he
unfortunate Don Mario prearranged. A perfunctory hearing of witnesses,
which but increased his approval of his orders, and he pronounced
sentence upon the former Alcalde, and closed the case.

"Attack upon the church--Assassination of the man Lazaro--Firing upon
federal soldiers--To be shot at sunset, senor," he concluded
solemnly.

Don Mario sank to the floor in terror. "_Caramba! caramba_!" he
howled. "But I had letters from the Bishop! I was ordered by him to do
it!"

"_Bien_, senor," replied the captain, whose heart was not wholly
devoid of pity, "produce your letters."

"_Dios arriba_! I burned them! He said I should! I obeyed him!
_Caramba_! I am lost--lost!"

"_Senor Capitan_," interposed Jose, "may I plead for the man? He
is--"

"There, Padre," returned the captain, holding up a hand, "it is
useless. Doubtless this has been brought about by motives which you do
not understand. It is unfortunate--but inevitable. You have a _carcel_
here? _Bien_," addressing his lieutenant, "remove the prisoner to it,
and at sunset let the sentence be carried out."

Don Mario, screaming with fear, was dragged from the room.

"And now, senores," continued the captain calmly, as if nothing out of
the ordinary had occurred, "I appoint Don Fernando, former secretary,
as temporary Alcalde, until such time as the Governor may fill the
office permanently. And," he continued, looking about the room with a
heavy scowl, while the timid people shrank against the wall, "as for
those misguided ones who took part with Don Mario in this anticlerical
uprising--his fate will serve, I think, as a warning!"

A hush of horror lay upon the stunned people as they filed slowly out
of the room.

"_Bien_," added the captain, addressing Fernando, "quarters for my
men, and rations. We return to the Hercules at daybreak. And let all
arms and ammunition be collected. Every house must be searched. And we
shall want _peones_ to carry it to the river."

Jose turned away, sick with the horror of it all. A soldier approached
him with a message from Don Mario. The condemned man was asking for
the last rites. Faint and trembling, the priest accompanied the
messenger to the jail.

"Padre! _Dios arriba_!" wailed the terrified and bewildered Don Mario.
"It was a mistake! Don Wenceslas--"

"Yes, I understand, Don Mario," interrupted Jose, tenderly taking the
man's hand. "He told you to do it."

"Yes, Padre," sobbed the unfortunate victim. "He said