to all feelings of pity and
humanity, and when one of our number was suffering tortures of mind,
little inferior to the physical pain undergone by the object of her
devotion, the fiends would give vent to derisive cries and jeers that
were maddening to the poor creature.

One of the Mexicans, whose father and lover were burned to death before
her eyes, suffered such poignant anguish that her reason gave way, and
she was borne inside the temple a raving maniac.

After the events just related, nothing of moment occurred to break the
monotony of our captivity. We were confined to our quarters under a
surveillance that did not relax for a moment. It was understood that we
were awaiting the announcement that was to decide what our future lot
should be.

The Mexicans learned from our attendants that the chiefs had decided to
share the female captives with their Apache visitors; the selection to
be made by lot.

I had not seen my husband but once since we entered the village, and
that sight was fraught with the most painful emotions. I knew, however,
that for the present he was safe; the future I confided to Him whose
loving care would protect and aid us in our trials. During this time my
mind was in a state of complete despondency; no bright visions of future
liberty and happiness came to relieve the dreary forebodings that
oppressed me. In my wildest imaginings of the suffering that might be my
portion, I did not approach the realities of my future existence. Those
dark days of toil and degradation which succeeded each other in
unvarying monotony, with blows for a welcome, and kicks as an incentive
to labor. Even at this remote period I cannot recall the experiences of
those times without a shudder; when the horizon of hope was environed by
the dull blank of despair; and as each year dragged its weary length
along, it almost seemed as if I was,

"The world forgetting,
And by the world forgot."

CHAPTER XII.

MRS. EASTMAN'S STORY CONTINUED.

One morning we were aroused quite early, our guard informing us that the
lots had been cast and the captives disposed of. We were divided into
equal numbers, the home tribe retaining one half, while their visitors
appropriated the remainder.

We quickly descended to the ground floor of the temple, and clustering
about the door leading into the village street, awaited the final word
from the chief, that was to deliver us into the hands of our new
masters. On