here, Rosario!" she said, going to meet the young
girl. "I fancy you look better to-day, and that you are more cheerful.
Don't you think that Rosario looks better? She seems a different being."

They all agreed that the liveliest happiness was depicted on her
countenance.

CHAPTER XXI

"DESPERTA FERRO"

About this time the following items of news appeared in the Madrid
newspapers:

"There is no truth whatever in the report that there has been an
insurrection in the neighborhood of Orbajosa. Our correspondent in that
place informs us that the country is so little disposed for adventures
that the further presence of the Batalla brigade in that locality is
considered unnecessary."

"It is said that the Batalla brigade will leave Orbajosa, as troops are
not required there, to go to Villajuan de Nahara, where guerillas have
made their appearance."

"The news has been confirmed that the Aceros, with a number of mounted
followers, are ranging the district of Villajuan, adjacent to the
judicial district of Orbajosa. The governor of the province of X. has
telegraphed to the Government that Francisco Acero entered Las Roquetas,
where he demanded provisions and money. Domingo Acero (Faltriquera), was
ranging the Jubileo mountains, actively pursued by the Civil Guards, who
killed one of his men and captured another. Bartolome Acero is the man
who burned the registry office of Lugarnoble and carried away with him
as hostages the alcalde and two of the principal landowners."

"Complete tranquillity reigns in Orbajosa, according to a letter which
we have before us, and no one there thinks of anything but cultivating
the garlic fields, which promise to yield a magnificent crop. The
neighboring districts, however, are infested with guerillas, but the
Batalla brigade will make short work of these."

Orbajosa was, in fact, tranquil. The Aceros, that warlike dynasty,
worthy, in the opinion of some, of figuring in the "Romancero," had
taken possession of the neighboring province; but the insurrection
was not spreading within the limits of the episcopal city. It might be
supposed that modern culture had at last triumphed in its struggle with
the turbulent habits of the great city of disorder, and that the latter
was tasting the delights of a lasting peace. So true is this that
Caballuco himself, one of the most important figures of the historic
rebellion of Orbajosa, said frankly to every one that he did not wish
to quar