r, this vigorous action became relaxed. Not that
they who had dictated were less desirous of continuing it; but because a
matter of more importance than mere personal spite or vengeance was soon
likely to declare itself, and threaten their own safety. Talk was
beginning to be heard, though only in whispers, and at a far distance
from the capital, of a new _pronunciamento_ in preparation. And in
making counter-preparations, the Dictator had now enough to occupy all
his energies; not knowing the day or the hour he might again hear the
cry he so dreaded, "Patria y Libertad."

Meanwhile the people had ceased to speak of the stirring episode which
had occurred in the Calle de Plateros; thought strange only from the odd
circumstances attendant, and the fact of two of the fugitives being
_Tejanos_. The city of Mexico has its daily newspapers, and on the
morning after a full account of it appeared in _El Diario_ and _El
Monitor_. For all it was but the topic of a week; in ten days no more
heard of it; in a month quite forgotten, save by those whom it specially
concerned. So varied are the events, so frequent the changes, so
strange the Cosas de Mexico!

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN.

OVER THE CLIFF.

For some time after their arrival at the old monastery, neither Kearney
nor Cris Rock saw aught of their late "fourth fellow" prisoner--the
hunchback. They cared not to inquire after him; the Texan repeating
himself by saying,--"This chile don't want ever to sit eyes on his ugly
pictur agin." They supposed that he was still there, however, somewhere
about the building.

And so was he, with a chain attached to his leg, the same he had shared
with Rock, its severed end now padlocked to a ring bolt; and the
apartment he occupied had as much of the prison aspect as any cell in
the Acordada. No doubt, in days gone by, many a refractory brother had
pined and done penance therein for breach of monastic discipline.

Why the mis-shapen creature was so kept needs little explanation; for
the same reason as prompted to bringing him thither. Helpless as he
might appear, he was not harmless; and Don Ruperto knew that to restore
him to liberty would be to risk losing his own, with something more.
Though safely bestowed, however, no severity was shown him. He had his
meals regularly, and a bed to sleep on, if but a pallet, quite as good
as he had been accustomed to. Moreover, after some time had elapsed, he
was relieved from this clo