234
OLD HICKS THE GUIDE.
seemed to exercise upon every one, was entirely sufficient to soothe the men, and they prepared themselves gayly to go forth to witness the games.
These, the French woman told me, were given in honor of my inauguration, and that we were not expected as participators, but as lookers-on. The men left their own arms behind, and took only those of the tribe. In common with Albert, I had a right to my belt pistols, which I took, carrying, in addition, the lance shield, bow, &c.
We mounted the picket stiles, and found our horses standing on the other side, with all their equipments lying near them. The savages, not understanding their management, had left them for us to put on.
We were soon in the saddle, and when I turned, Albert was galloping toward us from the great gate, mounted upon a jet-black horse of the medium size, but of amazing muscle and power.
The creature bounded beneath his heavy form with the springiness of a frightened antelope. There was no alteration in his equipment that I could perceive, and the scarlet pennon on his lance fluttered audibly as he approached.
" The tribes are not here, as you perceive," said he, as he reined up by my side, and waved his hand around the yard. " They are beyond, and are awaiting you : come !"
We followed him, and dashed through the gate in a swift gallop. As we passed into the open plain of the descending valley, a most striking array presented itself.
On the right, as we came out, the buck-skinned warriors of Albert exhibited themselves,, mounted and drawn up in a long line, beginning near the gate.
They were in single file, and there seemed to have been some effort to present the precise front of a disciplined parade ; but the line was rather eccentric to please the trained eye. They all held their lances presented just above their horses ears, like a squadron