Several of us rush up the hill to ascertain if the howling has attracted the attention of the savages. There is no unusual movement among them; they have not heard it. The dog is divided and devoured before his quivering flesh has time to grow cold! The horse is reprieved. Again we feed our animals on the cooling cactus. This occupies us for some time. When we return to the hill a glad sight is before us. We see the warriors seated around their fires, renewing the paint upon their bodies. We know the meaning of this. The tasajo is nearly black. Thanks to the hot sun, it will soon be ready for packing! Some of the Indians are engaged in poisoning the points of their arrows. All these signs inspire us with fresh courage. They will soon march; if not to-night, by daybreak on the morrow. We lie congratulating ourselves, and watching every movement of their camp. Our hopes continue rising as the day falls. Ha! there is an unusual stir. Some order has been issued. "Voila!" "Mira! mira!" "See!" "Look, look!" are the half-whispered ejaculations that break from the hunters as this is observed. "By the livin' catamount, thar a-going to mizzle!" We see the savages pull down the tasajo and tie it in bunches. Then every man runs out for his horse; the pickets are drawn; the animals are led in and watered; they are bridled; the robes are thrown over them and girthed. The warriors pluck up their lances, sling their quivers, seize their shields and bows, and leap lightly upon horseback. The next moment they form with the rapidity of thought, and wheeling in their tracks, ride off in single file, heading to the southward. The larger band has passed. The smaller, the Navajoes, follow in the same trail. No! The latter has suddenly filed to the left, and is crossing the prairie towards the east, towards the spring of the Ojo de Vaca. CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. THE DIGGERS. Our first impulse was to rush down the ravine, satisfy our thirst at the spring, and our hunger on the half-polished bones that were strewed over the prairie. Prudence, however, restrained us. "Wait till they're clar gone," said Garey. "They'll be out o' sight in three skips o' a goat." "Yes! stay where we are a bit," added another; "some of them may ride back; something may be forgotten." This was not improbable; and in spite of the promptings of our appetites, we resolved to remain a while longer in the defile. We descended straightway into the thicket to make preparations for moving--to saddle our horses and take off their mufflings, which by this time had nearly blinded them. Poor brutes! they seemed to know that relief was at hand. While we were engaged in these operations, our vidette was kept at the top of the hill to watch both bands, and warn us when their heads should sink to the prairie level.