CHAPTER XV.

A MEETING WITH THE MEDICINE MAN.

"There, what do you say to that now, Billie?" exclaimed Donald, as he turned to see the fat chum staring at the snake, with whitened cheeks, and a horrified expression on his plump face.

"Gosh! it ain't so that they take out the poison sack, is it?" muttered Billie; "and that stuff must be the deadly thing they push into a fellow when they strike! Oh! ain't they the limit, though, them rattlers? And I ought to be thankful every day I live that I didn't go all the way down into that hole when I slipped."

The Zuni never even smiled as he saw how easily he had convinced the three white boys that this snake at least had not been tampered with before caught. He did not appear to be surprised to see them here. Doubtless at this particular season of the year they were accustomed to having quite a number of white people visit the village, to examine its wonders. And of course the shrewd Zunis always made it a point to have plenty of curios to dispose of, at fancy prices, to these palefaces who had heard the story of their wonderful rock homes, and had come hundreds of miles it might be, to gaze on the same with their own eyes as one of the curious things of Arizona.

He turned and stalked away, his keen black eyes evidently on the watch for signs of other snakes; though from the way his bag was filled out, he must already be carrying several at the time.

"Looks kind of interesting, eh, Adrian?" remarked Donald.

"I reckon we're going to be well paid for that tough ride across the desert," was the other's reply; but as for Billie, he only shrugged his plump shoulders, and muttered something to the effect that it was queer what some people saw in horrible sights; but as for him, he would rather spend his time going through a county fair, where they had all sorts of good things to eat, than to witness a dozen of these hideous rattlesnake dances; though of course, since they were on hand, and his chums seemed so set on witnessing the ceremony, he supposed he'd just have to stand for it.

"Anyhow, I got a snapshot of that queer looking Zuni holding that snake by the neck, with its jaws open," he added proudly, at which the others complimented him on his smartness, though this was not news, since both had heard the sharp "click" when Billie pressed the button.

Donald was taking careful note of his surroundings. His prairie education really enabled him to tell which way a certain trail he had struck run; and it seemed plausible that by following this up they must sooner or later arrive at the cliff where all those ancient homes had been hollowed out centuries back. To tell the truth Donald already had a good idea where it lay; judging from the trend of the ground, and what he saw beyond, where the rocky elevation started upward.

Several times they discovered moving figures, and in each instance these proved to be other braves who, carrying bags slung over their shoulders, seemed to be also hunting for the crawling reptiles whose day was so close at hand. Rattlesnakes were apparently held in great respect by these simple people of the cliffs, perhaps because from ages back they had been looked upon as an oracle, or an object of worship.

Once or twice they even had a friendly nod from these searchers, who were apparently accustomed to seeing whites around the neighborhood of the village.

Donald had just drawn rein close to one of these young braves, meaning to ask if he were following the right trail to the village, when an exclamation from Billie caused both he and Adrian to raise their eyes.

What they saw was surely enough to cause them to stare; and as for Billie, he fairly gasped for breath.

A strange and hideous figure was coming along a cross trail, and both boys knew instantly that thus early in their visit had a lucky freak of fortune enabled them to gaze upon the wonderful Witch Doctor, the medicine man of the Zunis.

He was about as wonderfully rigged out as the wildest imagination could picture him; though Donald noticed that just then he did not wear the tinkling bells, and the little gourds that had stones inside to cause them to rattle with his every motion; these were only assumed on state occasions, when driving away the evil spirit that came with sickness; or when leading the wild dance of the tribe.

But all the same he struck Billie as the most fantastic figure he had ever run across in all his life; and the boy stared as hard as he could, almost forgetting to even breathe, as the medicine man crossed their trail, and started to move off in a stately manner, as though he realized that as the recognized head of the ancient Zuni tribe he had an office to hold that always demanded respect on the part of those with whom he came in contact.

"Whew!" muttered Adrian, "ain't that the limit, though?"

"He beats the one I saw in the Yellowstone Canyon all hollow," admitted Donald.

"My stars! what a great get-up!" whispered Billie, as though half afraid lest even such low tones might cause the Witch Doctor to turn upon him, and put him under some mysterious spell.

Donald turned to the young brave, who had salaamed when the old humbug strode past, and looked after him a little uneasily; for evidently the medicine man was greatly feared by the other members of the tribe, to whom he seemed "the real thing," as Adrian put it.

