Previous experiences with these simple people of the
mountains had taught me how superstitious and easily frightened they
are, and wishing to gain some information from them as well as something
to eat, I let the point of my iron shod paddle strike a rock, at the
same time saluting them with 'buonos dias mis hermanos,'--good day, my
brothers. The men sprang to their feet and turned around at the
unexpected salutation. Then a wild yell rang through mountain top and
ravine and they dashed away like a pair of frightened deer. At every
hail for them to stop they only redoubled their efforts to escape and
soon disappeared up the ravine. I sat down and made a breakfast off the
provender they had left behind and enjoyed it as I never enjoyed
anything before. I also absorbed a pig skin flask of Spanish wine
which afforded me great consolation in my exhausted condition. I then
took off the dress and dried myself before the fire and rising sun, in
hopes the shepherds would take courage and return; but they never came
back. Before dressing I left a Spanish dollar on the upturned bottom of
the stew pan, and returned to the river much refreshed and all traces of
hunger gone.
"I had not proceeded more than a league when I observed a man seated on
a mule, occupying a point of rock overlooking the river.
Pages:
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373