about his mouth.

"_Bien pues_, it shall be as you wish, vulture," he replied in a tone
which again struck terror to Diego's heart. He drew his knife and
approached the horrified priest.

"_Caramba!_" shrieked Diego, shrinking back against the tree.
"_Hombre!_ you do not intend--"

"Why not, vampire?" returned Rosendo, the sardonic smile spreading
across his grim features. "Did you not ask it?"

"But--_Hombre_! Back!--_Caramba_! Back!--Rosendo--God above! But would
you go down to hell with murder on your soul?"

"_Cierto_, carrion! I kill the body. But you go down with a load of
murdered souls!"

"Rosendo--God!--it means hell for eternity to you!"

"To be sure, dog-meat," calmly replied Rosendo. "But hell will be
heaven to me as I sit forever and hourly remind you of the suffering
Ana and the beautiful Carmen, whom you tried to ruin! Is it not so?"

"Ah, God!" Diego saw that he had lost. Wild thoughts flashed through
his mind with lightning speed. Desperation lent them wings. A last
expedient came to him. He fixed his beady eyes upon Rosendo and
muttered: "Coward! coward! you bind a sick man and stick him like a
pig!"

Rosendo hesitated. Diego quickly followed up his slight advantage.

"We give a deer, a tapir, a jaguar, a chance for its life. We fear
them not. But you--coward, you are afraid of a sick man! And a
priest!"

Rosendo could bear the taunt no longer. "_Caramba!_" he cried, "what
would you?" He leaped to the sitting man and at a stroke severed his
bonds. Diego got slowly to his feet.

"_Bien_, spew of the vampire! you have now a chance!"

Diego extended his empty hands, palms up. He smiled significantly.
Rosendo caught the insinuation.

"_Caramba!_ take the knife! _Hombre!_ but I will kill you with my bare
hands!" He threw the long knife to Diego, who stooped and picked it
up.

Stepping quickly back, holding the weapon firmly clenched before him,
the priest slowly circled Rosendo, as if looking for an opening. An
evil smile played constantly over his heavy face, and his little eyes
glittered like diamonds. Rosendo stood like a rock, his long arms
hanging at his side.

Then, with a shrill, taunting laugh, Diego turned suddenly and
plunged into the newly-cut trail toward the lake. In an instant he was
lost in the fog.

For a moment Rosendo stood dumb with amazement. Then he sprang after
the priest. But it was too late. Diego had reached the canoe, leaped
quickly in, and pushed off. Ros