earth together.

CHAPTER XXII

"AT THE TRAIL'S END!"

The morning stars were shining through the gray threatening sky, when
a slender blanket draped figure stepped from Ysobel's doorway into the
dusk, and came near putting foot on Don Ruy Sandoval who lay there as
if on guard.

There was a little gasp, and the blanket was clutched more closely.

"Your Excellency!" breathed Chico wonderingly--"awake so
early--and--here?"

"Awake so late," amended his excellency,--"and is this not a good
place to be?"

"In truth I am having doubts of my own," confessed the secretary with
attempted lightness. "What with barbaric battles, and earth
quakings,--and a night when the breath of volcanoes seemed abroad in
the land and strange lightenings came up from the earth--it suggests
no dreams of paradise! Don Diego thinks it is because the expedition
has not been more eager for souls."

"Has he not converted Saeh-pah and won a ladylove?" asked Don Ruy--"he
is at least that much in advance of the rest of us. I've had no luck,
and you are as much of a bachelor as ever you were."

Chico contemplated the morning star in silence, and Don Ruy smiled.

"If the enchanted ring of Senor Ariosta should fall at your feet from
yon star;--or the lamp of Alladin would come out of the earth in one
of these quakings, what would you ask it to do with us all, since this
camp is not to your liking?" he asked.

"I would wish you safe in Mexico with no sorcerer to doctor your
wounds if you were bent on acquiring such pleasures."

"No learned professor could have brought healing more quickly,"
contended Don Ruy,--"and the sorcerer, if so he be, has given me food
for thought at least. Which reminds me that you are not to go to the
river mesa this morning in case you see the barbarians trooping that
way for ceremonies."

A runner came panting past them from towards the hills, and the gate
was opened for him and closed again, and a herald from the terrace
shouted aloud sentences arousing all who yet slept;--not only arousing
them, but causing unexpected shrieks and cries of consternation from
many dwellings. There were the lamentations of the old women of the
Tain-tsain clan, and their wails sent the thrill of a mysterious dread
through the night that was dying, for the day had not yet come.

"What is it--what?" asked the secretary in a whisper of dread. "You
know what the thing is;--tell me!"

"Not so nice a thing that you should trade