Page:Gaston Leroux--The bride of the sun.djvu/168

154 doubtless was one of those who had something to lose by the rioting; a house to be burned, or a cellar to be plundered.

"Follow me," he said, when asked where the corregidor could be found.

He led them along a plank pavement which was just beginning to burn, until they reached the corner of the arena, opposite the church. Four skinny palms adorned the center of the square, and at the foot of one of these a mob was dancing round a fire. Above, something was hanging from a branch. The half-breed pointed to that thing.

"There is the corregidor," he said.

Natividad, Dick and the Marquis stopped short, mute with horror. The half-breed whispered a few rapid words to Natividad, who turned to run.

"Come on! Come on!" he almost screamed.

"Why this hurry?" demanded Uncle Francis, phlegmatically.

"Why? Why?… Because they are going to eat him!" "Not really?" drawled the scientist with mediocre interest. "Right away?"

But Natividad did not notice his tone. He was really running away, for he had not forgotten a scene in Lima, when the Guttierg brothers were torn from the presidency they had usurped