in the _grito_ already pronounced by him in Valladolid. The emissaries
sent to Oajaca were two men named Lopez and Armenta; but both, having
fallen into the hands of the government authorities, were beheaded on
the instant, and their heads, raised upon poles, were exposed upon the
great road of San Luis del Rey, as a warning to other insurgents.

This rigorous measure had no effect in retarding the insurrection.
Shortly after, a ranchero, named Antonio Valdez, raised the standard of
independence, and, at the head of a small _guerilla_ of country-people,
commenced a war of retaliation. Many Spaniards fell into his hands; and
their blood was spilled without mercy: for in this sanguinary manner did
the Mexican revolution commence; and in such fashion was it continued.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

THE HONEST MULETEER.

On the same day in which the student of theology arrived at the Hacienda
las Palmas, and about four o'clock in the afternoon--just after the hour
of dinner--the different members of the family, along with their guests,
were assembled in one of the apartments of the mansion. It was the
grand _sala_ or reception room, opening by double glass doors upon a
garden filled with flowering plants, and beautiful shade trees.

Two individuals, already known to the reader, were absent from this
reunion. One was the student himself, who, notwithstanding that he was
now in perfect security, had so delivered himself up to the remembrance
of the dangers he had encountered while reclining under his terrible
dais of tigers and serpents, that he had been seized with a violent
fever, and was now confined to his bed.

The other absentee was Marianita, who, on pretext of taking a look at
the great ocean of waters--but in reality to ascertain whether the bark
of Don Fernando was not yet in sight--had gone up to the _azotea_.

Don Mariano, with that tranquillity of mind, which the possession of
wealth usually produces--assuring the rich proprietor against the
future--was seated in a large leathern _fauteuil_, smoking his cigar,
and occasionally balancing himself on the hind legs of the chair.

Beside him stood a small table of ornamental wood, on which was placed a
cup of Chinese porcelain containing coffee. It was of the kind known
among Spanish-Americans as _cafe de siesta_; on the principle, no doubt,
_lucus a non lucendo_: since it is usually so strong that a single cup
of it is sufficient to rob one of the power of s