Needless
to say, they didn't get much sleep that night.
Sitting by
the fire, they talked about the future and what they would
do with their portion of the treasure. The trip back had to
be planned; There were many dangers ahead and only experience
and cunning would insure their safe return. Finally, they fell
asleep, no doubt dreaming about the glittering ore.
Alas,
as fate would have it, they were not destined to have the
gold.
They would
never know the pleasures of the rich nor discover the wonders
of the wealthy.
They wouldn't
know much of anything. They, in fact, would be dead.
The
Papago indians did not believe their luck. Just when it looked
like nothing was ever going to happen they spotted El Jabaniero
riding into town with a team of six pack mules. Ordinarily,
a passing merchant would be no big event but the Papago were
extraordinarily desperate and the sight of a lone traveler
had generated great interest. Their interest became even more
serious when they saw El Jaboniero buying supplies. Why would
he buy supplies in Quitobaquito when Sonoyta was just a few
miles away? And why would he stay the night? And the biggest
puzzle of all was why, did he turn around and head back West?
Didn't he just return from Yuma and how come he was leaving
without a load of soap? This was just too good to pass up.
The fact that he left in the company of three others did not
bother them in the least and the horses, mules and equipment
would fetch a tidy sum in the market.
It
wasn't difficult for the Papagos to track down the little
party. It was almost too easy.
From their
vantage point they saw El Jaboniero and his men scale the
hillside and watched as they collected the gold. They
allowed the Mexicans to pack the gold into small pouches and,
when night fell, to go down hill back to their camp. The Papagos
had no trouble falling asleep that night. Robbing and pillaging
was part of life in those parts and human life was not particularly
valued.
It
was just business.
They
would raid the camp in the wee morning.
