Another olla of water was lifted, and soused about the Irishman's ears, but with no better effect. Barney had not had such a washing for many a day; at least, not since he had been under the hands of the regimental barber. When the squaws saw that, in spite of all their efforts, the dye still stuck fast, they desisted, and our comrade was again staked down. His bed was not so dry as before; neither was mine, for the water had saturated the ground about us, and we lay in mud. But this was a small vexation, compared with many others we were forced to put up with. For a long time the Indian women and children clustered around us, each in turn minutely examining the head of our comrade. We, too, came in for a share of their curiosity; but O'Cork was "the elephant." They had seen hair like ours oftentimes upon their Mexican captives; but, beyond a doubt, Barney's was the first red poll that had ever been scratched in the valley of Navajoa. Darkness came on at length, and the squaws returned to the village, leaving us in charge of the guards, who all the night sat watchfully beside. CHAPTER FIFTY ONE. ASTONISHING THE NATIVES. Up to this time we had no knowledge of the fate that was designed for us; but, from all that we had ever heard of these savages, as well as from our own experience of them, we anticipated that it would be a cruel one. Sanchez, however, who knew something of their language, left us no room to doubt such a result. He had gathered from the conversation of the women what was before us. After these had gone away, he unfolded the programme as he had heard it. "To-morrow," said he, "they will dance the mamanchic--the great dance of Montezuma. That is a fete among the girls and women. Next day will be a grand tournament, in which the warriors will exhibit their skill in shooting with the bow, in wrestling, and feats of horsemanship. If they would let me join them, I could show them how." Sancho, besides being an accomplished torero, had spent his earlier years in the circus, and was, as we all knew, a most splendid horseman. "On the third day," continued he, "we are to `run amuck,' if you know what that is." We had all heard of it. "And on the fourth--" "Well? upon the fourth?" "They will roast us!"