liverance, and so he hung dangling there, his face to the wall,
jerking his short fat legs about spasmodically, and wasting in most
piercing yells what little there was in him of wind.

It did really seem as though El Sabio's action in these premises was
dictated by reason, for when he saw the priest in this wholly
unprotected position he deliberately took his stand at precisely the
point behind the little man where all of his kicking power could be most
effectively used. There was a momentary hush as El Sabio thus placed
himself, for every one perceived how very open was the priest to
assault; and at the same time it was apparent that while El Sabio's
kicks assuredly would be exceedingly painful, they were not likely to
inflict upon the priest, while he remained in that attitude, a deadly
wound. In an instant the two small heels flashed through the air, and
there was heard a dull, soft sound--such as might come from the striking
of an over-ripe melon with a heavy club--and with this burst forth a
most piercing shriek of pain. Yet the little priest, knowing that his
life depended upon it, most gallantly retained his hold. Again El Sabio
kicked, and again a piercing shriek sounded; and one hand loosened for a
moment and then clutched fast again. But when El Sabio kicked for the
third time human nature was too weak to resist further against brute
violence. With a yell that fairly cracked our ears the priest let go
his hold and fell downward and backward; and at that same instant El
Sabio delivered a final kick that struck fairly on the head of the
falling man and battered in his skull.

As for El Sabio, it seemed as though he himself were like to die in the
very moment of his victory; for with a sort of groan that, coming from a
brute beast, was most pitiful to listen to, the poor terrified creature,
utterly exhausted by his fright and his outlay of energy in furious
violence, sank down panting by the side of the man whom he had slain.

XXXIII.

IN THE AZTEC TREASURE-HOUSE.

Even with El Sabio reduced to this condition of complete quiescence, the
Aztlanecas, soldiers as well as priests, still were terribly afraid of
him; being firmly convinced, as was not at all unnatural, that for the
time being there was embodied in him a devil of a most dangerous sort.
Therefore they were but too glad to yield to Pablo's burning eagerness
to get to the poor ass; and when he called for aid to carry the
exhausted creature ou