Lives of Alcyone

once betray them as slaves, and they could not walk a hundred
yards without the certainty of exposure and capture. Obviously,
therefore, disguise was necessary, and Sirius contrived to obtain
possession of some of the complexion paint which, being intended
for a Toltec woman, gave the darker tint which would make the
fugitives resemble the conquering race. One day Sirius contrived to
purloin a suit of clothes which belonged to one of the male visitors.
Hurriedly she applied the paint to her face, hands and arms, and
also carefully painted Orion. Then she put on the male garments,
dressed Orion in some clothes of the Toltec women, made her veil
herself thoroughly, and then took her boldly by the hand and made
her way into the more public part of the house, mingling easily with
the guests and quite naturally walking out of the house by the front
door amidst bowing servants. This happy audacity carried them
safely into the street as they were the appearance of a Toltec
husband and wife no one interfered with them. They had, of course,
no money, but Sirius had some trifling jewels, which she had from
her, but she thought it no harm to steal them back again before she
started. Selling these they obtained some money, and later on they
gained some by selling their fashionable garments and changing
into ordinary dress of the respectable working people of the country.
With all sorts of adventures and difficulties they made their way
towards the hills where their home had been, and were very thankful
when they came once more among people of their own race, even
though these were only the tribes of the foot-hills, who had long
been in subjection to the Toltec government. But at least among
them they were able to wash off the horrible paint which it had cost
them such ceaseless trouble to renew. To attain permanent safety