In a few minutes an anxious watcher, from our point of view, might have seen a gradually contracting circle of men surrounding the _plaza_.

Usually at the same time that this circle was evident to the watcher, it became also evident to the women.

With cries of terror, the poor creatures would start off as fast as their legs would carry them, over the mountain trails, with the whole town government, sixteen strong, in pursuit, with yells and screams.

It was like nothing but the chase of deer by hounds.

Usually, the women, given strength by terror, escaped; but once out of three times, perhaps, the officials returned in triumph with their prisoner in their midst, who was at once measured and then, if need be, photographed.