Presently the cabin-door opened gently, and the head of the senor intendant appeared.
Tita sat up; and then began crawling like a snake along the floor, among the chairs and tables, by the light of the cabin lamp.
“Is he asleep?”
“Yes: but the casket is under his head.”
“Curse him! How shall we take it?”
“I brought him a fresh pillow half-an-hour ago; I hung his hammock wrong on purpose that he might want one. I thought to slip the box away as I did it; but the old ox nursed it in both hands all the while.”
“What shall we do, in the name of all the fiends? She sails to-morrow morning, and then all is lost.”
Tita showed her white teeth, and touched the dagger which hung by the intendant's side.
“I dare not!” said the rascal, with a shudder.
“I dare!” said she. “He whipt my mother, because she would not give me up to him to be taught in his schools, when she went to the mines. And she went to the mines, and died there in three months. I saw her go, with a chain round her neck; but she never came back again. Yes; I dare kill him! I will kill him! I will!”