Adventure Magazine Cover, December 18, 1919 — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

108 She had heard the outcry in the street; she had seen the crowd surging up the entrance, and as they passed \into the patio, she came running into the court- yard. One look at Andres and Mendoza told her that something unusual had taken place. The next moment her startled gaze sought the horse and she saw the rider! “Santa Virgen!” she cried. “It is— it is my—my little sevorita.”’ And she had Mercedes by the foot, by the hem of her gown, touching whatever part of her she could reach, petting her, fawning on her like a dog. “Take the senorita to her rooms, Maria. All is as you left it on that ter- rible night.” The governor turned to Mercedes. “Maria, get spiced wine and food for her. Have food and wine sent to my rooms, too, Maria, and take the best care of your seforita, who was lost and has returned. I leave it all to you.” “It has ali been left to me for twenty years,” sniffed Maria, still fondling Mer- cedes’ hand. Mendoza led Andres to the long room above the gate. A quick-footed servant had placed food and wine and chocolatl upon the table, and for ten busy minutes Andres ate. The governor sat staring at him with a feverish intensity that might well have been embarrassing. Presently Andres leaned back in his chair and filled an Indian pipe with tobacco. The gover- nor came back as from a trance. “Go on,” he said, as if Andres had been. talking all the while. “When we had left the city and had gone a day’s march, we found signs ofa fight and I found the sejfiorita’s glove. Then \we saw that something unusual had happened, so we trailed her. The men of the north had captured her and we followed them, Xicotl, Fray Marco and I. We.found her and we brought her back and, Sefior Governor, she knows no more of the death of the fiscal than did [.” “Tell me step by step. details.”’ Andres talked late into the night, the great governor hanging on every word. When he had finished, Mendoza drew a deep breath. “What of Coronado?” he asked pres- ently. ‘When did you see him last?” I want the Adventure “Some six weeks ago. He was head- ing southeast for the great river and a city called Quiviri. I-have papers for you from Coronado.” He laid the letters on the table. Men- doza read them eagerly. “He had not found Cibola then?” he said presently. “He found what undoubtedly had been Cibola, but it was not the great and rich city that reports had said it would be. He told me that he had investigated several of their cities and found nought. Personally, I saw Acoma, said to be their second greatest town. It was a walled city, it is true, where a half-ciyil- ized people lived; not so advanced as the Aztecs that we conquered in this land twenty years ago——” Mendoza sat up straight. “But Fray Marco said they were rich beyond our fondest dreams is “Aye! Rich in faith, sefior! The good fray was never in them. His party was scattered before he got there, so that he reached the place with Este- vanico and a few men. This Estevanico had learned much from Cabeza de Vaca of healing during his ten years’ wander- ing with de Narvaez, and he passed him- self among the Indians asahealer. They never let Fray Marco or Estevanico, nor the few men who remained: with them, leave the ridge above the town, but held them there. Then, from all that I can learn, Estevanico took nine of their women as his wives. No matter what happens, sevor, a people resent mistreat- ment of their women. One can upset their gods if he is able and nought hap- pens, but abuse of women will drive any people to action. So Estevanico found. They captured and crucified him over an ant-hill. I saw that ridge and I found of Estevanico what the coyotes had left. It was two full miles from the city. When the sun shone, they saw it.” “He said the houses were covered with sheeted silver.” “He honestly thought they were. They were built of stone, covered with stucco, coated with lime. Remember, sevor, that tales said that El Dorado was a man cov- ered with gold. They found that he was a man on whom a small quantity of gold was’ blown through reeds as an offering! Fray Marco was worn out and ex- com (C ‘S 000) Eom a oe Tn ie ea Laas