so
costumed; on the contrary, I beheld savages shrouded in serapes and
cloaks of broadcloth, with calzoneros on their legs, and upon their
heads huge hats of black glaze--regular Mexican sombreros! In short, I
beheld numbers of them in full Mexican costume!

Others, again, were dressed somewhat in a military fashion, with helmets
or stiff shakos, ill-fitting uniform coats of red or blue cloth, oddly
contrasting with the brown buckskin that covered their legs and feet.

With some astonishment, I observed these "fancy dresses;" but my
surprise passed away, when I reflected upon who were the men before me,
and whence they had lately come, where they had been, and on what
errand. It was no travesty, but a scene of actual life. The savages,
were clad in the spoils they had captured from civilisation.

I need not have been at such pains with my toilet; under any guise, I
could scarcely have looked odd in the midst of such a motley crew: even
my own uniform might have passed muster--all except the colour of my
skin.

Fortunately, a few of the band still preserved their native costume--a
few appeared in full paint and plumes--else I should have been _too
Indian_ for such a company.

It cost not a minute to note these peculiarities, nor did I stay to
observe them minutely; my eyes were in search of Isolina.

I cast inquiring glances on all sides; I scrutinised the groups around
the different fires; I saw others--women--whom I knew to be captives,
but I saw not her.

I scanned their forms and the faces of those who were turned towards me.
A glance would have been enough; I could easily have recognised her
face under the firelight--under any light. It was not before me.

"In the tent--in the tent: she must be there?"

I determined to move away from the spot where I had hitherto been
standing. My eye, quickened by the necessity of action, had fallen upon
the copse that stretched along the entire background of the camp. At a
glance I detected the advantage offered by its shadowy cover.

The tent, as already stated, was placed close to the edge of the timber;
and in front of the tent was the great fire. Plainly, this was the
gravitating point--the centre of motive and motion. If aught of
interest was to be enacted, there would lie the scene. In the lodge or
near it would she be found--certainly she would be there; and there I
resolved to seek her.

CHAPTER NINETY THREE.

A FRIENDLY ENCOUNTER.

Just then