capital; and Don
Mariano, having become suspected of a leaning towards the insurgent
cause, was ordered to leave the place.

Before taking his departure, he had despatched a messenger--the same
already made mention of--to the hacienda Del Valle. Upon what errand?
We shall know presently.

On the same day that the messenger had presented himself to the Catalan
lieutenant, and almost at the same hour, Don Rafael Tres-Villas was
galloping as a fugitive through the plain of Huajapam. On that morning,
also, Don Mariano de Silva took his departure from Oajaca, _en route_
for the hacienda San Carlos. The haciendado was accompanied by his
daughter Gertrudis, borne in a litter, and attended by a number of
mounted domestics. The pale cheeks of the young girl, contrasted with
the purplish circles around her eyes, proclaimed the mental agony she
had endured.

Finally, on that same day, only at a later hour, another important
personage of our history--the Captain Don Cornelio Lantejas--rode out
from the camp of Morelos--evidently bent upon a journey, as was
testified by the travelling costume that had replaced his military
uniform. He was accompanied by two men, easily recognised as the scouts
Costal and Clara.

Don Cornelio had been ordered by the insurgent general on a mission,
confidential as it was dangerous.

The summer solstice was close at hand; and the black and the Indian--the
latter having now accomplished his half century of years--were
discussing between themselves the best plan for raising the Siren of the
dishevelled hair from the waters of the mysterious lake, Ostuta, on
whose banks they expected to encamp, before Don Cornelio had finally
accomplished his mission.

Although this mission was of a secret and confidential character, it
will be no betrayal of confidence on our part to state at once what it
was.

The taking of the capital of Oajaca would not only render Morelos master
of the whole province, but of all the southern part of New Spain--from
the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The insurgent general was,
therefore, anxious to complete this magnificent conquest before the
closing of that year's campaign.

Nevertheless, in the prospect of attacking a town so populous and well
garrisoned as Oajaca, he deemed it prudent to gain some information as
to its actual resources; and it was chiefly upon this errand he had
despatched his aide-de-camp Lantejas.

The mission of the Captain had another object