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〃Reparation enough for her to have had you；〃 said Juanita； with
that rapid disloyalty of one loving woman to another in an
emergency。 This provoked another kiss from Cranch； and then
Juanita said demurely；
〃But we are far from the trail。 Let us return； or we shall miss
Father Pedro。 Are you sure he will come？〃
〃A week ago he promised to be here to see the proofs to…day。〃
The voices were growing fainter and fainter； they were returning to
the trail。
Father Pedro remained motionless。 A week ago！ Was it a week ago
sincesince what？ And what had he been doing here？ Listening！
He！ Father Pedro； listening like an idle peon to the confidences of
two lovers。 But they had talked of him； of his crime； and the man
had pitied him。 Why did he not speak？ Why did he not call after
them？ He tried to raise his voice。 It sank in his throat with a
horrible choking sensation。 The nearest heads of oats began to nod
to him； he felt himself swaying backwards and forwards。 He fell
heavily； down； down； down； from the summit of the mountain to the
floor of the Mission chapel； and there he lay in the dark。
。 。 。 。 。 。
〃He moves。〃
〃Blessed Saint Anthony preserve him！〃
It was Antonio's voice； it was Jose's arm； it was the field of wild
oats； the sky above his head；all unchanged。
〃What has happened？〃 said the priest feebly。
〃A giddiness seized your reverence just now； as we were coming to
seek you。〃
〃And you met no one？〃
〃No one； your reverence。〃
Father Pedro passed his hand across his forehead。
〃But who are these？〃 he said； pointing to two figures who now
appeared upon the trail。
Antonio turned。
〃It is the Americano； Senor Cranch； and his adopted daughter； the
mestiza Juanita； seeking your reverence； methinks。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Father Pedro。
Cranch came forward and greeted the priest cordially。 〃It was kind
of you； Father Pedro；〃 he said； meaningly； with a significant
glance at Jose and Antonio； 〃to come so far to bid me and my
adopted daughter farewell。 We depart when the tide serves； but not
before you partake of our hospitality in yonder cottage。〃
Father Pedro gazed at Cranch and then at Juanita。
〃I see；〃 he stammered。 〃But she goes not alone。 She will be
strange at first。 She takes some friend； perhapssome companion？〃
he continued； tremulously。
〃A very old and dear one； Father Pedro； who is waiting for us now。〃
He led the way to a little white cottage； so little and white and
recent； that it seemed a mere fleck of sea foam cast on the sands。
Disposing of Jose and Antonio in the neighboring workshop and
outbuildings； he assisted the venerable Sanchicha to dismount； and；
together with Father Pedro and Juanita； entered a white palisaded
enclosure beside the cottage； and halted before what appeared to be
a large； folding trap…door； covering a slight； sandy mound。 It was
locked with a padlock； beside it stood the American alcalde and Don
Juan Briones。 Father Pedro looked hastily around for another
figure； but it was not there。
〃Gentlemen；〃 began Cranch； in his practical business way； 〃I reckon
you all know we've come here to identify a young lady； who〃he
hesitated〃was lately under the care of Father Pedro； with a
foundling picked up on this shore fifteen years ago by an Indian
woman。 How this foundling came here； and how I was concerned in
it； you all know。 I've told everybody here how I scrambled ashore；
leaving that baby in the dingy； supposing it would be picked up by
the boat pursuing me。 I've told some of you；〃 he looked at Father
Pedro； 〃how I first discovered； from one of the men； three years
ago； that the child was not found by its father。 But I have never
told any one； before now； I KNEW it was picked up here。
〃I never could tell the exact locality where I came ashore； for the
fog was coming on as it is now。 But two years ago I came up with a
party of gold hunters to work these sands。 One day； digging near
this creek； I struck something embedded deep below the surface。
Well； gentlemen； it wasn't gold； but something worth more to me
than gold or silver。 Here it is。〃
At a sign the alcalde unlocked the doors and threw them open。 They
disclosed an irregular trench； in which； filled with sand； lay the
half…excavated stern of a boat。
〃It was the dingy of the Trinidad； gentlemen； you can still read
her name。 I found hidden away； tucked under the stern sheets；
mouldy and water…worn； some clothes that I recognized to be the
baby's。 I knew then that the child had been taken away alive for
some purpose； and the clothes were left so that she should carry no
trace with her。 I recognized the hand of an Indian。 I set to work
quietly。 I found Sanchicha here； she confessed to finding a baby；
but what she had done with it she would not at first say。 But
since then she has declared before the alcalde that she gave it to
Father Pedro； of San Carmel； and that here it standsFrancisco
that was！ Francisca that it is！〃
He stepped aside to make way for a tall girl； who had approached
from the cottage。
Father Pedro had neither noticed the concluding words nor the
movement of Cranch。 His eyes were fixed upon the imbecile
Sanchicha；Sanchicha； on whom； to render his rebuke more complete；
the Deity seemed to have worked a miracle； and restored intelligence
to eye and lip。 He passed his hand tremblingly across his forehead；
and turned away； when his eye fell upon the last comer。
It was she。 The moment he had longed for and dreaded had come。
She stood there； animated； handsome； filled with a hurtful
consciousness in her new charms； her fresh finery； and the pitiable
trinkets that had supplanted her scapulary； and which played under
her foolish fingers。 The past had no place in her preoccupied
mind； her bright eyes were full of eager anticipation of a
substantial future。 The incarnation of a frivolous world； even as
she extended one hand to him in half…coquettish embarrassment she
arranged the folds of her dress with the other。 At the touch of
her fingers； he felt himself growing old and cold。 Even the
penance of parting； which he had looked forward to； was denied him；
there was no longer sympathy enough for sorrow。 He thought of the
empty chorister's robe in the little cell； but not now with regret。
He only trembled to think of the flesh that he had once caused to
inhabit it。
〃That's all； gentlemen；〃 broke in the practical voice of Cranch。
〃Whether there are proofs enough to make Francisca the heiress of
her father's wealth； the lawyers must say。 I reckon it's enough
for me that they give me the chance of repairing a wrong by taking
her father's place。 After all； it was a mere chance。〃
〃It was the will of God；〃 said Father Pedro； solemnly。
They were the last words he addressed them。 For when the fog had
begun to creep inshor