IN THE OLD WEST 289 



Taos. As the dashing band clattered through the 

 village, the dark eyes of the reboso-wrapped 

 muchachas peered from the doors of the adobe 

 houses, each mouth armed with cigarito, which was 

 at intervals removed to allow utterance to the salu- 

 tation to each hunter as he trotted past of Adios 

 ATnericanos, — " Welcome to Fernandez ! " and then 

 they hurried off to prepare for the fandango, 

 which invariably followed the advent of the moun- 

 taineers. The men, however, seemed scarcely so 

 well pleased ; but leaned sulkily against the walls, 

 their sarapes turned over their left shoulder, and 

 concealing the lower part of the face, the hand 

 appearing from its upper folds only to remove 

 the eternal cigarro from their lips. They, from 

 under their broad-brimmed sombreros, scowled 

 with little affection on the stalwart hunters, who 

 clattered past them, scarcely deigning to glance at 

 the sullen Pelados, but paying incomprehensible 

 compliments to the buxom wenches who smiled at 

 them from the doors. Thus exchanging saluta- 

 tions, they rode up to the house of an old moun- 

 taineer, who had long been settled here with a New 

 Mexican wife, and who was the recognized enter- 

 tainer of the hunters when they visited Taos 

 valley, receiving in exchange such peltry as they 

 brought with them. 



No sooner was it known that Los Americanos 

 had arrived than nearly all the householders of 

 Fernandez presented themselves to offer the use of 



