"Did you see him when he came back?" inquired the priest.

"No, Father," the man answered. "That is the last time we have seen
him."

Father Zalvidea asked the man to show him the place where he had found
the paper, and the two walked to the wheat-field. When they came. to the
spot, the Father looked carefully around on the ground, hoping to
discover some trace of the box and its contents. Searching in the
stubble, he did actually find one of the gold coins, but that was all.
The box. was too large to remain hidden in the field, and the Father
knew it must have been carried away. He showed Pablo, who had been
assisting in the search, the coin he had found, and then, as there was
no object in concealment, told him of his loss.

The man's astonishment at the enormity of his son's offense was
profound. He was struck dumb for some moments, but realizing, at last,
that his son was, in all likelihood, involved, he besought the Father to
have pity on him.

"Pablo," said the priest, "have you no idea whither Juan is gone? Have
you ever heard him say anything to lead you to think he wanted to leave
the mission?"

"No, Father," he replied; for Juan always had been careful to say
nothing of his longing to go to Mexico, as he knew he might be watched
should he ever carry it out.

"I know not what to do," said the priest, "but I shall, at any rate,
send messengers to San Diego and San Pedro. He might leave either place