"But where did Your Reverence come from?" some one asked on seeing his face full of scratches, and his habit covered with leaves and pieces of dried branches. "Has Your Reverence fallen down?" "No, I lost my way," replied Father Salví, looking down and examining his clothes. Bottles of lemonade were opened, green cocoanuts were cut in two so that those who were coming out of the bath might have the refreshing milk to drink and the delicate meat to eat. The young women in addition received rosaries of sampagas interwoven with roses and ilang-ilang, which gave a beautiful fragrance to their loose hair. Some were sitting or lying in hammocks which had been hung from the branches of the trees; others were entertaining themselves in a game that was going on around a large, flat stone. Playing cards, checkers, dice and many other games were in progress. They showed the alligator to the curate, but he seemed absorbed and paid no attention until they mentioned the fact that the wide wound in the animal's neck had been made by Ibarra. Then, too, the pilot, the principal figure in the incident, had disappeared and could not be found anywhere. Finally Maria Clara came out of the bath, accompanied by her friends, fresh as a rose when first it blooms, and when the dew on its divine petals glistens like diamonds. Her first smile was for Ibarra; and her first frown for Father Salví. The latter noticed this, but he did not even sigh. It was now time to eat. The curate, the coadjutor, the alferez, the gobernadorcillo, and some of the captains, together with the tenente mayor sat down at the table over which Ibarra presided. The mothers of the girls did not allow any one to eat at the table with their charges. "Do you know anything yet, Señor Alferez, about the criminal who assaulted Father Dámaso?" asked Father Salví. "About what criminal, Father?" asked the alferez, looking at the parish priest through his empty wine glass. "About whom could it be? About the one who, day before yesterday, struck Father Dámaso, of course." "Struck Father Dámaso?" asked a number of voices. The coadjutor was seen to smile. "Yes; and Father Dámaso is now in bed. It is believed that the culprit was that same Elias who once threw you into a mud-hole, Señor Alferez." The alferez colored up a little, either from shame or too much wine. "I thought that you were interested in the affair," continued Father Salví, with a little jeering in his manner. The alferez bit his lips and mumbled out a silly excuse. The meal ended and, while tea and coffee were being served, the young and old distributed themselves about in various groups. Some picked up playing cards and others dice, but the young women, anxious to know the future, preferred to try their luck with the wheel of fortune.