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About a week after this time an atajo of pack-mules nearly fifty in number loaded with buffalo-hides and tasajo, was seen struggling up the eastern ceja of the Llano Estacado, and heading in a north-westerly direction over that desert plain. The arriero, mounted upon the mulera, was a half-blood Indian.
At the point where it ended, the path, which for the whole of the day had been scarcely traceable, also came to an end. They were now of course in a forest-covered country in the Ceja de la Montaña that is, the forest that covers the foot-hills of the mountains. The forest of the plains, which were yet lower down, is known as the "Montaña" proper.
With a knowledge of these facts, Carlos the cibolero had determined to risk an expedition to the Red River, whose head-waters have their source in the eastern "ceja" of the Llano Estacado, and not in the Rocky Mountains as laid down upon maps. Carlos was well armed for hunting the buffalo so was the half-blood Antonio and two of the three peons were also experienced hunters.
Beyond this, the leader swerved from the track; and without a word headed obliquely over the plain. The extended line followed silently after as the body of a snake moves after its head. Another hour, and they had arrived at the ceja of the Great Plain at a point well-known to their chief. It was at the head of that ravine where he had so oft found shelter from his foes.
As we reached the extreme eastern edge of the Ceja, we looked down on an interminable extent of forest, composed of trees of a height with which few in other parts of the world can vie. These wooded plains are called Montanas, which is the name given to the whole of the country eastward of the Andes. As we advanced, our ears were saluted by the cries of numerous birds and animals.
The Cordillera, to which we have given the name of eastern, that of the lake of Sebondoy, widens considerably between Pansitara and Ceja. The knot of the Paramo de las Papas and of Socoboni gives birth to the great rivers of Cauca and Magdalena, and is divided into two chains, latitude 2 degrees 5 minutes east and west of La Plata, Vieja and Timana.
The speaker indicated the trail which he had halted to examine, and continued, "Very probably we'll find the herd among the spurs of the ceja yonder." As Carlos said this, he pointed to a number of ragged ridges that from the brow of the Llano Estacado jutted out into the plain. They appeared to be at the distance of some ten miles from the crossing. "Shall we push on there?" asked Don Juan.
They see that these are rugged, with promontories projecting far out over the plain, forming what Spanish Americans, in their expressive phraseology, call ceja. Into an embayment between two of the out-stretching spurs Barbato conducts them.
Nothing signified their wet clothes to them; and without halting they rode straight forward to the ceja of the Llano Estacado, and having reached it turned to the right, and rode along the base of the bluffs.
At the point where it ended, the path, which for the whole of the day had been scarcely traceable, also came to an end. They were now of course in a forest-covered country in the Ceja de la Montana that is, the forest that covers the foot-hills of the mountains. The forest of the plains, which were yet lower down, is known as the "Montana" proper.
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