st to put myself under your orders."

The old man embraced Elias, a strange light in his eyes.

"I accept the proposition," he said; "I know you will keep your
word. I will help you to avenge your parents; you shall help me to
avenge my sons!"

"Meanwhile, senor, you will do nothing violent."

"And you will set forth the wrongs of the people; you know them. When
shall I have the response?"

"In four days send me a man to the lake shore of San Diego. I will
tell him the decision, and name the person on whom I count."

"Elias will be chief when Captain Pablo is fallen," said the old
man. And he himself accompanied the helmsman out of the cave.

XL.

THE ENIGMA.

The day after the departure of the doctor and the doctora, Ibarra
returned to the pueblo. He hastened to the house of Captain Tiago to
tell Maria he had been reconciled to the Church. Aunt Isabel, who was
fond of the young fellow, and anxious for his marriage with her niece,
was filled with joy. Captain Tiago was not at home.

"Come in!" Aunt Isabel cried in her bad Castilian. "Maria,
Crisostomo has returned to favor with the Church; the archbishop has
disexcommunicated him!"

But Crisostomo stood still, the smile froze on his lips, the words
he was to say to Maria fled from his mind. Leaning against the
balcony beside her was Linares; on the floor lay leafless roses and
sampagas. The Spaniard was making garlands with the flowers and
leaves from the vines; Maria Clara, buried in her fauteuil, pale
and thoughtful, was playing with an ivory fan, less white than her
slender hands.

At sight of Ibarra Linares paled, and carmine tinted the cheeks of
Maria Clara. She tried to rise, but was not strong enough; she lowered
her eyes and let her fan fall.

For some seconds there was an embarrassing silence; then Ibarra spoke.

"I have this moment arrived, and came straight here. You are better
than I thought you were."

One would have said Maria had become mute: her eyes still lowered,
she did not say a word in reply. Ibarra looked searchingly at Linares;
the timid young man bore the scrutiny with haughtiness.

"I see my arrival was not expected," he went on slowly. "Pardon me,
Maria, that I did not have myself announced. Some day I can explain
to you--for we shall still see each other--surely!"

At these last words the girl raised toward her fiance her beautiful
eyes full of purity and sadness, so suppliant and so sweet that Ibarra
stood sti