f the "ring," and had fairly "astonished the
natives."

When the tournament was ended, and we were hauled back to the
river-side, the torero was not with us. Fortunate Sanchez! He had won
his life! Henceforth he was to be riding-master to the Navajo nation!

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO.

RUNNING AMUCK.

Another day came: our day for action. We saw our enemies making their
preparations; we saw them go off to the woods, and return bringing clubs
freshly cut from the trees; we saw them dress as for ball-play or
running.

At an early hour we were taken forward to the front of the temple. On
arriving there, I cast my eyes upward to the terrace. My betrothed was
above me; I was recognised.

There was mud upon my scanty garments, and spots of blood; there was
dust on my hair; there were scars upon my arms; my face and throat were
stained with powder, blotches of black, burnt powder: in spite of all, I
was recognised. The eyes of love saw through all!

I find no scene in all my experience so difficult to describe as this.
Why? There was none so terrible; none in which so many wild emotions
were crowded into a moment. A love like ours, tantalised by proximity,
almost within reach of each other's embrace, yet separated by relentless
fate, and that for ever; the knowledge of each other's situation; the
certainty of my death: these and a hundred kindred thoughts rushed into
our hearts together. They could not be detailed; they cannot be
described; words will not express them. You may summon fancy to your
aid.

I heard her screams, her wild words and wilder weeping. I saw her snowy
cheek and streaming hair, as, frantic, she rushed forward on the parapet
as if to spring out. I witnessed her struggles as she was drawn back by
her fellow-captives, and then, all at once, she was quiet in their arms.
She had fainted, and was borne out of my sight.

I was tied by the wrists and ankles. During the scene I had twice risen
to my feet, forced up by my emotions, but only to fall down again.

I made no further effort, but lay upon the ground in the agony of
impotence.

It was but a short moment; but, oh! the feelings that passed over my
soul in that moment! It was the compressed misery of a life-time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a period of perhaps half an hour I regarded not what was going on
around me. My mind was not abstracted, but paralysed: absolutely dead.
I ha