Josè sighed. No one seemed to fear but himself. "Rosendo, about the gold for Cartagena: how can we send it, even when peace is restored?" "Juan might go down each month," Rosendo suggested. "Impossible! The expense would be greater than the amount shipped. And it would not be safe. Besides, our work must be done with the utmost secrecy. No one but ourselves must know of your discovery. And no one else in Simití must know where we are sending the gold. Rosendo, it is a great problem." "_Caramba_, yes!" The men lapsed into profound meditation. Then: "Rosendo, the little Carmen makes great progress." "_Por supuesto!_ I knew she would. She has a mind!" "Have you no idea, Rosendo, who her parents might have been?" "None whatever, Padre." "Has it ever occurred to you, Rosendo, that, because of her deeply religious nature, possibly her father was a priest?" "_Caramba, no!_" ejaculated Rosendo, turning upon Josè. "What puts that into your head, _amigo_?" "As I have said, Rosendo," Josè answered, "her religious instinct." "_Bien, Señor Padre_, you forget that priests are not religious." "But some are, Rosendo," persisted Josè in a tone of protest. "Perhaps. But those who are do not have children," was Rosendo's simple manner of settling the argument. Its force appealed to Josè, and he felt a shade of relief. But, if Diego were not the father of Carmen, what motive had he for wishing to take her with him, other than to train her eventually to become his concubine? The thought maddened him. He almost decided to tell Rosendo. "But, Padre, we came out here to talk about the militia of which I am to be captain. _Bien_, we must begin work to-morrow. _Hombre_, but the señora's eyes will stand out when she sees me marching at the head of the company!" He laughed like a pleased child. "And now that we have gold, Padre, I must send to Cartagena for a gun. What would one cost?" "You probably could not obtain one, Rosendo. The Government is so afraid of revolutions that it prohibits the importation of arms. But even if you could, it would cost not less than fifty _pesos oro_." "Fifty _pesos_! _Caramba!_" exclaimed the artless fellow. "Then I get no gun! But now let us name those who will form the company." By dwelling on the pleasing theme, Josè managed to keep Rosendo engaged until fatigue at length drove the old man to seek his bed. The town was wrapped in darkness as they passed through its quiet streets, and the ancient Spanish lantern, hanging crazily from its moldering sconce on the corner of Don Felipe's house, threw the only light into the black mantle that lay upon the main thoroughfare. * * * * * At sunrise, Josè was awakened by Rosendo noisily entering his house. A glance at the old man showed that he was laboring under strong emotion.