The tzin was in deepest sympathy with the demands of the hour upon him from his enslaved countrymen and their subverted government; and, regardless of the entreaties of his mother and Itlza, and the pressing desire in his own heart to remain longer, cut short his stay, and with Cacami, who was sadly disappointed at not being permitted, by even a brief interview with Itlza, to verify the hopes with which her latest conduct had inspired him, struck out at an early hour the next morning for Tezcuco, where the work in behalf of Tezcucan independence was to be continued.

On entering the city the tzin felt forcibly drawn toward the palace of the prince. It had been a home to him for the past eight years, and now, returning to its very threshold to remain for a time, it seemed like forsaking an old friend to turn away from it.

But the place was still under surveillance by the enemies of his royal master, and, unknown though he was to them, his presence there, he felt, might expose him to suspicion, which would mark him as a person to be watched, thereby causing him annoyance and possible interruption in his labors. He therefore pa.s.sed it by with a sigh of regret, and sought accommodations elsewhere, which he found at the home of a patriotic Tezcucan.

No time was permitted to elapse unimproved by Euetzin and his coworkers. The necessary steps, which had become a fixed proceeding, were taken, and ere four and twenty hours had pa.s.sed, a council of leading Tezcucans was organized, and each member of it, with the obligation still warm upon his lips, was laboring secretly and zealously for country, home and Hualcoyotl.

CHAPTER XIX.

It was in the afternoon of a day a week or ten days subsequent to the time when Hualcoyotl became separated from Menke and Oza, in eluding the Tepanec soldiers on the plateau, that Mitla, the daughter of Tezcot, had gone around the mountains for an hour's pastime with her bow and arrow; and, having grown weary of the diversion, was returning home. She had just pa.s.sed a sharp extension at the foot of the mountain and was sauntering leisurely along the border of a patch of ripened chia-plant, which her father's servants had gathered into piles and left lying on the ground, when her attention was attracted by a distant yelling, heard from the plateau behind her. She stopped, and, while listening to the repeated yells, which were growing louder and nearer, was suddenly startled by the appearance of a man running toward her from the direction in which the hallooing was heard. He was evidently fleeing from threatened danger, and almost exhausted. His appearance was one of deep distress, and when he came nearer she saw that a look of despair was depicted on his pale and haggard face. She comprehended the situation at a glance, deciding that he was being pursued by a foe, and instantly conceived the idea of concealing him. Without waiting for explanations, she raised a pile of the chia-plant, and, when he came up to her, told him to get under it, which he tried to do, but only succeeded in falling in a helpless heap upon the ground. Mitla did not wait for a further effort on his part, but speedily covered him with the stalks of the plant where he had fallen. Telling him to lie still--hardly a necessary thing to do, to a man in his exhausted condition--she moved quickly from the spot in the direction of her home.

The man's concealment had been accomplished none too soon, for Mitla had taken scarcely a dozen steps when a party of Tepanec soldiers came in sight around the mountain in hot pursuit of him. So soon as they came in view she stopped and looked at them a moment; then turned and fixed her gaze on a rise in the ground just ahead of her, as if something had attracted her attention to that point. On being asked if she had seen the fugitive, she answered by pointing in the direction of the rise. Her ruse was successful, for the soldiers, without further question, set off on a brisk run. Mitla followed them, to get as far from the fugitive's hiding place as possible.

When the soldiers gained the opposite side of the rise they were completely nonplussed, and appeared undecided what to do. Mitla approached them with perfect composure, and, when interrogated, as to what direction she thought the man had gone, encouraged them to think he had taken to the mountain. This seemed to agree with their own conclusions, and, to her delight, they dashed away, and were quickly hidden among the bushes, in search of him.

Mitla wisely concluded it would not do to go back to the place where the man was concealed, just then; so, to consume a little time, went on to the house. After informing her mother and Oxie of her adventure, and cautioning them not to show any interest in her movements, she returned by a roundabout way to the chia patch. Coming to the pile of stalks under which the man was lying, she said--only loud enough for him to hear:

"Do not attempt to rise; the soldiers are searching for you among the bushes near by, and might discover you. You will be informed when all danger is past."

