"Menke, a hunter."
"I can not understand, Oza, how the prince could evade the soldiers, and, also, become separated from the hunter and yourself, unless it was under cover of darkness," queried the tzin.
"It was dark, master—away in the night; the hunter was taking us to his own home," answered the servant.
"I see," rejoined Euetzin, beginning to comprehend the situation. "That explains the matter more fully. You said you could not find the prince. Did you make much of an effort to do so?"
"Yes, master; for three days we looked for him."
"And failing to find him you returned to the city?"
"Yes."
By continuing to question the vassal at some length, the tzin succeeded in eliciting a fairly good account of Hualcoyotl's experience after leaving Zelmonco villa, confirming, in the one instance, Cacami's supposition that it was the prince he rescued from the Tepanec soldiers on the highway. In concluding he asked:
"Could you conduct us to the place where the soldiers attacked you?"
"Will you go, master Euet?" questioned Oza, omitting, in his eagerness, to answer the inquiry.