Thank God you came out alive! When I saw them pass
in knives, I had my doubts and momentarily expected to hear the
report of your revolver. But when I saw you pass by infatuated with
Jtz-Li-Cama, the cacique's daughter and wife of the murderous
scoundrel, El Macho, then I gave you up. Oh, see what is happening
now. Amigo, you have broken up the dance. So it seemed. The drum was
silent now and we heard the voices of men arguing in the Aztec idiom.
Of a sudden the lights were extinguished and the crowd came out with
a rush, and silently they stole away in the darkness.
"Now, amigo," said Reyes, "let me tell you something, which may haply
serve you well. Knowing that an American accomplishes things which a
Mexican like myself must let alone, I advise you to try for the
hidden treasure of La Gran Quivira. Seeing that you are in the good
graces of Jtz-Li-Cama, you might prevail with the cacique to guide
you. He is said to be the only living man who knows the secret of the
trove in the ruins of the sacred temple of the ancient city. The
Indians believe that this treasure, which the Aztecs hid from the
Spaniards, is guarded by a terrible phantom dog, the specter of one
of the great dogs of Fernando Cortez which ravened among their Aztec
ancestors.
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