“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 Simití, 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 garrafón 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 Señor Padre, señorita 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.