258 MULE-HUNTING EXPEDITION. 



being of the species known as Wellingtons, were 

 worn outside the trousers, inducing the latter 

 indispensables to assume a bunchiness about the 

 knees, not calculated to display the symmetry 

 of the leg to advantage. Very few had any 

 jackets on, but all, without exception, carried a 

 bowie-knife and six-shooter in their waistbelts. 

 The ladies' costumes were equally varied : most of 

 them wore bright-coloured muslins, of very large 

 patterns, and showy waist- ribbons, tied behind in 

 a large bow, with streamers down to their heels. 



The dance was just ' down ' when I came into 

 the room. I saw a few citizens I had met in the 

 day, but each one seemed to have his 'fancy 

 gal,' and any chance of getting an introduction 

 was a vain hope. The fashion, I discovered 

 afterwards, is either to bring or meet your part- 

 ner at the ball-room, and dance with her, and 

 her only, all the evening. 



A waltz was called, and I wanted a partner. 

 Looking round, I espied a lady sitting near the 

 end of. the room, who evidently had not got one. 

 She was in the same place when I entered the 

 room, and it was clear to me, by her unrumpled 

 appearance, that she had not danced for the 

 evening. ' Faint heart never won fair lady ? 

 might, I imagined, apply as forcibly to dancing 



