Evening star., 1935-02-25
CHAPTER XI.
IN DURAYA.

CHAPTER XI.
IN DURAYA.
~HE fliar walked or ran most o!
the way south, and he seemed
to spend more energy pulling
the mule after him than in
getting his own bulk over the
ground. Only when the way was level
and there was chance for lope or
a brisk trot would he step into the
saddle and ride the mule through the
dust which the horses raised.
why does he do it?" asked Mon
tana.
"Once q mule that was carrying him
through the mountains slipped on a
frozen rock and broke its leg" an
swered Rubriz. Since then he takes
pity on four-legged beasts. I had to
stamp and rage to make him ride on
the way north with me. Even then ne
would not take horse. A mule was
too good for him, he said. You see,
he is but a child"
"A child that moves mountains,
eh?" said Montana. But why did he
come north with you?"
HE had heard the thousand stories
about you, brother. He was hungry
to see your face. That will make him
a great man with the shepherds and
the villagers"
"Ah! So that was the reason!
murmured Montana.
But though he smiled, the flrst
doubt had entered his soul, colby.
He saw that he would have to be on
his guard from now on.
AS they came through the hills into
view of Duraya, the sunset hared ana
died quickly. 1t made the white walls
of the town bloom for moment. IL
made the looping river run red. Then
the soft twilight rose out of the val
levs, overflowed the hills, invaded the
sky and brought down the stars.
They descended into the plain.
You tell me, Brother PaSqual,
said Montana. Shall I pass as true
Mexican cowboy?"
why not, dear friend?" asked the
friar. "Your hair is black, and now
that YOU have rubbed little of that
stain into your skin, you are as DARK
as most. Your hair Is already black,
and as for the blue eyes, those are
found in Mexico often enough.
Besides, the red mare is the sort
of horse that famous charro would
ride. And you have suit Of yellow
leather with silver spangles all over
it. The good Mexican speech comes
so easily of your tongue that even I,
who know, at times forget the truth
about you"
"Tell me also" said Montana.
laughing, ''if you think that you could
ever really open your heart TO a
gringo."
After a long pause the friar said:
81 can at least try, my friend. All
men are the children of one God. SO
can at least try!"
In Duraya they separated.
The friar went to the church, but
the bishop was not there, so he went
to the bishops palace and climbed the
stairs. which were open and unguarded
day and night, in order that the poor
est of the poor might come to the
Bishop Emiliano in the little bare
upper room which was all that he re-
served for himself out of the Splendors
he might have enjoyed.
That was why little Bishop Emih-
ano, kneeling in prayer, with only TWO
candles to light the wooden cross on
the naked wall Of his room, paid no
heed when the friar entered and
kneeled in turn. The poor often old
this.
The bishop was only vaguely aware
that another presence was there ana
it was some time before he looked
over and found that Brother Pasqual
had returned to him. He started up
at once and went to the kneeling
giant.
"Give me your blessing" said the
friar earnestly, without rising.
Even on his knees he was almost as
tall as the bishop. Give me blessing
of a special grace, for have done a
thing that will bring much evil on my
country"
what thing have you done?" asked
the bishop.
II have helped bring into Mexico a
terrible man." said the friar. II have
brought Ell Keed all the way from the
north to Duraya."
"Ah, my son." said the plsnop,
"why have you done this? That is a
known man and lawbreaker."
"He is a lawbreaker," said the friar.
sand in fact he breaks the law so well
that Rubriz would not try to steal
away the emerald crown Of Our Lady
unless he had the help Of the gringo."
"Are they not great enemies?"
asked the bishop. THE story is that
the gringo stole away the foster son OF
RubriZ."
They are great enemies, but also
they love one another" said the friar.
What sort of man is Ell Keed?"
asked the bishop.
"He is a man swift enough to catch
a mountain goat and almost big
enough to eat one"
"A great, sour brute?"
1T would be better if he were a
sour brute. No, he is a smiling dan
ger. Men cannot help trusting him.
The women look as though they were
seeing their first man."
But has he actually come to help
Rubriz steal the emeralds?"
THAT Is why he has come. Partly