Pandemonium burst upon the room at the woman’s words. Don Mario started for the door, but found his way blocked. “Diego had other children!” he shouted; “and this girl is one of them!”
“It is false!” cried Ana in a loud voice. “I have lived with him eight years! I know from his own lips that I speak the truth! See what he has done to me! Would I lie?”
“To the cárcel! Release Rosendo!”
“We will write to the President at Bogotá! Don Mario must be removed!”
“Caramba! Such an Alcalde!”
“Let him send for the soldiers, if he wishes to die!”
“To the cárcel!”
As a unit the fickle people streamed from the room and started for the jail. Don Mario was borne along on the heaving tide. Josè and Carmen followed; but Ana fell back and returned to the house of Rosendo.
The guard at the jail, seeing the concourse approaching, 257 threw down his machete and fled. Rosendo’s eyes were big with speculation, though his heart beat apprehensively. The people jammed into the small hut until it swayed and threatened to collapse.
“The key to the lock––Caramba! the guard has it!”