As the boats moved slowly away from the shore, the light of the lanterns was reflected in the calm waters of the lake, while in the eastern sky the first tints of dawn were just beginning to appear. A deep silence reigned over the party after the division established by the mothers, for the young people seemed to have given themselves up to meditation. "Take care," said Albino, the ex-theological student, in a loud tone to another youth. "Keep your foot tight on the plug under you." "What?" "It might come out and let the water in. This banka has a lot of holes in it." "Oh, we're going to sink!" cried the frightened women. "Don't be alarmed, ladies," the ex-theological student reassured them to calm their fears. "The banka you are in is safe. It has only five holes in it and they aren't large." "Five holes! _Jesús!_ Do you want to drown us?" exclaimed the horrified women. "Not more than five, ladies, and only about so large," the ex-theological student assured them, indicating the circle formed with his index finger and thumb. "Press hard on the plugs so that they won't come out." "_María Santísima!_ The water's coming in," cried an old woman who felt herself already getting wet. There now arose a small tumult; some screamed, while others thought of jumping into the water. "Press hard on the plugs there!" repeated Albino, pointing toward the place where the girls were. "Where, where? _Diós!_ We don't know how! For pity's sake come here, for we don't know how!" begged the frightened women. It was accordingly necessary for five of the young men to get over into the other banka to calm the terrified mothers. But by some strange chance it seemed that there w, as danger by the side of each of the _dalagas_; all the old ladies together did not have a single dangerous hole near them! Still more strange it was that Ibarra had to be seated by the side of Maria Clara, Albino beside Victoria, and so on. Quiet was restored among the solicitous mothers but not in the circle of the young people. As the water was perfectly still, the fish-corrals not far away, and the hour yet early, it was decided to abandon the oars so that all might partake of some refreshment. Dawn had now come, so the lanterns were extinguished. "There's nothing to compare with _salabat_, drunk in the morning before going to mass," said Capitana Tika, mother of the merry Sinang. "Drink some _salabat_ and eat a rice-cake, Albino, and you'll see that even you will want to pray." "That's what I'm doing," answered the youth addressed. "I'm thinking of confessing myself." "No," said Sinang, "drink some coffee to bring merry thoughts." "I will, at once, because I feel a trifle sad." "Don't do that," advised Aunt Isabel. "Drink some tea and eat a few crackers. They say that tea calms one's thoughts." "I'll also take some tea and crackers," answered the complaisant youth, "since fortunately none of these drinks is Catholicism." "But, can you--" Victoria began.