he hard
wood of the heavy doors, Jose's heart sank, and he gave himself up as
lost. Lazaro and Juan cowered upon the floor. Carmen crept close to
Jose, as he sat limply upon a bench, and put her arms about him.

"Padre dear," she whispered, "it isn't true--it isn't true! They don't
really want to kill us! They don't--really! Their thoughts have only
the minus sign!"

The priest clasped her to his breast. The recriminating thought
flashed over him that he alone was the cause of this. He had
sacrificed them all--none but he was to blame. Ah, God above! if he
could only offer himself to satiate the mob's lust, and save these
innocent ones! Lurid, condemnatory thoughts burned through his brain
like molten iron. He rose hastily and rushed to the door. Rosendo and
Don Jorge seized him as he was about to lift a prop.

"What do you mean, Padre?" they exclaimed.

"I am going out, friends--I shall give myself to them for you all. It
is the only way. I am the one they seek. Let them have me, if they
will spare you!"

But the firing had ceased, and Don Mario was approaching the door.
Jose bent down and called to him. "Myself for the others, Don Mario!"
he cried. "But promise to spare them--but give me your word--and I
will yield myself to arrest!"

"_Caramba_, fool priest!" shouted the Alcalde in derision. "It is not
you that the good Bishop wants, but the girl! I have his letters
demanding that I send her to him! If you will come out, you shall not
be hurt. Only, Rosendo must stand trial for the harm he did in the
fight this morning; and the girl must go to Cartagena. As for the rest
of you, you will be free. Are the terms not reasonable? Give me your
answer in five minutes."

Jose turned to the little band. There was awful determination in his
voice. "Juan and Lazaro," he said, "we will open a window quickly in
the rear of the church and let you out. It is not right that you
should die with us. And Don Jorge, too--"

"Stop there, _amigo!_" interrupted the latter in a voice as cold as
steel. "My life has not the value of a white heron. Can I do better
than give it for a cause that I know to be right? Nay, man, I remain
with you. Let the lads go, if they will--"

Lazaro forced himself between Don Jorge and the priest. "Padre," he
said quietly, "to you I owe what I am. I remain here."

Jose looked through the gloom at Juan. The boy's eyes were fixed on
Carmen. He turned and gazed for a moment at a window, as if hesitati