her lamp, now dim--the light was waning, and softly
stepping across the room, she drew from a basket several bundles of
paper. These she tore in pieces, and placing them beside the door,
drew the lamp near. Inez carefully twisted up her long black hair, and
placed on her head a broad sombrero, which the Don had worn of late;
then taking his Mexican blanket, she slipped her head through the
opening, and suffered it to fall to her feet. Something seemed
forgotten, and after some little search, she found a small cotton bag,
into which she dropped a polonce, then secured it beneath the blanket.
Queerly enough she looked, thus accoutered; but apparently the oddity
of her appearance never once crossed her mind, for, stepping across
the floor, she held the pieces of paper over the lamp till ignited,
then quickly thrust them one by one between the small crack or chink
in the center of the door. It was of wood, old and dry, and caught
like tinder. She watched it burn; the door was narrow, and the
devouring element soon consumed all save the top and bottom pieces
which extended across. These quivered as their support crumbled
beneath them, and soon would fall with a crash. She watched her time,
and gathering dress and blanket closely about her, sprang through, and
though almost suffocated with smoke, hurried down to a small door at
the rear of the house. She stood without and listened: Inez fancied
she heard the crackling of the fire, yet there was no time to lose.
Just before her sat a large stone vessel, containing the soaking corn
for the morning tortillos; drawing forth her bag, she filled it with
the swollen grain, and hastened on to where a small black horse was
lassoed, having his hay scattered on the ground beside him. It was but
the work of a moment to throw on and fasten her father's saddle, which
hung on a neighboring tree, and loosing the hair lariat, she patted
the pony she had often ridden on St. ----'s day, and sprang into
the seat. Slowly she passed through the narrow yard, and entered the
street; pausing, she glanced up at her window, and perceived
through the grating the blaze and smoke now filling the vacant room.
Distinctly the clank of the chain fell on her ear, and turning into an
alley, she galloped away.

Inez knew it would be impossible to pass over the bridge, and down
the Alameda without detection, for seven hundred Mexican troops were
stationed on the outskirts of the town; and, with the celerity of
t