ough the others had broken fast long before, and Ixtli,
his hands tightly clasped behind his back, as a child is wont to resist
temptation, was inspecting the air-ship in awed silence.

Taking advantage of this preoccupation, Bruno quickly yet clearly
explained to his uncle all that had happened, showing that by playing a
more prudent part the young warrior must inevitably have perished.

Then, making sure Cooper Edgecombe was not near enough to catch his
words, Bruno told in brief the information gleaned from Ixtli concerning
the Children of the Sun, whom he and Waldo more than suspected must be
the long-lost wife and daughter of the exiled aeronaut.

As might have been expected, Professor Featherwit was deeply stirred by
all this, fidgeting nervously while keeping alert ears, with difficulty
smothering the ejaculations which fought for exit through his lips.

After satisfying his craving for food, the professor led the young Aztec
apart from the rest of the party, speaking kindly and sympathetically
until he had won a fair share of liking for his own, then broaching the
subject of the Sun Children.

After this it was by no means a difficult matter to get at the seat of
trouble, and little by little Featherwit satisfied himself that Ixtli
would do all, dare all, for the sake of benefiting the woman and maiden
who had treated him so kindly.

At a covert sign from the professor, Bruno came to join in the talk,
and his sympathy made the young Aztec even more communicative. And Ixtli
spoke more at length concerning Tlacopa, the paba, and another enemy
whom the Children of the Sun had nearly equal cause to fear, one
Huatzin, or Prince Hua, chiefest among the mighty warriors of the
Aztecan clans.

This evil prince had for years past sought Victo for his bride, while
his son, Iocetl, tried in vain to win the heart-smiles of the fair
Glady, Victo's daughter. And, through revenge for having their suit
frowned upon, these wicked knaves had joined hands with the priest in
trying to drag the Sun Children down from their lofty pedestal.

It did not take long questioning, or shrewd, to convince the professor
that in Ixtli they could count upon a true and daring supporter in
case they should conclude to interfere in behalf of his patroness and
teacher, adored Victo.

The professor led the way over to the air-ship, there producing the
clothing and arms once worn by another Aztec warrior, which he had
carefully stowed away in