ed by the authority of great names, and to doubt
the truth of which might endanger both body and soul.

"When Don Jago had established his kingdom," continued the old Indian,
"the wish came over him to visit his own land again; so he set out with
his servants, and, after many days, came to his father's house. And now
listen, Senores," said the Indian, raising his voice. "Don Esau was, as
you know, the first-born, and as such would have possessed his father's
land, had not the traitor, Don Jago, or, as the Gachupins call him, San
Jago, cheated him out of it. Through this it was that the sons of
Tenochtitlan became the slaves of the Gachupins, who are the sons of
Jago."

The countenances of the Leperos began to express increased interest in the
narration.

"It was in the _estio_,"[11] resumed the Indian, "that Jago returned to
his father's house, where a great entertainment was given to him. Don Esau
was away at the hunting-grounds, while Don Jago was feasting on the best
of tortillas and the finest Tacotitlan pulque, better no Count could
have."

At the mention of the pulque, there was a strong sensation amongst the
listeners.

"Don Esau came home hungry from the chase, and found his brother with a
dish of _frijolos_ before him, the best that ever were grown upon the
Chinampas of the Chalco.[12] Now, what think you the traitor Jago did?"

"_Io se! Io se!_ We know!" cried several Indians eagerly.

"The senores," said the old man gravely, "will hear that Ixtla speaks no
lies. Jago drew back his dish of frijolos, as if from a dog; and when Don
Esau begged for a mouthful, he promised him the whole dish if he would
give up his birthright; but if he would not do so, then Jago swore that
not a single frijolo should pass Don Esau's lips."

"And Don Esau?" cried the Leperos.

"What would my brothers have done had they been thirsty and a-hungered,
and had seen before them the skin of pulque, and the dish of tortillas and
frijolos?"

This _argumentum ad hominem_ elicited sundry greedy looks from the
surrounding crowd; and cries of "Ah, tortillas! ah, pulque!" burst from
the craving lips of the Leperos.

"In short," continued the old Indian, "Don Esau gave what his hunger
forced him to give, and Don Jago gave in return the dish of frijolos and a
fine large skin full of Tacotitlan pulque."

"_Maldito gavacho!_" growled the Leperos, who, in spite of their longings,
could not help finding the exchange an unfair one.

"