my neighbor.

The guard was now nearing us, and we remained silent.

The feasting and festivities had now begun. We were unfastened and
removed to the centre of the village, where a dance was about to begin.
Our feet were still bound, but we could assume a sitting posture; thus
situated, I saw for the first time the _mamanchic_. The young girls only
take part in this celebration; they go through a number of graceful and
intricate evolutions, finishing by forming in a semi-circle around the
chief and his queen, who are seated on a terrace of the temple. I was so
much more interested in trying to discover my wife among the numerous
lookers on, that I paid no special attention to the dance. The
performance having come to an end, we were again staked out, and our
captors returned to their feasting, slaughtering fresh cattle to satisfy
the demands of their appetites. Our wants were not so well supplied.

The next morning the games were renewed; this time we were taken out on
the prairie to witness the feats of horsemanship, performed by the
braves and their visitors. These were very fine, and for the time being
I forgot my own position in the interest excited in the daring feats of
these children of the plains. They rode their horses at top speed;
vaulting on their backs and discharging arrows with as much apparent
ease as if they stood still. They went through all the evolutions of
Indian warfare, and ended with a mock battle; their yells alone would
have dismayed an ordinary adversary.

Thirsty and tired, I and my companions were led back to our old position
and again securely fastened. Turning to Black, I said that I supposed
they would open the festivities to-morrow with our torture and death; to
which he replied that he "'spected they would." At least I thought, it
will only be another species of torture, and we would be quickly
released from it by death. Our guard now brought us some water and burnt
meat, of which we were allowed to partake.

The thongs are again tightened; our guards move among us to see that all
is secure; and the sentinel for the evening watch having been detailed,
we are left to silence and our own thoughts--thoughts of our approaching
doom, and perhaps of the loved ones far away in some Mexican border
town, whose unavailing prayers are being offered up for our safety.
Filled with these emotions, some poor fellow would give expression to
his pent-up feelings in a long drawn sigh; the only sound