taste of purgatory; but you
know we may as well get used to it here, for when we _pobres_ are dead
who will buy Masses to get us out?"

"_Caramba!_" muttered the other sullenly, as he stumbled on through
the darkness, "but if we have no money the priests will let us burn
forever!"

The girl went along with the men silently and without complaint, even
when her bare feet slipped into the deep ruts in the trail, or were
painfully bruised and cut by the sharp stones and bits of wood that
lay in the narrow path. Once she fell. The man addressed as Julio
assisted her to her feet. The other broke into a torrent of profane
abuse.

"_Na, Ricardo,_" interrupted Julio, "hold your foolish tongue and let
the girl alone! You and I have cursed all the way from Simiti, but she
has made no complaint. She shames me. _Caramba_, I wish I were well
out of this business!"

A few minutes later they struck one of the main thoroughfares. Then
the men stopped to draw on their cotton shirts and trousers before
entering the town. The road was better here, and they made rapid
progress. The night was far spent, and the streets were deserted. In
the main portion of the town ancient Spanish lamps, hanging
uncertainly in their sconces against old colonial houses, threw a
feeble light into the darkness. Before one of the better of these
houses Julio and the girl were halted by their companion.

"_Bien_," he said, "it is here that the holy servant of God lives.
_Caramba_, but may his _garrafon_ be full!"

They entered the open door and mounted the stone steps. On the floor
above they paused in the rotunda, and Ricardo called loudly. A side
door opened and a young woman appeared, holding a lighted candle
aloft. Ricardo greeted her courteously. "_El Senor Padre, senorita
Ana?_" he said, bowing low. "You will do us the favor to announce our
arrival, no?"

The woman stared uncomprehendingly at the odd trio. "The Padre is not
here," she finally said.

"_Dios y diablo!_" cried Ricardo, forgetting his courtesy. "But we
have risked our skins to bring him the brat, and he not here to
receive and reward us! _Caramba!_"

"But--Ricardo, he is out with friends to-night--he may return at any
moment. Who is the girl? And why do you bring her here?" She stepped
forward, holding the candle so that its light fell full upon her face.
As she did this the girl darted toward her and threw herself into the
woman's arms.

"Anita!" she cried, her voice breaking w