"Oh!" he exclaimed, rising hastily and crossing himself repeatedly, which caused the adventurers a still heartier laugh.
"Come, resume your seat and listen to me," L'Olonnais continued as he seized him by the arm, and obliged him to sit down again, "my friend and I are only joking."
"Excuse me, noble caballeros," the monk stammered, "I am in an extraordinary hurry, and must leave you at once, though most reluctantly."
"Nonsense! Where could you go alone at this hour? Fall into a bog. Eh?"
This far from pleasant prospect caused the monk to reflect; still, the terror he felt was the stronger.
"No matter," he said, "I must be gone."
"Nonsense, you will never find your road to the hatto del Rincón in this darkness."
This time the monk was fairly conquered, this new revelation literally benumbed him, he fancied himself suffering from a terrible nightmare, and did not attempt to continue an impossible struggle.
"There," the engagé resumed, "now, you are reasonable; rest yourself, I will not torment you any more, and in order to prove to you that I am not so wicked as you suppose me, I undertake to find you a guide."
"A guide," Fray Arsenio stammered, "Heaven guard me from accepting one at your hand."