takes were
still standing; the shaggy hides of the buffaloes, and pile of their
bones, were strewn upon the plain; hundreds of coyotes were loping back
and forward, snarling at one another, or pursuing one of their number
which had picked up a nicer morsel than his companions. The fires were
still smouldering, and the wolves galloped through the ashes, raising
them in yellow clouds.

But there was a sight stranger than all this, a startling sight to me.
Five or six forms, almost human, were moving about among the fires,
collecting the debris of skins and bones, and quarrelling with the
wolves that barked round them in troops. Five or six others, similar
forms were seated around a pile of burning wood, silently gnawing at
half roasted ribs. Can they be--yes, they are human beings!

I was for a moment awe-struck as I gazed at the shrivelled and dwarfish
bodies, the long, ape-like arms, and huge disproportioned heads, from
which fell their hair in snaky tangles, black and matted.

But one or two appeared to have any article of dress, and that was a
ragged breech-clout. The others were naked as the wild beasts around
them, naked from head to foot!

It was a horrid sight to look upon these fiend-like dwarfs squatted
around the fires, holding up half-naked bones in their long, wrinkled
arms, and tearing off the flesh with their glistening teeth. It was a
horrid sight, indeed; and it was some moments before I could recover
sufficiently from my amazement to inquire who or what they were. I did
so at length.

"Los Yamparicos," answered the cibolero.

"Who?" I asked again.

"Los Indios Yamparicos, senor."

"The Diggers, the Diggers," said a hunter, thinking that would better
explain the strange apparitions.

"Yes, they are Digger Indians," added Seguin. "Come on; we have nothing
to fear from them."

"But we have somethin' to git from them," rejoined one of the hunters,
with a significant look. "Digger plew good as any other; worth jest as
much as 'Pash chief."

"No one must fire," said Seguin, in a firm tone. "It is too soon yet;
look yonder!" and he pointed over the plain, where two or three glancing
objects, the helmets of the retreating warriors, could still be seen
above the grass.

"How are we goin' to get them, then, captain?" inquired the hunter.
"They'll beat us to the rocks; they kin run like scared dogs."

"Better let them go, poor devils!" said Seguin, seemingly unwilling that
blood should b