After thus enlightening him, she went leisurely back to the house, to await her father's return from the mountains, where he had gone in quest of game.

The hunter returned early, and Mitla told him of her adventure. He decided at once that the man could not be relieved with safety before dark. In coming to this conclusion he felt, in his kindness of heart, that it was hard on the poor fellow to be left in such a trying position for so long a time, but, with the soldiers in the vicinity and liable to appear at any time, he must bear it if he would escape.

The hunter suspected the fugitive's ident.i.ty, and, while waiting for night to come, when he could go to his relief, occupied the time in ruminating as to how he might best serve him. He haply hit upon an idea which appeared so plausible to him that, with an emphatic slap of the knee, he exclaimed:

"Just the thing! I'll save him, or my name's not Tezcot."

"What is 'just the thing,' father; and who are you going to save?"

asked Mitla, who was present, and somewhat startled by the hunter's sudden outburst.

"The prince, child. Who else could I save just now?" he answered, absently.

"The prince! what prince?"

At this moment a revelation came to Mitla's mind, which was quite a surprise to her, and she said, expressing it:

"What a simpleton I have been, father, not to have thought of it before--the man under the pile of chia-stalks is Hualcoyotl, the Tezcucan prince! Is that what you mean?"

"Yes, Mit, that is just what I mean."

"And you think you can save him?"

"I'm sure I can, Mit," answered the hunter, positively. "But, child, ye must ask no questions; I can not answer ye."

"Very good, father. I'm sure you will do whatever you think you can,"

she replied, with the confidence of an unqualified belief in his infallibility.

The time dragged along very slowly to the kind-hearted hunter after his conception of a plan for relieving the fugitive. He felt that the poor fellow must certainly be suffering no little agony in his painful position, and his sympathy was stirred accordingly.

Night, which was impatiently waited for, came on at last, enveloping the mountains in darkness, obscuring from observation objects at a very short distance. It was the hour of relief for the hapless wanderer hidden out in the chia patch.

Tezcot and Mitla quietly left the house, and approached the spot where the man was concealed. The latter pointed out the pile of stalks which covered him, and the former lifted them off his motionless form. They found him in a pitiable condition, quite unable to rise. The hours of confinement under the chia stalks, together with his previous enervation, had rendered him benumbed and helpless. He was a.s.sisted to his feet, but his limbs refused to sustain him, and it was found necessary for the hunter to carry him to the house. He was taken to a private apartment, and placed on a comfortable couch. A mug of pulque was given him to drink, after which it was thought best to leave him for a time to himself, to recover, in a measure, from his spent condition.

More than a week of enforced concealment on the mountain, without food to stay his increasing hunger, had pa.s.sed to Hualcoyotl since he became separated from his servant and the hunter Menke. He had not been disturbed in his hiding place, but the distress arising from his protracted fasting, together with a consequent nervous anxiety, had brought him to the verge of desperation. He must, and would, have something to eat, and, regardless of danger, started out to find it. He reached the plateau, and having boldly emerged upon it, stood looking about him for a house where the much needed food might be obtained.

While thus occupied he was made aware of the fact that a party of soldiers were approaching; they had discovered him, and were watching his movements. It took him but a moment to determine what he would do.

He did not feel equal to the exertion which would be required in an effort to elude them by climbing the mountain; so, on observing a projection extending out from it, only a short distance from where he was, he promptly decided to round it if possible, and find concealment beyond. He started off at a careless gait, though feeling very shaky.

When the soldiers saw that he was walking away, they increased their movement; he did the same, which brought from them a savage yell, which sent him forward with a bound. For a short distance he ran with his usual fleetness, but the impelling force was excitement, which did not last. He succeeded in turning the point, but in an almost exhausted condition. It was at this juncture he came upon Mitla; what followed, the reader knows.

