And while they settled this weighty matter, the young Ruler who had prophesied, moved contrary to custom, with the leaders across the high mesa, and was followed by the Castilian horsemen, in their shining coats of mail, and on a mule led by Gonzalvo rode Yahn, unafraid, and with proud looks.
And ever her eyes rested on Ka-yemo who held his place of chief, and chanted a war song, and was so handsome a barbarian that Don Ruy made mention 253 of it, and told the secretary that he was worth an entire page of the “Relaciones,” even though not a thing of war came in their trail.
The great white cliff of a thousand homes of the past, filled the Castilian mind with wonder. Generations had lived and died since the ghost city of the other days had throbbed with life, still the stucco of the walls was yet ivory white, and creamy yellow, and it looked from the pine woods like a far reaching castle of dreams.
It was nearing the sunset, and a windless heat brooded over the heights where usually the pines made whisperings, clouds of flame color hung above the dark summits of the mountain, and the reflected light turned the ghostly dwellings to a place of blood-tinged mystery. More than one of the adventurers crossed themselves. Don Ruy said it looked, in the lurid glow, like a place of enchantment.
“But there are beautiful enchantments,” said Chico––“and this may be one of them! Think you we might find walls pictured by Merlin the magian if we but climb the steep? Magic that is beautiful should not be hedged around by a mere ocean or two!”
“This is the place of the ghost woman,” stated Yahn,––“and Shufinne, where the women are afraid, is beyond.”
Within sight was Shufinne, and there the Castilians had expected to camp. But among the older Indians there had been talk––and who can gauge the heathen mind?
“Two camps will we make,” they decided. “Here is most water for the animals and here our white brothers can wait; at Shufinne will the Te-hua guard be awake all the night, and give warning if 254 the enemy comes,––other guards will watch the trail of the cañon. Thus we cover much ground,––no one can pass to the villages of the river;––and quickly can all camps help the one where the enemy comes.”
“Not so bad is the generalship in spreading their net,” said Don Ruy.
“Nor in excluding the stranger from the hiding place of their pretty maids,” added Chico with amusement. “Ysobel––ride you close to me. This is the place where they herd their women, and guard them,––and you are not so ill favored in many ways as some I have seen.”