sturdily. And throwing back his shoulders he strutted about the room
with the air of a plutocrat. With his bare feet, his soiled, flapping
attire, and his swelling sense of self-importance he cut a comical
figure.

"But, Rosendo--" Jose was at his wits' end. Then a happy thought
struck him. "Why, man! I want to make you captain of the militia we
are forming, and I must talk with you alone first!"

The childish egotism of the old man was instantly touched.

_"Capitan! el capitan!"_ he cried in glee. He slapped his chest and
strode proudly around the room. "_Caramba! Capitan Don Rosendo Ariza,
S!_ Ha! Shall I carry a sword and wear gold braid?--But these fellows
are mighty curious," he muttered, looking out through the door at the
loitering townsfolk. "The shales, then, Padre! Close the front door,
Carmencita."

Jose scarcely breathed until, skirting the shore of the lake and
making a detour of the town, he and Rosendo at length reached the
shale beds unnoticed.

"Rosendo, the gold deposit that you have discovered--is it safe? Could
others find it?" queried Jose at length.

"Never, Padre! No trail leads to it. And no one would think of looking
there for gold. I discovered it by the merest chance, and I left no
trace of my presence. Besides, there are no gold hunters in that
country, and very few people in the entire district of Guamoco."

"And how long will it take you to wash out the deposit, do you
think?"

"_Quien sabe?_ Padre. A year--two years--perhaps longer."

"But you cannot return to Guamoco until the revolution is over."

"_Bien_, Padre, I will remain in Simiti a week or two. We may then
know what to expect of the revolution."

"You are not afraid?"

"Of what? _Caramba_, no!"

Jose sighed. No one seemed to fear but himself.

"Rosendo, about the gold for Cartagena: how can we send it, even when
peace is restored?"

"Juan might go down each month," Rosendo suggested.

"Impossible! The expense would be greater than the amount shipped. And
it would not be safe. Besides, our work must be done with the utmost
secrecy. No one but ourselves must know of your discovery. And no one
else in Simiti must know where we are sending the gold. Rosendo, it is
a great problem."

"_Caramba_, yes!"

The men lapsed into profound meditation. Then:

"Rosendo, the little Carmen makes great progress."

"_Por supuesto!_ I knew she would. She has a mind!"

"Have you no idea, Rosendo, who her parents might have