I stopped the controversy at once, by telling Hal that Patsey had no intention of offending, and there was no occasion for his attempt to chastise him.

"Oh, he won't thry it again, sur, niver fear," interrupted Patsey. "If he does," declared he in a tone intended only for Hal's ear, "I'll break ivery bone in his body, so I will."

After Patsey had gone, I did not reprimand Hal, only sent him to his tent; for, judging from his crestfallen air, he had suffered physically as well as mentally in the encounter.

CHAPTER XII.

We remained in camp the next day, visiting the officers at the fort, and taking our farewell of them, with many regrets. Nor did we forget a generous reminder to Tom Pope, to whose keen observation, quick wit, daring bravery, and perseverance we owed, in so large a degree, the success of our expedition.

The following morning, we crossed the Rio Grande and found ourselves in the celebrated Mesilla valley, one of the most fertile and productive, in the Territory of New Mexico.

The town itself has a population of about one thousand souls, and was first settled in 1850, by colonists from Chihuahua. All land in this portion of the territory is cultivated by irrigation; and, as this was the first time Hal had ever seen it practiced to any extent, he asked permission to remain behind in town a little while, to witness the operation. Ned also expressed a desire to see it, and, after consulting Jerry, I a.s.sented to their request, believing with him, "that they'd find mighty hard work to git inter any sc.r.a.pe in such a G.o.d-forsaken town as that was, anyhow."

We crossed the valley, and then ascended the high lands west of the town, through which our road lay, expecting to make our camp about sixteen miles from the river, and get an early start in the morning, to enable us to reach Cook's Springs, the following night.

As we rode along, I noticed that the distant range of blue mountains before us, seemed to have risen from the earth, and to be reposing upon the line of flickering heat that marked the horizon, and, in a short time, that groups of trees and huge rocks appeared, standing high in air, like islands in mid ocean.

Calling Jerry's attention to their singular appearance, he p.r.o.nounced it a _mirage_, which I watched with great curiosity; for it was the first time I had ever seen the phenomenon.

In a little while, the long line of trees connected themselves at each end, with the land below, and then we saw, a beautiful lake, with its white-capped waves gently driven before the breeze, rippling and dancing in the bright sunlight, like living things of life and beauty. The picture grew larger and larger as we rode, changing into a mighty ocean, with a grand old rocky sh.o.r.e, which appeared to be indented with scores of little bays and bayous, upon the banks of which, grew great live-oaks, their umbrageous tops casting a shade so refreshing, that it was with the greatest difficulty I could be persuaded that the scene was not a reality.

I could only console myself, however, with the wish that the boys were along to enjoy it with me; but they were in Mesilla, and Jerry was so accustomed to sights of the kind, that he merely gave the beautiful picture a pa.s.sing glance, regarding it as one of the matter-of-course things, to be met with on a trip like ours.

We went into camp about four o'clock; and, just at twilight, the guard that had been stationed back on the road about a quarter of a mile, came riding furiously in, his swarthy face almost white from fright, shouting at the top of his voice,--

"_Los Indios! los Indios! Los Apaches!_"

In an instant the quiet camp became a scene of the utmost confusion.

Jerry's first thought was for the animals; mine, for the absent boys. I stationed the men at what I deemed the best points for defense; and Jerry, as soon as he had secured the mules, hastened to my side. We then called the Mexican who had given the alarm, and found that the fellow had really not seen anything, but had heard strange noises, that he believed came from Apaches.

Jerry volunteered to ride back and ascertain, if possible, the cause of the disturbance. He had scarcely been gone five minutes, before one of the Mexicans rushed towards me, saying,--

"Don Jerry is shouting to _El Senor_ from the rise of ground out back upon the road."

Springing upon my horse I rode rapidly toward the spot where he stood, when the sight that met my gaze, almost convulsed me with laughter.

Coming up the road were the boys. Ned was mounted upon his pony, and trying to lead Hal's mule. Like most Spanish mules, the animal had a will of its own, and would not be led; but on the contrary, pulled back so strongly upon the lariat, which Ned had attached to the pommel of his saddle, that the pony could scarcely move a step.

Hal's coat was off, his face black with dust and sweat, and he, tugging at a lariat drawn tightly over his shoulder, at the end of which was a small black bear, scarcely more than a cub. The animal insisted upon squatting on his haunches, and in that position, Hal was dragging him through the dust, the creature all the while expressing his disapprobation by low, snarling growls of defiance, and a vigorous shaking of himself between each growl.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Boys and Bear.]

The strange medley of noises caused by the boys, the snarling bear, and the obstinate mule, had been heard in the still twilight for a long distance, by the guard, and mistaken for the approach of a party of Apaches.

