"That secret was the secret of Miguel who is dead."

"But--some old Indian must know----"

Tula shook her head with absolute finality.

"No old Indian in all the world knows that!" she said. "This was a secret of the youth of Miguel, and only when old and dying did he give it for his people. This I,--Tula, child of Miguel tell you."

Padre Andreas looked from the girl to Kit and back again, knowing that the death of Miguel was a recent thing since it had occurred after the stealing of the women.

"Where did your father die?" he asked.

"In the hills of the desert."

"And--who had absolving and burial of him?"

"Absolving I do not know, but this man, his friend, had the making of the grave," she said, indicating Kit, and the eyes of the priest rested again on Kit with a most curious searching regard. Evidently even this little Indian stray of the desert arrived at good fortune under the friendship of the American stranger,--and it was another added to the list of enchantings!

"Ah," he murmured meaningly, "then this strange senor also has the knowing of this Indian gold? Is it truly gold of the earth, or witches' gold of red clay?" and he went nearer, reaching his hand to touch it.

"Why all this question when the child offers it for a good Christian use?" demanded Dona Jocasta. "See, here is a piece of it heavy enough to weigh down many lumps of clay, and north or south it will prove welcome ransom. It is a miracle sent by the saints at this time."

"Would the saints send the red gold of El Alisal to a heretic instead of a son of the church?" he asked. "And this is that gold for which the padres of Soledad paid with their lives long ago. There was never such red gold found in Sonora as that, and the church had its own claim on it;--it is mission gold!"

"No, not now," said Tula, addressing Dona Jocasta,--"truly not now!

They claimed it long ago, but the holding of it was a thing not for them. Fire came out of the clouds to kill them there, and no one saw them alive anymore, and no other priest ever found the gold. This much is found by Miguel, for a dead man's promise!"

"The girl speaks straight, senora," ventured Kit. "I have already told General Rotil of the promise, but no good will come of much talk over the quality of gold for that ransom. To carry that message south and bring back the women is a task for council, but outside these walls, no tongue must speak of the gold, else there would be no safety for this maid."

"Yet a priest may ask how an Americano comes far from his home to guard gold and a maid in Sonora?" retorted Padre Andreas. "Strange affairs move these days in Altar--guns, ammunition, and the gold of dead men! In all these things you have a say, senor, yet you are but young in years, and----"

"Padre," interrupted Dona Jocasta with a note of command, "he was old enough to save this child from starvation in the desert, and he was old enough to save me when even you could no longer save me, so why object because he has guarded wealth, and means to use it in a way of mercy? Heretic he may be, but he has the trust of Ramon Rotil, and of me. Also it is forbidden to mention this belt or what it covers. I have given my word, and this is no time to halt the task we have set.

It would better serve those lost people if you help us find a messenger who is safe."

It was the first time the new Senora Perez a.s.sumed a tone of authority at Soledad, and Kit Rhodes thanked his lucky stars that she was arrayed with him instead of against him, for her eyes glowed green lightning on the priest whose curiosity had gotten him into trouble.

Kit could not really blame him, for there was neither priest nor peon of the land who had not had visions of conquest if only the red gold of the Alisal should be conveniently stumbled upon!

And Tula listened to the words of Dona Jocasta as she would have listened to a G.o.d.

"I go," she said eagerly. "The trail it is strange to me, but I will find that way. I think I find in the dark that trail on which the mother of me was going!"

Dona Jocasta patted the hand of the girl, but looked at Kit. "That trail is not for a maid," she said meaningly. "I came over it, and know."

"I think it is for me," he answered. "The promise was mine. I know none of the people, but the names are written. It is eighty miles."

"Three days."

"More, double that," he said thoughtfully, and the eyes of Tula met his in disapproval. It was the merest hint of a frown, but it served.

She could do the errand better than she could guard the rest of the gold. If her little belt was lost it was little, but if his store should be found it would be enough to start a new revolution in Sonora;--the men of Rotil and the suspicious padre would unite on the treasure trail. It was the padre who gave him most uneasiness, because the padre was guessing correctly! The dream of a mighty church of the desert to commemorate all the ruined missions of the wilderness, was a great dream for the priest of a little pueblo, and the eyes of the Padre Andreas were alight with keen,--too keen, antic.i.p.ation.

