"Come!" he commanded. "I will show you."
"Hadn't we better take care of the horse first?" asked Billie,
not at all anxious to be wandering around with an armed lunatic.
"He may die."
"What is a horse when the future of Mexico is at stake, my son?
Come with me and you shall hear a strange tale."
"I have heard one already," was Billie's mental comment, but
realizing by the term son which Santiago had applied to him that
he was in no immediate danger and trusting to his wits to finally
overcome the strange man should it become necessary, he followed.
At the head of the stairs was another door, which Santiago opened
and entered. It was a sort of ante-room, much like the entrance
into a lodge room. Around the walls was a motley collection of
firearms, swords, spears and smaller weapons.
Stopping in front of one of the racks, Santiago placed his rifle
in it, and then from another took a couple of small swords, one
of which he handed to Billie.
"This is a bug house sure enough," muttered the boy as he took
the sword and examined it curiously. "I wonder what next?"
He had not long to wait, for opening a closet, Santiago took
therefrom two beautifully embroidered robes, one of which he
threw over his own shoulders and the other of which he put on
Billie.
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