"_Compadres_," said Rosendo, approaching the half-intoxicated group.
"The boat--which way?"

One of the group, his mouth too full to speak, pointed in expressive
pantomime up-stream. Rosendo murmured a fervent "_Loado sea Dios_,"
and sank upon the ground.

"It will be down to-morrow--to-day, perhaps," gurgled another of the
rapidly recovering feasters, his eyes roving from one member to
another of the weird-looking little band.

"Lord Harry!" exclaimed Harris, as he squatted upon the damp ground
and mopped his muddy brow. "I'm a salamander for heat, that's
certain!"

"Senor," said Rosendo, addressing Reed, "it would be well to pay the
men at once, for the boat may appear at any time, and it will not wait
long."

While the curious group from the village crowded about and eagerly
watched the proceedings, Reed unstrapped his pack and drew out a bundle
of Colombian bills, with which he began to pay the _cargadores_,
according to the reckoning which Rosendo had kept. As the last man,
with a grunt of satisfaction, received his money, Harris exclaimed:
"And to think, one good American dollar is worth a bushel of that paper
stuff!"

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when a shrill whistle came
echoing down the river. A cloud of smoke above the distant treetops
heralded the approach of the steamer. The little party had escaped a
wait of a month in the drenching heat of Llano by the narrow margin of
an hour.

Rosendo hastened to Reed and drew him aside. He tried to speak, but
words failed him. Reed took his hand. "I understand, my friend," he
said gently. "Have no fear. The mine is all I had anticipated. My wife
and I will care for the girl until we hear from you. And we will keep
in touch with you, although it will take two months for a letter to
reach us and our reply to get back again to Simiti. The development
company will be formed at once. Within six months you may expect to
see the work started. It is your fortune--and the girl's."

Carmen drew close to Rosendo. "Padre, I am coming back to you--yes?"

"_Cierto, chiquita_!" The old man would not permit himself to say
more. The girl had known for some time that he was not to accompany
her to the States, and that she should not see Ana in Cartagena. To
this she had at length accustomed herself.

In a few minutes the lumbering boat had swung around and thrown out
its gang plank. A hurried embrace; a struggle with rushing tears;
another shriek from the boa