inexhaustible; daily I am forced to quaff the black, burning waters.
Ha! I know my lot--I swallow and murmur not. Mary, I am sorry to make
you drink so much that is bitter to-night; but you must, for your own
good; better a friend should hold the cup and let you taste, than have
it rudely forced upon you."

"Why have you told me this, Inez? I never did you harm, or gave you
pain."

"Poor pale face! I want to save you from worse than death--yea, from
a living death. Go from this place; for if you are here a month hence,
you will be lost. Your people here will be defeated, and then the
Mexicans will hand you all over to the Padre, who says he means to put
you where you will be protected. Mark me: you will be sent where no
cry for succor will ever be heard. You will be imprisoned for life,
where none can come back to tell the tale. Mary, go to your friends in
the States; or if you cannot get there, go where your people are
many, and take your Doctor with you, for blood will yet run down these
streets, and I would not that his swelled the stream. He has promised
to watch over you; tell him to take you from here--from this cursed
place. I have crept from home this dark night to tell you of your
danger; I am watched, for the Padre suspects me, but you were always
good; you nursed me and my dying mother, and were kind to Mañuel, and
I would risk more than I have to help you. I have done all I can; I
charge you, wait not till the last moment."

Inez stretched out her hand for her mantilla, which she folded closely
about her face, and then clasped Mary's hand in hers.

"Inez! oh, Inez!"