on the Priest Captain the
worst kind, and will be only too glad of a chance to go for him; and
they can be counted on to stand in with us, and to fight harder than
anybody. I'll admit, Professor, that we're in a pretty tight place; but
it might be a good deal tighter, and I do honestly believe that we'll
get out of it."

"And so do I," said Young, "'specially now that I know that that burro
of Pablo's is part of a prophecy. I always did think that there was
style about El Sabio, any way, an' now I know what it comes from. When I
was a boy, th' one thing that used t' keep me quiet in church was
hearin' our minister read that story about Balaam and _his_ burro; but I
never thought then that I'd actually ketch up with a live ass that was
in the prophesyin' line of business for itself--or had prophecies made
about it, which is pretty much the same thing. T' be sure, this prophecy
don't come down t' dots quite as much as I'd like it to; but I s'pose
that that's th' way with 'em always--eh, Professor? Th' prophets sort o'
leave things at loose ends on purpose; so's they can run 'wild' on a
clear track, without any bother about schedule time or connections."

"Well, our burro lays over Balaam's," Rayburn struck in. "In that case
it took the combined arguments of an ass and an angel to convince Balaam
that he was off about his location, and was running his lines all wrong;
but, unless we count in Pablo, El Sabio is playing a lone hand; and I'm
sure that the Colonel's not fooling us about this prophecy business,
either. It's rubbish, of course; but that don't matter, so long as the
people here swallow it for the genuine thing. Just look at that old
fellow there. He's tumbled to it, and he's regularly knocked out."

We were close to the shore of the lake by this time, and as Rayburn
spoke we were passing a small house, in front of which was gathered a
group of Indians. In the midst of the group was a very old man, who
with out-stretched arm was pointing towards Pablo and El Sabio, and who
at the same time was talking to his companions in grave and earnest
tones. There was a look of awe upon his age-worn face, and as we fairly
came abreast of him he dropped upon his knees and raised his arms above
his head, as though in supplication to some higher power. The action,
truly, was a most impressive one; and even more strongly than we were
affected by it did it affect those who were clustered around him. In a
moment all in the group