"Our assailants may return with assistance; I think we had better be gone. In parting from you, hunter, we would once more express our gratitude, with a hope that we may meet again, under more auspicious circumstances." "All right, stranger; I join you in the hope, but have no doubt that this little incident will have been forgotten then," returned Cacami. "No, that could not be; at least, not by one of us." With these words the prince turned away, and moved rapidly down the road, followed by his attendant. Cacami's appearance and outfit bespoke him the citizen hunter. The Indian sword (_maquahuitl_) he carried marked him as such, for hunters, as a class, did not carry that weapon, on account of its weight. He was undoubtedly a successful hunter if the game secured was taken into account. Standing some distance off from where he was were two men who proved to be his servants. They had charge of a fine collection of birds and small animals, which he had secured since leaving Tezcot's. The men appeared to be awaiting orders from him; for on being signaled to move up they did so promptly. The dead soldiers were moved to one side of the road by Cacami and his men, and left there to be disposed of by others, or, possibly, to become prey for carnivorous birds and beasts. So soon as the prince and Oza got beyond the bend in the highway and out of view, they betook themselves to the fields and woods for better protection. Hualcoyotl's confidence in his security was gone, and he again became the anxious and watchful fugitive. The mountains, in which refuge and safety were sought, were finally reached. In a fastness among the rocks the prince found a fairly comfortable retreat, and preparations were made for a temporary sojourn in it. The soldiers who escaped the deadly sword of the hunter, instead of returning to look after their unfortunate companions, hurried to the nearest point and reported their adventure to the military. This was the first information received by the Tepanec authorities of the prince's whereabouts. Troops were dispatched immediately in the direction of the mountains in pursuit of him, and his place of concealment soon became menaced by straggling bands of them, making the matter of procuring food a very serious one. It was hardly safe for the fugitives to venture out on the mountain, leaving out of the question the idea of going from it. For days they had nothing to eat except roots and berries; as a consequence, their situation became very distressing. The prince insisted that Oza should return to Tezcuco, and leave him to his fate, but the faithful slave would not hear to it. "Why sacrifice two lives, Oza, when one may be saved?" urged he. "It is useless to urge me, good master; I would be a base coward to leave you now," was the loyal answer. "As you please, but remember you are free to go whenever you so desire," said the generous prince. CHAPTER XI.