“No, sir.”
“Listen, I’ll describe him: Height, sometimes tall, sometimes medium; hair and eyes, black; all the other features, ordinary,” recited the Visayan. “Now do you know him?”
“No, sir,” replied Lucas stupidly.
“Then get away from here! Brute! Dolt!” And they gave him a shove.
“Do you know why Elias is tall to the alferez and of medium height to the curate?” asked the Tagalog thoughtfully.
“No,” answered the Visayan.
“Because the alferez was down in the mudhole when he saw him and the curate was on foot.”
“That’s right!” exclaimed the Visayan. “You’re talented—blow is it that you’re a civil-guard?”
“I wasn’t always one; I was a smuggler,” answered the Tagalog with a touch of pride.
But another shadowy figure diverted their attention. They challenged this one also and took the man to the light.