. It was some half league farther west.
_Bien_, I was then glad, for had I appeared in the village, all would
have said that I had murdered Diego! And so I struck out along the
trail that skirts the lake, and followed it around until I came here.
_Caramba_! but see how my feet are cut! And the rain--H_ombre_! it
beat me down--I fell again and again! And then, the fear that I was
too late--_Ah, Dios_! But she is safe--_Caramba_! the Virgin be
praised!"

"But, Rosendo," said Jose anxiously, "where can Diego--"

"He is here, _Caramba_! in Simiti! _Hombre_! but I shall set out at
once and search every house! And he shall do well if he escape this
time!"

But dusk was falling; and the old man, his strength sapped, listened
not unwillingly to Jose's better counsel. With the coming of night the
rain ceased, and the clouds rolled up and slipped down behind the
mountains, leaving the moon riding in splendor across the infinite
blue. Then Jose, leaving Carmen with Rosendo, walked to and fro
through the streets of the old town, listening and watching. He
wandered down to the lake. He climbed the hill where stood the second
church. He thought he caught the gleam of a light within the old
edifice. He crept nearer. There were men inside. Their voices sounded
ghostly to his straining ears.

"But, friend Ricardo, he set out before dawn, and is not yet returned.
I fear he has either abandoned us, or has walked into our good
Rosendo's jaws."

"Hold your tongue, bleating calf!" cried the other petulantly. "It is
more likely that he and Don Mario lie pickled in rum under the palms
of the Alcalde's _patio_!"

Jose waited to hear no more. He hurried down through the main street
and past the house of Don Mario. The door stood open, and he could see
the portly figure of the official outlined against the back wall. It
was evident that Diego was not there. He returned in perplexity to his
house and sat far into the night, musing on the strange incident.

With the coming of the new day Rosendo appeared with fresh suggestions.
"_Bien_, Padre," he said, "there is nothing to do now but take the girl
and flee to the Boque river and to the _hacienda_ of Don Nicolas."

Jose related his experience of the previous night. Rosendo whistled
softly. "_Caramba!_" he muttered, "but this is a mystery! And--but
here comes Juan."

The lad entered excitedly. "Your canoe, Don Rosendo--as I started out
on the lake to fish I saw it, far in the distance. I