RSUER.

With unappeased impatience the Dictator awaited the return of the
pursuing party, or some news of it. The last he in time received at
first hand from the lips of its leader, who, after nightfall, had
hastened back to the city and reported himself at the Palace.

"You have taken them?" interrogated Santa Anna, as the Hussar officer,
no longer in a glitter of gold lace, but dim with sweat and dust, was
ushered into his presence.

He put the question doubtingly; indeed, from the expression of
Santander's face, almost sure of receiving a negative answer. Negative
it was--

"Not yet, Sire; I regret to say they are still at large."

The rejoinder was preceded by a string of exclamatory phrases, ill
becoming the Chief of the State. But Santa Anna, being a soldier,
claimed a soldier's privilege of swearing, and among his familiars was
accustomed to it as any common trooper. After venting a strong
ebullition of oaths, he calmed down a little, saying--

"Give me a full account of what you've seen and done."

This was rendered in detail, from the time of the pursuit being entered
upon till it had ended abortively, by the coming on of night.

Chancing to be in the Maza, the Colonel said, when word reached him of
what had occurred in the Calle de Plateros, he made all haste to pursue
with a squadron of Hussars. Why he took so many, was that he might be
able to send a force along every road, in case it should be necessary.

He found the _escapados_ had gone out by El Nino Perdido, the sergeant
on guard there allowing them to go past.

"See that he be put under arrest!"

"He's under arrest now, your Excellency. I had that done as I was
returning."

"Proceed with your relation!"

Which Santander did, telling how he had followed the fugitive party
along the San Angel Road, and there met a troop of Lancers from
Chapultepec. Some field-labourers had seen a carriage turn off towards
Coyoacan; and taking that route he soon after came up with it. It was
stopped on the roadside: empty, horses gone, the harness strewed over
the ground hacked and cut; the _cochero_ strapped to one of the wheels,
and gagged with the handle of his whip!

When the man was released he could tell nothing more than that the four
had mounted his horses, a pair upon each, and galloped off across the
country, on a sort of bridle path, as if making for the San Antonio
Road.

Turning in that direction, Santander soon discovered that they