238 
GUATEMALA. 
and that you are travelling about extracting the maggot 
that eats the grinders and other teeth; and so Vucub- 
caquix will look upon us as mere lads, and we will 
advise you what to do further.’ Thus spoke the two 
youths. 
“ ‘ It is well/ said the elders ; and then they came to 
the corner of Vucub-caquix’s house, where he was re¬ 
clining on his throne. And then they went on, the two 
elders, and the two boys playing behind them, and they 
went under the house of Vucub-caquix, who was groaning 
with the pain of his teeth. When he saw them, the 
elders and the boys, he asked, — 
“ ‘ Whence come you, grandparents ? ’ 
“ 6 We, lord, are going to seek our remedy.’ 
“ 4 How are you seeking your remedy ? Are these your 
sons who are with you ? ’ 
“ ‘ No, lord, they are our grandchildren ; but we have 
had compassion on them so far as to give them a bit of 
tortilla,’ the elders replied. 
“ Just then the lord had a very sharp twinge of tooth¬ 
ache, so that he could hardly speak ; and he begged them 
to have pity on him. 
“ ‘ What is it that you do ; what do you cure ?’ said the 
lord. 
“‘Sir, our cure/ said the elders, ‘is to extract the 
maggot from the teeth; and we cure eye-troubles, and 
likewise broken bones.’ 
“ ‘ Well, if this is true, cure my toothache ; for I am 
without rest, and cannot sleep, and my eyes trouble me also, 
since the two devils shot me, and so I cannot eat. Now 
have compassion on me, for all my teeth are rattling 
about! ’ 
