"True, Oza. We will find a more suitable place to talk. But you look tired and hungry. Have you had anything to eat to-day?" "Only a little in two days, master." "Follow me," said the tzin, leading the way to a refreshment stall, where food was procured and Oza's hunger appeased. When this was done, they left the _tianguez_ and went to the tzin's boarding place. "Now, Oza," said he, when they were comfortably fixed in his private apartment, "tell me about the prince, and why you are here. What has occurred to cause your return to the city? Did he send you?" "No, master Euet; the prince doesn't know I'm here," replied the servitor, in answer to the tzin's last question. "The prince does not know you are here!" exclaimed Euetzin in amazement. "How does that happen? Have you not been with him?" "Yes, master, up to a few days ago, when we lost him in a fight with the soldiers." The doubtful character of Oza's phraseology, taken in connection with his unexpected and, as yet, unexplained appearance in the city, was sufficient cause for increased apprehension in the tzin's mind of some serious mishap to the prince. He was much disturbed by Oza's clumsily worded reply, and, at its conclusion, exclaimed: "Lost him? Do you mean to tell me that the prince has been killed or captured?" "No, master Euet; not so bad as that," Oza quickly rejoined. "The prince got away all right, but we couldn't find him afterward." "That sounds quite differently, and relieves me greatly," returned the tzin, feeling very much inclined to scold Oza for his awkwardness of speech, but the man was only a slave, and better could not be expected of him. "Who was with you beside the prince when the soldiers made the attack?" the tzin then asked. "Menke, a hunter." "I can not understand, Oza, how the prince could evade the soldiers, and, also, become separated from the hunter and yourself, unless it was under cover of darkness," queried the tzin. "It was dark, master--away in the night; the hunter was taking us to his own home," answered the servant. "I see," rejoined Euetzin, beginning to comprehend the situation. "That explains the matter more fully. You said you could not find the prince. Did you make much of an effort to do so?" "Yes, master; for three days we looked for him." "And failing to find him you returned to the city?" "Yes." By continuing to question the vassal at some length, the tzin succeeded in eliciting a fairly good account of Hualcoyotl's experience after leaving Zelmonco villa, confirming, in the one instance, Cacami's supposition that it was the prince he rescued from the Tepanec soldiers on the highway. In concluding he asked: "Could you conduct us to the place where the soldiers attacked you?" "Will you go, master Euet?" questioned Oza, omitting, in his eagerness, to answer the inquiry. "That is our present purpose," was answered. "It is good; I can lead you," quickly responded the delighted vassal.