ectant silence. Another presence stole softly in, but
they saw him not. Soon through the great rooms and marble halls
drifted the low, weird melody which the girl had sung, long before, in
the dreary Elwin school.

In the flickering light of the fire strange shapes took form; and the
shadows that danced on the walls silhouetted scenes from the dimming
past. From out their weird imagery rose a single form. Into it passed
the unseen presence. Slowly it rose before them from out the shadows.
It was black of face, but its wondrous heart which had cradled the
nameless babe of Badillo glistened like drifting snow.

The last sweet notes of the plaintive Indian lament fluttered from the
girl's lips, echoed among the marble pillars, and died away down the
distant corridors. She returned and bent over her father with a tender
caress.

Then the great black man in the shadows extended his arms for a moment
above them, and faded from their sight. There was the sound of low
weeping in the room. For

"these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the
Lamb."

GLOSSARY

A

a buen precio, for a good price.
adios, good-bye.
adioscito, good-bye (used among intimates).
alcalde, mayor, chief of village.
algarroba, the carob-tree bean.
alpargates, hempen sandals.
americano, American.
amigo, amiga, friend.
anisado, liquor made from anise-seed.
a proposito, by-the-bye, apropos
arena, bull ring, circle where bull-fights are held.
arepa, corn cake baked in ashes.
arma blanca, steel arms, generally the machete.
arrastra, or arrastre, a mining mill.
arreglo, arrangement.
arriba, above.
arroyo, ditch, small stream, creek.
asequia, gutter, conduit for water.
auto da fe, public punishment by the Holy Inquisition.
avispas, wasps.
ay de mi, ah me! woe is me! alas!

B

bagre, fish from Lake Simiti, dried and salted.
baile, dance.
barra, bar of wood or iron.
batea, a wooden basin corresponding to the gold-pan.
bejuco, thin filament, growing on tropical trees. Also, vine.
bendita virgen, Blessed Virgin.
bien, well.
bien pues, well, then.
billetes, bank notes, government notes, paper money.
bodega, warehouse. Also, depot, supply house, cellar.
boga, boatman, rower.
boveda, vault, or arched enclosure. Burial vault, tomb.
bueno, good.
buen padre, good father.

C

cabildo, corporation of a town, town council.
calentura, fever.
camino real, roya