yself. He did not
call me. I found him asleep. And he isn't going to die--nor I,
either!"

Dona Maria approached and quietly joined the little group.

_"Caramba! Go back!"_ cried the distressed Rosendo, turning upon her.
"_Hombre! Dios y diablo!_ will you all die?" He stamped the ground and
tore his hair in his impotent protest.

"_Na_, Rosendo," said the woman placidly, "if you are in danger, I
will be too. If you must die, so will I. I will not be left alone."

A thrill of admiration swept over the priest. Then he smiled wanly.
"_Bien_," he said, "we have all been exposed to the plague now, and we
will stand together. Shall we return home?"

Rosendo's anger soon evaporated, but his face retained traces of deep
anxiety. "Maria tells me, Padre," he said, "that Amado Sanchez fell
sick last night with the flux, and nobody will stay with him,
excepting his woman."

"Let us go to him, then," replied the priest. "Dona Maria, do you and
Carmen return to your house, whilst Rosendo and I seek to be of
service to those who may need us."

Together they started down the main street of the town. Dead silence
reigned everywhere. Many of the inhabitants had fled to the hills. But
there were still many whose circumstances would not permit of flight.
As they neared Rosendo's house the little party were hailed from a
distance by Juan Mendoza and Pedro Cardenas, neighbors living on
either side of Rosendo and the priest.

"_Hola_, Padre and Don Rosendo!" they called; "you cannot return to
your homes, for you would expose us to the plague! Go back! Go back!
We will burn the houses over your heads if you return!"

"But, _amigos_--" Jose began.

"_Na_, Padre," they cried in tense excitement, "it is for the best! Go
back to the hill! We will supply you with food and blankets--but you
must not come here! Amado Sanchez is sick; Guillermo Hernandez is
sick. Go back! You must not expose us!" The attitude of the
frightened, desperate men was threatening. Jose saw that it would be
unwise to resist them.

"_Bien, compadres_, we will go," he said, his heart breaking with
sorrow for these children of fear. Then, assembling his little family,
he turned and retraced his steps sadly through the street that burned
in lonely silence in the torrid heat.

Carmen's eyes were big with wonder; but a happy idea soon drove all
apprehension from her thought. "Padre!" she exclaimed, "we will live
in the old church, and we will play house there!" She