bright, hard metal that has been such a
puzzle to us," I continued, "was the right one; it is hardened gold:"
and I repeated to him what Tizoc had told me.

Rayburn was deeply interested. "Scientifically, this is a big thing,
Professor," he said. "These fellows can give points to our
metallurgists. But for our purposes, of course, what they've caught on
to here has no practical value. Gold has got to come down a good deal,
or phosphor-bronze has got to go up a good deal, before it will pay us
to turn gold dollars into axle-bearings and cogs and pinions. But it's
mighty interesting, all the same. Fusing with silicium would give a
gold-silicide that might fill the bill for hardness; but I can't even
make a guess as to how they do the tempering. Ask the Colonel what the
whole process is, Professor. It will make a capital paper to read before
the Institute of Mining Engineers at their next meeting."

As I turned to Tizoc to ask this question, I perceived that his regard
was fixed upon something on the other side of the court-yard, and in his
look most tender love was blended with a deep melancholy. Following the
direction of his gaze, I saw that its object was a beautiful boy, a lad
of twelve or fourteen years old, who was half hidden behind some
flowering shrubs, and from this cover was peering at us curiously.

"It is my Maza--my little son," Tizoc said, as he turned and saw the
direction in which I looked. And then he called to the boy to come to
him. For a moment Maza hesitated, but when the call was repeated he came
out from behind the screen of flowers and so towards us across the
court-yard; and as he advanced I perceived that he was lame. In his face
was the look of wistfulness which cripples so often have, and there was
a rare sweetness and intelligence in the expression of his large brown
eyes. In a moment I understood why it was that Tizoc resented so
bitterly the abrogation by the Priest Captain of the custom that had
permitted parents to buy back their crippled children, and so to save
them from slavery; and a selfish feeling of gladness came into my heart
as this light dawned upon me--for I knew that when we faced the danger
that threatened us (a most real danger, for our coming into the valley
was nothing less than a deadly blow at Itzacoatl's supremacy) we surely
would find in Tizoc an ally and a friend.

XX.

THE PRIEST CAPTAIN'S SUMMONS.

There was so much meaning in my look as I turned towa