West Texas is noted as a health resort for consumptives as the air is so dry, and I myself have seen some wonderful cures. One young fellow I saw helped off the train, who I thought could not live over a week or two, was, within a year, one of the best cow-punchers in the county, and could stay all day in the saddle without trouble. His case was one of perhaps fifty that I have personally known. The idea seems to be to buy a camp wagon and a couple of horses, a gun, a rifle, and fishing tackle, and go wandering round the country hunting and fishing and leading the simple life. The initial expense for a first-class outfit would not be over £50, and after that you can live for £3 to £4 per month, provided you cook for yourself. If, however, from weakness or lack of knowledge one cannot do for oneself, a man can be hired to go along, and the expense account would not pass £15, including his wages and keep. This of course does not include any luxuries, it only allows of the absolute necessaries, such as flour, bacon, salt, sugar, coffee, lard, canned milk, dried apples, and rice. Meat, fish, &c., your gun and rod supply. I and a friend once lived for three weeks, and lived well, on £1 worth of provisions. As I have before said, the country is well stocked with game, and there are fish for the catching. Lots of young fellows with weak lungs and small capital, who cannot afford to loaf, buy a few stands of bees and make a decent living, while getting well. The work is light and keeps one out of doors, as most of these bee-men live in tents. £100 will buy one hundred stands of bees, the profit of which is sufficient to keep a man in food and necessaries. It is a solitary sort of life, but if a man has sporting instincts and a longing to get well he can stand it for a year or so, by which time he is fit for harder work. The heat is great in summer, but, being very dry, does not affect one’s health, and the springs, falls, and winters are delightful, all except the “Northers,” of which I shall have more to say. CHAPTER XXI "Northers"—Almost frozen—The Mexican Indian—Cold-blooded Ingratitude—Mexican untrustworthiness.