THE STORY BY THE DESERT WELL
Don Diego marvelled much at the briskness of the plans for a season of hunting ere his troublesome charge was well able to see out of both eyes. But on being told that the range might be wide, he laid in a goodly stock of quills and parchment, for every league of the land would bring new things to his knowledge.
These records were to be entitled “Relaciones of the New and Wondrous Land of the Indian’s Island” and in those Relaciones the accounts of Padre Vicente were to loom large. Among the pagan people his war against the false gods had been ruthless. Maestro Diego was destined to hear more of the padre’s method than he dared hope in the earlier days.
José, the Indian of the North whose Te-hua name was Khen-zah, went with them––also his wife––the only woman, for without her the man would not go in willingness. Two only were the members added by Don Ruy to the cavalcade––one a stalwart fellow of many scars named Juan Gonzalvo who had known service with Pizarro in the land of gold––had lost all his coin in an unlucky game, and challenged the young stranger from Seville for the loan of a stake to gamble with and win back his losses. He looked good for three men in a fight. Instead of helping him in a game, Don Ruy invited him on the hunting trip!
The other addition was as different as might be 75 from the toughened, gambling conquistador––a mere lad, who brought a letter from the hand of the Viceroy as a testimonial that the lad was a good scribe if it so happened that his sanctity the padre––or his Excellency Don Ruy, should need such an addition in the new lands where their hunting camps were to be. The boy was poor but for the learning given him by the priests,––his knowledge was of little save the knowledge of books. But his willingness to learn was great, and he would prove of use as a clerk or page as might be.
Padre Vicente was not present, and the cavalcade was already two days on the trail, but Don Ruy read the letter, and looked the lad over.
“Your name is––”
“Manuel Lenares––and called ‘Chico’ because I am not yet so tall as I may be.”
“It should be Manuella because you look not yet so manlike as you may be,” declared Ruy Sandoval,––and laughed as the angry color swept the face of the lad. “By our Lady, I’ve known many a dame of high degree would trade several of her virtues for such eyes and lips! Tush––boy! Have no shame to possess them since they will wear out in their own time! I can think of no service you could be to me––yet––I have another gentleman of the court with me holding a like office––Name of the Devil:––it would be a fine jest to bestow upon him a helper for the ponderous ‘Relaciones’!” and Don Ruy chuckled at the thought, while the lad stood in sulky embarrassment––willing to work, but not to be laughed at.
He was dressed as might be in the discarded garments of magnificence, well worn and visibly made over to fit his young figure. His cloak of old scarlet, 76 too large for him, covered a patched shirt and jacket, and reached to his sandal straps of russet leather:––scarce the garb of a page of the Viceregal court, yet above that of the native servant.