It was a countenance that
proclaimed ferocity, reckless daring, cunning, and an utter absence of
all humane sentiment.

The dress of the man had little in it differing from others who lead the
life of a prairie-hunter. It was a mixture of leather and blanket. The
head-dress only was peculiar. That was an old souvenir of the Southern
States and their negro life.

The zambo had a face as ferocious in its expression as that of his
confrere. It differed in colour. It was a coppery black--combining the
hues of both races from whom he derived his origin. He had the thick
lips and retreating forehead of the negro, but the Indian showed itself
in his hair, which scarcely waved, but hung in long snaky tresses about
his neck and shoulders. He was altogether less distinguished-looking
than his comrade the mulatto. His dress partook of the character of his
tribe--wide trousers of coarse cotton stuff, with a sleeveless shirt of
the same material,--a waist scarf, and coarse serape. Half the upper
part of his body was nude, and his thick copper-coloured arms were quite
bare.

Roblado arrived just in time to witness the _finale_ of an incident that
would serve to illustrate the character of the zambo.

He was half sitting, half-lying in his hammock, in the enjoyment of a
husk cigar, and occasionally striking at the flies with his raw-hide
whip. He called out to one of the women--his wife for the time--

"Nina! I want to eat something--is the _guisado_ ready?"

"Not yet," answered a voice from the hut.

"Bring me a tortilla then, with chile Colorado."

"_Querido_--you know there is no chile Colorado in the house," was the
reply.

"Nina! come here! I want you."

The woman came out, and approached the hammock, but evidently with some
mistrust.

The zambo sat perfectly silent until she was close enough for his
purpose, and then, suddenly raising the raw-hide, which he had hitherto
held behind him, he laid it with all his strength over her back and
shoulders. A thin chemisette was all that intervened to hinder the full
severity of the blows, and these fell thick end fast, until the sufferer
took courage and retreated out of reach!

"Now, Nina, dear love! the next time I call for a tortilla with chile
Colorado you'll have it--won't you, dear pet?"

And then laying himself back in his hammock, the savage uttered a roar
of laughter, in which he was joined by the mulatto, who would have done
just the same by his b