CHAPTER XIX
A SCHOOLMASTER’S DIFFICULTIES
El vulgo es necio y pues lo paga, es justo
Hablarle en necio para darle el gusto.1
LOPE DE VEGA.
The mountain-encircled lake slept peacefully with that hypocrisy of the elements which gave no hint of how its waters had the night before responded to the fury of the storm. As the first reflections of light awoke on its surface the phosphorescent spirits, there were outlined in the distance, almost on the horizon, the gray silhouettes of the little bankas of the fishermen who were taking in their nets and of the larger craft spreading their sails. Two men dressed in deep mourning stood gazing at the water from a little elevation: one was Ibarra and the other a youth of humble aspect and melancholy features.
“This is the place,” the latter was sa
