girl seated
astride upon its back.

A beautiful girl, apparently under twenty of age, but with a certain
commanding mien that gives her the appearance of being older. Her
complexion, though white, has a tinge of that golden brown, or olive,
oft observed in the Andalusian race; while scimitar shaped eyebrows,
with hair of silken texture, black as the shadows of night, and a dark
down on the upper lip, plainly proclaim the Moorish admixture.

It is a face of lovely cast and almost Grecian contour, with features of
classic regularity; while the absence of obliquity in the orbs of the
eye--despite the dusky hue of her akin--forbids the belief in Indian
blood.

Although in a part of the world where such might be expected, there is,
in truth, not a taint of it in her veins. The olivine tint is Hispano
Moriscan--a complexion, if not more beautiful, certainly more
picturesque than that of the Saxon blonde.

With the damask-red dancing out upon her cheeks, her eyes aglow from the
equestrian exercise she has been taking, the young girl looks the
picture of physical health; while the tranquil expression upon her
features tells of mental contentment.

Somewhat singular is her costume, as the equipment. As already said,
she bestrides her mustang man-fashion, the mode of Mexico; while a light
fowling-piece, suspended _en bandouliere_, hangs down behind her back.

A woollen seraph of finest wool lies scarf-like across her left
shoulder, half concealing a velveteen vest or spencer, close-buttoned
over the rounded hemispheres of her bosom. Below, an embroidered
skirt--the _enagua_--is continued by a pair of white _calzoncillas_,
with fringe falling over her small feet, they are booted and spurred.

On her head is a hat of soft vicuna wool, with a band of bullion, a
bordering of gold lace around the rim, and a plume of heron's feather
curving above the crown.

This, with her attitude on horseback, might seem _outre_ in the eyes of
a stranger to the customs of her country. The gun and its concomitant
accoutrements give her something of a masculine appearance, and at the
first glance might cause her to be mistaken for a man--a beardless
youth.

But the long silken tresses scattered loosely over her shoulders, the
finely-cut features, the delicate texture of the skin, the petticoat
skirt, the small hand, with slender tapering fingers stretched forward
to caress the neck of the mustang mare, are signs of femininity not to
b