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THE MISSION FATHER
35
you!" Pepe implored, a strange look
in his eye.
"You warn me?
You — you
i"
Down came the lash with terrible force, once, then a perfect shower of blows followed in quick succession.
For a moment the Indian moaned softly, and lay writhing in a physical agony too poignant for mental decision. Then his pain-opened eyes narrowed, and he was on his feet, crouching and swaying like a wounded animal, a long knife trembling in his hand. The planter paused, amazed. This was the unguarded moment Pepe sought ; he sprang, aiming true at Don Hernando's throat.
Neither of the men .had noticed the black-robed figure that had drawn near at the wretched peon's cry, and it was the flowing sleeve of his monkish habit that caught the thrust of the knife.
Padre Ernesto had saved Don Her
nando's life. He now turned on him in solemn anger:
"May God visit thee according to thy iniquity! Now depart, thou Herod; thou slave-driver; thou scoffer ! Darken not these sacred precincts with thy accursed shadow again —go!"
Don Hernando, somewhat sobered by the proximity of peril, was none the less angry over the outcome of the episode. The proudest of the proud, he had been humiliated by a hated priest before the slave who had attempted to kill him. Sweeping them all with a vicious look, his eyes paused at Pepe. He snapped the lash with an ominous crack — "This is going to lick up every drop of blood out of your black hide — snake ! ' '
When he had stalked away, the padre turned sadly to the kneeling figure at his feet.
' ' 0 thou, with the blood of murder
PADRE ERNESTO INTERCEDES