l hardly forget this
sublime deed of their heroic Pastor, remembering to hold themselves
grateful to him for all eternity!"

CHAPTER XLI

Two Visits

Ibarra was in such a state of mind that he found it impossible to
sleep, so to distract his attention from the sad thoughts which are
so exaggerated during the night-hours he set to work in his lonely
cabinet. Day found him still making mixtures and combinations, to the
action of which he subjected pieces of bamboo and other substances,
placing them afterwards in numbered and sealed jars.

A servant entered to announce the arrival of a man who had the
appearance of being from the country. "Show him in," said Ibarra
without looking around.

Elias entered and remained standing in silence.

"Ah, it's you!" exclaimed Ibarra in Tagalog when he recognized
him. "Excuse me for making you wait, I didn't notice that it was
you. I'm making an important experiment."

"I don't want to disturb you," answered the youthful pilot. "I've
come first to ask you if there is anything I can do for you in the
province, of Batangas, for which I am leaving immediately, and also
to bring you some bad news."

Ibarra questioned him with a look.

"Capitan Tiago's daughter is ill," continued Elias quietly, "but
not seriously."

"That's what I feared," murmured Ibarra in a weak voice. "Do you know
what is the matter with her?"

"A fever. Now, if you have nothing to command--"

"Thank you, my friend, no. I wish you a pleasant journey. But first
let me ask you a question--if it is indiscreet, do not answer."

Elias bowed.

"How were you able to quiet the disturbance last night?" asked Ibarra,
looking steadily at him.

"Very easily," answered Elias in the most natural manner. "The leaders
of the commotion were two brothers whose father died from a beating
given him by the Civil Guard. One day I had the good fortune to
save them from the same hands into which their father had fallen,
and both are accordingly grateful to me. I appealed to them last
night and they undertook to dissuade the rest."

"And those two brothers whose father died from the beating--"

"Will end as their father did," replied Elias in a low voice. "When
misfortune has once singled out a family all its members must
perish,--when the lightning strikes a tree the whole is reduced
to ashes."

Ibarra fell silent on hearing this, so Elias took his leave. When
the youth found himself alone he lost the serene se