which she declared she was ready at any moment to make _juramento_. The
other appealed to the spectators to look at the colour of the child's
hair and eyes, which slightly differed from that of the other claimant,
and called upon them to note the resemblance she bore to another, who
stood by, and who, she alleged, was the child's eldest sister. Both
talked at the same time, and kissed the girl repeatedly as they talked.

The little wild captive stood between the two, receiving their alternate
embraces with a wondering and puzzled expression. She was, in truth, a
most interesting child, habited in the Indian costume, and browned by
the sun of the desert. Whichever might have been the mother, it was
evident she had no remembrance of either of them; for here there was no
mother! In her infancy she had been carried off to the desert, and,
like the daughter of Seguin, had forgotten the scenes of her childhood.
She had forgotten father--mother--all!

It was, as I have said, a scene painful to witness; the women's looks of
anguish, their passionate appeals, their wild but affectionate embraces
lavished upon the girl, their plaintive cries mingled with sobs and
weeping. It was indeed a painful scene.

It was soon brought to a close, at least as far as I witnessed it. The
alcalde came upon the ground; and the girl was given in charge to the
policia, until the true mother should bring forward more definite proofs
of maternity. I never heard the finale of this little romance.

The return of the expedition to El Paso was celebrated by a triumphant
ovation. Cannon boomed, bells rang, fireworks hissed and sputtered,
masses were sung, and music filled the streets. Feasting and merriment
followed, and the night was turned into a blazing illumination of wax
candles, and _un gran funcion de balle_--a fandango.

Next morning, Seguin, with his wife and daughters, made preparations to
journey on to the old hacienda on the Del Norte. The house was still
standing; so we had heard. It had not been plundered. The savages, on
taking possession of it, had been closely pressed by a body of Pasenos,
and had hurried off with their captives, leaving everything else as they
had found it.

Saint Vrain and I were to accompany the party to their home.

The chief had plans for the future, in which both I and my friend were
interested. There we were to mature them.

I found the returns of my trading speculation even greater than Saint