"No, master Euet; not so bad as that," Oza quickly rejoined. "The prince got away all right, but we couldn't find him afterward."
"That sounds quite differently, and relieves me greatly," returned the tzin, feeling very much inclined to scold Oza for his awkwardness of speech, but the man was only a slave, and better could not be expected of him. "Who was with you beside the prince when the soldiers made the attack?" the tzin then asked.
"I can not understand, Oza, how the prince could evade the soldiers, and, also, become separated from the hunter and yourself, unless it was under cover of darkness," queried the tzin.
"It was dark, master--away in the night; the hunter was taking us to his own home," answered the servant.
"I see," rejoined Euetzin, beginning to comprehend the situation. "That explains the matter more fully. You said you could not find the prince. Did you make much of an effort to do so?"
"Yes, master; for three days we looked for him."
"And failing to find him you returned to the city?"
By continuing to question the vassal at some length, the tzin succeeded in eliciting a fairly good account of Hualcoyotl's experience after leaving Zelmonco villa, confirming, in the one instance, Cacami's supposition that it was the prince he rescued from the Tepanec soldiers on the highway. In concluding he asked:
"Could you conduct us to the place where the soldiers attacked you?"
"Will you go, master Euet?" questioned Oza, omitting, in his eagerness, to answer the inquiry.
"That is our present purpose," was answered.
"It is good; I can lead you," quickly responded the delighted vassal.
"All right, Oza. Your return to the city, just now, is very fortunate for us, though quite the reverse for your master, for it makes his situation still more desolate and trying. It relieves us, however, of a perplexing quandary--the matter of finding the locality in which he is hiding. As our guide, you will help us out of that difficulty, and put us into position to enter upon the search at once. That is an advantage we were not counting on."
After a moment's pause, having noticed the destitute condition of the servant, he continued:
"Your appearance, Oza, is not what it should be; the attendant of a prince ought, at least, to be clothed."