endo saw the mist swallow him. He was
left a prisoner, without a boat, and with two miles of shrouded water
stretching between him and the town!

A low moan burst from him. He had been tricked, outwitted; and the
evil genius which for years had menaced his happiness was heading
straight toward the town, where his accomplice, Ricardo, awaited. What
would they do, now that he was out of the way? The thought seared his
brain. Great beads of water, distilled from his agony, burst through
his pores. The Juncal river lay off to the west, and at a much less
distance than Simiti. He might swim to it and secure a canoe at the
village. But--the lake was alive with crocodiles!

Chagrin and apprehension overwhelmed him, and he burst into a flood of
bitter tears. He threw himself upon the ground, and tossed and moaned
in despair. The fog thickened. A twilight darkness settled over the
waters. Nature--God himself--seemed to conspire with Diego.

Rosendo suddenly rose to his feet. He drew the new medal scapulary
around in front of him and kissed it, reverently crossing himself.
"_Santa Virgen_," he prayed, "help me--it is for the child!" Then,
taking between his teeth the knife which Diego had dropped, he rushed
into the water and struck out for the distant village of Juncal.

* * * * *

Late that afternoon, while the tropical rain was descending in
torrents, Rosendo staggered into the parish house, where Carmen and
Jose were absorbed in their work. "Padre!" he gasped, "_Loado sea
Dios!_" as his eyes fell upon the girl. Then he sank to the floor in
utter exhaustion.

"Rosendo! what is it?" cried Jose, bending over him in apprehension,
while Carmen stood lost in wonder.

"Padre Diego--!" cried Rosendo, raising himself up on his elbow. "Has
he been here?"

"Padre Diego!" cried both Jose and the girl in astonishment.
Instinctively Jose's arm went about the child. Rosendo dragged himself
to a chair and sank limply into it.

"Then, Padre, he will come. He is in Simiti. He is no longer a
priest!"

Slowly the story came out, bit by bit. Jose listened in horror.
Carmen's face was deeply serious.

"_Bien_, Padre," said Rosendo, concluding his dramatic and
disconnected recital, "I plowed through the water--_Caramba!_ I knew
not at what moment I should feel the jaws of a cayman seize upon me!
But the Virgin had heard my prayer. I must offer a candle this night.
But I did not land at Juncal