They passed it in silence, climbing as quickly as the nature of the ground would allow them, and looking backwards with fear.

In a few minutes they had reached the escarpment of the butte; and, raising themselves by their hands they peeped over, and at once obtained a view of its whole table-like summit.
It was, as they had conjectured, perfectly level upon the top, with an area-surface of about twenty or thirty acres.

Pine-trees grew thinly over it, with here and there a bush or two of acacia, the species known as "mezquite." There was plenty of grass among the trees, and large tussocks of "bunch grass" mingling with cactus and aloe plants, formed a species of undergrowth.

This, however, was only at two or three spots, as for the most part the surface was open, and could be seen at a single view.

The hunters had hardly elevated their heads above the cliff, when the herd of big-horns became visible.