The Indian ponies made only of bone and muscle were riding them down.
On the other hand, the character of the country now encouraged the fugitives.

The yucca and the mesquite turned into oak.

They passed through large groves and they hoped that they might soon enter a great forest in which they could hide their trail wholly from the Lipans.

They crossed two considerable streams, knee deep on the horses, and then they entered the forest for which they had hoped so much.

It was of oaks without much undergrowth and the ground was hilly.