f Montezuma. It is to be used to free Mexico from the
Spaniard. He must be driven out. The land belongs to the Aztec."

"But where is the Aztec?" queried Billie. "I know him not."

"I am he. The peons are my people. The Spaniard--bah! He owns the
houses and he owns the lands; but he must be driven out."

"Isn't that what Villa says?"

"Villa? Villa?" again repeated Santiago, and again he lapsed into
silence.

For some minutes he remained motionless ere he stepped back,
picked up his rifle and started for a door leading to a stairway.

"Come!" he commanded. "I will show you."

"Hadn't we better take care of the horse first?" asked Billie,
not at all anxious to be wandering around with an armed lunatic.
"He may die."

"What is a horse when the future of Mexico is at stake, my son?
Come with me and you shall hear a strange tale."

"I have heard one already," was Billie's mental comment, but
realizing by the term son which Santiago had applied to him that
he was in no immediate danger and trusting to his wits to finally
overcome the strange man should it become necessary, he followed.

At the head of the stairs was another door, which Santiago opened
and entered. It was a sort of ante-room, much like the entrance
into a lodge room. Around the walls was a motley collection of
firearms, swords, spears and smaller weapons.

Stopping in front of one of the racks, Santiago placed his rifle
in it, and then from another took a couple of small swords, one
of which he handed to Billie.

"This is a bug house sure enough," muttered the boy as he took
the sword and examined it curiously. "I wonder what next?"

He had not long to wait, for opening a closet, Santiago took
therefrom two beautifully embroidered robes, one of which he
threw over his own shoulders and the other of which he put on
Billie.

"It doesn't hardly match my hat," laughed Billie.

Without a word, Santiago removed Billie's sombrero and hung it
on a peg in the closet, which he closed.

Then he opened another door and led Billie into a large,
brilliantly lighted room, hung with the richest tapestries.

"Looks like we had strayed into some Turkish bath house," thought
Billie, "but I might as well see the thing through."

"Sit here beside me, my son," Santiago finally said. "You shall
become my heir. I will introduce you to the court."

Santiago clapped his hands, as though bidding a servant to
attend; but there was no response.

He turned his h