He brushed the tears from his eyes; then resumed: "The district of Guamocó gradually became deserted. Revolution after revolution broke out in this unhappy country, sometimes stirred up by the priests, sometimes by political agitators who tried to get control of the Government. The men and boys went to the wars, and were killed off. Guamocó was again swallowed up by the forest--" He stopped abruptly, and sat some moments silent. "I have been back there many times since, and often I have washed gold again along the beautiful Tiguí," he continued. "But the awful loneliness of the jungle, and the memories of those gloomy days when I toiled there as a boy, and the thoughts of my poor parents' sufferings under the Spaniards, made me so sad that I could not stay. And then I got too old for that kind of work, standing bent over in the cold mountain water all day long, swinging a _batea_ heavy with gravel." He paused again, and seemed to lose himself in the memory of those dark days. "But there is still gold in the Tiguí. I can find it. It means hard work--but I can do it. Padre, I will go back there and wash out gold for you to send to the Bishop of Cartagena, that you may stay here and protect and teach the little Carmen. Perhaps in time I can wash enough to get you both out of the country; but it will take many months, it may be, years." O, you, whose path in life winds among pleasant places, where roses nod in the scented breeze and fountains play, picture to yourself, if you may, the self-immolation of this sweet-souled man, who, in the winter of life, the shadows of eternity fast gathering about him, bends his black shoulders again to the burden which Love would lay upon them. Aye, Love, into which all else merged--Love for the unknown babe, left helpless and alone on the great river's bank--Love for the radiant child, whose white soul the agents of carnal greed and lust would prostitute to their iniquitous system. Night fell. By the light of their single candle the priest and Rosendo ate their simple fare in silence. Carmen was asleep, and the angels watched over her lowly bed. The meal ended, Rosendo took up the candle, and Josè followed him into the bedroom. Reverently the two men approached the sleeping child and looked down upon her. The priest's hand again sought Rosendo's in a grasp which sealed anew the pact between them. CHAPTER 8