He saw abundant evidences on the great highway that the army was marching toward Vera Cruz, and as before he traveled on a line parallel with it, but at least a mile away.

He passed two sheep herders, but he displayed the machete, and whistling carelessly went on.

They did not follow, and he was sure that they took him for a bandit whom it would be wise to let alone.
Ned wandered on for two or three days.

In one of his turnings among the mountains he lost the Vera Cruz highway, and came out again upon a wide, sandy plain, dotted with scattered cactus.

As he was crossing it a Norther came up, and blew with great fierceness.