a_ for protecting my sister."

"How was that, my son?" inquired Jose.

"She protected her from a crocodile a year ago, Padre. The girl had
gone to the lake to get water to wash our clothes, and as she sat in
the stern of the boat dipping the water, a great crocodile rose and
seized her arm. I heard her scream, and I was saying the rosary at the
time. And so I prayed to _Santa Catalina_ not to let the crocodile eat
her, and she didn't."

"Then your sister was saved?"

"The crocodile pulled her under the water, Padre, and she was drowned.
But he did not eat her; and we got her body and buried her here in the
cemetery. We were very grateful."

_Sancta simplicitas!_ That such childish credulity might be turned
into proper channels!

But there were times when fish were scarce in the lake. Then the
crocodiles became bold; and many babes had been seized and dragged off
by them, never to return. The fishing this season had been very poor.
And more than one fisherman had asked Jose to invoke the Virgin in his
behalf.

Nearer crept the monster toward the unsuspecting girl. Suddenly she
turned and looked squarely at it. She might almost have touched it
with her hand. For Jose it was one of those crises that "crowd
eternity into an hour." The child and the reptile might have been
painted against that wondrous tropic background. The great brute stood
bolt upright on its squat legs, its hideous jaws partly open. The girl
made no motion, but seemed to hold it with her steady gaze. Then--the
creature dropped; its jaws snapped shut; and it scampered into the
water.

"God above!" cried Jose, as he rushed to the girl and clasped her in
his arms. "Forgive me if I ever doubted the miracles of Jesus!"

Dona Maria turned and quietly resumed her work; but the man was
completely unstrung.

"What is it, Padre?" Carmen asked in unfeigned surprise. "I am not
afraid of crocodiles--are you? You couldn't be, if you knew that God
is everywhere."

"But don't you know, child, that crocodiles have carried off--"

He checked himself. No--he would not say it. He had had his lesson.

"What, Padre?"

"Nothing--nothing--I forgot--that's all. A--a--come, let us begin our
lessons now."

But his mind refused to be held to the work. Finally he had to ask--he
could not help it.

"Carmen, what did you do? Did you talk to the crocodile?"

"Why, no, Padre--crocodiles don't talk!" And throwing her little head
back she laughed heartily at the ab