o men. The boys borrowed one of an Indian girl,
who was sitting in the shade of some willows prinking herself
artistically with an original and intricate pigmentary pattern.
Stepping on board, they paddled about the lagoon for a considerable
period.

Tiring at last of the sport, they separated, Frank saying that he was
going for his shot-gun, and perhaps shoot for some quail, and Henry
that he meant to find Tom Clary and set some lines for catfish.

The younger sergeant failing to find the soldier, selected a line,
and, procuring some bait, returned alone to the lagoon. On his way he
met the Indian girl walking along the sidewalk, an object of
admiration and envy to the men and women of her people. Her bronze
flesh was adorned with a lacelike tracery of beautiful design, in many
tints.

"How exceedingly pretty!" said Henry, in Spanish, a language fairly
well understood by the aborigines of the Southwest.

"I, or my paint?" asked the girl, coquettishly.

"The paint is well put on; but I think you prettiest just after a
swim."

"Thank you, senor."

"May I use the balsa again, Indita?"

"Si, senor, and you may keep it, but return the paddle."

"Thank you. I will leave the paddle on the shore where you were
sitting."

With this exchange of civilities Henry walked down to the pool. An
idea had occurred to him. He wondered if he could not float down the
river to the racing-ground and get a peep at Sancho and Chiquita, as
they came in victors. He felt sure no ponies in Arizona could outrun
them. But Mr. Duncan had told the escort not to go to the race. True;
but what harm could there be if he kept out of sight?

Placing an empty box on the raft for a seat, he took Vic on board, and
began paddling out of the lagoon. Speed could not be made with such a
craft; it was simply a convenience for crossing or journeying down the
river. The Mojaves, whose village was five miles above La Paz, came
down on freshly made _balsas_ every day, but walked home, carrying
their paddles.

Once well out of the lagoon, and in the river-current, the boy and dog
were swept along at a swift rate.

A mile down the shore he saw a crowd of men, mounted and on foot,
intently watching something inland. He was approaching the
race-course. He made a landing on a sand-spit that struck off from an
outward curve of the bank, and dragged the _balsa_ out of the water.

The shore rose abruptly from the bar to a height two feet above his
head. He