t before him and, pointing to her, said dramatically, "And
shall we also throw this innocent child to the wolf?"

The assembly broke into a roar. Fists were shaken under the Alcalde's
nose, and imprecations were hurled at him from all sides. Don Mario
drew his soiled handkerchief and mopped his steaming brow. Then his
voice broke out in a shriek: "The soldiers--this day I shall summon
them--it is a riot!"

"_Caramba!_ He speaks truth!" cried a voice from the crowd. The babel
commenced anew.

"The soldiers! _Caramba!_ Let Diego have his child!"

_"Maldita!"_

"Who says it is not his?"

"I do!"

It was Ana. Clasping Jose's arm to steady herself, she had turned to
confront the excited assembly.

Silence descended upon them all. Jose held up his hand. A sob escaped
the woman. Then:

"The priest Diego had a child--a girl. Her name--it was--Carmen. The
child is--dead."

"_Caramba!_ girl, how know you that?" shrilled a woman's excited
voice.

"I know, because I--was--its--mother!"

Pandemonium burst upon the room at the woman's words. Don Mario
started for the door, but found his way blocked. "Diego had other
children!" he shouted; "and this girl is one of them!"

"It is false!" cried Ana in a loud voice. "I have lived with him eight
years! I know from his own lips that I speak the truth! See what he
has done to me! Would I lie?"

"To the _carcel_! Release Rosendo!"

"We will write to the President at Bogota! Don Mario must be
removed!"

"_Caramba!_ Such an Alcalde!"

"Let him send for the soldiers, if he wishes to die!"

"To the _carcel_!"

As a unit the fickle people streamed from the room and started for the
jail. Don Mario was borne along on the heaving tide. Jose and Carmen
followed; but Ana fell back and returned to the house of Rosendo.

The guard at the jail, seeing the concourse approaching, threw down
his _machete_ and fled. Rosendo's eyes were big with speculation,
though his heart beat apprehensively. The people jammed into the small
hut until it swayed and threatened to collapse.

"The key to the lock--_Caramba_! the guard has it!"

"Catch him!"

"No! bring a _barra_!"

Juan quickly produced a long iron bar, and with a few lusty efforts
sprung the stocks. A dozen hands lifted the cramped Rosendo out and
stood him upon his feet. Carmen squirmed through the crowd and threw
herself into his arms.

Then, with shouts and gesticulations, a triumphal procession quickly
formed, and the