A Prince of Anahuac Part 26

"True, Oza. We will find a more suitable place to talk. But you look tired and hungry. Have you had anything to eat to-day?"

"Only a little in two days, master."

"Follow me," said the tzin, leading the way to a refreshment stall, where food was procured and Oza's hunger appeased. When this was done, they left the _tianguez_ and went to the tzin's boarding place.

"Now, Oza," said he, when they were comfortably fixed in his private apartment, "tell me about the prince, and why you are here. What has occurred to cause your return to the city? Did he send you?"

"No, master Euet; the prince doesn't know I'm here," replied the servitor, in answer to the tzin's last question.

"The prince does not know you are here!" exclaimed Euetzin in amazement. "How does that happen? Have you not been with him?"

"Yes, master, up to a few days ago, when we lost him in a fight with the soldiers."

The doubtful character of Oza's phraseology, taken in connection with his unexpected and, as yet, unexplained appearance in the city, was sufficient cause for increased apprehension in the tzin's mind of some serious mishap to the prince. He was much disturbed by Oza's clumsily worded reply, and, at its conclusion, exclaimed:

"Lost him? Do you mean to tell me that the prince has been killed or captured?"

"No, master Euet; not so bad as that," Oza quickly rejoined. "The prince got away all right, but we couldn't find him afterward."

"That sounds quite differently, and relieves me greatly," returned the tzin, feeling very much inclined to scold Oza for his awkwardness of speech, but the man was only a slave, and better could not be expected of him. "Who was with you beside the prince when the soldiers made the attack?" the tzin then asked.

"Menke, a hunter."

"I can not understand, Oza, how the prince could evade the soldiers, and, also, become separated from the hunter and yourself, unless it was under cover of darkness," queried the tzin.

"It was dark, master--away in the night; the hunter was taking us to his own home," answered the servant.

"I see," rejoined Euetzin, beginning to comprehend the situation. "That explains the matter more fully. You said you could not find the prince.

Did you make much of an effort to do so?"

"Yes, master; for three days we looked for him."

"And failing to find him you returned to the city?"

"Yes."

By continuing to question the va.s.sal at some length, the tzin succeeded in eliciting a fairly good account of Hualcoyotl's experience after leaving Zelmonco villa, confirming, in the one instance, Cacami's supposition that it was the prince he rescued from the Tepanec soldiers on the highway. In concluding he asked:

"Could you conduct us to the place where the soldiers attacked you?"

"Will you go, master Euet?" questioned Oza, omitting, in his eagerness, to answer the inquiry.

"That is our present purpose," was answered.

"It is good; I can lead you," quickly responded the delighted va.s.sal.

"All right, Oza. Your return to the city, just now, is very fortunate for us, though quite the reverse for your master, for it makes his situation still more desolate and trying. It relieves us, however, of a perplexing quandary--the matter of finding the locality in which he is hiding. As our guide, you will help us out of that difficulty, and put us into position to enter upon the search at once. That is an advantage we were not counting on."

After a moment's pause, having noticed the dest.i.tute condition of the servant, he continued:

"Your appearance, Oza, is not what it should be; the attendant of a prince ought, at least, to be clothed."

Rising, as if to go, he went on:

"I will go at once to look after your needs. In the meantime you will remain in my apartment," on saying which he withdrew, and returned to the _tianguez_ to procure the necessary articles for Oza's apparel.

Cacami came back to the city that same evening, and Oza's story was repeated to him. Euetzin also informed him as to the course he had decided on pursuing, since a definite knowledge of the prince's whereabouts had been obtained.

After hearing what his friend had to impart, and being asked for his opinion, Cacami said:

"Your plan is good; still, I think there is a better one. Have I your permission to make it known to you?"

"Certainly, Cacami; I desire that you will speak freely; was it not so, I should not have asked for your opinion," was the a.s.suring reply.

"Oza would, no doubt, conduct us to the spot where he last saw his master, and, if necessary, to Menke's," he proceeded to say; "but, tzin Euet, there are other considerations to be taken into account, which make the course I would suggest more preferable. If I get a correct impression from your rehearsal of Oza's report, the prince's disappearance occurred within a few leagues of the mountaineer Tezcot's home, a man with whom I had the satisfaction of spending two very pleasant evenings and one day the last time I was on the mountains. My plan would be to go directly to Tezcot's. If the prince has been discovered he will, very likely, be apprised of it; if not, he can give us any information we may want, for he knows every mountaineer on that range and every foot of ground for leagues around; and, by the way, is the most generous of hosts."

"Master," said Oza suddenly and eagerly, interrupting Cacami, "I heard Menke speak to the prince about a great hunter named Tezcot."

"There, tzin Euet!" exclaimed Cacami; "that certainly strengthens the plausibility of my plan. Then think of the fact that a hospitable reception will be given us, with the added pleasure of meeting two charming maidens."

"Your last information, O Cacami, commends the course you propose to our serious consideration. We will go directly to Tezcot's, as you suggest," said the tzin, facetiously.

The point of destination having been decided upon, preparations for an early departure were begun at once. In two days the party was ready to start. The tzin and Cacami were dressed and equipped as hunters, while Oza, in fresh attire, after a good rest and cleaning up, looked like another person, and accompanied them as an attendant. Hunting parties were a common, every-day sight on the streets and highways, consequently their appearance in leaving the city attracted only a pa.s.sing notice. They stopped at the villa, on their way out, to refresh themselves and say good-by to Teochma and Itlza. We will not pause to narrate what transpired there, or describe the parting, except to say: Let the reader imagine a mother's deep concern for her son; a sister and sweetheart's pale, sad face as the brother and lover take their leave, the latter showing no signs of the feelings which fill his breast, save those which Itlza alone is permitted to see; an affectionate waving of hands as the young men go out of sight, and the moments of sadly thoughtful silence which follow.

Almost two days of continued walking, much of the journey over a rough and hilly way, found Euetzin and his party nearing their destination.

The sun of the last afternoon seemed, to the tired wayfarers, to move reluctantly away from the meridian, and to finally approach, at a snail's pace, the western horizon. Time may appear to pa.s.s quickly or slowly, yet it is unchangeable, and Old Sol, its mighty keeper, marks, with unerring regularity, the recurring periods of morning and evening.

So, on this day, the latter came in due season, and with it, stealing softly over the scene, the gray and sombre light which precedes the slowly falling night-shades in the mountains, followed by the inharmonious and strikingly dismal croaking of the multi-vociferous heralds of night, rising from mountain pools and gorges, with an added gloom from the doleful notes of the whippoorwill. Such were the last hours and ending of the journey, which our friends had accomplished, when Cacami suddenly exclaimed:

"We are through at last, for yonder house is the mountaineer's home."

Then, falling behind, he continued:

"You take the lead, tzin Euet, and make such inquiries as may please you."

They soon stood before the hunter's dwelling, and the tzin, pa.s.sing under the porch, was met at the door by Mitla, who, in answer to his inquiry if that was Tezcot's, said:

"Yes, this is Tezcot's. Will you come in?"

"We will, if refreshments may be obtained," he replied.

"Our evening meal is now being prepared. When it is ready you will be welcome to share it with us."

This was said with so much cordiality that Euetzin led the way into the house without farther questioning.

"Cacami!" exclaimed Mitla, when she recognized him. "You here, and allow your companion to ask if this is Tezcot's?" inquiringly. "But, I see, you wished to surprise us. Well, at any rate, I am glad to bid you welcome, and your companions as well."