"Put him in the stocks! Put handcuffs on that fellow! Two shots for whoever moves! Sergeant, you will mount your guard! Let no one pass, not even God! Corporal, let no one sleep!" Ibarra hastened his steps toward his house. His servants were uneasily awaiting him. "Saddle the best horse and go to bed!" said he to them. He entered his laboratory and hurriedly began to get his travelling bag ready. He opened an iron box, took out all the money which he found there and put it in a bag. He gathered his jewels together, took down a picture of Maria Clara which was hanging upon the wall, and, arming himself with a dirk and two revolvers, he turned to the cupboard where he had some tools. At that instant, three blows, loud and strong, sounded on the door. "Who's there?" asked Ibarra, in a doleful voice. "Open in the name of the King! Open the door at once, or we will knock it down!" replied an imperious Spanish voice. Ibarra looked toward the window. His eyes flashed and he cocked his revolver. But changing his mind, he left the arms and went to open the door at the same moment that the servants came up. Three Guards seized him instantly. "You are made a prisoner in the name of the King!" said the sergeant. "What for?" "They will tell you later. We are prohibited from saying a word." The young man reflected a moment and not wishing, perhaps, the soldiers to discover his preparations for flight, he took his hat and said: "I am at your disposal. I suppose it will be only for a short time." "If you promise not to escape, we will not handcuff you. The alferez grants this favor, but if you flee----" Ibarra followed, leaving the servants in consternation. In the meantime, what had become of Elias? On leaving Crisostomo's house, like a madman, he ran about without knowing where. He crossed fields, and in violent agitation arrived at a forest. He was fleeing from people, and from light. The moon troubled him and he entered the mysterious shade of the forest. Sometimes stopping, sometimes following unbroken paths, leaning upon century-old trunks, entangled in the briars, he looked toward the town, which lay at his feet bathed in the light of the moon, stretching itself out on the plain, lying on the shore of the lake. Birds, disturbed in their sleep, flew away. Owls screeched and flew from one limb to another. But Elias neither heard nor saw them. He thought he was being followed by the infuriated shades of his ancestors. He saw the horrible basket hanging from every branch with the blood-covered head of Bálat, just as his father had described it to him. He thought he saw the dead body of his grandmother lying at the foot of every tree. He seemed to see the skeleton of his dishonored grandfather in the darkness, and the skeleton, the old woman, and the head all cried out to him, "Coward! Coward!"