re much of
the wealth of his wife in shell beads about his neck.

Taking a timely hint, Don Ruy appeared in unusual magnificence. He
carried the standard of Spain and walked beside the padre who bore the
cross. Behind them came Chico the secretary bearing the embroidered
vest and cap of Don Diego with which they made him grand when they
discovered him on the way.

Half the Castilians marched in order in the rear and formed for guard
at a respectful distance under Capitan Gonzalvo. Seeing that all was
well, he mounted the steps to the roof, and was the last to descend
into the sanctuary.

One Te-hua sentinel stood on guard for his people at the place of
council, and the serene life of the village went on as if no mail clad
men were within its walls, only the children who were small, and the
boys who were curious, loitered close and wondered of what the men of
the beards wove their armor, for the water bottles woven of reeds and
plastered with gum of the pinyon had that same glazed surface. Strange
things must grow where these men grew!

In the circle of the council home it was an impressive line of men who
faced each other in silence. Chico half in earnest, announced in a
whisper to Don Ruy that the ladder of the entrance would be his choice
of a seat;--so as to be nearest the outside world in case of trouble.

Shadowy it was in the great room where only the way of the sky gave
light, and the only seat was that built around the wall--and to Don
Ruy was like to pictures of the old Roman ruins. The walls were white,
and there were lines and strange symbols in pale green, and in
yellow:--the colors of the Summer People. An altar of stone was
directly under the ladder, and the light from above fell on the
terraced back of it--typifying the world of valley, and mesa, and
highest level. A ceremonial bowl of red ware echoed this form on its
four terraced sides. It held white and yellow pollen, and the sacred
corn of four colors formed a cross with the bowl as a center;--all
this was placed before the statue of a seated god carved from red
stone. The arms were folded and the pose was serene--waiting! But as
fragrant bark was tossed on the sacred fire below him,--and a flame
awoke for a moment, the eyes reflected the light in a startling
way--as though alive! Then the strangers saw that the eyes were of
iridescent shell set in the carven stone,--and more strange than all
was the fact that the god of the altar was a weeping