"
The priest did not appear to doubt him. He was looking through the
doorway. Roldan could not see his face, but he saw the stare of wonder
on Hill's.
"Very well," said the priest, after a moment, and his voice was hardly
audible. "I shall return now. Can you come down to the Mission to-
morrow--no, the day after. I have a secret to confide to you, and it
will not be to your disadvantage to know it. I had no intention of
telling any one, but I need help, and now more than ever. There is no
time to be lost. Can you come early?"
"I'll be there between dawn and ten o'clock."
"That will do. Good night." And the priest went out.
No one spoke until the sound came up to them of a horse fording the
creek. Then Hill said cautiously,--
"Hi, there, young uns."
"In the name of Mary let us come down, Don Jim," hissed Roldan, through
the crack.
"Well, I guess you kin. He's climbin' the hill, and I don't see as
there's anything to bring him back. I hope the fleas ain't et ye alive."
The boys lowered the ladder as rapidly as their stiff fingers would
permit, and a moment later stood on the floor of the room, shaking
themselves vigorously.
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