ow the surface. Hombre! it left a string
of gold clear around the _batea_! I became so excited I could scarcely
dig. Every batea, as I got deeper and deeper, yielded more and more
gold! I hurried back to the Tigui for my supplies; and then camped up
there and washed the sand and clay for two weeks, until I had to come
back to Simiti for food. Forty _pesos oro_ in fifteen days! _Caramba!_
And there is more. And all concentrated from the mud bricks of that
old, forgotten town in the mountains, miles back of Popales! May the
Virgin bless that deer and mend its hurt leg!"

One hundred and sixty francs in shining gold flakes! And who knew how
much more to be had for the digging!

"Ah, Padre," mused Rosendo, "it is wonderful how things turn out--that
is, when, as the little Carmen says, you think right! I thought I'd
find it--I knew it was right! And here it is! _Caramba!_"

At the mention of Carmen's name Jose again became troubled. Rosendo as
yet did not know of Diego's presence in Simiti. Should he tell him? It
might lead to murder. Rosendo would learn of it soon enough; and Jose
dared not cast a blight upon the happiness of this rare moment. He
would wait.

As they sat reunited at the supper table in Rosendo's house, a
constant stream of townspeople passed and repassed the door, some
stopping to greet the returned prospector, others lingering to witness
Rosendo's conduct when he should learn of Diego's presence in the
town, although no one would tell him of it. The atmosphere was tense
with suppressed excitement, and Jose trembled with dread. Dona Maria
moved quietly about, giving no hint of the secret she carried. Carmen
laughed and chatted, but did not again mention the man from whose
presence she had fled to the shales that morning. Who could doubt that
in the midst of the prevalent mental confusion she had gone out there
"_to think_"? And having performed that duty, she had, as usual, left
her problem with her immanent God.

"I will go up and settle with Don Mario this very night," Rosendo
abruptly announced, as they rose from the table.

"Not yet, friend!" cried Jose quickly. "Lazaro has told you of the
revolution; and we have many plans to consider, now that we have found
gold. Come with me to the shales. We will not be interrupted there. We
can slip out through the rear door, and so avoid these curious people.
I have much to discuss with you."

Rosendo chuckled. "My honest debts first, _buen Cura_," he said