time he likewise took a sun bath on the same liberal terms. This
episode made me famous with every Spanish freighter over the Santa Fe
trail, from Kansas into New Mexico.

Just before we reached the Cimarron country, which is very hilly and
is drained by the Red River, and where we were out of all danger from
Indians, I had a narrow escape from death. I was in the lead of our
train and had crossed a muddy place in the road. I drove on without
noticing that I was leaving the other teams far behind. A wagon stuck
fast in the mire, which caused my companions a great deal of labor
and much delay. At last I halted to await the coming of the other
teams. Suddenly there fell a shot from the dense growth of a wild
sunflower copse. It missed my head by a very close margin and just
grazed the ear of one of the mules. I believe that if I had attempted
to rejoin the train then I would have been killed from ambush.
Instead, I quickly secured the brake of my wagon, then I unhooked the
trace chains of the mules and quieted them and lay down under the
wagon, ready to defend myself. I was, however, not further molested
and my companions came along after a while. They had heard the shot
and thought it was I who had fired it.



CHAPTER IV. A STRANGE LAND AND STRANGER PEOPLE

We were now within the boundaries of the Territory of Colorado and
approaching the northern line of New Mexico. When we passed through
Trinidad, which was then a small adobe town, we met Don Emilio Cortez
again. He was at home in this vicinity and came for the express
purpose of persuading me to come with him. "My good wife charged me