est's apprehensions were
piling mountain-high. He had quickly forgotten his recent theories
regarding the nature of God and man. He had been swept by the force of
ill tidings clean off the lofty spiritual plane up to which he had
struggled during the past weeks. Again he was befouled in the mire of
material fears and corroding speculations as to the probable
manifestations of evil, real and immanent. Don Mario was right. He
must take the child and fly at once. He would go to Dona Maria
immediately and bid her prepare for the journey.

"You had best go to Don Nicolas," replied Dona Maria, when the priest
had voiced his fears to her. "He lives in Boque, and has a _hacienda_
somewhere up that river. He will send you there in his canoe."

"And Boque is--?"

"Three hours from Simiti, across the shales. You must start with the
dawn, or the heat will overtake you before you arrive."

"Then make yourself ready, Dona Maria," said Jose in relief, "and we
will set out in the morning."

"Padre, I will stay here," the woman quietly replied.

"Stay here!" ejaculated the priest. "Impossible! But why?"

"There will be many women too old to leave the town, Padre. I will
stay to help them if trouble comes. And I would not go without
Rosendo."

Shame fell upon the priest like a blanket. He, the _Cura_, was
deserting his charge! And this quiet, dignified woman had shown
herself stronger than the man of God! He turned to the door. Carmen
was just entering. He took the child by the hand and led her to his
own cottage.

"Carmen," he said, as she stood expectantly before him, "we--there is
trouble in the country--that is, men are fighting and killing down on
the river--and they may come here. We must--I mean, I think it best
for us to go away from Simiti for a while." The priest's eyes fell
before the perplexed gaze of the girl.

"Go away?" she repeated slowly. "But, Padre--why?"

"The soldiers might come--wicked men might come and harm you,
_chiquita_!"

The child seemed not to comprehend. "Is it that you think they will,
Padre?" she at length spoke.

"I fear so, little one," he made reply.

"But--why should they?"

"Because they want to steal and kill," he returned sadly.

"They can't, Padre--they can't!" the girl said quickly. "You told me
that people see only their thoughts, you know. They only think they
want to steal--and they don't think right--"

"But," he interrupted bitterly, "that doesn't keep them from coming