Salome is waiting for Elias to arrive while sewing. When Elias arrives carrying firewood and bananas, Salome notices he seems sad. Elias tells her about attending a picnic where he was nearly attacked by a crocodile but was saved by Ibarra, to whom he now owes a debt. Salome suggests she and Elias move to her relatives' home in Mindoro to be together, but Elias refuses, explaining that his pursuers have found him and anywhere he goes, even Mindoro, his past will be discovered. Elias tells Salome to forget him and to find a good husband, then leaves heavily as Salome watches sadly.

10. Salome is
waiting for Elias
to arrive, sat on
a bamboo
batalan, sewing
a camesa of
bright colors.
When she heard
footsteps, she laid
aside her sewing, went
to the bamboo
stairway where Elias
stood carrying a
bundle of firewood
and a bunch of
bananas which he
placed on the floor,
while he handled a
wiggling dalag to the
girl.
Salome noticed that her love was sad
and pensive. She tried to console him;
asking about the girls at the picnic which
the Guardia Civil soldiers disturbed,
looking for him.
Elias told her in a gay
mood that there were
many beautiful girls,
among whom was Maria
Clara, the sweetheart of a
rich young man who just
came from Europe.

11. Afterwards, the young
man rose, preparing to
leave. She told Salome
that it won’t appear
good for the people to
know that night
overtook him there but
stayed for a while
when he knew that she
has been crying.
Salome explained
that it is not right
for her to live
alone. She told Elias
that she will go to
her relatives in
Mindoro.
Elias agreed to
Salome’s plan to go to
the house of her
relatives. He told
Salome to forget him;
to forget a love so
mad and futile; and to
find someone who is
not like him.
Salome exclaimed but Elias
explained that the day of his
pursuers had already came
and that he will be just left
alone for the rest of her life.
He told her to improve her
beauty and to get a good
husband whom she
deserves.

12. Salome told Elias that he might
go with her but he refused. Elias
then narrated what happened
earlier at the picnic that
morning; how he was saved by
Ibarra from the jaws of a
crocodile, to whom he vowed to
repay the good deed even to
the extent of sacrificing his life.
He explained that anywhere he
would go, even to Mindoro, the
past would still be discovered.
Salome looked at Elias
tenderly and told him to stay
in her house to remember
her; to sleep where she have
slept and dream- as if she
was beside him; and to
remember their memories
together in her house.
Elias exclaimed, waving his
hand in desperation, and told
her to forget him. After
disengaging himself from her
tender embrace, he left with a
heavy heart, following the
lonely path lined with the
shadows of somber trees in
the twilight.
Salome followed him
with her gaze,
listening sadly to the
fading footsteps in the
gathering darkness.
THE END