"Help me to my room," Maria said to her friends, and steadied by their round arms, her head on the shoulder of Victorina, she went out. That night the husband and wife packed their trunks, and presented their account--no trifle--to Captain Tiago. The next morning they set out for Manila, leaving to the pacific Linares the role of avenger. XXXIX. THE OUTLAWED. By the feeble moonlight that penetrates the thick foliage of forest trees, a man was making his way through the woods. His movement was slow but assured. From time to time, as if to get his bearings, he whistled an air, to which another whistler in the distance replied by repeating it. At last, after struggling long against the many obstacles a virgin forest opposes to the march of man, and most obstinately at night, he arrived at a little clearing, bathed in the light of the moon in its first quarter. Scarcely had he entered it when another man came carefully out from behind a great rock, a revolver in his hand. "Who are you?" he demanded with authority in Tagalo. "Is old Pablo with you?" asked the newcomer tranquilly; "if so, tell him Elias is searching for him." "You are Elias?" said the other, with a certain respect, yet keeping his revolver cocked. "Follow me!" They penetrated a cavern, the guide warning the helmsman when to lower his head, when to crawl on all fours. After a short passage they arrived at a sort of room, dimly lighted by pitch torches, where twelve or fifteen men, dirty, ragged, and sinister, were talking low among themselves. His elbows resting on a stone, an old man of sombre face sat apart, looking toward the smoky torches. It was a cavern of tulisanes. When Elias arrived, the men started to rise, but at a gesture from the old man they remained quiet, contenting themselves with examining the newcomer. "Is it thou, then?" said the old chief, his sad eyes lighting a little at sight of the young man. "And you are here!" exclaimed Elias, half to himself. The old man bent his head in silence, making at the same time a sign to the men, who rose and went out, not without taking the helmsman's measure with their eyes. "Yes," said the old man to Elias when they were alone, "six months ago I gave you hospitality in my home; now it is I who receive compassion from you. But sit down and tell me how you found me." "As soon as I heard of your misfortunes," replied Elias slowly, "I set out, and searched from mountain to mountain. I've gone over nearly two provinces." After a short pause in which he tried to read the old man's thoughts in his sombre face, he went on: "I have come to make you a proposition. After vainly trying to find some representative of the family which caused the ruin of my own, I have decided to go North, and live among the savage tribes. Will you leave this life you are beginning, and come with me? Let me be a son to you?" The old man shook his head.