"Yes, supper is ready. Bring our guest and come."
Rising, Tezcot turned to the stranger, and said:
"Come, friend, you are doubtless as ready as myself to dispatch a good sized block of well prepared supper. There is nothing like a sharp appetite and a well loaded board to make a man satisfied with himself and all the world."
"A philosophical utterance, certainly," returned the Tezcucan, following his host into the house.
The evening meal consisted of maize bread, cold meats of game, fruit, and chocolate. The hunter's favorite mug of pulque, which he always relished after a day on the mountains, was in its place near him, while one was immediately passed to the guest.
Tezcot was here reminded of his promise to his men, and ordered a glass of the beverage for each taken to them; then taking his own from the board, he said:
"Drink, friend, and let our drinking be a pledge of future good will between us."
"Most cheerfully, kind host; and may I not add for myself, your excellent family as well?"
The mother smiled and the daughters blushed, while the host and his guest quaffed their pulque with keen and appreciative gusto.
"Superb!" exclaimed the Tezcucan. "Your friends do not overestimate the quality of your pulque, and I shall join their ranks at once."
"We are glad it pleases you. Your appreciation is our recompense," returned Tezcot, much gratified. "And, now," he continued, "let us try some of the substantials."
The suggestion was equivalent to a command, and all went to eating.
When the meal was fairly begun, Mitla gathered sufficient courage to say:
"Father, tell us about your hunt to-day. From the quantity of game brought in, good luck must have attended you."
"Yes, the day was fine, and brought us extra good luck," he answered, and then paused to indulge his keen appetite for a moment. "Game was plentiful," he went on, "and we secured quite a bunch. There were some fine targets for testing an archer's skill, which would have delighted your heart, child, could you have been with us."
Mitla was the hunter's favorite, as was Oxie the favorite of her mother. The father's preference arose from the fact that Mitla, like himself, loved the mountains and their forest solitudes.
In reply to her father's reference to herself, she said: