looks.

For a moment both parties stood scanning each other in silence. These
were no common foes; it was no common hostility that for years had
nerved them against each other; and it was no common cause that had now,
for the first time, brought them face to face without arms in their
hands. A mutual want had forced them to their present attitude of
peace, though it was more like a truce between the lion and tiger which
have met in an avenue of the jungly forest, and stand eyeing one
another.

Though by agreement without arms, both were sufficiently armed, and they
knew that of each other.

The handles of tomahawks, the hafts of knives, and the shining butts of
pistols, peeped carelessly out from the dresses both of hunters and
Indians. There was little effort made to conceal these dangerous toys,
and they were on all sides visible.

At length our mutual reconnaissance came to a period, and we proceeded
to business.

There happened to be no breadth of ground clear of weeds and thorny
rubbish, where we could seat ourselves lor the "smoke." Seguin pointed
to one of the houses, an adobe structure in a tolerable state of
preservation, and several entered to examine it. The building had been
used as a smelting-house, and broken trucks and other implements were
lying over the floor. There was but one apartment, not a large one
either, and near its centre stood a brazero covered with cold slag and
ashes.

Two men were appointed to kindle a fire upon the brazero, and the rest,
entering, took their seats upon the trucks and masses of quartz rock ore
that lay around the room!

As I was about seating myself, an object leaped against me from behind,
uttering a low whine that ended in a bark. I turned, and beheld the dog
Alp. The animal, frenzied with delight, rushed upon me repeatedly; and
it was some time before I could quiet him and take my place.

At length we all were seated upon opposite sides of the fire, each party
forming the arc of a circle, concave to the other.

There was a heavy door still hanging upon its hinge; and as there were
no windows in the house, this was suffered to remain open. It opened to
the inside.

The fire was soon kindled, and the clay-stone calumet filled with
"kini-kinik." It was then lighted, and passed from mouth to mouth in
profound silence.

We noticed that each of the Indians, contrary to their usual custom of
taking a whiff or two, smoked long and slowly. We knew it w