the familiar
sounds of former days fell upon my ears--the tinkle of the cow bells,
the busy hum, that filled the air like the whisper of early
recollections, wafted down through the airy halls of time--made the
scenes, trials and sufferings, appear but as a horrid dream, and I
seemed to be just waking to reality. A glance at my tattooed and painted
form, however, soon brought me back to a realizing sense of my position,
and set me to reflecting how I should explain my presence in this
hostile guise, to any chance inhabitant whom I might meet.

* * * * *

After much cogitation on the subject, I concluded it would be best to
ride boldly into the village, and seeking the _Alcaid_, explain my
situation in as good Spanish as my limited knowledge of the tongue,
would permit. I had not gone far, when I was encircled by a crowd of
bewildered and frantic Mexicans, who were shouting, "_Indios!_" "_Los
Indios!_" at the top of their squeaky voices; while I made a running
accompaniment to their remarks, by holding up my hands, with the palm
outstretched towards them, and shouting in my turn, "_Amigo!_"

Reaching the _plaza_, I dismounted, entered the _cantina_ and called
for a basin of water. Stripping the plumage from my head, and relieving
my body of its meretricious adornment, I plunged into the bath prepared
for me, and came out, an entirely different looking individual.

The news of my arrival had collected an eager and enthusiastic
multitude, who filled the _patio_. I said enthusiastic, but all due
allowance must be made for the natural and inherited indolence of the
Mexican.

On emerging from the inn, I was greeted with several shouts, and fifty
people were asking me questions in one breath, all bent on having them
answered in less than no time. I finally succeeded in relating my
history, adventures and escape, and wound up with an appeal to their
charity; setting forth my utterly destitute condition, in the most
glowing terms my execrable Spanish would permit. It was an animated
scene; the men in the checkered serape, or stripped blankets, conical
sombreros, with broad brims, calzoneros of velveteen, with rows of
shining buttons, and a sash of gaudy color, encircling their waists. The
women were no less conspicuous; draped in the graceful sebazo, the short
vogna, and the finely embroidered chemisette.

My appeal was not met with that spontaneous generosity that I could have
wished; in fa