The chief dismounted and withdrew with Don Juan behind a wagon for a talk, as I presumed.  They reappeared soon, and the chief mounted his steed and cavorted around our camp as one possessed.  Furiously lashing his horse, he scattered our cooking utensils and acted in a most provoking manner generally.  I noticed then that the noble chief was intoxicated, and when I questioned Don Juan sharply, he admitted that he had given the Indian some whiskey, and on the day before as well.  I warned the Don to have no further dealings with these Indians and advised him to break camp at once in order to avoid trouble.  I informed him also that he had committed a serious crime by selling liquor to Indians and that he was liable to be arrested at any time should a patrol from the fort happen our way.  As the Mexican was frightened now, we took to the road in a hurry and traveled until a late hour that night.  In fact, we did not stop until the cattle were exhausted.

Hardly had we prepared our camp and were sitting around our fire, when a horde of Indians appeared, clamoring for whiskey.  As they were armed and threatening, Don Juan became so terrified that he climbed to the interior of a wagon to comply with the demand of the savages.  When I saw this, I drew my rifle from its place under my bedding and placed it in readiness.  Plainly I saw Don Juan come out of the wagon with the mischievous stone jug, as this happened in the bright light of our camp fire.  That will never do, thought I, and quickly drawing my revolver, I persuaded the Don to drop the jug, incidentally smashing it with a 44 caliber bullet, taking care not to hurt anybody; and this was easily done, as the jug was a large one, it held three gallons.  Instantaneously I grabbed my Winchester, and with my back against a wagon stood ready for action.  The Indians uttered a howl of disappointment when they saw the jug collapse and its precious contents wasted, but were silenced by an exclamation of their chief.  After an excited pow-wow between themselves, they disappeared among the hills in the shadows of the night.

“Muchas gracias, senor Americana,” said Don Juan, “quien sabe?” What would have happened if the Indians had gotten the liquor, which I dared not refuse them; but I think this ends our troubles.  We passed a sleepless night, and long before sunrise Don Juan made preparations for our departure.

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.