hs."

"Aha! Do you remember his description?" asked the Visayan.

"I should say so! Height: tall, according to the alferez, medium,
according to Padre Damaso; color, brown; eyes, black; nose, ordinary;
beard, none; hair, black."

"Aha! But special marks?"

"Black shirt, black pantaloons, wood-cutter."

"Aha, he won't get away from me! I think I see him now."

"I wouldn't mistake him for any one else, even though he might look
like him."

Thus the two soldiers continued on their round.

By the light of the lanterns we may again see two shadowy figures
moving cautiously along, one behind the other. An energetic "_Quien
vive?_" stops both, and the first answers, "_Espana!_" in a trembling
voice.

The soldiers seize him and hustle him toward a lantern to examine
him. It is Lucas, but the soldiers seem to be in doubt, questioning
each other with their eyes.

"The alferez didn't say that he had a scar," whispered the
Visayan. "Where you going?"

"To order a mass for tomorrow."

"Haven't you seen Elias?"

"I don't know him, sir," answered Lucas.

"I didn't ask you if you know him, you fool! Neither do we know
him. I'm asking you if you've seen him."

"No, sir."

"Listen, I'll describe him: Height, sometimes tall, sometimes medium;
hair and eyes, black; all the other features, ordinary," recited the
Visayan. "Now do you know him?"

"No, sir," replied Lucas stupidly.

"Then get away from here! Brute! Dolt!" And they gave him a shove.

"Do you know why Elias is tall to the alferez and of medium height
to the curate?" asked the Tagalog thoughtfully.

"No," answered the Visayan.

"Because the alferez was down in the mudhole when he saw him and the
curate was on foot."

"That's right!" exclaimed the Visayan. "You're talented--blow is it
that you're a civil-guard?"

"I wasn't always one; I was a smuggler," answered the Tagalog with
a touch of pride.

But another shadowy figure diverted their attention. They challenged
this one also and took the man to the light.

This time it was the real Elias.

"Where you going?"

"To look for a man, sir, who beat and threatened my brother. He has
a scar on his face and is called Elias."

"Aha!" exclaimed the two guards, gazing at each other in astonishment,
as they started on the run toward the church, where Lucas had
disappeared a few moments before.

CHAPTER LIII

Il Buon Di Si Conosce Da Mattina [137]

Early the next morning the report spread