p its aromatic wreaths of blue curling smoke; and sturdy limbs,
already rested from the toils of the day, feel an impulse to spring
upward on the "light fantastic toe." On that eve, such an impulse had
inspired the limbs of the Mormon emigrants. Scarcely had the _debris_
of the supper been removed, ere a space was cleared midway between the
blazing fires; music swelled upon the air--the sounds of fiddle, horn,
and clarionet--and half a score of couples, setting themselves _en
quadrille_, commence treading time to the tune. Sufficiently _bizarre_
was the exhibition--a dance of the true "broad-horn" breed; but we had
no thought of criticising an entertainment so opportune to our purpose.
The swelling sound of the instruments drowning low conversation--the
confusion of many voices--the attraction of the saltatory performance--
were all circumstances that had suddenly and unexpectedly arisen in our
favour. My companion and I had no longer a fear that our movements
would be noted. Indeed, only those who might be in the waggons, and
looking through the draw-string aperture in the rear of the tilts, would
be likely to see us at all. But most of these apertures were closed,
some with curtains of common canvas--others with an old counterpane, a
blanket, or such rag as was fitted for the service.

We saw no face looking outwards. All were turned upon the attractive
circle of Terpsichoreans, that, under the brilliant light of the fires,
were bounding through the mazy figures, of the dance. The waggons
forming the sides of the enclosure were in _echellon_; and their tilts
lapping on each other, it was impossible to see between them. With the
two, however, that closed the end of the _corral_, the case was
different. These had been drawn up side by side, and parallel to each
other; and though their wheels touched, there still remained a space
above the tires, through which we could command a view of the ground
within the enclosure. At this point we had placed, ourselves. It
proved the very vantage-ground we desired. We could view the enclosed
ellipse longitudinally, and note nearly every movement made by those
inside. Even should we be detected in our espionage, it would pass
without suspicion as to our real object. What more natural than that we
should desire to witness the spectacle of the dance? The act would be
construed as springing from mere savage curiosity?

Our eyes, wandering over the different figures, soon