s
a favorite of Pomponio, and one he visited from time to time, when
he wished to be free to hold communication with the wild men in the
neighborhood. Here he felt reasonably secure from surprise, and here he
meant to spend the days to come.

There was an old Indian hut in the open space which once had sheltered
some family, and was now abandoned. Pomponio took possession of this.
When daylight came, he went in search of the savages in the forest,
and on finding them, he recounted his adventure and the consequences to
himself. Among the Indians were the larger number of those who had
sworn allegiance to Pomponio, promising to follow him whenever he should
decide for a general extermination of the detested Spaniards. They
welcomed him warmly, and supplied him with food and everything he needed
for his hut. The Indians not included in his band of followers had,
heretofore, looked askance on Pomponio, and had sought to withdraw him
from the mission into their own wild life. This he had refused to do,
contending, with more than usual Indian intelligence, that he would be
able to wreak greater harm to the Spanish if connected with the mission.
This had been the principal reason for his small following. Now that he
had broken definitely with his old life, they espoused his cause almost
to a man, and at last he had the joy of seeing himself at the head of
a very respectable band of nearly fifty determined men. The majority of
them were for advancing to the enemy without a day's delay, and striking
a decisive blow once for all. But Pomponio refused.

"No,", he said. "Wait until the excitement of last night dies away; then
we shall stand a better chance of winning. But now the mission will be
on guard, and we should be defeated."

This cogent reasoning prevailed, but the hotheaded youths grumbled much
and long at the delay.

Pomponio, himself, chafed at their enforced inaction, necessary though
he knew it to be. Then another thing that troubled him was the thought
of his wife. Would they think she knew of his attempt that night, and
punish her? He had told her nothing, but whether she could make the
Father believe it, was another matter. Much he wished he could have some
communication with her, and tell her where he was, and beg her to join
him. But it was too dangerous. Without a doubt she was watched closely,
if she were not actually imprisoned. So he gave up all thought of it.

The days dragged slowly along for Pomponio