Although thousands of feet above the level of the sea, they still had thousands of feet to ascend before they could dominate the desert.

Wild as the land was, it was thus far passable, while toward the north lay the untraversable.

What course should be taken?
Coronado, who had crimes to commit and to conceal, did not yet feel that he was far enough from the haunts of man.

As soon as possible he must again venture a push northward.
But not immediately.

The mules were fagged with hard work, weak with want of sufficient pasture, and had suffered much from thirst.