They had not gone far when they met two Indians, a man and a woman, both considerably advanced in years, carrying bundles of fagots on their shoulders.
"Ay, ay!" called Mauricio. "Como estan ustedes, Concilio Valeriano?"
The couple halted.
"Ay, ay, Mauricio! We did not know you. We are not so young as we once were," the old man said. "We do not see so well."
"But you are strong and well still," rejoined Mauricio. "We have been at the camp. We have seen the Señora. These ladies and gentlemen I have been giving a ride to-day."
"Well, well," said the old woman; "and is this not Francisco?"
"Yes," said the boy; "am I grown tall?"
"Yes, yes, and handsome, too!" exclaimed the old woman. "We are glad to have seen you. How is Cecilio, and Maria, and Juan Diego?"
"All are well," replied Mauricio. "Adios."
"Adios!" rejoined the pair and, bowing politely to the occupants of the wagon, they passed on.