" said Bruno promptly. "Make it ..."

"All right! fifty to thirty."

"Double it if you wish!"

"Well! The bulik is my winning color and I have just won. Hundred
against sixty!"

"That's a go! Wait till I go and get my money."

"But I will be the stake-holder," said the other, in whom the manner
of Bruno inspired little confidence.

"It's all the same to me!" responded the latter, trusting in the
strength of his fists.

And, turning to his brother, he said:

"Go away, if you wish; I'm going to stay."

Then Tarsilo reflected. He loved his brother and the game. He could
not leave him alone, and he murmured. "Let it be so!"

They approached Lucas. The latter saw them coming and smiled.

"Eh! there!" said Tarsilo.

"What is it?"

"How much do you give?" asked the two brothers.

"I have already told you. If you want to find some others to help
us surprise the cuartel, I will give you thirty pesos apiece, and
ten pesos for each companion you get. If all comes out well, each
will receive one hundred pesos and you two, double that amount. Don
Crisostomo is rich."

"Accepted," exclaimed Bruno. "Hand over the money."

"I knew well that you were brave, like your father. Come! Don't
let them hear us or they will kill us," said Lucas, pointing to the
Civil Guards.

And taking them into a corner, he told them, as he counted out the
money to them:

"To-morrow Don Crisostomo will arrive and bring arms. Day after
to-morrow, about eight o'clock at night, come to the cemetery. I
will tell you about the final arrangements. You have time to find
some other companions."

They took leave of each other. Now the two brothers seemed to have
changed their roles. Tarsilo was calm; Bruno, pale.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE TWO SENORAS.

While Captain Tiago was fighting his lasak against the bulik,
Dona Victorina took a walk through the town, with the intention of
seeing the condition of the indolent natives, and of their houses
and fields. She had dressed as elegantly as she could, putting all
her ribbons and flowers on her silk gown, in order to impress the
provincials, and make them see how great a distance was between
them and her sacred person. Giving her arm to her lame husband, she
fluttered through the streets of the town, among the stupefied and
wondering inhabitants. Cousin Linares had remained in the house.

"What ugly houses these natives have," began Dona Victorina, making a
grimace. "I don't know how