What was the bell of St.Barbara doing then ?" At the moment there was a vivid flash.

"_Jesus, Maria, y Jose!_ Holy St.Barbara!" exclaimed the gobernadorcillo, turning pale and crossing himself.
Tasio burst out into a loud laugh.

"You are worthy of your patroness," he remarked dryly in Spanish as he turned his back and went toward the church.
Inside, the sacristans were preparing a catafalque, bordered with candles placed in wooden sockets.

Two large tables had been placed one above the other and covered with black cloth across which ran white stripes, with here and there a skull painted on it.
"Is that for the souls or for the candles ?" inquired the old man, but noticing two boys, one about ten and the other seven, he turned to them without awaiting an answer from the sacristans.
"Won't you come with me, boys ?" he asked them.

"Your mother has prepared a supper for you fit for a curate." "The senior sacristan will not let us leave until eight o'clock, sir," answered the larger of the two boys.