use they didn't know that God was everywhere, Padre dear,"
interrupted Carmen.

"Just so, _chiquita_. And that is why all people die. And yet," he
added sadly, "how are we going to make them know that He is
everywhere?"

"Why, Padre dear, by showing them in our talk and our actions that we
know it--by proving it, you know, just as we prove our problems in
algebra."

"Yes, poor Feliz, and Amado, and Guillermo died because they sinned,"
he mused. "They broke the first Commandment by believing that there
was another power than God. And that sin brought its inevitable wage,
death. They 'missed the mark,' and sank into the oblivion of their
false beliefs. God above! that I could keep my own mentality free from
these same carnal beliefs, and so be a true missionary to suffering
humanity! But you, Carmen, you are going to be such a missionary. And
I believe," he muttered through his set teeth, "that I am appointed to
shield the girl until God is ready to send her forth! But what, oh,
what will she do when she meets that world which lies beyond her
little Simiti?"

Rosendo had returned to Guamoco. "The deposit will not last much
longer," he said to Jose, shaking his head dubiously. "And then--"

"Why, then we will find another, Rosendo," replied the priest
optimistically.

_"Ojala!"_ exclaimed the old man, starting for the trail.

The day after Don Jorge's departure the Alcalde returned. He stole
shamefacedly through the streets and barricaded himself in his house.
There he gave vent to his monumental wrath. He cruelly abused his
long-suffering spouse, and ended by striking her across the face.
After which he sat down and laboriously penned a long letter to Padre
Diego, in which the names of Jose and Carmen figured plentifully.

For Don Jorge had met the Alcalde in Juncal, and had roundly jeered
him for his cowardly flight. He cited Jose and Rosendo as examples of
valor, and pointed out that the Alcalde greatly resembled a captain
who fled at the smell of gunpowder. Don Mario swelled with indignation
and shame. His spleen worked particularly against Rosendo and the
priest. Come what might, it was time Diego and his superiors in
Cartagena knew what was going on in the parish of Simiti!

A few days later an unctuous letter came to Jose from Diego,
requesting that Carmen be sent to him at once, as he now desired to
place her in a convent and thus supplement the religious education
which he was sure Jose had so well beg