"I go," stated Tula again. "No other one is knowing my people."

"That is a true word," decided Padre Andreas, "a major-domo of evil mind at Linda Vista could take the gold and send north whatever unruly vagabonds he had wished to be free from. Let the maid go, and I can arrange to see her there safe."

This kind offer did not receive the approval deserved. Kit wished no man on the trail with Tula who knew of the gold, and Tula herself was not eager to journey into unknown regions with a man of religion, who had already learned from Valencia of the elaborate ceremony planned for a "Judas day!" Little though Tula knew of churchly observances, she had an instinctive fear that she would be detained in the south too long to officiate in this special ceremony on which she had set her heart.

"Not with a priest will I go," she announced. "He would shut me in a school, and in that place I would die. Clodomiro can go, or Isidro, who is so good and knowing all our people."

"That is a good thought," agreed Dona Jocasta, who had no desire that Padre Andreas meet the family of Terain and recount details of the Perez marriage,--not at least until she had worn her official t.i.tle a little longer and tested the authority it gave her. "That is a good thought, for I have no wish that my house be left without a priest.

Senor Rhodes, which man is best?"

But before Kit could answer Ramon Rotil stood in the door, and his eyes went to the papers on the table. Tula had recovered her belt, and fastened it under the _manta_ she wore.

"So! you are working in council, eh?" he asked. "And have arrived at plans? First your own safety, senora?"

"No, senor,--first the bringing back of the people driven off by the slavers. The letter is written; this child is to take it because the people are her people, but a safe man is wanted, and these two I cannot let go. You know Jose Perez, and his wife must not be without a man of religion as guard, yet he alone would not save me from others, hence the American senor----"

"Sure, that is a safe thought," and he took the seat offered by Kit.

But he shook his head after listening to their suggestions.

"No. Isidro is too old, and Clodomiro with his flying ribbands of a would-be lover, is too young for that trail. You want--you want----"

He paused as his mind evidently went searching among his men for one dependable. Then he smiled at Kit.

"You saved me the right man, senor! Who would be better than the foreman of Soledad? Would it not be expected that Senora Perez would send the most important of the ranchmen? Very well then. Marto is safe, he will go."

"But Marto--" began Padre Andreas, when Rotil faced about, staring him into silence.

"Marto will return here to Soledad today," he said, and the face of the priest went pale. It was as if he had said that the task of Marto on the east trail would be ended.

"Yes, Marto Cavayso has been at Hermosillo," a.s.sented Dona Jocasta.

"He will know all the ways to arrive quickly."

"That will be attended to. Will you, senor, see to it that horse and provision are made ready for the trail? And you, senora? Soledad in the wilderness is no good place for a lady. When this matter of the slaves is arranged, will it please you to ride south, or north? Troops of the south will be coming this way;--it will be a land of soldiers and foraging."

"How shall I answer that?" murmured Dona Jocasta miserably. "In the south Jose Perez may make life a not possible thing for me,--and in the north I would be a stranger."

"Jose Perez will not make trouble; yet trouble might be made,--at first," said Rotil avoiding her eyes, and turning again to Kit.

"Senor, by the time Marto gets back from the south, the pack mules will be here again. Until they are gone from Soledad I trust you in charge of Senora Perez. She must have a manager, and there is none so near as you."

"At her service," said Kit promptly, "but this place----"

"Ai, that is it," agreed Rotil. "North is the safer place for women alone, and you--did you not say that on Granados there were friends?"

"Why, yes, General," replied Kit. "My friend, Captain Pike, is somewhere near, and the owner of Granados is a lady, and among us we'll do our best. But it's a hard trip, and I've only one gun."

"You will take your choice of guns, horses, or men," decided Rotil.

"That is your work. Also you will take with you the evidence of Senora Perez on that matter of the murder. The padre can also come in on that,--so it will be service all around."

Chappo came to the door to report that all was ready for the trail, and Rotil stood up, and handed to Dona Jocasta the marriage contract.