. [This tank held enough to water all of our mules, and on my return trip in November, I learned that the same conductor had found water enough for his mules every trip during the intermediate period. I state this incident as one illustrative of the probable chances of finding places adapted to natural tanks. Doves and a species of small sparrow are said to be sure signs of water.] Camped at 8½ p. m., making 48 miles to-day. _August 25._--Started at daylight this morning, and breakfasted at Cook’s spring, in a drizzling rain, which lasted at intervals all day. This spring is at the foot of the eastern slope of the Sierra Madre mountains. By examining the table of distances, it will be noticed that the Rio Mimbres is eighteen miles westward from Cook’s spring. We breakfasted at Cook’s spring, and dined several miles west of the Mimbres. This speed made over the mountains will, I think, convey a good idea of what must be the nature of our roads through the Sierra Madre. Passed the Rio Mimbres just before dinner; we had to be very cautious in crossing, else the force of the current would have upset our carriages; the stream was so much of a flood that we had to have one of the men plunge into the water and hold up the lead mules by a rope fastened to their heads. The force of the current and depth of water took them off their feet for a distance of a few yards. A few weeks later, one of our mail trains going west was camped two days on the eastern camp of the Mimbres, unable to cross. We stopped at Cow spring for a couple of hours, about sunset, to graze our animals; camped for the night at the mouth of a cañon leading up to the Burre mountains; camped at 10 o’clock 30 minutes, making fifty-five miles to-day.