y God!
Death to the unbeliever is to land
Upon a coast dumb in the moonless dark,
Where no hands wave a welcome, no eyes shine
With promise of sweet hours, no voices call
The greeting that makes every shore a home.
(Listens) My officers! I can not see them yet.
(Goes in. Enter Colonel Lopez in close talk with Lieutenant
Garza who is disguised as an Imperial officer)

Garza. I'm satisfied.

Lopez. This hill is the key to the city.

Gar. Yes.

Lop. And yours on terms we have considered.

Gar. Here's Escobedo's guarantee. (Gives paper)

Lop. This to my pocket, and Queretaro to the Liberals!

Gar. 'Tis heavy business. You do it lightly, colonel.

Lop. The world's a feather.

Gar. If we but think so.

Lop. At dawn my troops are yours.

Gar. And you command the Empress' regiment.

Lop. Yes. The pick of Maximilian's soldiers.

Gar. One other question. The southern gate--Hist!

Lop. The nuns. (They draw aside and converse. Two nuns come out
of convent and cross plaza)

1st Nun.
The good Emperor is not out yet. He is often here long
before day walking and thinking, 'Tis then, they say, his
mind is on the blessed Empress who has gone across the sea
to get help for him. By day he never speaks her name, but
thinks only of our poor country.

2d Nun. Hark! The enemy's guns! They can not reach us.

1st Nun.
Can not? A shell broke here yesterday. The Emperor stood
just there.

2d Nun. Holy mother! What did his Majesty do?

1st Nun.
He smiled, and said he might have chosen his place
better; then moved to the very spot where the ball had
burst, as though he hoped another would follow it.

2d Nun. Blessed virgin! Would he die?

1st Nun.
I'm sure he would not live. Come, sister. Ah, we have
but one loaf this morning.

2d Nun. Let us be glad we can give that,--for many are hungry.

1st Nun.
Many are starved--dead.

2d Nun. But the good Emperor! It is so sad to think of him
without food.

1st Nun.
He will give this to his officers. Yesterday I saw
Prince Salm-Salm and the general Miramon each with a bit
of white bread that can not be found in all Queretaro