d
Morelos now saw coming in the same direction a Spanish officer also
going at a gallop.

"_Santissima_!" cried Morelos, recognising the latter through his glass.
"As I live, it is the brave Caldelas, who also appears to have been
seized with vertigo! What can all this galloping mean?"

It was in reality Caldelas, who, pistol in hand, was searching for
Regules, to accomplish the threat he had made.

Just then Don Cornelio again appeared in the crossroad; but this time
going in the opposite direction, as if charging forward to meet
Caldelas.

"See!" cried Morelos to his staff. "Look yonder--an encounter between
Caldelas and the Captain! Ha! what was I saying to you? _Viva Dios_!--
did you ever see such a beautiful _coup de lance_? He has struck down
the most formidable of our enemies. Huzza! Victory is ours! The
Spaniards are scattering! They yield the ground, and all because their
bravest leader has been slain. Now, sir!" continued the General,
turning to the officer who had doubted the courage of Don Cornelio;
"will that silence the detractors of Senor Lantejas? To whom, if not to
him, are we indebted for this splendid victory? Presently you will see
him ride with his accustomed modesty, to say that he has simply done his
duty. Otherwise, should he present himself to be complimented, he shall
find his mistake: I must reprimand him for being too rash."

"Happy is he whom your Excellency is pleased to reprimand in such
fashion," said the officer, withdrawing to one side.

"Let us onward!" exclaimed Morelos. "The action is over--the siege is
raised, and our enemies are in full retreat. To Yanguitlan, and then--
to take up our winter-quarters in the capital of Oajaca!"

On pronouncing these word, Morelos remounted his horse and rode off,
followed by his officers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

We return to Colonel Tres-Villas and the ex-student of theology.

Notwithstanding the violent wrath of Don Rafael against the man who had
killed his brave comrade, Caldelas, there was something so ludicrously
comic in the countenance of the ex-student--so much innocent simplicity
in its expression--that the resentment of Don Rafael vanished upon the
instant. Then, quick as a flash of lightning, came over him the
remembrance of that day--at the same time terrible and delightful--when
parting from the student of theology, he had hurried forward to see
Gertrudis, an