would disappear for a whole day.

Hearing Anastasio's voice, Valderrama was convinced that the prisoners
had been set at liberty. A few moments later, he was joined by Venancio
and Demetrio.

"Heard the news?" Venancio asked gravely.

"No."

"It's very serious. A terrible mess! Villa was beaten at Celaya by
Obregon and Carranza is winning all along the line! We're done for!"

Valderrama's gesture was disdainful and solemn as an emperor's. "Villa?
Obregon? Carranza? What's the difference? I love the revolution like a
volcano in eruption; I love the volcano because it's a volcano, the
revolution because it's the revolution! What do I care about the stones
left above or below after the cataclysm? What are they to me?"

In the glare of the midday sun the reflection of a white tequila bottle
glittered on his forehead; and, jubilant, he ran toward the bearer of
such a marvelous gift.

"I like this crazy fool," Demetrio said with a smile. "He says things
sometimes that make you think."

They resumed their march; their uncertainty translated into a
lugubrious silence. Slowly, inevitably, the catastrophe must come; it
was even now being realized. Villa defeated was a fallen god; when gods
cease to be omnipotent, they are nothing.

Quail spoke. His words faithfully interpreted the general opinion:

"What the hell, boys! Every spider's got to spin his own web now!"

III

In Zacatecas and Aguascalientes, in the little country towns and the
neighboring communities, haciendas and ranches were deserted. When one
of the officers found a barrel of tequila, the event assumed miraculous
proportions. Everything was conducted with secrecy and care; deep
mystery was preserved to oblige the soldiers to leave on the morrow
before sunrise under Anastasio and Venancio.

When Demetrio awoke to the strains of music, his general staff, now
composed chiefly of young ex-government officers, told him of the
discovery, and Quail, interpreting the thoughts of his colleagues, said
sententiously:

"These are bad times and you've got to take advantage of everythin'. If
there are some days when a duck can swim, there's others when he can't
take a drink."

The string musicians played all day; the most solemn honors were paid
to the barrel: but Demetrio was very sad.

"Did he know why?
I don't know why."

He kept repeating the same refrain.

In the afternoon there were cockfights. Demetrio sat down with the
chief officers u