The Flute of the Gods Part 10

And thus:--between a hair brained adventurer and a most extolled priest, began the third attempt to reach the people called by New Spain, the Pueblos:--the strangely learned barbarians who dwelt in walled towns--cultivating field by irrigation, and worshipping their G.o.ds of the sun, or the moon, or the stars through rituals strange as those of Pagan Egypt.

Word had reached Mexico of the martyrdom of Fray Juan Padilla at Ci-bo-la, but in the far valley of the Rio Grande del Norte--called by the tribes the river P[=o]-s[=o]n-ge,--Fray Luis de Escalona might be yet alive carrying on the work of salvation of souls.

The young Spanish adventurer listened with special interest as the devotion and sacrifices of Fray Luis were extolled in the recitals.

"If he lives we will find that man," he determined. "He was n.o.bly born, and of the province of my mother. I've heard the romance for which he cloaked himself in the gray robe. He should be a prince of the church instead of a wandering lay brother--we will have a human thing to search for in the world beyond the desert--ours will be a crusade to rescue him from the infidel lands."

CHAPTER VIII

THE STORY BY THE DESERT WELL

Don Diego marvelled much at the briskness of the plans for a season of hunting ere his troublesome charge was well able to see out of both eyes. But on being told that the range might be wide, he laid in a goodly stock of quills and parchment, for every league of the land would bring new things to his knowledge.

These records were to be ent.i.tled "Relaciones of the New and Wondrous Land of the Indian's Island" and in those Relaciones the accounts of Padre Vicente were to loom large. Among the pagan people his war against the false G.o.ds had been ruthless. Maestro Diego was destined to hear more of the padre's method than he dared hope in the earlier days.

Jose, the Indian of the North whose Te-hua name was Khen-zah, went with them--also his wife--the only woman, for without her the man would not go in willingness. Two only were the members added by Don Ruy to the cavalcade--one a stalwart fellow of many scars named Juan Gonzalvo who had known service with Pizarro in the land of gold--had lost all his coin in an unlucky game, and challenged the young stranger from Seville for the loan of a stake to gamble with and win back his losses. He looked good for three men in a fight. Instead of helping him in a game, Don Ruy invited him on the hunting trip!

The other addition was as different as might be from the toughened, gambling conquistador--a mere lad, who brought a letter from the hand of the Viceroy as a testimonial that the lad was a good scribe if it so happened that his sanct.i.ty the padre--or his Excellency Don Ruy, should need such an addition in the new lands where their hunting camps were to be. The boy was poor but for the learning given him by the priests,--his knowledge was of little save the knowledge of books.

But his willingness to learn was great, and he would prove of use as a clerk or page as might be.

Padre Vicente was not present, and the cavalcade was already two days on the trail, but Don Ruy read the letter, and looked the lad over.

"Your name is--"

"Manuel Lenares--and called 'Chico' because I am not yet so tall as I may be."

"It should be Manuella because you look not yet so manlike as you may be," declared Ruy Sandoval,--and laughed as the angry color swept the face of the lad. "By our Lady, I've known many a dame of high degree would trade several of her virtues for such eyes and lips! Tush--boy!

Have no shame to possess them since they will wear out in their own time! I can think of no service you could be to me--yet--I have another gentleman of the court with me holding a like office--Name of the Devil:--it would be a fine jest to bestow upon him a helper for the ponderous 'Relaciones'!" and Don Ruy chuckled at the thought, while the lad stood in sulky embarra.s.sment--willing to work, but not to be laughed at.

He was dressed as might be in the discarded garments of magnificence, well worn and visibly made over to fit his young figure. His cloak of old scarlet, too large for him, covered a patched shirt and jacket, and reached to his sandal straps of russet leather:--scarce the garb of a page of the Viceregal court, yet above that of the native servant.

"You are--Spanish?"

Again the face of the youth flushed, and he shrugged his shoulders and replaced his velvet cap with its pert c.o.c.k's feather.

"I have more than enough Spanish blood to send me to the Christian rack or stake if they caught me worshipping the pagan G.o.ds of my grandmother," he stated briefly, and plainly had so little hope of winning service that he was about to make his bow and depart in search of the Padre.

But the retort caught Don Ruy, and he held the lad by the shoulder and laughed.

"Of all good things the saints could send, you are the best," he decided--"and by that swagger I'll be safe to swear your grandsire was of the conquistadores--I thought so! Well Chico:--you are engaged for the service of secretary to Maestro Diego Maria Francis...o...b..ancadori.

You work is seven days in the week except when your protector marks a saint's day in red ink. On that day you will have only prayers to record, on the other days you will a.s.sist at many duties concerning a wondrous account of the adventures Don Diego hopes for in the heathen land."

