This time the monk was fairly conquered, this new revelation literally benumbed him, he fancied himself suffering from a terrible nightmare, and did not attempt to continue an impossible struggle. "There," the engagé resumed, "now, you are reasonable; rest yourself, I will not torment you any more, and in order to prove to you that I am not so wicked as you suppose me, I undertake to find you a guide." "A guide," Fray Arsenio stammered, "Heaven guard me from accepting one at your hand." "Reassure yourself, señor Padre, it will not be a demon, though he may possibly have some moral and physical resemblance with the evil spirit; the guide I refer to is very simply a Carib." "Ah!" said the monk drawing a deep breath, as if a heavy weight had been removed from his chest, "If he is really a Carib." "Zounds! Who the deuce would you have it be?" Fray Arsenio crossed himself devoutly. "Excuse me," he said, "I did not wish to insult you." "Come, come, have patience, I will go myself and fetch the promised guide, for I see that you are really in a hurry to part company." L'Olonnais rose, took his fusil, whistled to a bloodhound, and went off at a rapid pace. "You will now be able," said Lepoletais, "to continue your journey without fear of going astray." "Has that worthy caballero really gone to fetch me a guide, as he promised?" Fray Arsenio asked, who did not dare to place full confidence in the engagé's word. "Hang it! I know no other reason why he should leave the boucan." "Then you are really a buccaneer, señor?" "At your service, padre." "Ah, ah! And do you often come to these parts?" "Deuce take me if I do not believe you are questioning me, monk," Lepoletais said with a frown, and looking him in the face; "how does it concern you whether I come here or not?" "Me? Not at all." "That is true, but it may concern others, may it not? And you would not be sorry to know the truth." "Oh? can you suppose such a thing?" Fray Arsenio hastily said. "I do not suppose, by Heaven, I know exactly what I am saying, but, believe me, señor monk, you had better give up this habit of questioning, especially with buccaneers, people who through their character, do not like questions, or else you might some day run the risk of being played an ugly trick. It is only a simple piece of advice I venture to give you." "Thank you, señor, I will bear it in mind, though in saying what I did, I had not the intention you suppose." "All the better, but still profit by my hint." Thus rebuffed, the monk shut himself up in a timid silence; and in order to give a turn to his thoughts which, we are bound to say, were anything but rosy colored at this moment, he took up the rosary hanging from his girdle, and began muttering prayers in a low voice. Nearly an hour passed then without a word being exchanged between the two men; Lepoletais cut up tobacco, while humming a tune, and the monk prayed, or seemed to be doing so.