bearing the government stamp. He found one of them
slightly broken, and he peered within. What think you it contained?
Rifles!"

Rosendo stared at the priest dumbly. Jose went on:

"I did not intend to tell you this until morning. But it is right that
you should hear it now, that your courage may rise in the face of
danger. What think you? The federal government is sending arms to
Simiti to establish a base here at the outlet of the Guamoco region,
and well hidden from the Magdalena river. This town is to become a
military depot, unless I mistake the signs. And danger no longer
threatens, but is at our door."

"_Ca-ram-ba_!" Rosendo rose slowly and drew himself up to his full
height. "War!" he exclaimed in a hoarse whisper.

"There is no question about it, Rosendo," replied Jose gravely. "And I
have no reason to doubt the truth of Diego's prophecy, that this time
it will be one to be reckoned with."

"_Hombre_! And Carmen?"

"Take her into the hills, Rosendo. Start to-morrow."

"But you?"

Jose's thought was dwelling on his last talk with the girl. Again he
felt her soft arms about his neck, and her warm breath against his
cheek. He felt her kiss, and heard again her words, the sweetest, he
thought, that had ever echoed in mortal ears. And then he thought of
his mother, of his office, of the thousand obstacles that loomed huge
and insurmountable between him and Carmen. He passed a hand across his
brow and sighed heavily.

"I remain here, Rosendo. I am weary, unutterably weary. I welcome, not
only the opportunity for service which this war may bring, but
likewise the hope of--death. If I could but know that she were
safe--"

"_Caramba_! Think you she would leave you here, Padre? No!" Did
Rosendo's words convey aught to the priest that he did not already
know?

"But--Rosendo, I shall not go," he returned bitterly.

"Then neither do we, Padre," replied Rosendo, sitting again. "The
child, Carmen--she--Padre, she loves you with a love that is not of
the earth."

* * * * *

Morning found the old man's conviction still unshaken. Jose sought the
quiet of his cottage to reflect. But his meditations were interrupted
by Carmen.

"Padre," she began, sparkling like a mountain rill in the sunlight as
she seated herself before him. "Pepito--Anita's babe--he is not blind,
you know." Her head bobbed vigorously, as was her wont when she sought
to give emphasis to her dramat