ishment that their revolt might bring upon them, and so
preferred to take the chances of the war rather than to yield themselves
to be dealt with as the Priest Captain might dispose. Therefore it was,
on the day that Fray Antonio departed from us, that all the soldiers
together marched in from their camp and massed themselves compactly
about the Council Chamber within the Citadel, and then with loud cries
demanded that the envoy should be sent back to the great city with an
absolute refusal of the offered terms. Thus was there created a
rebellion within a rebellion; and one that the Council was powerless to
put down, for the reason that practically the whole of the force which
it had created to serve against the enemy was now risen against its own
authority with a most masterful strength.

In the case that thus was presented there was no opportunity to
temporize. The fierce, wild creatures of whom soldiers suddenly had been
made stood there before the Council Chamber, shouting and waving their
spears angrily and clashing together their arms. And so they continued,
without one moment of quiet, until their will was obeyed. Through the
savage and tumultuous throng the envoy was led forth--his looks showing
plainly his very natural expectation that his life would be let out of
him amid that ferocious company--and so down to the water-side; and
thence was sent back again to Culhuacan with the firm assurance--which
message of defiance the soldiers themselves dictated--that the terms
offered by the Priest Captain would be accepted only when all the
Tlahuicos then risen together in arms against him had been slain!

"Bully for th' Tlahuicos!" cried Young, as I translated to him these
ringing words. "Just tell 'em, Professor, that I've volunteered for
three years or th' war, an' that they can count on me t' keep up a full
head o' steam as long as there's any fightin' t' be done. Accordin' t'
my notions, now that th' Padre's over there in th' city--t' say nothin'
o' what we owe 'em on Pablo's account--th' row can't begin one minute
too soon. These Tlahuicos are th' boys for me! Didn't I tell you that
nobody could stop 'em when they once got fairly started? They're a tough
lot; but they're just everlastin' rustlers--an' their style suits me
right now all th' way down t' th' ground floor!"

The sharp excitement attendant upon this vigorous action gave place, as
the day wore on, to a dull heavy pain as our thoughts dwelt upon the
f