Antonio, and their only amusement consisted in practising with their
rifles or revolvers or exercising their ponies.

At last (it was the first day of September) Jerry brought word to camp,
that, on the following morning, Magoffin's train, consisting of seventeen
wagons, forty men, and two hundred mules, would start for Fort Fillmore,
nearly a thousand miles away upon our direct route.

This was indeed agreeable news; and the boys could hardly contain
themselves for joy at the thought of so soon being on the road.

Every one about camp went to work with a will; for there were many things
yet to be done before we should be ready to leave.

Mules were to be shod, harness examined, wheels greased, nuts tightened,
firearms put in order and freshly loaded, wagons repacked, and, in fact,
a thousand things that are always postponed until the last minute before
starting on a trip like ours.

Shortly after sundown, however, old Jerry announced everything ready, and
then we gathered around our camp-fire, and the boys spent the evening in
asking him questions about the route, which were easily answered; for he
had passed over it seven times, and met with hundreds of adventures on
the road, that afforded both instruction and amusement for his listeners.

It is the story of our trip across the plains, from San Antonio, Texas,
to San Diego, California, as well as some of the adventures we
encountered on the road, that I have to tell you.

Long before daylight the next morning I was awakened by the noise and