Cattle Brands | Page 6

realized then for the first time that I was in for it in earnest. I
never knew before that I could put up such a fine defense, for inside a
minute I had them both blinded in their own blood. I gathered up rocks
and had them flying when I heard a clatter of hoofs coming down the
arroyo like a squadron of cavalry. They were so close on to me that I
took to the brush, without hat, coat, or pistol. Men that pack a gun all
their lives never have it when they need it; that was exactly my fix.
Darkness was in my favor, but I had no more idea where I was or
which way I was going than a baby. One thing sure, I was trying to get
away from there as fast as I could. The night was terribly dark, and
about ten o'clock it began to rain a deluge. I kept going all night, but
must have been circling.
"Towards morning I came to an arroyo which was running full of water.
My idea was to get that between me and the scene of my trouble, so I
took off my boots to wade it. When about one third way across, I either

stepped off a bluff bank or into a well, for I went under and dropped the
boots. When I came to the surface I made a few strokes swimming and
landed in a clump of mesquite brush, to which I clung, got on my feet,
and waded out to the opposite bank more scared than hurt. Right there I
lay until daybreak.
"The thing that I remember best now was the peculiar odor of the wet
mole-skin. If there had been a strolling artist about looking for a picture
of Despair, I certainly would have filled the bill. The sleeves were torn
out of my shirt, and my face and arms were scratched and bleeding
from the thorns of the mesquite. No one who could have seen me then
would ever have dreamed that I was a walking depositary of 'Other
People's Money.' When it got good daylight I started out and kept the
shelter of the brush to hide me. After nearly an hour's travel, I came out
on a divide, and about a mile off I saw what looked like a jacal.
Directly I noticed a smoke arise, and I knew then it was a habitation.
My appearance was not what I desired, but I approached it.
"In answer to my knock at the door a woman opened it about two
inches and seemed to be more interested in examination of my anatomy
than in listening to my troubles. After I had made an earnest sincere
talk she asked me, 'No estay loco tu?' I assured her that I was perfectly
sane, and that all I needed was food and clothing, for which I would
pay her well. It must have been my appearance that aroused her
sympathy, for she admitted me and fed me.
"The woman had a little girl of probably ten years of age. This little girl
brought me water to wash myself, while the mother prepared me
something to eat. I was so anxious to pay these people that I found a
five-dollar gold piece in one of my pockets and gave it to the little girl,
who in turn gave it to her mother. While I was drinking the coffee and
eating my breakfast, the woman saw me looking at a picture of the
Virgin Mary which was hanging on the adobe wall opposite me. She
asked me if I was a Catholic, which I admitted. Then she brought out a
shirt and offered it to me.
"Suddenly the barking of a dog attracted her to the door. She returned
breathless, and said in good Spanish: 'For God's sake, run! Fly! Don't
let my husband and brother catch you here, for they are coming home.'
She thrust the shirt into my hand and pointed out the direction in which
I should go. From a concealed point of the brush I saw two men ride up

to the jacal and dismount. One of them was riding the Pinto horse I had
seen the day before.
"I kept the brush for an hour or so, and finally came out on the mesa.
Here I found a flock of sheep and a pastore. From this shepherd I
learned that I was about ten miles from the main road. He took the
sandals from his own feet and fastened them on mine, gave me
directions, and about night I reached the hacienda, where I was kindly
received and cared for. This ranchero sent after officers and had the
country scoured for the robbers. I was detained nearly a week,