"Is that the Witch Doctor?" Donald asked, in a low tone as he bent down.

The brave nodded his head. Perhaps he wondered why these paleface boys did not exhibit more evidences of respect and fear when the wonderful fakir was passing. Perhaps he also secretly envied them their courage, too; for no Zuni brave dared to refrain from making that salaam when coming upon the man of magic, who could make the very rocks sing, and whose incantations frightened off the angel of death _sometimes_, when all conditions were favorable.

"Where is he going now?" continued Donald, just as though he may have been entertaining a suspicion as to the truth, and wished to substantiate the same.

The rattlesnake hunter lowered his voice so that the dreaded Witch Doctor might not hear him speaking; and this was what Billie heard him say in fairly good English at that:

"He go make much talk with Great Manitou--come back bimeby--much must do 'fore can lead rattlesnake dance. Ugh!"

With that, as though fearful that he may have said too much, the brave scurried away, his head bent low in the endeavor to locate still another of the reptiles, the presence of which was so vital to the carrying out of the great annual festival and its strange ceremonial dance.

The boys exchanged looks.

"Do you believe that, Adrian?" asked Donald, as he looked after the Witch Doctor, still close by, though receding from the spot where the three Broncho Rider Boys sat in their saddles.

"It sounds on a par with what you heard told at the mine, and at home among the punchers who've been over this way," answered the other, quietly. "And sure that young buck ought to know when the Zuni people expect their wonderful medicine man to hold daily talks with the Great Spirit in the mountain."

"Yes, the story runs that he disappears from sight for hours, and that while he's gone the Zunis who dare to listen hear the most wonderful strains of music coming from the inside of the mountain; and then perhaps that awful voice which they believe belongs to Manitou, the Great Spirit, with whom the medicine man is conversing, grumbles in the depths of the rocks."

"Hello! what's up now, Billie?"

Adrian asked this as he saw the fat boy suddenly slip out of his saddle, and start to run toward the receding figure of the Witch Doctor. The only reply which Billie deigned to make was to wave a hand in the air, while he kept his attention riveted on the object of his feverish advance ahead.

"Oh! I know what ails him!" exclaimed Donald, with a laugh; "see, he's gripping his little kodak in his hand. Billie has suddenly remembered that one of his purposes in coming here was to snap off some pictures, and that strikes him as the finest thing ever."

"And I reckon Billie knows a good subject when he sees it," chuckled Adrian, as he sat at ease in his saddle, and watched operations on the part of the kodak fiend.

Billie had judged where he might get a fine, unobstructed view of the retiring medicine man; and it was really laughable to see how quickly all his past troubles were forgotten when this glorious chance to get a splendid snapshot came along.

He stumbled several times, and once the boys feared he had smashed his camera against a rock; but as Billie kept right along they concluded that he had been smart enough to protect it in some way, possibly at the expense of his hands.

"Now he's got to the place he was aiming for; watch him shoot!" said Adrian.

They plainly heard the sharp "click" of the shutter as Billie made his exposure. So did the Witch Doctor, evidently, because Donald always said he gave an involuntary "duck," as if that metallic sound might have made him think of the hammer of a gun being raised.

The weird old Zuni humbug whirled around, and looked at Billie. He even raised a hand, and made some sort of threatening gesture. When he took a couple of steps in his direction poor Billie really believed he must be about to visit some terrible punishment upon his head as a judgment for his rashness; at any rate the boy spun around, and came hurrying back toward his chums, looking quite concerned.

But he need not have worried, for the medicine man was apparently not annoyed enough to give chase, or else he proved to be averse to exerting himself when he had serious business on his hands. He turned again, and walked away, vanishing among the rocks and brush.

"Oh! I got him, and believe me that was a splendid snapshot!" gurgled Billie, as he joined the others; and after finding that he was not being pursued, showing signs of considerable relief.

Again Adrian and Donald exchanged glances. It was as though the same thought might have come suddenly into both their minds.

"I dare you to make the try!" said Donald, aggressively, as though he knew how such a proposition would meet with instant favor from Adrian, who would not be held in contempt for anything.

"I got you!" was the ready response, as the other jumped to the ground.

"What are you fellows meaning to do?" demanded the surprised Billie.

"Oh! just trail after that old humbug, and see where he goes," replied Donald.