e seized one of the Indians, a large, fine-looking woman,
roughly by the wrist, and commenced dragging her towards the atajo.

The woman screamed and resisted, frightened, not at what had been said,
for she did not understand it, but terrified by the ruffian expression
that was plainly legible in the countenance of the man.

"Shut up yer meat-trap, will ye?" cried he, still pulling her towards
the mules; "I'm not goin' to eat ye. Wagh! Don't be so skeert. Come!
mount hyar. Gee yup!"

And with this exclamation he lifted the woman upon one of the mules.

"If ye don't sit still, I'll tie ye; mind that!" and he held up the
lasso, making signs of his determination.

A horrid scene now ensued.

A number of the scalp-hunters followed the example of their ruffian
comrade. Each one chose the girl or woman he had fancied, and commenced
hurrying her off to the atajo. The women shrieked. The men shouted and
swore. Several scrambled for the same prize--a girl more beautiful than
her companions. A quarrel was the consequence. Oaths and ejaculations
rang out; knives were drawn and pistols cocked.

"Toss up for her!" cried one.

"Ay, that's fair; toss up! toss up!" shouted several.

The hint was adopted; the lots were cast; and the savage belle became
the property of the winner.

In the space of a few minutes nearly every mule in the atajo carried an
Indian damsel.

Some of the hunters had taken no part in this Sabine proceeding. Some
disapproved of it (for all were not bad) from motives of humanity.
Others did not care for being "hampered with a squaw," but stood apart,
savagely laughing at the scene.

During all this time Seguin was on the other side of the building with
his daughter. He had mounted her upon one of the mules, and covered her
shoulders with his serape. He was making such preparations for her
journey as the tender solicitudes of the father suggested.

The noise at length attracted him; and, leaving her in charge of his
servants, he hurried round to the front.

"Comrades!" cried he, glancing at the mounted captives, and
comprehending all that had occurred, "there are too many here. Are
these whom you have chosen?" This question was directed to the trapper
Rube.

"No," replied the latter, "them's 'em," and he pointed to the party he
had picked out.

"Dismount these, then, and place those you have selected upon the mules.
We have a desert to cross, and it will be as much as we can do to