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 sawa 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 
