The _tarantula_ is a very large _spider_, with large, strong legs, and can jump four or five feet. It _bites_ instead of _stings_; and though its bite is not _deadly_ like the centipede’s, it is nevertheless very _painful_, and swells the parts fearfully, _sometimes_ resulting in death. They are a _peaceful_ insect; but when _tormented_ they become very angry, and will jump at their enemy in great fury. These two insects are very numerous in New Mexico, and it is very dangerous to sleep on the ground; and citizens are all the time cautious. While speaking of poisonous _animals_ and _insects_, I might also mention that the _skunk_ out here is _also_ very dangerous. They will come to your _bed_ at _night_ and bite you; and the bite has never been known to fail to produce _hydrophobia_. It is a question much discussed whether it is the effect of the _general_ skunk-bite, or whether there are just _certain ones_ which are _themselves_ afflicted with hydrophobia. The general _opinion_ is, however, that any skunk’s bite will produce the effect. The subject acts just as though bitten by a mad-dog, and it is said that there is no remedy when once bitten. I saw a man by the name of Jones, in Texas, die in the most horrible agony from a skunk-bite he had received away up in Nebraska eighteen months before. These skunks are in appearance like our eastern skunks; but whether they are equally _poisonous_ I do not know. The cow-boys are always on the alert for skunks. We moved on up the river; and one evening as I rode down a deep ravine a half mile north of camp I discovered smoke arising out of a deep gulch just below. I recognized it as an _Indian_ fire. I tied my pony to a bush in a deep hollow and cautiously crawled down upon the camp. I got within about three hundred yards of them, and peeping out from behind a bluff I saw four Indians, who, from their dress, I recognized to be _Kiawas_, from the pan-handle country. Two were smoking their pipes, and the other two were broiling meat upon a stick before a little fire; and just below them were twelve good ponies grazing in the ravine. Knowing the _Kiawas_ to be _horse-thieves_, and finding them here under such _suspicious circumstances_, I concluded that they had been out _stealing_ and were just returning with their booty. Creeping cautiously away, I got my pony and rode off to camp; and after informing the boys of what I had seen, we concluded to rescue the ponies from their red captors. So, just after twilight we moved quietly upon the camp--John and myself upon ponies, and Dave and Charles on foot. When we were within a hundred yards of the camp and, unnoticed, we halted and took a careful survey of the ground. A cool wind had sprung up that evening, and by a bright little fire lay the four bodies in blankets, while fifty yards below grazed the twelve hobbled ponies in the bright moonlight. Their front feet were tied closely together with ropes, and they were compelled to step very short.