the tail of a
horse; after which the Indian leaped upon the back of the animal. The
other also mounted his own horse; and the whole troop appeared ready to
gallop off. I could see that the savages were hastening their
departure. There was but a small band of them; and, as the place was
near a large town, they had reason to fear pursuit. Those of our party
who had escaped would return at once to the town--where troops were
stationed at the time. This explained to me the hurried movements the
Indians were making. _Carrambo, senor_! I had not much opportunity to
reflect on the chances of our being rescued by our friends. I saw what
the savages intended for me; and that was sufficient to occupy all my
thoughts. I was to be dragged at the tail of a horse!

"Yes, _cavallero_! and the infernal design was instantly carried into
execution; for in a moment after, the chief gave the signal to ride
forward, and the whole troop went off at a gallop. He to whose croup I
was attached was last in the line; and, consequently, I was trailed
along without coming in contact with the others--the long lazo
separating me from his horse by a distance of more than a dozen yards.
Fortunately the ground over which they dragged me, was free from rocks
or other inequalities--else I should have been torn to pieces. It
chanced to be a smooth, grassy sward; and protected by my leathern
_jaqueta_ and _calzoneros_, I was less injured than one might expect.
It was my ankle that suffered most--for the loop soon slipped down below
the joint, and nearly drew the bone out of its socket. That, _senor_,
is how I came to be `_un cojo_' as you see."

With a bitter smile the speaker pointed to his deformed foot, and then
continued:--"Well--I suppose it would have killed me in the end: since
the smooth turf did not extend far in the direction the savages were
taking. But just then an idea came into my head, that gave me some hope
of being able to relieve myself from my perilous situation. After the
first hundred yards or so had been passed over, I saw that the savages
had ceased to pay any attention to me. They were all too eager to hurry
onward; besides, they were occupied with the women captives. It
occurred to me, that if I could only get my foot free from the noose, I
might part company with my captors, without any of them perceiving it.
I remembered that I had a knife in my pocket; and, as my hands had been
left free, I believed that I could