As  he  was  considering  turning  aside  and  making  another
detour,  he  had  an  object  lesson  of  the  effect  he  produced  upon
his  countrymen.  An  Indian  appeared  at  a  little  distance.  He
was  gathering  wood,  and  as  he  straightened  from  stooping  his
eyes  fell  upon  Pio.  With  a  yell  he  dropped  his  load  and  fled  at


topmost  speed,  emitting  such  sounds  as  we  try,  but  vainly,  to
utter  in  a  nightmare.  This,  though  a  tribute  to  Pio's  impres-
sive aspect,  and  a  gratifying  omen  of  his  success  in  the  r61e  of
medicine-man,  was  also  a  warning  of  danger.  He  dived  again
into  the  brush  and  devoted  strenuous  hours  to  threading  his
way  through  thickets  of  chaparral  until  he  emerged  on  the
trail  that  led  northeast  into  the  heart  of  the  mountains.  Big
Flower  was  happily  intact,  and  the  nightcap  also  except  for  a
missing  string,  but  the  outer  layer  of  the  other  garments  had
paid  toll  to  many  an  affectionate  scrub-oak  and  manzanita,
and  the  stockings  that  had  stood  the  brunt  were  practically
footless.  Pio  surveyed  the  damage  ruefully,  and  rebuked  him-
self for  not  having  preserved  his  new  property  by  wearing  his
own  clothes  outside.  He  would  make  the  change  now,  and  as
it  was  getting  hot  he  decided  to  wear  only  one  set  of  the  un-
dergarments (the  damaged  ones)  under  his  own  clothes,  and
to  carry  the  others.  When  the  change  was  made,  he  hurried
on.  He  had  made  one  or  two  more  attempts  to  make  Big
Flower  close,  but  had  not  succeeded,  so  he  now  marched  along
in  a  businesslike  way  under  the  great  parasol,  apparently  an
Indian  gentleman  more  than  usually  careful  of  his  complex-
ion, taking  a  brisk  walk.
