"'To hell' is truer than you think—" th' Ramblin' Kid said, seriously. "You do not know San Bentito! There are things—"
"There ain't any of them worryin' me!"
"A fool is a fool," th' Ramblin' Kid muttered pityingly.
"Senorita Serpente," that night, was in Old Bonanza's when th'’ Ramblin' Kid and Senor Skinny came in. Senor Skinny looked once at her—and was ready, if need be, to kill the handsome Matador Stebano, who at the instant was holding the hand of the "Senorita Serpente."
Slowly, carelessly, the eyes of th' Ramblin' Kid also lifted to the eyes of "Senorita Serpente." Suddenly his body grew tense. His look became a searching scrutiny. Recognition flashed across his face:
"Serrano! Daughter of the Snake!" he exclaimed under his breath.
"Senorita Serpente's" gaze wavered, her form trembled; quickly, with a gasping cry, she turned her head away.
At Senor Skinny the "Senorita Serpente" smiled.
Again, as if unwilling, but unable to resist, she looked at th' Ramblin' Kid; in his black eyes was something that made the color drain from her cheeks, and once more "Senorita Serpente" shuddered—even while she threw back her head and laughed daringly, defiantly, and with a subtle lift of her brows invited Senor Skinny to come to her side.
"GAWD!" Senor Skinny murmured to th' Ramblin' Kid. "Did you see that? Did you see her eyes?"
"I saw her eyes," th' Ramblin' Kid answered, a queer gentleness in his voice, "and I saw in them that which you didn’t see—which you couldn’t see, you poor damned fool!"
"Oh, well, everybody can’t see what you see," Senor Skinny bantered, a bit scornfully, "When they were little they didn't get nursed, like you did, in the arms of the "Wise One" of the Toltec—"
At the reference to his orphaned boyhood among the Mozos los Sierras—"Men of the Mountains"—far to the south in the land of the Tolteci, before he wandered north into Texas, th' Ramblin' Kid's eyes narrowed, grew hard. "Then his look softened; it was pity.
"Fool!" was his only reply.
Matador Stebano, very attractive in the brightly-colored green and yellow uniform of his calling, slender and graceful, with the red sash about his waist, scowled as Senor Skinny approached.
"The Senorita will dance with the Americano cowpuncher!" Senor Skinny smilingly reached for the small warm hand.
"Tomorrow—I kill—" Matador Stebano snarled.
"The bull!" Senor Skinny laughed derisively, as he led the "Senorita Serpente" away.
“Who is he—the dark-eyed one—he that plays at the monte?" "Senorita Serpente" breathed eagerly to Senor Skinny, her body close against his breast in the dance. "His look—it—it fills me with—with dread! His eyes—they seem to—to—know!" The last word was almost a gasp.
Senor Skinny glanced indifferently toward th' Ramblin' Kid, seated already at the table where they gamble with the cards—
"That's just th' Ramblin' Kid," "Senor" Skinny replied lightly—"a good old scout, in some ways, but not dangerous! He ain’t much for the ladies. He don't understand 'em like I do, for instance!"
"He does not care for the senoritas?"
"Not so you could notice it—"
"Does he fear?"
"Nothin' on earth or in hell! He lived too long with the Toltec—"
"Tolteci!" The syllables leaped from the lips of "Senorita Serpente" like the hiss of a snake; she swayed, her hands convulsively clutched the arms of Senor Skinny; she reeled as if she would fall; her body became almost liquid in its limpness, in her eyes was terror—
"Tolteci!" "Senorita Serpente" repeated pantingly, as if frightened, "the White One—Son of the Flame—without fear; without desire!"
Then she laughed. Such a laugh! Blending maddest of passion, wildest exultation, utterly hopeless despair.
After that "Senorita Serpente" danced, as never woman danced before—or since—in Old Bonanza's, in the ranchito, at Socorro.
Padre Algonza brought the word. Because of the bad sickness of the small child of Mateo and Nanita Sandoza, Padre Algonza came back very late, when the moon was going down, and rested almost on the top of Capaline, the volcano that is dead; at the entrance of the hacienda La Queratto, he saw "Senorita Serpente" and Senor Skinny pause for a moment; from behind the walls there was a rustling—like creatures gliding through the grass—the gate swung open, Senor Skinny and "Senorita Serpente" stepped inside of the place and again it was closed.
Padre Algonza did not wait.
As fast as he could, he hurried to the ranchito to find the other Americano cowpuncher, th' Ramblin' Kid. In Old Bonanza's he was still at the monte—
"Quick!" Padre Algonza whispered. "Senor Skinny has yielded! At the casa La Queratto—with the 'Senorita Serpente'--she whose kiss is the death—or madness. I saw them go in! What can be done?"
"Th' damned idiot." Slowly, th' Ramblin' Kid got up from the table, "I will go!"
"And I?" Padre Algonza questioned.
"Come also. From the outside you can watch!"
The casa La Queratto was black; the great gate was closed tightly and barred; from within was no sound save at times the swishing noise, as though something brushed swiftly past shrubbery heavy and dense.
"Your hand, Padre Algonza!" Very low th' Ramblin' Kid spoke.
Padre Algonza's hand was held down, th' Ramblin' Kid's foot rested in it—with a leap he caught the top of the wall, swung up and dropped to the ground inside of the court.
Th' Ramblin' Kid stepped to the gate, quietly lifted the bar, threw open the entrance.
"Stand here. Do not come in—unless—"
Padre Algonza stood at the opening. Inside it was dark; from the shadows there came such hissing as never before had the holy priest heard; the thick, sickening odor of venomous serpents filled the air; Padre Algonza made the sign of the Cross and shuddered.
Th' Ramblin' Kid, stooping forward, ran quickly to the door of the casa. It was open. A thin stream of red light poured from the room; at the door Padre Algonza saw th' Ramblin' Kid pause for an instant. Then he stepped inside—
There was silence, save for the hissing, hissing, that came from every part of the court, silence and the fearful nauseating smell of reptiles.
"The place is bewitched—it is accursed—it is the abode of the brood of the Evil One!" Padre Algonza whispered.
It seemed an age. Padre Algonza could not remember. He waited.
Then, holding the Crucifix before him, Padre Algonza himself went. cautiously to the door.
That which he saw he cannot forget.
