“Now,” said Hitt softly, “the circle is complete. Carmen, may I––”

The girl rose at once and went into the music room. Those who remained sat in awed, expectant silence. Another presence stole softly in, but they saw him not. Soon through the great rooms and marble halls drifted the low, weird melody which the girl had sung, long before, in the dreary Elwin school.

In the flickering light of the fire strange shapes took form; and the shadows that danced on the walls silhouetted scenes from the dimming past. From out their weird imagery rose a 269 single form. Into it passed the unseen presence. Slowly it rose before them from out the shadows. It was black of face, but its wondrous heart which had cradled the nameless babe of Badillo glistened like drifting snow.

The last sweet notes of the plaintive Indian lament fluttered from the girl’s lips, echoed among the marble pillars, and died away down the distant corridors. She returned and bent over her father with a tender caress.

Then the great black man in the shadows extended his arms for a moment above them, and faded from their sight. There was the sound of low weeping in the room. For

“these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

GLOSSARY

A á buen precio, for a good price.
adios, good-bye.
adioscito, good-bye (used among intimates).
alcalde, mayor, chief of village.
algarroba, the carob-tree bean.
alpargates, hempen sandals.
americano, American.
amigo, amiga, friend.
anisado, liquor made from anise-seed.
á propósito, by-the-bye, apropos
arena, bull ring, circle where bull-fights are held.
arepa, corn cake baked in ashes.
arma blanca, steel arms, generally the machete.
arrastra, or arrastre, a mining mill.
arreglo, arrangement.
arriba, above.
arroyo, ditch, small stream, creek.
asequia, gutter, conduit for water.
auto da fé, public punishment by the Holy Inquisition.
avispas, wasps.
ay de mí, ah me! woe is me! alas!
B bagre, fish from Lake Simití, dried and salted.
baile, dance.
barra, bar of wood or iron.
batea, a wooden basin corresponding to the gold-pan.
bejuco, thin filament, growing on tropical trees. Also, vine.
bendita virgen, Blessed Virgin.
bien, well.
bien pues, well, then.
billetes, bank notes, government notes, paper money.
bodega, warehouse. Also, depot, supply house, cellar.
boga, boatman, rower.
bóveda, vault, or arched enclosure. Burial vault, tomb.
bueno, good.
buen padre, good father.
C cabildo, corporation of a town, town council.
calentura, fever.
camino real, royal road, highway.
canasto, large basket, waste-basket.
cantina, saloon, public drinking place.
caño, canal.
caoba, mahogany tree or wood.
capilla mayor, high altar, principal chapel.
capitán, captain.
caramba, an interjection of no particular meaning.
cárcel, jail.
cargadores, human pack-carriers, porters.
carísíma, dearest little girl.
carita, dear little girl.
caro amigo, dear friend.
catalina, Katharine.
cayman, crocodile.
champán, a native thatch-roofed river boat.
chiquita mía, my dearest little girl.
chiquito-a, dearest little one.
cielo, heaven.
ciénaga, a marsh or moor. Sometimes lake.
cierto, certain, sure, surely, certainly.
cochero, coachman, driver.
cola, a tropical non-alcoholic drink.
cólera, cholera.
colibrí, humming bird.
comadre, friend, when used casually addressing a woman.
comjejen, white wood-eating ant.
compadre, friend, when used casually addressing a man.
conque, adios, “well, good-bye.”
conque, hasta luego, “well, good-bye until we meet again.”
conqueros, conquerors.
conquistadores, conquerors.
cordilleras, chain or ridge of mountains.
corriente, right, correct.
costumbre del país, national custom.
cura, priest.
D de nada, don’t mention it.
desayuno, breakfast.
dia, day.
