ot help reflecting on the fearful
fate that awaited her, should the counterfeit be detected, and the girl
identified. All along, I had felt uneasy upon this point; and had been
endeavouring to devise some scheme by which to avoid the imprudence of
her presenting herself in the Mormon camp. But the thought of Lilian--
the perilous situation in which she was placed--perhaps more than all,
the selfishness of my own love, had hindered me from thinking of any
definite alternative.

When I saw the huntress-maiden issue forth from her tent--her face
empurpled with the juice of the _allegria_ berries--her cheeks
exhibiting, each a circle of red spots, with a line of similar markings
extended across her forehead--I no longer felt apprehension for the
result. Though the hideous tattooing could not hide the charms of her
speaking countenance, it had so changed its expression, that even
Wingrove himself would not have recognised her! More like was it to
baffle the scrutiny of father and false husband.

In due time we were all dressed for the drama; and, after making a
_cache_ of our cast-off garments, we struck tents, and moved forward to
the performance. The faithful Wolf accompanied us. It was against my
wish, and contrary to the counsel of our guide; but Marian would not
part with a companion that more than once had protected her from cruel
enemies. The dog had been disguised, as the rest of us. Shorn of his
shaggy coat, with his tail trimmed smooth as that of a greyhound--his
skin, moreover, stained Indian fashion--there seemed but slight danger
that the animal could be recognised.

CHAPTER NINETY SIX.

THE MORMON TRAIN.

A few hours' ride brought us to the western end of the pass; when,
rounding a spur of the mountain, a wide plain was suddenly displayed to
our view.

"_Mira_!" exclaimed the Mexican, "_el campamento de los Judios_!"
(Behold! the encampment of the Jews!)

The guide halted as he spoke. The rest of us followed his example--as
we did so, gazing in the direction to which he had pointed.

The plain that stretched before us was the grand _valle_ of San Luis;
but presenting none of those characteristics which we usually associate
with the word "valley." On the contrary, its surface was perfectly
level--having all the aspect of a sleeping sea; and with the white filmy
haze suspended over it, it might easily have been mistaken for an
expanse of ocean. At first sight, it appeared to be bounded on