"Your father has just informed us that to you we are indebted, as Tezcucans and friends of Hualcoyotl, for his continued existence. My life is pledged to his service; the hand that strikes at him strikes at me; the hand that reaches out to save him I would bless. As the rescuer of Hualcoyotl, your name will be long and kindly remembered by Tezcucans everywhere, and, as one of them, I would here and now express to you the grateful thanks of my people; and farther, as a pledge of my sincerity, I desire that you will accept from me this little token, a souvenir of the great service you have rendered a deeply stricken nation, and also as a mark of my personal appreciation." As he concluded, the tzin placed in her hand a beautifully wrought miniature shield of gold, on which were engraven the armorial emblems of the royal family of Tezcuco. It was a highly prized keepsake which he had long carried on his person, and it required more than mere sentiment to cause him to part with it. While Euetzin was speaking, Mitla stood with eyes cast down, but when he was done, raised them to his face. A glistening moisture was seen to gather on her beautiful, dark lashes as she said: "Your great kindness has filled my heart with a strange feeling. My tongue refuses to utter the words I would speak. I can only thank you for your beautiful gift, and for thinking well of what I did for the prince." "No words which you might utter would add to the favor and esteem to which you are entitled, and which you will have, from the friends of Hualcoyotl," said the tzin, earnestly. Tezcot, observing the embarrassment under which Mitla was placed, motioned for her to withdraw, which she was glad to do. The account of the prince's rescue was continued to a conclusion, and the young men, glad of an opportunity to lie down, were disposed of for the night. CHAPTER XXII. Munificent Old Sol, never more brilliant, had covered fully half his ascending course from horizon to zenith, when Tezcot led the three Tezcucans into the hermit's cave. Ix's deep and sombre-toned voice, always a source of wonder and astonishment when heard for the first time, struck the tzin and his companions as something marvelous, coming, as it did, from the depths of the cavern, in answer to the hunter's signal. After the customary salutations between the hunter and hermit, the former requested that Hualcoyotl should come from his retreat, which he promptly did. He was permitted to look the party over, while the hunter addressed him, and, designedly, took up a little time in apologizing for the liberty he had taken in bringing strangers to the hermitage. The cavern's dim light, together with the dress worn by the visitors, made it quite impossible for the unsuspecting prince to recognize him. When Tezcot realized this fact he said: "Euetzin, salute Prince Hualcoyotl." The tzin stepped forward and dropped on one knee in salutation.