"Hola! _Niña_ who has the measure of a man! The coffee was of the best. What errand is now yours?"
"Excellency, it is the errand too big for me, yet I am the one sent with it. They send me because the mother of me, and Anita, my sister, were in the slave drive south, and the German and the Perez men carried whips and beat the women on that trail."
Her brave young heart seemed to creep up in her throat and choke her at thought of those whips and the women who were driven, for her voice trembled into silence, and she stood there swallowing, her head bent, and her hands crossed over her breast, and clasped firmly there was the crucifix she had found in the guest room. Little pagan that she was, she regarded it entirely as a fetish of much potency with white people, and surely she needed help of all gods when she spoke for the whole pueblo to this man who had power over many lives.
Rotil stared at her, frowning and bewildered.
"What the devil,--" he began, but Isidro looked up at him and nodded assent.
"It is a truth she is telling, Excellency. Her father was Miguel, once major-domo of this rancho. He died from their fight, and his women were taken."
"Oh, yes, that!--it happens in many states. But this German--who says the German and Perez were the men to do it?"
"I, Tula, child of Miguel, say it," stated the girl. "With my eyes I saw him,--with my ears I heard the sister call out his name. The name was Don Adolf. Over his face was tied a long beard, so! But it was the man,--the friend of Don José Perez of Soledad; all are knowing that. He is now your man, and the women ask for him."
"All the women of Palomitas. On their knees in the chapel they make prayers. Excellency, it robs you of nothing that you give them a Judas for Holy Week. I am sent to ask that of the Deliverer."
She slid down to her knees on the tiles, and looked up at him.
He stared at her, frowning and eyeing her intently, then chuckled, and grinned at the others.
"Did I not tell you she had the heart of a boy? And now you see it! Get up off your knees, _chiquita_. Why should you want a Judas? It is a sweetheart I must find for you instead."
"I am not getting up," said Tula stolidly. "I am kneeling before you, my General. See! I pray to you on the tiles for that Judas. All the women are praying. Also the old women have made medicine to send El Aleman once more on this trail, and see you,--it has come to pass! You have him in your trap, but he is ours. Excellency, come once and see all the women on their knees before the saint as I am here by you. We make prayers for one thing:--the Judas for our holy day!"