For some minutes I stood motionless as a statue; I stirred neither hand
nor foot, lest the movement should catch the eye either of the
horse-guards or those moving around the fires.
I had already donned my plumed head-dress, before climbing out of the
channel: and after getting on the bank, my first thought was to replace
my pistols in the belt behind my back.
The movement was stealthily made; and with like stealthy action, I
suffered the mantle of jaguar-skins to drop from my shoulders, and hang
to its full length. I had saved the robe from getting wet; and its
ample skirt now served me in concealing my soaked breech-cloth as well
as the upper half of my leggings. These and the moccasins were, of
course, saturated with water, but I had not much uneasiness about that.
In a prairie camp, and upon the banks of a deep stream, an Indian with
wet leggings could not be a spectacle to excite suspicion; there would
be many reasons why my counterpart might choose to immerse his
copper-coloured extremities in the river. Moreover, the buckskin--
dressed Indian-fashion--was speedily casting the water; it would soon
drip dry; or even if wet, would scarcely be observed under such a light.
The spot where I had "landed" chanced to be one of the least conspicuous
in the whole area of the camp. I was just between two lights--the red
glare of the campfires, and the mellower beams of the moon; and the
atmospheric confusion occasioned by the meeting of the distinct kinds of
light favoured me, by producing a species of optical delusion. It was
but slight, and I could easily be seen from the centre of the camp--but
not with sufficient distinctness for my disguise to be penetrated by any
one; therefore, it was hardly probable that any of the savages would
approach or trouble their heads about me. I might pass for one of
themselves indulging in a solitary saunter, yielding himself to a moment
of abstraction or melancholy. I was well enough acquainted with Indian
life to know that there was nothing _outre_ or unlikely in this
behaviour; such conduct was perfectly _en regle_.
I did not remain long on that spot--only long enough to catch the
salient features of the scene.
I saw there were many fires, and around each was grouped number of human
forms--some squatted, some standing. The night was cold enough to make
them draw near to the burning logs; and for this reason, but few were
wandering about--a fortunate circumstance for me.
There was one fire larger than the rest; from its dimensions, it might
be termed a "bonfire," such as is made by the flattering and flunkeyish
peasantry of old-world lands, when they welcome home the squire and the
count. It was placed directly in front of the solitary tent, and not a
dozen paces from its entrance. Its blazing pile gave forth a flood of
red light that reached even to the spot where I stood, and flickered in
my face. I even fancied I could feel its glow upon my cheeks.
Around this fire were many forms of men--all of them standing up. I
could see the faces of those who were upon its farther side, but only
the figures of these on the nearer.
The former I could see with almost as much distinctness as if I had been
close beside them; I could trace the lineaments of their features--the
painted devices on their breasts and faces--the style of their
habiliments.
The sight of these last somewhat astonished me. I had expected to see
red-skinned warriors in leggings, moccasins, and breech-cloth, with
heads naked or plumed, and shoulders draped under brown robes of
buffalo-skin. Some such there were, but not all of them were so
costumed; on the contrary, I beheld savages shrouded in serapes and
cloaks of broadcloth, with calzoneros on their legs, and upon their
heads huge hats of black glaze--regular Mexican sombreros! In short, I
beheld numbers of them in full Mexican costume!
Others, again, were dressed somewhat in a military fashion, with helmets
or stiff shakos, ill-fitting uniform coats of red or blue cloth, oddly
contrasting with the brown buckskin that covered their legs and feet.
With some astonishment, I observed these "fancy dresses;" but my
surprise passed away, when I reflected upon who were the men before me,
and whence they had lately come, where they had been, and on what
errand. It was no travesty, but a scene of actual life. The savages,
were clad in the spoils they had captured from civilisation.
I need not have been at such pains with my toilet; under any guise, I
could scarcely have looked odd in the midst of such a motley crew: even
my own uniform might have passed muster--all except the colour of my
skin.
Fortunately, a few of the band still preserved their native costume--a
few appeared in full paint and plumes--else I should have been _too
Indian_ for such a company.
It cost not a minute to note these peculiarities, nor did I stay to
observe them minutely; my eyes were in search of Isolina.
I cast inquiring glances on all sides; I scrutinised the groups around
the different fires; I saw others--women--whom I knew to be captives,
but I saw not her.
I scanned their forms and the faces of those who were turned towards me.
A glance would have been enough; I could easily have recognised her
face under the firelight--under any light. It was not before me.
"In the tent--in the tent: she must be there?"
I determined to move away from the spot where I had hitherto been
standing. My eye, quickened by the necessity of action, had fallen upon
the copse that stretched along the entire background of the camp. At a
glance I detected the advantage offered by its shadowy cover.
The tent, as already stated, was placed close to the edge of the timber;
and in front of the tent was the great fire. Plainly, this was the
gravitating point--the centre of motive and motion. If aught of
interest was to be enacted, there would lie the scene. In the lodge or
near it would she be found--certainly she would be there; and there I
resolved to seek her.