al for my
beaver. What'll yer drink? Agwardent or vino?"

"Copitita de vino, senor." (A small glass of wine, sir.)

"Hyar, yer darned greaser! Set out yer vino in a squ'll's jump! Now,
my little un', hyar's luck, and a good husband!"

"Gracias, Senor Americano!"

"What! you understand that? You intende, do yer?"

"Si, senor!"

"Hooraw, then! Look hyar, little 'un, kin yer go the b'ar dance?"

"No entiende."

"Yer don't understan' it! Hyar it is; thisa-way;" and the clumsy hunter
began to show off before his partner, in an imitation of the grizzly
bear.

"Hollo, Bill!" cries a comrade, "yer'll be trapped if yer don't look
sharp."

"I'm dog-gone, Jim, if I don't feel queery about hyar," replies the
hunter, spreading his great paw over the region of the heart.

"Don't be skeert, man; it's a nice gal, anyways."

"Hooray for old Missouri!" shouts a teamster.

"Come, boys! Let's show these yer greasers a Virginny break-down.
`Cl'ar the kitchen, old folks, young folks.'"

"Go it hoe and toe! `Old Virginny nebir tire!'"

"Viva el Gobernador! Viva Armijo! Viva! viva!"

An arrival at this moment caused a sensation in the room. A stout, fat,
priest-like man entered, accompanied by several others, it was the
Governor and his suite, with a number of well-dressed citizens, who were
no doubt the elite of New Mexican society. Some of the new-comers were
militaires, dressed in gaudy and foolish-looking uniforms that were soon
seen spinning round the room in the mazes of the waltz.

"Where is the Senora Armijo?" I whispered to Saint Vrain.

"I told you as much. She! she won't be out. Stay here; I am going for
a short while. Help yourself to a partner, and see some tun. I will be
back presently. _Au revoir_!"

Without any further explanation, Saint Vrain squeezed himself through
the crowd and disappeared.

I had been seated on the banquette since entering the sala, Saint Vrain
beside me, in a retired corner of the room. A man of peculiar
appearance occupied the seat next to Saint Vrain, but farther into the
shadow of a piece of furniture. I had noticed this man as we entered,
and noticed, too, that Saint Vrain spoke to him; but I was not
introduced, and the interposition of my friend prevented me from making
any further observation of him until the latter had retired. We were
now side by side; and I commenced a sort of angular reconnaissance of a
face and figure that had somewhat strangely