st; his head dress was composed of
eagles' plumes stained red, and his limbs were encased in buckskin
leggings, the seams of which were fringed with long locks of hair, which
attested to his prowess, as they were composed of scalp-locks taken from
the heads of his enemies slain in battle; the feet were encased in
moccasins, embroidered with beads and the quills of the porcupine dyed
in various colors; from his neck was suspended a collar, made of the
tusks of the javali; his tomahawk hung gracefully from his waist, and a
fine robe of jaguar-skins draped his back. Such a costume I felt sure
was only worn on state occasions; and his presence filled me with
apprehensions. I was not long held in suspense, for stooping over me he
quickly cut my fastenings, and motioning me to rise I was presently
conducted up the ladder and out into the village street.

Emerging from the darkness into the bright sunlight, I was at first
unable to distinguish objects, but as soon as my eyes became accustomed
to the glare, I was struck with astonishment at the scene of bustle and
activity that met my gaze. Indian women, children, dogs and braves, were
hurrying to and fro, seemingly intent on business of a most pressing and
important character. My appearance was the signal for a succession of
howls and yah! yahs! from the assembled crowd. The women clustered
around me and gave expression to their hate in kicks, pinches and jeers;
even the dogs snapped at my heels. After a walk of a few minutes, we
cleared the skirts of the village, and shaping our course towards the
river that ran through the centre of the valley, I was soon among a
crowd of other captives. They were composed of Mexicans, chiefly, and
all bore evidence of the struggle they had passed through, before
yielding up their liberty; their clothes were torn, disclosing here and
there ugly gashes, from which the blood had not yet ceased to ooze. One
man among them especially attracted my attention. He was dressed in the
costume of the mountain trapper, and his fur cap, fitting closely to his
head, was a fit accompaniment to his tunic and leggings of dressed
deerskin; his face had a peculiar expression which I could not account
for, until I discovered that he had only one eye. At this time an Indian
advanced toward us, bearing in his arms a quantity of small stakes; I
was at loss to understand what was to transpire, when I heard my
one-eyed companion mutter under his breath, "drat 'em, th