“The end has perhaps not yet been found, Señor,”––said the Indian,––“thanks that you accept it.”
Then he spoke in Te-hua to the people as if every personal incident with the Castilians was forever closed.
“You have listened to fair words from these men––and to sweet words of brother and brother. I have waited until all of you spoke that I might know your hearts. You are proud that they come over all the deserts and seek you for friends. Have you asked them why it is so?”
No one had asked why all the other tribes were left behind, and why the strangers had come to camp at the Rio Grande del Norte.
“We are good people,” stated one man, and the others thought that was so, and a fair enough reason.
Tahn-té listened, and then spoke to the Castilians.
“You have come far, Señores, and my people have not yet heard the true reason of the honor you pay them. The priest always goes––and the tale told is that it is for souls––(Father Luis truly did believe it was for souls!) But your books tell plainly one thing, and the Christian men I knew taught by their lives the same thing, and it was this:––For gold, for precious stones,––or for women––are the real 185 things which your kings send out companies of men in search of. Women you could find without crossing the desert. This Te-hua man who was first captive, and then slave, would have come in gladness to his people if let go free, yet for five summers and winters did the Castilian priest hold him servant and at last comes with him to his home. Is this because of love? His reverence, the padre, is wise in much with men,––but great love is not his; I cannot see him starving in a cave, and blessing his tormentors as did Fray Luis. So, Señores, the reason must be made more clear. Señor Coronado sought gold––and full freedom was given him to find gold––if he could! Why is your desire to fight for us against the Apache and the Yutah––and what is the thing you ask in exchange? Not yet have we had any plain word as from your king.”
Don Ruy smiled at his logic. Here was no untutored savage such as they had hoped to buy with glass beads––or perhaps a mule the worse for the journey! However it ended, he was getting more of adventure than if he had built a ship to sail the coasts!
“Games have been won by Truth ere now even though Truth be not popular,” he said to the padre.
“It is not fitting that his Reverence should make reply,”––put in Don Diego with much anger. “Holy Church is insulted in his person. If this were but Madrid––”