After reaching a more level region, and while winding between stony hills of a depressing sterility, it came suddenly, at the bottom of a ravine, upon fresh green turf and thickets of willows, the environment of a small spring of clear water.

There was a halt; all hands fell to digging a trench across the gully; when it had filled, the animals were allowed to drink; in an hour more they had closely cropped all the grass.

This was using up time perilously, but it had to be done, for the beasts were tottering.
Moving again; five miles more traversed; another spring and patch of turf discovered; a rough ravine through a low sandstone ridge threaded; at last they were on one of the levels of the valley.

Three of the Moqui towns were now about eight miles distant, and with his glass Thurstane could distinguish the horizontal lines of building.

The trail made straight for the pueblos, but it was almost impassable to wagons, and progress was very slow.