"I wish you'd take this devilish bear," said Hal.

"And won't you take this plaguy mule?" exclaimed Ned.

Both looked so hara.s.sed and tired, that, although Jerry and I could not help laughing at their ludicrous situation, we nevertheless pitied them.

"Where in the world did you get that bear, Hal?" said I.

"Get him? I bought him of a Mexican at Mesilla, and I'm going to take him to California with me for a pet. He's tame."

"Well," exclaimed Ned, "if you don't get him along faster than you have to-day, you'll die of old age before you get there. We've been ever since eleven o'clock getting here, and I'm so hungry and tired I can hardly sit on my horse."

"Pooh!" retorted Hal; "this is nothing. You ought to be taken prisoner by the Apaches if you want to know what 'tis to be hungry and tired."

"How much did you pay for him?" inquired I.

"Only fifteen dollars," answered Hal.

"What's that?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Jerry. "Fifteen dollars! Wall, I dunno which is the biggest fool, you or the bar. The greaser that swindled yer, ought to be thrashed; and I've a notion of goin' back and doin' it, for I've felt like thrashin' somebody for a good while. The bar ain't wuth fifteen cents, and won't be nothin' but a bother. Mebbe though he might be good for 'fresh,' if we git hard up."

"He won't be any bother, and you shan't use him for meat. He's just as tame as he can be. See here, now," said Hal, approaching the bear, and attempting to put his hand upon its head. But Bruin snapped so viciously that the boy jumped back in dismay, exclaiming, "Poor fellow! he's awful tired, I suppose!"

"Yes," said Jerry; "he'll be wus tired, though, afore you git him to Californy. You'll have to lead him, every step of the way. He shan't be hitched to no wagon, for the mules has got all the load they want to draw, now. But I reckon we'd better be gettin' back to camp, or the men'll think, we've been took by the 'Paches."

Supper was soon dispatched, after we reached camp, the events of the day talked over, we "turned in," and in a short time were fast asleep.

In the middle of the night we were awakened by the most agonizing yells and screams.

Springing to my feet, I recognized Patsey's voice, and, as I hurried in the direction of the sounds, I met the boy, half dead with fright, rushing towards my tent.

As soon as he recognized me, he fell upon his knees, and, crossing himself, besought me, in heartrending tones; to "protict him, for the Blissed Vargin's sake. The divil himself, your honor, has intered the camp, and he got into bed wid me, to ate me up intirely!"

All the time the boy was howling, and holding one hand under his arm, while he danced a hornpipe and protested, that, if I'd save him this time, he'd "niver stale another cint's worth as long as he lived, sure!"

The whole camp was roused, but no one appeared to understand the cause of Patsey's outbreak, and Hal finally suggested that he'd been dreaming.

"Dramin', is it! I wish it had been dramin' I wuz. Boo! hoo! Didn't I sae him wid me own eyes, shure?"

After we had partially quieted him he was able to tell us, that, as he was "slapin' paceably, he all ov a suddint felt somethin' in bed wid him, that wuz swallowin' him intirely. A big black thing wuz lyin' right by the side ov him, and wuz jest a-suckin' him in whole, for he had his arrm in his throat clane up to his ilbow!"

"It's that cub of a bear!" exclaimed Ned, interrupting Patsey's story.

At the sound of the word "bear," all of Patsey's fears returned, with renewed power, and he again commenced calling for "protiction," in frantic tones.

Going to the wagon under which Patsey had spread his blanket for the night, we found that Hal had tied the bear near it. Getting rested from the fatigue of his forced journey, the animal had crawled beneath the wagon, and, attracted by the warmth of the blankets, placed himself by the side of the sleeping boy, and, finding his hand uncovered, commenced licking it.

Patsey, thus awakened, had seen the creature's glaring eyes and s.h.a.ggy black coat, and, not knowing in his fright what it was, concluded his Satanic Majesty had come for him, on account of his many sins and transgressions.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Under the Wagon.]

Order was at last restored, and we retired once more, to be awakened some hours later by Jerry's voice calling the men to prepare for the day's journey. Our breakfast was soon cooked and eaten, and Hal having finally induced Jerry, to permit him to tie his bear to the hind wagon, we were on the road an hour before sunrise, encamping that night at Cook's Springs, and the next afternoon reaching the Membris River about three o'clock, where, with good water, and plenty of gra.s.s and wood, we made a very pleasant camp.

Immediately upon our arrival, Hal and Ned went out hunting; and in less than an hour returned with three fine, fat turkeys, which were soon cooking after the most approved style, in one of the large camp-kettles that adorned our fire.