the guide, they were quieted and contented
themselves with examining the pilot, who was entirely unarmed.

The old man turned his head slowly and his eyes met the sturdy
figure of Elias. The latter, in turn, with his head uncovered, full
of sadness and interest, gazed upon the old man.

"Is it you?" asked the old man, his face brightening a little as he
recognized the youth.

"How badly off you are!" murmured Elias, in an half-intelligible tone
of voice.

The old man bowed in silence, made a sign to the men, who then arose
and left, not, however, without first directing glances at the pilot,
measuring his stature and muscles.

"Yes!" said the old man to Elias as soon as they found themselves
alone. "Six months ago, I gave you refuge in my house. Then, it was
I who sympathized with you; now, fortune has changed and it is you
who pity me. But sit down, and tell me how you came here."

"Some fifteen days ago they told me of your misfortune," replied the
young man slowly, and in a low voice, looking toward the light. "I
at once set out on the road and I have been searching for you from
mountain to mountain. I have travelled over the greater part of
two provinces.

"Rather than spill innocent blood," said Pablo, "I have had to flee. My
enemies are afraid to show themselves and shield themselves behind
some unhappy fellows who have never done me the slightest injury."

Then, after a short pause, of which Elias took advantage to read the
thoughts in that melancholy countenance, he replied:

"I have come to make a proposition. Having searched in vain for some
member of the family which has caused me my misfortunes, I have decided
to leave the province where I am living and to emigrate to the north
and live there among the heathen and independent tribes. Do you want
to leave this life and go with me? I will be your son, since you have
lost those whom you had, and I, who have no family, will take you as
my father."

The old man shook his head and said:

"At my age, when a person makes a desperate resolution it is because
there is no other course open. A man who, like me has passed his youth
and the best years of his life working for his own future and for the
future of his sons, a man who has been submissive to all the wishes
of his superiors, who has discharged conscientiously all his duties,
suffered everything in order to live in peace and in tranquillity;
when such a man, whose blood has been chilled by Time, re