e recognition was simultaneous, and with a
cry of joy I sprang towards him, but was instantly grasped by a savage
and thrown violently back among my companions. The Apache chief put a
small whistle to his lips, and blowing a shrill blast, soon assembled
his party. I struggled to free myself from my tormentors and rush to my
husband, but my efforts were of no avail. Half fainting, and wild with
the agony of this rude parting, I was taken out on the plain, where the
bulk of the party were making their preparations to depart.

The pickets were drawn, lariats coiled, and the horses brought up. Every
warrior had provided himself with an extra horse on which to mount his
newly acquired property, but for some reason we were mounted on the
horses ridden by our captors, and it was not until the next day that we
made use of the "extra" horses.

The Indians rode without saddles, as is their custom when on the war
trail, but the women were provided with saddles; these saddles were
peculiar contrivances, and the best description of them that occurs to
me, is to have the reader picture to himself an ordinary saw-buck with
the top cut off, so as to leave an inverted V. There were two of these
fastened together by parallel strips of wood about eighteen inches in
length; this was placed on the mustang's back, and a buffalo robe thrown
over it, and fastened by a girth. Stirrups depended from the lateral
sticks that kept the V's in position. The horse's bridles were mostly
composed of hair, in some instances, however, they were of leather
worked and stamped into elaborate designs; these were, no doubt, the
fruits of their foray among the Mexican _pueblas_.

We were mounted man fashion, each riding by the side of the Indian who
claimed us as his property. Farewells having been exchanged, lances were
poised, bows and quivers slung, and amid a fearful uproar of voices,
intermingled with the howling of dogs, we took our departure. As we
passed through the village I strained my eyes to catch a glimpse of my
husband, but even this poor consolation was denied me.

Passing up the valley we entered the canyon, traversing its rocky bed for
a distance of several hundred yards; on entering this gloomy pass, we
formed into single file, each captive falling into line immediately in
the rear of her guard; this order was henceforth maintained throughout
the journey. Leaving the canyon we debouched upon an arid plain, and
continued our line of march al