The
King of Shadow Valley and all his bowmen were gone.
Don Alderon went to his horse, and Rodriguez and Morano did the
same, drawn by the act of the only man of the three that seemed to
have made up his mind. Don Alderon led his horse back toward the
path, and Rodriguez followed with his. When they came to the path
they mounted in silence; and presently Morano followed them, with
his blankets rolled up in front of him on his horse and his
frying-pan slung behind him.
"Which way?" said Rodriguez.
"Home," said Don Alderon.
"But I cannot go to your home," said Rodriguez.
"Come," said Don Alderon, as one whose plans were made. Rodriguez
without a home, without plans, without hope, went with Don Alderon
as thistledown goes with the warm wind. They rode through the
forest till it grew all so dim that only a faint tinge of
greenness lay on the dark leaves: above were patches of bluish sky
like broken pieces of steel. And a star or two were out when they
left the forest. And cantering on they came to Lowlight when the
Milky Way appeared.
And there were Dona Mirana and Serafina in the hall to greet them
as they entered the door.
"What news?" they asked.
But Rodriguez hung back; he had no news to give. It was Don
Alderon that went forward, speaking cheerily to Serafina, and
afterwards to his mother, with whom he spoke long and anxiously,
pointing toward the forest sometimes, almost, as Rodriguez
thought, in fear.
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