our train. When I drove down the steep bank on to the ferryboat, the
timbers, which were not well secured, slid forward and pushed me off
my seat, so that I fell right under the mules just as they stepped on
the ferry. The frightened mules trampled and kicked fearfully. I lay
still, thinking that if I moved they would step on me, as their hoofs
missed my head by inches only. I thought of my mother and how sorry
she would be if she could see me now, but I was thinking, ever
thinking and lay very still. Then my guardian angel, in the person of
a Mexican, crawled under the wagon from the rear end and pulled me by
my heels, back to safety under the wagon. When I came out from under
I threw my hat in the air and gave a whoop and cheer, at which the
Mexicans were greatly enthused. They yelled excitedly and our
mayordomo exclaimed: "Caramba, mira que diablito!" (Egad, see the
little devil!)

We traveled in two parallel lines, about fifty feet apart and kept
the spare cattle and remounts of horses, as also the small provision
teams between the lines. A cavalcade of train owners and mayordomos
was constantly scouting in all directions, but they never ventured
out of sight of the traveling teams. We started daily at sunrise and
traveled till noon or until we made the distance to our next watering
place. Then we camped and turned our live stock out to rest and crop
the prairie grass. After several hours we used to resume our journey
until nightfall or later to our next camping ground. Every man had to
take his turn about at herding cattle and horses during the
nighttime. Only the cooks were exempt from doing herd and guard duty.

We pitched our nightly camps by forming two closed half circles of
our wagons, one on each side of the road so as to form a corral. By
means of connecting the wagons with chains, this made a strong