When my father was alive, he tried to get our lands away from him; now my father is dead, he is trying to make of me a beggar—yes, a beggar. But he shall not do it. You will help me, will you not? I cannot believe the Americanos are as black as they say! Surely you do not look like one who would harm a defenceless woman!" And she clasped her hands pleadingly, as she took a step closer to Ben.
"Where are the lands of which you speak?" asked Ben, curiously. The manner of this strange woman interested him.
"At Biloguana, many miles to the north of this locality. My father had there a great rice plantation, and also a mine from which he took not a little silver. Friar Ponprè was jealous of my father's wealth, and he and this wicked man laid a plot to send my father to Borneo and then to confiscate the lands and the mine. But my father fought the men who would carry him off and got back home with a cracked head and a broken shoulder, from which he never recovered. Friar Ponprè escaped to Desdenas, and this man hid himself until after my father was dead and buried. Then he came out boldly and protested that he had had nothing to do with Friar Ponprè's plot, but that my father had sold him the
