nd serve him right, wearing the colours
he now does. Ha! they've waked up at last! I was expecting that."

It was the first gun at the citadel which called forth these
exclamations, soon followed by the ding-dong of the city bells.

"_Carrai_!" he continued, "we're no doubt being pursued now, and by
cavalry; some of those we saw in the procession. It begins to look bad.
Still, with so much start, and this fine pair of _frisones_, I've not
much fear of their overtaking us, till we reach the point I'm making
for; unless, indeed--"

"Unless what?" asked Kearney, seeing he had interrupted himself, and was
looking out apprehensively.

"That! There's your answer," said the Mexican, pointing to a puff of
smoke that had just shot out from the summit of an isolated hill on
which were batteries and buildings. "Chapultepec--a gun!" he added, and
the bang came instantly after.

"We'll have it hot enough now," he continued, in a tone telling of
alarm. "There's sure to be cavalry up yonder. If they're cleverly led,
and know which way to take, they may head us off yet, in spite of all we
can do. Lay on the whip," he shouted out to the coachman.

And the whip was laid on, till the horses galloped faster than ever,
leaving behind a cloud of dust, which extended back for more than a
mile.

The road they were on was the direct route to San Angel; and through
this village Rivas had intended going, as he had no reason to believe
there were troops stationed in it. But Chapultepec was nearer to it
than the point where they themselves were, and cavalry now starting from
the latter could easily reach San Angel before them. But there was a
branch road leading to Coyoacan, and as that would give them some
advantage, he determined on taking it.

And now another gun at the citadel, with the response from Chapultepec,
and, soon after, the third booming from both. But meanwhile, something
seen at the castle-crowned hill which deepened the anxious expression on
the face of the Mexican.

"_Santos Dios_!" he exclaimed; "just as I expected. Look yonder,
Senor!"

Kearney looked, to see a stream pouring out from the castle gates and
running down the steep causeway which zig-zags to the bottom of the
hill. A stream of men in uniform, by their square crowned shakos and
other insignia, recognisable as Lancers. They had neither weapons nor
horses with them; but both, as Rivas knew, would be at the _Cuartel_ and
stables below. He als