"Hopes for:--your Excellency?"

"Hopes for so ardently that our comfort may rest in seeing that he meets with little of disappointment on the trail."

For one instant the big black eyes of the lad flashed a shy appreciation of Don Ruy's sober words and merry smile.

"For it is plain to be seen," continued that gentleman--"that if Don Diego finds nothing to make record of, your own wage will be a sad trial and expense."

"I understand, your Excellency."

"You will receive the perquisites of a secretary if you have indeed understanding," continued Don Ruy, "but if there are no records to chronicle you will get but the pay of a page and no gifts to look for.

Does it please you?"

"It is more than a poor lad who owns not even a bedding blanket could have hoped for, senor, and I shall earn the wage of a secretary. That of a page I could earn without leaving the streets and comfort."

"Oho!" And again the eyes of Don Ruy wandered over the ill garbed figure and tried to fit it to the bit of swagger and confidence.--"I guessed at your grandfather--now I'll have a turn at you:--Is it a runaway whom I am venturing to enroll in this respectable company of sober citizens?"

"Your Excellency!" the lad hung his head yet watched the excellency out of the corner of his eye, and took heart at the smile he saw--"it is indeed true there are some people I did not call upon to say farewell ere offering my services to you, but it is plain to see I carried away not any one's wealth in goods and chattals."

"That is easily to be perceived," said Don Ruy and this time he did not laugh, for with all his light heart he was too true a gentleman to make sport of poverty such as may come to the best of men. "By our Lady, I've a feeling of kinship for you in that you are a runaway indeed--this note mentions the teaching of the priests--I'll warrant they meant to make a monk of you."

"If such hopes are with them, they must wait until I am born again,"

decided the lad, and again Don Ruy laughed:--the lad was plainly no putty for the moulding, and there was chance of sport ahead with such a helper to Maestro Diego.

"It will be my charge to see that you are not over much troubled with questions," said his employer, and handed back the letter of commendation. "None need know when you were engaged for this very important work. Jose over there speaks Spanish as does Ysobel his wife. Tell them you are to have a bed of good quality if it be in the camp--and to take a blanket of my own outfit if other provisions fall short."

A muttered word of thanks was the only reply, and Don Ruy surmised that the boy was made dumb by kindness when he had braced himself for quips and cuffs--knowing as he must--that he was light of build for the road of rough adventure.

"Ho!--Lad of mine!" he called when the youth had gone a few paces--"I trust you understand that you travel with a company of selected virtues?--and that you are a lucky dog to be attached to the most pious and G.o.dly tutor ever found for a boy in Spain."

"It is to be called neighbor of these same virtues that I have come begging a bed on the sand when I might have slept at home on a quilt of feathers:"--the lad's tongue had found its use again when there was chance for jest.

"And--"

"Yes:--your Excellency?"

"As to that pagan grandmother of whom you made mention:--her relationship need not be widely tooted through a horn on the journey--yet of all things vital to the honorable Maestro Diego and his 'Relaciones,' I stand surety that not any one thing will be given so much good room on paper as the things he learns of the heathen worship of the false G.o.ds."

"A nod is as good as a wink to a mule that is blind!" called back the lad in high glee. "Happy am I to have your excellency's permission to hold discourse with him concerning the church accursed lore of our ancestral idols!"

Then he joined Jose and Ysobel as instructed, and gave the message as to bed and quarters. Jose said no word in reply, but proceeded to secure blankets, one from the camp of Don Ruy. Ysobel--a Mexican Indian--who had been made Christian by the padre ere she could be included in the company, was building a fire for the evening meal.

Seeing that it burned indifferently the new page thrust under the twigs the fine sheet of paper containing the signature of the Viceroy.

Ysobel made an exclamation of protest--but it was too late--it had started the blaze in brave order.

"Your letter--if you should need it--perhaps for the padre!" she said.

"Rest you easy, Nurse," said the lad and stretched himself to watch the supper cooked. "I have no further needs in life but supper and a bed,--see to it that Jose makes it near you own! I am in the employ of Don Ruy Sandoval for a period indefinite. And he has promised--laugh not out loud Ysobel!--that he will see to it I am not questioned as to whence or why I came to seek service under his banner!--even the holy father is set aside by that promise--I tell you that laughter is not to be allowed! If you let him see that you laugh, I will beat you when we are alone, Ysobel--I will though you have found a dozen husbands to guard you!"

Don Ruy did see the laughter of the woman, and was well pleased that the lad could win smiles from all cla.s.ses,--such a one would lighten weary journeys.

He felt that he had done well by Maestro Diego. Plainly the quick wit of the lad betokened good blood, let him prate ever so surely on his heathen grandmother!