oding
atmosphere, electric forces were at work in strange ways--and on the
heights of Pu-ye they have for ages been proof of the magic in those
mountains.

Therefore is it a place for prayer.

Startled by the strange earth breathings, the girl crept within the
portal for her waiting--and the dusk was too deep for sight across the
rolling land of ancient field, and pinyon wood far below.

Had she kept the watch she might have seen more than one figure
approach the heights from different ways--only a glimpse could be had,
but through the dusk of pinyon groves certainly two figures moved
together, a man and a woman, and even before them one man stole alone
from the south, and halted often as if to plan the better way of
approach.

The man and woman skirted the foot of the mesa, and crept upward on
the side to the north.

"It is the hard way to climb you have come," said the man, and the
strange heavy air caused them to stop for breath, and as she reached
to cling to the hand of the man, he drew back with a gasp of terror.
As their hands touched, a little electric shock ran through each,--it
was plain they had reached the domain where the witch of evil powers
held sway.

"It is not I whom you need fear," said Yahn Tsyn-deh,--"it is the
witch maid of Tahn-te, and we have come to see the killing."

"And if--if Gonzalvo grows weak on the trail--or if his men take fear
from this evil magic of the mesa of Pu-ye?"

"No other men come with him--we talked--we two! Alone he will do
it:--for me!" she said proudly. "He knows the strong bow, with it he
will send the arrow first to the man,--that will be when they stand
clear in the moonlight. Then to the witch:--that all people may see
they were near to each other. The arrows are good and the bow is good.
I saw that it was so;--also I saw that no man of our people can use it
better than can Gonzalvo. By the river I watched him. He needs no fire
sticks to find the heart of an enemy--alone he can do it with an
arrow."

Ka-yemo looked at her sullenly,--she was giving much of praise to the
man she would have him destroy!

"How are you sure that he does not bring the thunder and lightning
stick also?" he demanded,--"and how are you sure that it is not used
for me?"

"Oh--fool you!--who make fears out of shadows--yet are so big to
fight!" she breathed softly. "Why is it that the Navahu or the other
wild people do not make you fear--yet the Castilians--"

"They are truly men