When the hunter returned to the prince's couch, he found him in a very much improved condition. By a little exertion of his own, aided by the stimulating effects of the pulque, his circulation was rapidly rea.s.serting itself, and his forces, though in a weakened state, were reviving. Refreshments were brought in, of which he was permitted to eat a sufficiency but not excessively.

Tezcot avoided referring to the prince's ident.i.ty, deferring his inquiries until the latter should be more fully restored.

Hualcoyotl did not suspect that his host had a suspicion as to who he was--at least showed no sign that he did. He was inclined to be reserved and uncommunicative; however, took occasion to express his grat.i.tude for the kindness shown him.

The hunter, after giving his unhappy guest all necessary attention, and a.s.suring him of his safety, left him for the night.

The next morning Tezcot repaired to the apartment occupied by the prince, and found him quite comfortable. Food, and a night's rest on a soft couch--the first he had enjoyed for many days, did wonders in restoring his exhausted forces.

The hunter was quite sure that his guest was Prince Hualcoyotl; but before proceeding to carry out his plan for securing him from further pursuit, he wished to obtain an acknowledgment of his ident.i.ty; so, after a.s.sisting him to prepare for the morning meal, he addressed him, saying:

"Your presence in this house is known to no one outside of the family of Tezcot, the hunter." The prince's countenance brightened at once on hearing that name, which had been spoken of in such warm terms by Menke, and his hopes were renewed and buoyed by the confidence it imparted. He listened more attentively while the mountaineer continued: "Since it is no secret that Hualcoyotl, the Prince of Tezcuco, is a fugitive, and hiding somewhere in these mountains, you can not be greatly surprised when told that we think you are that person. Do not feel any concern for your safety, for Hualcoyotl is as secure with Tezcot as he would be in his own palace, surrounded by his friends."

The prince, though surprised that his ident.i.ty was suspected, was greatly relieved and encouraged by the hunter's language, and his confidence went out to him at once; for he felt sure that he had found in him a friend--a friend who had been raised up to help him in his darkest hour. To the kindly spoken words of his host he replied:

"And you are the great mountaineer, Tezcot, the chief of hunters.

Hualcoyotl is indeed fortunate in finding refuge with such a man. The name of Tezcot relieves me from all concern, for it is an a.s.surance of good-will and security. For the first time in weeks I am glad to acknowledge my ident.i.ty. Yes, glad to say, I am Hualcoyotl. Your divination is correct, kind friend; for the fugitive prince stands before you, profoundly grateful for his deliverance."

It was now Tezcot's turn to be surprised, for he inferred from the prince's language that he was not unknown to him. Hualcoyotl continued:

"When the good hunter Menke said that Tezcot was a man true as his arrow, and worthy of the utmost confidence, it did not occur to me that I would so soon be thrown upon his generosity. But such are the ways of the Great Unseen, whose purposes we can not comprehend. Hualcoyotl is surely an object of His protecting care," he concluded reverently.

Tezcot was deeply impressed by the exhibition of reference manifested by the prince for the Unseen Power which seemed to be shielding his life and proving him in the crucible of adversity, to prepare him for the great future which then lay hidden before him. Wonder prevailed, however, and he said:

"Your words are astonishing. Do you mean to tell me that you have met the hunter Menke, and yet are here a rescued fugitive?"

"Yes, Tezcot; but days have pa.s.sed since we met and were unfortunately separated," replied the prince.

"Still, I'm puzzled to account for your being here as you are, after meeting so good and shrewd a friend as Menke," returned the hunter.

"No doubt you are; but be a.s.sured, kind friend, it was no fault of his that it is so." The prince went on and related the circ.u.mstances of his meeting with Menke, and what followed.

"Menke is a good friend, but a little odd," said Tezcot, when the prince had concluded. "He has no doubt looked for you in every place but the right one," he continued. "You certainly have reason to think, from what you have seen of us, that you have nothing to fear from the mountaineers. If they might do it, I am sure all of them would be glad to afford you a.s.sistance."