f their
guns and went upstairs. A thick smoke was already filling the whole
house, and gigantic tongues of flame were coming out from the sala,
licking the doors and windows.

"Fire! Fire! Fire!" they all cried.

Each hurried to save what he could, but the fire had filled the small
laboratory, breaking out furiously among the inflammable materials. The
Civil Guards had to turn back. The fire, roaring and sweeping all
before it, closed the passage to them. In vain they brought water
from the well. All were shouting, and crying for help, but they were
isolated. The fire reached the other rooms and in thick columns of
smoke ascended to the heavens. Some peasants came from a distance,
but they arrived only in time to see the frightful spectacle, the
end of that old building, so long respected by the elements.

CHAPTER XXXVI

WHAT PEOPLE SAY AND THINK.

Day dawned at last for the terrorized people. The streets in which
the cuartel and the tribunal were situated were still deserted and
solitary. The houses showed no signs of life. However, a shutter was
opened with a creaking noise and an infant head stuck out and looked
in all directions.... Slap!... A sound announces hard contact between
a strip of leather and a human body. The child made a grimace, closed
its eyes and disappeared. The shutter was closed again.

The example had been set. Without any doubt the opening and closing of
the shutter has been heard, for another window was opened very slowly
and cautiously and a wrinkled and toothless old woman thrust out her
head. She was called Sister Rute. She looked about, knit her brows,
spit noisily and then crossed herself. In the house opposite, a little
window was timidly opened and her friend, Sister Rufa appeared. They
looked at each other for a moment, smiled, made some signals, and
again crossed themselves.

"Jesus! It was like a thanksgiving mass," said Sister Rufa.

"Since the time that Balat sacked the town I have never seen a night
like it," replied Sister Pute.

"What a lot of shots! They say that it was old Pablo's gang."

"Tulisanes? It couldn't be. They say that it was the cuaderilleros
against the Civil Guards. For this reason, they have arrested Don
Filipo."

"Sanctus Deus! They say that there are no less than fourteen killed."

Other windows were opened and different faces appeared, exchanging
salutations and commenting on the affair.

In the light of the day--which promised to b