It saddened her, for O'Reilly's
sake.
Time came when Asensio spoke of giving up the struggle and going
in. They were gradually starving, he said, and Rosa was ill; the
risk of discovery was ever present. It was better to go while they
had the strength than slowly but surely to perish here. He had
heard that there were twenty thousand reconcentrados in Matanzas;
in such a crowd they could easily manage to hide themselves; they
would at least be fed along with the others.
No one had told Asensio that the Government was leaving its
prisoners to shift for themselves, supplying them with not a pound
of food nor a square inch of shelter.
Evangelina at first demurred to this idea, declaring that Rosa
would never be allowed to reach the city, since the roads were
patrolled by lawless bands of troops. Nevertheless her husband
continued to argue. Rosa herself took no part in the discussion,
for it did not greatly matter to her whether she stayed or went.
Misery bred desperation at last; Evangelina's courage failed her,
and she allowed herself to be won over. She began her preparations
by disguising Rosa. Gathering herbs and berries, she made a stain
with which she colored the girl's face and body, then she sewed a
bundle of leaves into the back of Rosa's waist so that when the
latter stooped her shoulders and walked with a stick her
appearance of deformity was complete.
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