When the herders rounded up the cattle, they found that several yoke
of oxen were missing, and greatly alarmed, they said that they
believed the Indians had stolen them during the night. Don Juan did
not appear to be very anxious to search for the missing cattle
himself, so he sent out the herders again after breakfast. They
returned with the report of having found the tracks of Indians who
had apparently driven the cattle toward the hills, and stated that
they were afraid to follow, fearing for their lives.

As it was nearly noon by this time, we cooked our dinner, and while
doing so were visited again by a number of the Indians. Don Juan
intimated to them that several of his oxen had strayed off during the
night, and the Navajos kindly offered to go in search of them for a
remuneration. They demanded a stack of tortillas a foot high and a
sack of flour. Nolens-volens, squatted Don Mestal before the fire and
baked bread for the wily Indians as a ransom for his cattle. Of
course then the missing oxen were soon brought up, and we lost no
time in getting under way.

Until midnight we traveled, as Don Juan was very anxious to get away
from the reservation of these Indians, which is seventy-five miles
across. This night we experienced a repetition of the tactics of the
night before, as regarded the safety of our herd, but Don Juan had to
pay a higher ransom in the morning. While we were awaiting the
arrival of the Indians with our lost steers, Chief Manuelito honored
us again with his presence. He sat down at our fire, and producing a
greasy deck of Spanish playing cards, he challenged Don Juan to a
game of monte. That was an irresistible temptation for my companion.
By the smiling expression of his wizened features I divined that he
thought he saw his chance for revenge. Manuelito undoubtedly had a