diablo, devil.
dios arriba, God above!
dios mío, my God!
dios nos guarde, God preserve us!
dios y diablo, God and devil!
dique, canal, channel.
doncella, young woman.
E el, the (masculine).
enamorada, infatuated one (female).
en manos muertas, “in dead hands.”
escapulario, scapulary.
escritorio, writing desk.
F feria, fair, festival.
fiasco, failure.
finca, farm.
flor, flower (pl. flores)
G garrafón, jug.
garrapata, wood-tick.
garza, heron.
gracias, thanks, thank you.
guaquero, hunter of Indian graves.
guerrillas, band of guerrillas.
H hacienda, farm.
hada, witch.
hermano, brother.
hermoso, beautiful.
hermosísimo-a, most beautiful.
hidalgo, nobleman,
hola! halloo!
hombre, man.
hostia, sacred wafer used in the mass.
I iguana, large edible lizard.
infanta, Spanish princess.
J jejen, gnat.
jipijapa, very fine woven straw, used in Panamá hats.
jipitera, child’s disease, due to eating dirt.
L la, the (feminine).
lianas, vines.
llanos, flat plains.
loado sea el buen dios, praised be the good God!
loco, crazy, mad.
M macana, a very hard, tough palm, used in hut construction.
machete, cane-knife, large knife used for trail-cutting.
machetero, trail-cutter.
madre de dios, mother of God.
maestro, master.
maldito, cursed, cursed one.
mantilla, head-scarf of lace.
mariposa, butterfly.
matador, bull-fighter who slays the bull with the sword.
médico, doctor.
mestizo, half-breed.
milagro, miracle. Also, small gold image, blessed by a priest, and supposed to work a cure.
mora, bramble-bush.
mozo, waiter, servant, also young boy or man.
muchacho, boy.
muy bien, very well.
muy buenos dias, “good morning.”
N na, an expression of disagreement, disavowal, or demurral.
nada, nothing,
nada más, nothing more.
nombre de dios, name of God.
O ojalá, “would to God!” “God grant!”
olla, pot, or kettle. Also, a stew of meat and vegetables.
oporto, port wine.
P padre, father, Father, priest.
panela, the crude sugar of tropical America.
pantano, swamp.
pater-noster, the Lord’s prayer.
patio, the interior court of a dwelling, yard, garden.
patron (naut.), cockswain of a boat.
peon, day-laborer. peso, dollar.
peso oro, a dollar in gold.
peso y medio, a dollar and a half.
petate, straw mat on which the poor people sleep.
plaga, plague, pestilence.
platano, plantain tree, or its fruit.
playa, shore, beach, strand.
policía, police.
por, for, by.
por dios, by God!
por el amor del cielo, for the love of heaven!
por supuesto, of course.
posada, inn, hotel, restaurant.
pozo, well, pond, puddle.
pronto, soon, quickly.
pueblo, town, settlement, people.
Q quebrada, creek, small stream.
qué chiste, what a joke!
qué importa, what does it matter?
quemador, public square where heretics were burned.
queridito-a, dear little one.
quien sabe, who knows?
R real (reales), a silver coin, valued at 5, 10, or 12-1/2 cents.
religion de dinero, a religion of money.
ruana, a cape worn by the poor males of tropical America.
rurales, country people, peasants, farmers.
S sacristía, sacristy.
san benito, the garb worn by condemned heretics.
santa maría, Saint Mary.
santa virgen, the sainted Virgin.
santo dios, the blessed God!
selva, forest.
seminario, seminary.
señora, Madam, Mrs., a mature woman, a married woman.
señorita, Miss, a young unmarried woman.
sepulcros, tombs, graves.
sierras, mountain chain.
siesta, the midday hour of rest, the hottest part of the day.
sobrinito, little nephew.
T temprano, early.
terciana, intermittent fever.
tía, aunt.
tierra caliente, hot lands.
tío mío, my uncle.
tiple, a small guitar.
toldo, awning, the mosquito netting hung over beds.
trago, tragito, a drink, a draught.
tumba, tomb, grave.
Y ya está, vámonos, all ready, let’s go!
yucca, or yuca, the yucca plant or its roots.