With his jovial countenance glowing pleasantly he cast about for a possible source of information, and his eyes lighted upon a youth across the street who was surveying him with unmitigated wonder, his eyes and mouth equally broad open. Pedro motioned him, and the boy started hesitatingly across the street. At once the interest of the crowd was fixed, and they formed a respectful circle, across which the lad advanced with evident trepidation. Pedro had acquaintance with the Quichua, and hailed him cordially. "May the day bring thee good fortune, and the night better, my lad. Come hither. There is something I would ask. This seemeth a gala day, is it not? "The Feast of the Full Moon, Viracocha," replied the boy, respectfully. "The Feast of the Full Moon! Good! Dost live in Xauxa?" "No, Viracocha. I am here but for the day. I live yonder, up the valley," indicating the direction by turning and pursing out his lips, a gesture habitual with the Peruvians, and surviving to this day. "Yonder, up the valley!" said Pedro, imitating his grimace. "Hum! Thou ’rt a good boy, I take it from thy face. Sleepest at home, and early?" "Why, where else, Viracocha?" asked the other innocently. "Ah! Where else, to be sure! But in my country o’ nights, the boys oft go chasing nightingales—a bird which I have not yet seen in Tavantinsuyu. ’T is quite as well. But what I would ask is this: The folks seem curious. Now, what draweth their attention hereabout? What held thy lower jaw away from its fellow a moment since?" "Viracocha?" asked the boy, puzzled. "I observed thee looking this way. What is the interest which hath brought this crowd?" "Oh!" exclaimed the youth, enlightened. "Why, you are one of the Viracochas—your pardon." "No offence," answered Pedro. "A mere chance which hath befallen others of my race. Is that all?" The boy hesitated. "No, not all. The bare bone of your leg, Viracocha—" "Oho!" shouted Pedro. "The bare bone of my leg! God bless my soul! The bare bone of my leg, for a surety! Why, stew me! Now, ’t is a sight, is it not—to see a man with a part of his skeleton sticking out into the glare of day! But, lad, what if I were to show thee my ribs? Nay!" he added, as the boy drew back aghast. "I’ll not do it in the presence of ladies, never fear. Ha! The bare bone of— But is that all?" He lowered his voice. "Yonder damsel, for instance, just now passing—do not look too quickly—hath she been drawn by my leg, thinkst thou?" The boy looked round cautiously at the girl lingering at the edge of the circle. "I cannot say for her," he said, "but if the Viracocha wisheth, I will ask her," and full of accommodation, he started in her direction.