"It is something none of my people ever had," said the Road-Runner. "The Indian who was called the Turk could look in a bowl of water in the sun, or in the water of the Stone Pond, and he could see things that happened at a distance, or in times past. He proved to the Spaniards that he could do this, but their priests said it was the Devil and would have nothing to do with it, which was a great pity. He could have saved them a great deal." "_Hoo, hoo_!" said the Burrowing Owl; "he could not even save himself; and none of the things he told to the Spaniards were true." "He was not thinking for himself," said the Road-Runner, "but for his people. The longer he was away from them the more he thought, and his thoughts were good, even though he did not tell the truth to the Iron Shirts. They, at least, did not deserve it. For when the people of Zuni and Cicuye and Tiguex would not tell them where the sacred gold was hid, there were terrible things done. That winter when the days were cold, the food was low and the soldiers fretful. Many an Indian kept the secret with his life." "Did the Indians really know where the gold was?" The children knew that, according to the geographies, there are both gold and silver in New Mexico. "Some of them did, but gold was sacred to them. They called it the stone of the Sun, which they worshiped, and the places where it was found were holy and secret. They let themselves be burned rather than tell. Besides, they thought that if the Spaniards were convinced there was no gold, they would go away the sooner. One thing they were sure of: gods or men, it would be better for the people of the pueblos if they went away. Day and night the _tombes_ would be sounding in the kivas, and prayer plumes planted in all the sacred places. Then it was that the Turk went to the Caciques sitting in council. "'If the strangers should hear that there is gold in my country, there is nothing would keep them from going there.' "'That is so,' said the Caciques. "'And if they went to my country,' said the Turk, 'who but I could guide them?' "'And how long,' said the Caciques, 'do you think a guide would live after they discovered that he had lied?' For they knew very well there was no gold in the Turk's country. "'I should at least have seen my own land,' said the Turk, 'and here I am a slave to you.' "The Caciques considered. Said they, 'It is nothing to us where and how you die.'