Zadock Thomas is a naturalist and gentleman scientist who travels to the Southwest in 1843. His employer sends him on a mission is to deliver a letter to a general fighting for the liberation of the Republic of Texas. He travels with a disorderly army troop down the great wagon trails, and into the wild frontier, drawing much of the flora and fauna he encounters. In present day New Mexico he stumbles upon something worth documenting…

 

October 22, 1843.

The air this morning is chill enough to make my blanket around my shoulders comfortable. The climate has changed slightly, and it seems even in the south Winter must pay his annual visit.

I am woeful and alone as I have lost my horse, Aloisius. Late last night he was spooked by coyotes. They began in the middle of the night, their terrible cries like the screams of children. I awoke on the ground and drew my pistol as their cries circled closer and closer around us. I was afraid for my safety and had given no thought to Aloisius. Before I knew it the coyotes were all about us and I stood and shouted and waved my blanket to scare them, as they are not large dogs. They nipped at Aloisius’ heels though and he startled and reared, pulling his stake from the ground. And then he was lost in the night.

I fired my pistol and though I did not strike a coyote, the noise scattered them. I do not think they caught Aloisius, as I would have heard their baying, and the rest of the night was silent. I have looked in wider and wider circles today calling his name. It is a delay that I must bear, for having to travel on foot from here would surely create a much greater delay. Midday I saw two Mexicans on the road. I asked them in the best Spanish I could muster if they had seen my horse and they had not. They looked at me with pity and one seemed to offer a ride, though they were traveling north away from my destination. They had no other news except to say the Navajos were attacking on some length of the river, the name of which I couldn’t understand. I have since thought that perhaps I should’ve taken a ride back to Albuquerque where I could procure another horse from Don Chavez, but it seems I have come so far, and the said El Paso is not far from here and perhaps I can make it with a few days walk.

Truly I just long for Aloisius. It makes my heart heavy indeed as he had become my sole companion in these dark days. The loneliness of this compounds my thoughts now of Elswyth. I am undeterred from my mission. Now I walk.