n, "I would have been with all my family in the bottom of
the lake." Ibarra was thinking that in those depths lay the remains
of his father.

The mothers of the girls did not want to go to the other baklad
or weir. They preferred to go back home happy, for the day had
commenced with a bad omen and they feared that they would suffer
many misfortunes.

"It is all because we have not heard mass," sighed one of them.

"But what misfortune have we had, senoras?" asked Ibarra. "The
alligator was the unfortunate one."

"That goes to show," concluded Albino, "that, in all his fishing life,
this reptile has never heard mass. I never saw him, I am sure, among
the other reptiles who frequent the church."

The bancas were turned toward the other fish rack, and it was necessary
for Andeng to get the water boiling again.

The day was advancing; a breeze was blowing; little waves were stirred
up on the water, and rippled around the alligator. The music began
again. Iday was playing the harp, while the young men were playing
the accordeons and guitars with more or less skill. But the one who
played best was Albino.

The other weir was visited with an entire lack of confidence. Many
of the party expected to find there the mate to the alligator, but
Nature fooled them and every time that the net was lowered it was
brought up full of fish.

They then headed for the shore of the lake, where is situated the
forest of trees centuries old, owned by Ibarra. There in the shade
and near the crystal brook the party were to take their breakfast
among the flowers or under improvised tents.

CHAPTER XII

IN THE WOODS.

Very early that morning Father Salvi had said mass, cleaning, according
to his custom, a dozen dirty souls in a few minutes. The reading of a
few letters, which had arrived well sealed with wax, seemed to cause
the worthy curate to lose his appetite, for he allowed his chocolate
to get cold.

"The Father is ill," said the cook as he prepared another cup. "It
is several days since he has eaten anything; of six dishes which I
put on the table for him, he has not touched two."

"It must be that he does not sleep well," replied the servant. "He
has nightmare since he changed his bedroom. Every day his eyes are
sinking deeper, he grows gradually thinner, and is very yellow."

As a matter of fact, it was a pitiful sight to behold Father Salvi. He
did not care to touch his second cup of chocolate, nor to taste