Our fire began to burn low, before the lovers returned into its light.
During their moonlit ramble, no doubt, many sweet memories were renewed.
No wonder they should wish to prolong it. But all of us required a
certain measure of rest; and it was time to make the necessary
arrangements for passing the night. Although we had given up all
apprehension on the score of the Arapahoes; yet that was no reason why
we should not observe a proper prudence, and keep prepared for any
emergency that might arise. In that wild neutral road, trodden by many
tribes, an enemy may spring up at any moment, or come from any side. It
was agreed between us that one should keep watch, while the others
slept--each taking his _tour_ of guard throughout the night. Marian was
of course excepted from this "detail," and, after bidding us all
good-night, the huntress-maiden retired to her tent--at the entrance of
which the ever-faithful and ever-watchful Wolf placed himself. There
did the great dog stretch his body--a sentinel _couchant_--with such
grim Cerberus-like resolution, that even Wingrove might not have dared
to cross the threshold of that sacred precinct? As yet we had not
assumed our Indian disguises. The opening scene of the travestie was
reserved for the morning; and, after arranging the hours of our
respective watches--the trapper taking the first and longest--the rest
of us crept under the covering of the buffalo lodge, and sought that
repose necessary to recruit us for coming events.
At earliest dawn, and long before the sun had gilded the snowy summits
of the Spanish peaks, we were all afoot. A breakfast--similar in
materials to our supper of the preceding night was hastily prepared, and
still more hastily eaten. After that we proceeded to equip ourselves
for the masquerade. Peg-leg acted as principal _costumier_; and well
understood he the _role_ he was called upon to perform. Perfectly
acquainted with the Utah costume--both that used for war and the chase--
there was no fear about the correctness of his heraldry being called in
question. He knew every quartering: of the Utah escutcheon, with a
minuteness of detail that would have done credit to a King-at-arms.
For himself he needed no disguise. As a trapper of Taos, he might also
be an associate of Utah hunters; and personally unknown to the Mormons,
they would have no other thoughts about him--further than that their
friend Wa-ka-ra had sent him to guide them across the deserts of the
Colorado. At the Mormon camp, therefore, he could present himself in
his Mexican costume, without the Saints having the slightest suspicion
as to his true character. This left him free to lend his services to
the rest of us, and assist in our heraldic emblazonment. His first
essay was upon myself. My features being sufficiently pronounced,
rendered it all the more easy to make an Indian of me; and a uniform
coat of vermilion over my neck, face, and hands, transformed me into a
somewhat formidable-looking warrior. A buckskin hunting tunic, leggings
and mocassins concealed the remainder of my skin; while some locks of
long hair extracted from the mane and tail of my Arab, and craftily
united to my own dark tresses, with the plumed bonnet and drooping crest
overall, completed a costume that would have done me credit at a
Parisian _bal masque_.
With equal facility was accomplished the metamorphosis of the young
backwoodsman, but not so easily that of Sure-shot. The _nez retrousse_,
thin yellow hair, and green-grey eyes appeared to be insurmountable
obstacles to the Indianising of the ex-rifleman. Peg-leg, however,
proved an artist of skill. The _chevelure_ of Sure-shot, well saturated
with charcoal paste, assumed a different hue. A black circle around
each eye neutralised the tint of both iris and pupil. To his face was
given a ground-coat of red ochre; while some half-dozen dark stripes,
painted longitudinally over it, and running parallel to the nose,
extinguished the snub--transforming the Yankee into as good an Indian as
any upon the ground!
Marian was her own "dresser;" and while we were engaged outside, was
making her toilet within the tent. Her costume would require but little
alteration: it was Indian already. Her face alone needed masking--and
how was that to be done? To speak the truth, I was apprehensive upon
the score of her disguise. I could not help reflecting on the fearful
fate that awaited her, should the counterfeit be detected, and the girl
identified. All along, I had felt uneasy upon this point; and had been
endeavouring to devise some scheme by which to avoid the imprudence of
her presenting herself in the Mormon camp. But the thought of Lilian--
the perilous situation in which she was placed--perhaps more than all,
the selfishness of my own love, had hindered me from thinking of any
definite alternative.
When I saw the huntress-maiden issue forth from her tent--her face
empurpled with the juice of the _allegria_ berries--her cheeks
exhibiting, each a circle of red spots, with a line of similar markings
extended across her forehead--I no longer felt apprehension for the
result. Though the hideous tattooing could not hide the charms of her
speaking countenance, it had so changed its expression, that even
Wingrove himself would not have recognised her! More like was it to
baffle the scrutiny of father and false husband.
In due time we were all dressed for the drama; and, after making a
_cache_ of our cast-off garments, we struck tents, and moved forward to
the performance. The faithful Wolf accompanied us. It was against my
wish, and contrary to the counsel of our guide; but Marian would not
part with a companion that more than once had protected her from cruel
enemies. The dog had been disguised, as the rest of us. Shorn of his
shaggy coat, with his tail trimmed smooth as that of a greyhound--his
skin, moreover, stained Indian fashion--there seemed but slight danger
that the animal could be recognised.