"The Spanish troops returned and we could yet discover the grass beaten down in the direction which they went"

This quote by Zebulon Pike is describing the Spanish troops that had actually recently left the location. The quote recommends that the Spanish soldiers had actually remained in the area for a long time, as the lawn was beaten down in the direction they had gone. This might show that the Spanish soldiers had been marching through the location, or that they had actually been camping in the location for some time. It could also suggest that the Spanish troops had been taking part in some type of fight in the area, as the grass would have been beaten down by the motion of the troops and the weapons they were bring. The quote likewise recommends that the Spanish soldiers had left the location just recently, as the grass was still beaten down in the instructions they had actually gone. This might indicate that the Spanish soldiers had left the location in a hurry, or that they had actually been in the location for some time and had only just recently left. In general, this quote by Zebulon Pike suggests that the Spanish troops had remained in the area for a long time, and had actually just recently left in a rush.