nt things.

"Santa Ana!" murmured Ibarra. "Do you recognize that house?"

They passed by the country house of the Jesuits.

"There I passed many happy and joyful years!" sighed Elias. "In my time
we used to come here every month ... then I was like the others. I had
fortune, family; I was dreaming and planning a future for myself. In
those days I used to visit my sister in the neighboring convent. She
made me a present of a piece of her own handiwork. A girl friend used
to accompany her, a beautiful girl. All has passed like a dream."

They remained silent till they arrived at Malapad-na-bato. Those who
have glided over the bosom of the Pasig on one of those magical nights
when the moon pours forth its melancholy poetry from the pure blue of
the sky, when the darkness hides the misery of men and silence drowns
the harsh accents of their voices, when Nature alone speaks--those
who have seen such nights on the Pasig will understand the feelings
which filled the hearts of both young men.

In Malapad-na-bato the carbineer was half asleep, and, seeing that the
banca was empty and offered no booty for him to seize, according to
the traditional custom of his corps and the use made of that position,
he readily let them pass on.

Nor did the Civil Guard at Pasig suspect anything, and they were
not molested.

It was just beginning to dawn when they reached the lake, calm and
smooth as a gigantic mirror. The moon was growing dim and the Orient
was rosy with the tints of morning. At a distance, a mass of grey
could be discerned advancing toward the banca.

"The falua (or Government steamboat) is coming," murmured Elias. "Lie
down and I will cover you with these sacks."

The outline of the vessel became more clear and perceptible.

"She is putting in between the beach and us," observed Elias uneasily.

And then he changed the course of the banca a little, rowing toward
Binangonan. To his great surprise he noticed that the falua was also
changing its course, while a voice cried out to him.

Elias stopped and meditated. The shore of the lake was very far off,
and they would soon be in the range of the rifles on the falua. He
thought of returning to the Pasig. His banca was swifter than the
falua. But fate was against him! Another boat was coming up the
Pasig, and they could see the helmets and shining bayonets of the
Civil Guards.

"We are caught!" he murmured, turning pale.

He looked at his robust arms and taking th