Year: 1877

For several years past, have been engaged
in buying horses in the United States, and
disposing of them among the wealthy Mexi-
cans in the vicinity of Mendoza and Santa
Rosa. The route passed over in my Journeys
was infested with robbers on almost every
mile and, if one wanted to save his money
and his life, he had to be ever on the alert,
and possessed of the utmost caution. A dro.
yer is not often molested with his drove; for
they know that his pockets are empty, and
there is nothing to be gained, unless indeed
some large band take fancy to some of your
stock; aud then they are more apt to stam-
pede them than to conspire for the death of
their owners. When you return laden with
the dollars of the rich purchasers, then it is
that q man must look out for his lite.


At the time the adventure that am about
to relate befell me, had been very success
full with my drove, and was on my way back
in company with my partners, and three other
men, whom we had employed to aid us on
our passage from the States and we were
glad of their company on our return. as they
were all stout fellows, and could be depended
upon in any emergency.


Some thirty miles this side of Santa Rosa,
the road we we're pursuing, on our return, lay
through wild mountainous region, that had
the reputation, this score of years, of being
one of the most dangerous routes in the east
ern portion of Mexico; with scarcely an in
habitant, dark forests of heavy timber, save in
places where fires had ragged over large dis.
tricts, backed by lofty mountains that raised
their Jagged SUBMITS above the tree-tops, and
often times along one of the worst possible
roads. Taken all in all. a better place for
murder and pilage could not be found.


1t was about ten o'clock in the forenoon
that we left the wretched little village on the
western hill of the mountains, and struck into
the most dangerous part of our journey. Thr'
ty-five miles over terrible road would bring
us to San Nigel, where we hoped to be before
the darkness became too dense for US to see
our way.


had never passed this way before, and,
upon inquiry of the innkeeper, he had told us
that we could do the distance with ease but
before halfa dozen miles had been passed over
we knew that he had deceived US. He had
told US that the three first miles would be bad
aud that then it would improve until the
highest point in the route was gained but
Instead of doing 50, every mile grew worse and
worse, until, at last, all our horses could do
was to pick their way along at slow walk
However, we kept our spirits up by the ex'
pectaton of something better ahead; but IN
this we were doomed to disappointment:


A dozen miles, and the miserable path that
had been denominated road, became almost
impossible for our steeds. who began to show
signs ofexhaustion and, to add to the uncom
fortableness Of our situation, dense clouds
that all the morning had hung upon the noun.
tains, expanded themselves over the sky, and
soon the rain began to pour down in torrents


Beneath the branches of a huge tree that
stood by the roadside, we halted for consulta.
ton. What was to be done? To proceed
seemed next to impossible in the thick dark
ness that even was now gathering in while to
remain where we were was hazardous in the
extreme, from the cause have mentioned
To be sure, there were five of US, expert in the
use of fire arms; but what would that be. when
taken unawares in the night time in such a