aid the woman, not choosing to notice such
ill-timed levity, "and we were stopped--by the Carlists--and I
escaped--and I'm trying to find my way to some safe place--but I
cannot--I cannot."

"H'm!" said the priest, "that is a coincidence too--just my own case
to a T. I've been captured by the Carlists too, and I've escaped, and
I'm now making a bolt for a place of safety. Well, this does beat my
grandmother, I must say!"

The lady was too full of her own troubles to notice the peculiar
expressions of the priest. She merely continued, as before, to beg
for help.

"Oh, sir," said she, "do you know the way here? and can you help me?"

[Illustration: "Coming Suddenly Upon The Priest, She Was Evidently
Quite Terrified."]

"Well," said the priest, "I know some of it, I may say, but that
depends on what you mean by knowing it. But will you allow me to ask
you one or two questions? In the first place, where did you come from
last?"

"Last?" said the lady; "the last place I came from was Barcelona."

"When?"

"Yesterday."

"You spoke of a diligence. You must have come from Barcelona by
train."

"Of course."

"Then that must have been the train that stopped over there."

"Yes; the train stopped. I understood that it was not going on any
farther for a long time, for that the track was torn up. A diligence
was prepared for those passengers who were anxious to go on
immediately, and I was most eager to proceed without delay, so as to
get to my home as soon as possible. So, early this morning, we left,
and came, without any incident of any kind until we reached a place
about five miles away. There we were stopped and robbed. I believe
all the passengers were detained and held as prisoners--at least I
myself was. I was handed over to the care of a peasant woman, who
took me to a cottage. About two hours ago she came to me and told me
that I might go, and urged me to fly at once. I could not understand
her very well, for I know very little Spanish indeed, but I could see
that she was sorry for me, and offered me this chance of escape. It
was also quite evident that she considered me in great danger, and
was frightened about me. I felt deeply grateful, and offered her a
gold locket which had escaped the notice of the robbers, but she
refused it. So then I started off. I've come along the road ever
since, and have seen no one except yourself. And now, sir," continued
the lady, looking at the priest with intense earn