t he is culpable. I will give
bail for him and ask that he be given liberty for some days at least."

"Well, well! But such a misfortune must not be repeated!"

All kinds of comments were circulating among the people. The theory
that it was a miracle was already accepted. Father Salvi, however,
seemed to rejoice very little over the miracle, which the people
attributed to a saint of his order and of his parish.

There were some who claimed to have seen, as the crane was falling, a
figure dressed in black like the Franciscans, go down in the ditch. It
was without doubt San Diego himself. It was supposed, too, that Ibarra
had heard mass and that the yellow man had not. It was all as clear
as the light of the sun.

Ibarra went home to change his clothes.

"Hm! Bad beginning," said Old Tasio as he left the place.

Ibarra had just finished dressing when a servant announced that
a countryman was asking for him. Supposing that it was one of his
laborers, the young man ordered that they show him into his study,
which also served as a library and a chemical laboratory. But, to
his great surprise, he met the muscular figure of the mysterious Elias.

"You recently saved my life," said he in Tagalog, at once comprehending
Ibarra's movement. "I have paid you only half of the debt, and you
are not indebted to me; rather the contrary. I have come to ask a
favor of you...."

"Speak out!" replied the young man, in the same language and somewhat
surprised at the gravity of the peasant.

For some seconds, Elias looked fixedly into Ibarra's eyes and then
replied: "If human justice should ever wish to clear up this mystery,
I beg of you not to speak to any one about the warning that I gave
you in the church."

"Don't be troubled about that," replied the young man with a certain
note of displeasure in his voice. "I know that they are hunting you,
but I am no informer."

"Oh, it is not for my sake, it is not for me!" exclaimed Elias,
not without some pride. "It is for your sake. I have nothing to fear
from men."

Ibarra's surprise increased. The tone in which the countryman was
speaking was new to him and did not seem to be in accord either with
his state or his fortune.

"What do you mean?" asked Ibarra, interrogating the mysterious man
with his look.

"I do not speak in enigmas; I try to express myself clearly. For
your greater security, it is necessary that your enemies think you
unsuspecting and off your guard."

Ibar