servants ought
to do."

"Agreed," said Clara; "but are we not forgetting an important matter?"

"What?"

"The student whom the officer left near the tamarind trees? Poor devil!
he's in danger of being caught by the inundation!"

"I had not forgotten him," rejoined Costal. "We can go that way in the
morning, and take him to the hacienda in the canoe along with us--that
is, if we still find him alive. I hope he will have sense enough,
before the flood reaches him, to climb into one of the trees."

As Costal said this, he rose from his seat, and glanced westward over
the plain. Already the hoarse murmur of the inundation was making
itself heard in the direction of the hacienda.

"Listen!" said he, "to the growling of the waters. _Carrambo_! Who
knows if the officer himself has had time to escape? He would have done
better had he passed the night with us here. He appeared so anxious
about going on to the hacienda. Probably he has his own private reasons
for that; besides, I never thought of asking him to stay with us."

"Well," said Clara, "we may congratulate ourselves upon being safe here;
but I feel rather hungry just now; do you chance to have a bit of
_tasajo_ in any corner of your cabin? I could put up with that and a
drink of water."

"I think I can manage to find a morsel or two," said Costal, going
inside the hut, whither he was followed by the negro.

A fire of dried sticks soon crackled upon the hearth, among the embers
of which, as soon as they had burnt to a certain degree of redness,
Costal placed several pieces of jerked meat--which he had taken from a
string suspended across the room. This species of viand requires but a
slight process of cooking; and, as soon as it was deemed sufficiently
done, the two adventurers entered upon their frugal repast, which a keen
appetite rendered palatable, if not absolutely luxurious.

Supper over, they stretched themselves along the floor, and for a time
lay listening to the hoarse mutterings of the flood that every moment
grew louder and louder. To this, however, they paid but little
attention, having full confidence in the security of their elevated
position; and even the noise of the water as the great waves came
dashing against the hill did not hinder Costal from falling into a
profound slumber. The negro also fell asleep, but awoke from time to
time--fancying that he heard the screams of the jaguars mingling with
the confused surging of the wa