t dare be written in the 'Relaciones' of a thing like that?" he
queried.--"You smile, Excellency, as if you carried a magic shield, or
enchanted sword lifted from pages of old romance, but what think you
Senor Brancadori will say to this thing of wonder? It does not belong
to the living world we know."

"Let it not get into your dreams," suggested Don Ruy--"or if you do,
content yourself with the fancy that I indeed bear a magic shield and
am ever near enough for you to hide behind it."

"I am not so much a coward!" retorted the lad,--"to die for a good
cause in any human way is not a thing to fear--but these magical
works--"

"Without doubt they do belong to the sorcery of Satan," said Don Ruy
soberly, yet with an eye on the padre--"and yon supple racer is of
course one of his heirs. Stay you close to me, lad, and forget not
your orisons."

When they reached the camp, a herald was calling to the people from
the terraces. He was calling for all the men to prepare for battle. In
a vision of the bright day had Tahn-te seen the coming of the Navahu.
The medicine of Tahn-te was strong. Not at home would they wait for
battle. To steal women had the enemy taken the trail to the dwellings
of the Ancient ruins in the hills, and there must the warriors prepare
to meet them on the trail.

The names of men were called as scouts, and the response was quick, as
one after another ran to the kiva for orders, and then started on the
run towards mesa and forest.

Don Ruy looked after them with eyes perplexed.

"Does the Cacique regard the mirage with earnestness?" he said to the
padre who also watched and listened. "The man has a quick, good brain
and marvellous understandings,--but to prepare for battle because of a
sun picture in the sand is scarce what I looked for in him."

Padre Vicente smiled with his lips, and stroked his beard.

"You have yet to learn that the Indian magic workers let no tricks go
by to prove their greatness,"--he said. "That wench and Jose were
witness to the thing--thus he must claim it as his own! When the
scouts find no Navahu warriors, be sure it will be for the reason that
the magic of the sorcerer caused them to turn back in weakness on the
trail!"

"That will but strengthen his power, if it be so," agreed the younger
man,--"and how will you surmount that fear of him, and win the
renegade of Ni-am-be to give the word we need?"

"Protection and a life of ease away from the Indian magicians is