here just the same and--and--" He checked his words, as a faint memory
of his recent talks with the girl glowed momentarily in his seething
brain.

"But we can keep them from coming here, Padre--can't we?"

"How, child?"

"By thinking right ourselves, Padre--you said so, days ago--don't you
remember?" The girl came to the frightened man and put her little arm
about his neck. It was an action that had become habitual with her.
"Padre dear, you read me something from your Bible just yesterday. It
was about God, and He said, 'I am that which was, and is, and is to
come.' Don't you remember? But, Padre dear, if He is that which is to
come, how can anything bad come?"

O, ye of little faith! Could ye not watch one hour with me--the
Christ-principle? Must ye ever flee when the ghost of evil stalks
before you with his gross assumptions?

Yes, Jose remembered. But he had said those things to her and evolved
those beautiful theories in a time of peace. Now his feeble faith was
flying in panic before the demon of unbelief, which had been aroused
by sudden fear.

The villagers were gathering before his door like frightened sheep.
They sought counsel, protection, from him, the unfaithful shepherd.
Could he not, for their sakes, tear himself loose from bondage to his
own deeply rooted beliefs, and launch out into his true orbit about
God? Was life, happiness, all, at the disposal of physical sense? Did
he not love these people? And could not his love for them cast out his
fear? If the test had come, would he meet it, calmly, even alone with
his God, if need be?--or would he basely flee? He was not alone.
Carmen stood by him. She had no part in his cowardice. But Carmen--she
was only a child, immature, inexperienced in the ways of the world!
True. Yet the great God himself had caused His prophets to see that "a
little child shall lead them." And surely Carmen was now leading in
fearlessness and calm trust, in the face of impending evil.

Jose rose from his chair and threw back his shoulders. He stepped
quickly to the door. "My children," he said gently, holding out his
arms over them. "Be not afraid. I shall not leave Simiti, but
remain here to help and protect all who will stay with me. If the
_guerrillas_ or soldiers come we will meet them here, where we shall
be protecting our loved ones and our homes. Come to the church
to-night, and there we will discuss plans. Go now, and remember
that your _Cura_ has said that there