"Them varmints don't make smoke for nothing; and, when you see 'em in so
many directions, it's a sure sign that they're gatherin' for mischief: at
least, that's my 'sperience."

As it was still early in the evening, I determined to walk over to
Magoffin's camp, which was about a quarter of a mile above us, and
ascertain if his men had seen anything to cause them to apprehend danger.
I found that Don Ignacio, the wagon-master, fully corroborated Jerry's
statements about the smoke signals, adding that he intended to have a
very strict watch kept that night.

With, tins information I returned to camp; and, after telling the boys
what I had heard and cautioning them to keep a sharp lookout during their
watch, I "turned in," resolved to nap "with one eye open" myself.

I lay for a long time trying in vain to compose myself to sleep; but,
finding it impossible to do so, concluded to rise and endeavor to walk my
nervousness away.

Without thinking of my firearms, I sallied forth, and must have travelled
nearly a mile, when I came suddenly upon a mule, standing alone, a short
distance from the roadside.

Supposing it to be one of our own, which, through carelessness, had been
permitted to stray from the herd, I attempted to secure it, with the
intention of leading it back; but, to my surprise, it started and dashed
furiously away across the prairie, in an opposite direction from camp.

I well knew that a mule, when alone on the plains, is one of the most