Here those of his hearers who understood English—all the younger people and many of the others—made sorrowful gestures. Some of them uttered a peculiar wailing sound.
"It will be now our duty to find who has put those pictures where they are, and give them back to the person who placed them."
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, the Indian turned to Francisco.
"Have you loaned the key to someone this week?" he inquired.
"No, uncle," replied the boy, "I have not given it to anyone; but somebody has come in through the window: one day I found it open." So saying, he glanced toward the door where some white persons were seated.
At this point a woman arose and stepped about midway up the aisle.
"The missionary lady," whispered Walter to his father. "Now there will be a fuss."
"I wish to state," said the woman, in tones that could be distinctly heard all through the church, "I wish to state that I placed those beautiful pictures where they are. I intended to offer them to the person whom they call 'the priest,' hoping that he would hang them for the benefit of the congregation, wherever he pleased. Hearing he was absent, I took the liberty of entering, and pinning them above the crosses, which I consider superstitious emblems."
"Francisco," said the tall Indian, "remove from the wall those pictures, and give them to the lady.
"Pedro," he continued, addressing a boy close by, "you take down on one side, so that it will be quicker."