Friars and Filipinos Part 37

"You have lost," he added. "Now leave me alone so that I may win some money."

Elias, without saying a word, disappeared in the darkness.

Some minutes afterward, the clock in the church struck eight and the bell announced the hour of prayer. But Lucas did not invite anybody to play with him. He did not call out the shades, as superst.i.tion demanded. Instead, he uncovered his head, murmured some prayers and crossed himself with the same fervor as the chief of the Brotherhood of the Most Sacred Rosary would have done at that moment.

The drizzling rain continued all night. At nine o'clock the streets were dark and lonely. The little cocoanut oil lanterns, which each citizen had to hang out in front of his house gave light scarcely a meter around. It seemed as though they had been lighted so one might see the darkness.

Two Civil Guards were walking from one side of the street to the other near the church.

"It is cold," said one in Tagalog with a Visayan accent. "We aren't catching any sacristans. There is n.o.body to clean out the alferez's hen yard and we ought to catch some sacristan and make him do it. Since that one was killed, they have taken warning. I am getting tired of this."

"So am I," replied the other. "n.o.body commits any robbery; no one disturbs the peace; but, thank G.o.d, they say that Elias is in town. The alferez says that the one who catches him will be free from whippings for three months."

"Ah! Do you know his identification marks?" asked the Visayan.

"I certainly do! Stature, tall, according to the alferez's description; ordinary, according to the description of Father Damaso; color, brunette; eyes, black; nose, regular; mouth, regular; beard, none; hair, black."

"Ah! And particular marks?"

"Camisa, black; pantaloons, black; a wood-cutter----"

"Ah! He will not escape. I think I see him already."

"I don't confuse him with anybody else, although you might think so."

Both soldiers continued their beats.

By the light of the lantern two forms could again be seen, one following the other cautiously. A forcible "Quien vive?" stops them both. The first one replied "Espana," in a trembling voice.

The two soldiers drag him along and bring him up to the light, to recognize him. It was Lucas, but the soldiers were in doubt and questioned each other with a glance.

"The alferez said nothing about his having a scar," said the Visayan in a low voice. "Where are you going?"

"To order a ma.s.s for to-morrow."

"Have you not seen Elias?"

"I do not know him, senor," replied Lucas.

"You dunce! I am not asking if you know him. Nor do we know him. I am asking you if you have seen him."

"No, senor."

"Listen closely. I will give you his description. Stature, at times tall, at times regular; skin and eyes, black; all the others are regular," said the Visayan. "Do you know him now?"

"No, senor," replied Lucas, frightened.

"Then, sulung! (Go along). You brute! You a.s.s!" And they gave him a shove.

"Do you know why Elias is tall, according to the alferez, and why he is short, according to the curate?" asked the Tagalog of the other.

"No."

"Because the alferez was stuck in a mud hole when he observed him, and the curate was on foot when he saw him."

"That's right!" exclaimed the Visayan. "You are bright. Why are you a Guardia Civil?"

"I haven't been always. I was a smuggler at one time," replied the Tagalog boastingly.

But another form attracted their attention. They called out "Quien Vive?" and brought him up to the light. This time it was Elias himself.

"Where are you going?"

"I am pursuing, senor, a man who has whipped and threatened my brother. He has a scar on his face and his name is Elias----"

"Ha?" exclaimed the two, and looked at each other frightened.

And at once they started on a run toward the church, where a few minutes before Lucas had disappeared.

CHAPTER x.x.xIV

THE DISCOVERY.

The bell announces the hour of evening prayer. On hearing the religious sound, all stop, leave their work and uncover their heads; the laborer, coming from the fields on the carabao's back, suspends the song to which the animal keeps step, and prays; the women in the middle of the street make the sign of the cross, and move their lips with affectation so that no one may doubt their devotion: the man stops fondling his game-c.o.c.k and recites the Angelus so that he may have good luck; in the houses, they pray in a loud voice ... every sound which is not a part of the Ave Maria is dissipated, silenced.

However, the curate, without his hat, hastily crosses the street, scandalizing many old women. And still more scandalous, he directs his steps towards the alferez's house. The devout women think that it is time for them to stop the movement of their lips and to kiss the curate's hand, but Father Salvi takes no notice of them. To-day he finds no pleasure in placing his bony hand under a Christian's nose. Some important business must be occupying him that he should so forget his own interests and those of the Church!

He goes up the stairs and knocks impatiently at the alferez's door. The latter appears, his eyebrows knit and followed by his better half, who smiles malignantly.

"Ah, Father Curate! I was just going to see you. Your he-goat...."

"I have a most important matter...."

"I can't allow your goat to go on breaking down my fence.... I'll shoot him if he gets in there again."

"That is if you are alive to-morrow," said the curate, breathless, and directing himself toward the sala.

"What! do you think that that seven-months-old puppy will kill me? I'll kick him to pieces."

Father Salvi stepped back and looked instinctively at the feet of the alferez.

"Whom are you talking about?" asked he, trembling.