Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/138

THIRTY HORSEMEN SELECTED. , • 127 ated it pay appear strange that these three were the only ones who knew enough to take care of them- selves, but if you were ever a member of a regiment on the march, you will easily comprehend how nat- ural some men keep buoyant in spirits, as well as healthy of body, while others are always reported as "sick," not falling in at roll-call or answering to their names. Another query will arise in your minds: How came it that all the folks did not follow the example of our three characters and gather green stuff"? Well, the reply is: It is impossible to teach 1500 men in a few weeks, and in fact, most of the party were afraid they would be poisoned if they par- took of the stuff; but Ysopete had early demonstrated to Alonso by example the blessing of nature's food, and when they were in camp preparatory to the divi- sion of the force, Alonso saw to it that all should take advantage of his experience. The next question which is naturally propounded is: What are the various plants? There are a great many known to experts who resort to their use by reason of neces- sity, but only a few can be named here:' Lambs' quarter if gathered tender, resembles turnip tops, which in Europe is eaten by poor people, it being a cheap vegetable; mushrooms were also plenty; and then there was on the prairie sour dock, wild mustard, plantain, and wild onions. The only difference between these onions and cultivated ones is that the natural product is much stronger than that grown in the kitchen garden. Early housewives of Kansas can tell you of the trouble they had with the milk of the cows which would persist in eating the wild onions. It so