The Ranch Had Spaces For Windows, Covered With Thin Unbleached Muslin (Or Manta, As It Is Always Called Out There), Glass Windows Being Then Too Great A Luxury In That Remote Place. There Were Some Partitions Inside The Ranch, But No Doors; And, Of Course, No Floors Except Adobe.

Several half-breed children, nearly naked, stood and gazed at us as we prepared for rest.

This was interesting and picturesque from many standpoints perhaps, but it did not tend to make me sleepy. I lay gazing into the fire which was smouldering in the corner, and finally I said, in a whisper, "Jack, which girl do you think is Cooley's wife?"

"I don't know," answered this cross and tired man; and then added, "both of 'em, I guess."

Now this was too awful, but I knew he did not intend for me to ask any more questions. I had a difficult time, in those days, reconciling what I saw with what I had been taught was right, and I had to sort over my ideas and deep-rooted prejudices a good many times.

The two pretty squaws prepared a nice breakfast for us, and we set out, quite refreshed, to travel over the malapais (as the great lava-beds in that part of the country are called). There was no trace of a road. A few hours of this grinding and crunching over crushed lava wearied us all, and the animals found it hard pulling, although the country was level.

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