his regal robes.

Rube had given me the character of this chief: brave, but brutal. My
heart was oppressed with a painful heaviness as we were hurried back to
our former places.

Most of the next night was spent by the Indians in feasting. Not so
with us. We were rarely and scantily fed; and we suffered, too, from
thirst, our savage guards scarcely deigning to supply us with water,
though a river Was running at our feet.

Another morning, and the feasting recommenced. More sheep and cattle
were slaughtered, and the fires steamed anew with the red joints that
were suspended over them.

At an early hour the warriors arrayed themselves, though not in war
attire, and the tournament commenced. We were again dragged forward to
witness their savage sports, but placed still farther out on the
prairie.

I could distinguish, upon the terrace of the temple, the whitish dresses
of the captives. The temple was their place of abode.

Sanchez had told me this. He had heard it from the Indians as they
conversed one with another. The girls were to remain there until the
fifth day, that after our sacrifice. Then the chief would choose one of
the number for his own household, and the warriors would "gamble" for
the rest! Oh, these were fearful hours!

Sometimes I wished that I could see her again once before I died. And
then reflection whispered me, it was better not. The knowledge of my
fate would only add fresh bitterness to hers. Oh, these were fearful
hours!

I looked at the savage tournament. There were feats of arms and feats
of equitation. Men rode at a gallop, with one foot only to be seen over
the horse, and in this attitude threw the javelin or shot the unerring
shaft. Others vaulted from horse to horse, as they swept over the
prairie at racing speed. Some leaped to their saddles, while their
horses were running at a gallop, and some exhibited feats with the
lasso. Then there was a mock encounter, in which the warriors unhorsed
each other, as knights of the olden time.

It was, in fact, a magnificent spectacle--a grand hippodrome of the
desert; but I had no eyes for it.

It had more attraction for Sanchez. I saw that he was observing every
new feat with interested attention. All at once he became restless.
There was a strange expression on his face; some thought, some sudden
resolve, had taken possession of him.

"Say to your braves," said he, speaking to one of our guards in the
Navajo tongue;