rom Valencia of the elaborate ceremony planned
for a "Judas day!" Little though Tula knew of churchly observances,
she had an instinctive fear that she would be detained in the south
too long to officiate in this special ceremony on which she had set
her heart.

"Not with a priest will I go," she announced. "He would shut me in a
school, and in that place I would die. Clodomiro can go, or Isidro,
who is so good and knowing all our people."

"That is a good thought," agreed Dona Jocasta, who had no desire that
Padre Andreas meet the family of Terain and recount details of the
Perez marriage,--not at least until she had worn her official title a
little longer and tested the authority it gave her. "That is a good
thought, for I have no wish that my house be left without a priest.
Senor Rhodes, which man is best?"

But before Kit could answer Ramon Rotil stood in the door, and his
eyes went to the papers on the table. Tula had recovered her belt, and
fastened it under the _manta_ she wore.

"So! you are working in council, eh?" he asked. "And have arrived at
plans? First your own safety, senora?"

"No, senor,--first the bringing back of the people driven off by the
slavers. The letter is written; this child is to take it because the
people are her people, but a safe man is wanted, and these two I
cannot let go. You know Jose Perez, and his wife must not be without a
man of religion as guard, yet he alone would not save me from others,
hence the American senor----"

"Sure, that is a safe thought," and he took the seat offered by Kit.
But he shook his head after listening to their suggestions.

"No. Isidro is too old, and Clodomiro with his flying ribbands of a
would-be lover, is too young for that trail. You want--you want----"

He paused as his mind evidently went searching among his men for one
dependable. Then he smiled at Kit.

"You saved me the right man, senor! Who would be better than the
foreman of Soledad? Would it not be expected that Senora Perez would
send the most important of the ranchmen? Very well then. Marto is
safe, he will go."

"But Marto--" began Padre Andreas, when Rotil faced about, staring him
into silence.

"Marto will return here to Soledad today," he said, and the face of
the priest went pale. It was as if he had said that the task of Marto
on the east trail would be ended.

"Yes, Marto Cavayso has been at Hermosillo," assented Dona Jocasta.
"He will know all the ways to arrive quic