rds' quarters cautiously, kill the sentinels, and take
possession of the rifles.

"Decide," said Caesar; "I am ready for anything."

Caesar's attitude made the excited ones grow calmer and understand that
it was not so easy to storm the jail.

It was about eleven when the meeting at the tavern ended. They had
decided to wait and see what would happen the next day, and they left
the place one by one.

"We will escort you, Don Caesar," several of them said.

"No. What for?"

"Remember there are people who might attack you. 'Driveller' Juan is at
large in Castro."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"That bully can't do anything to me."

* * * * *

_AT NIGHT_

Caesar went out of the tavern, pulled down his hat, and wrapped himself
in his cape. He had not brought the motor, to avoid being recognized. It
was a cloudy night, but still and beautiful.

Before they got out of the town a small boy came up to Caesar.

"'The Cub-Slut' sent me to tell you to come to her house; she wants to
speak to you."

"I will go tomorrow."

"No. You must come now, because what she has to say is very important,"
shouted the youngster.

"Well, I can't go now."

The youngster protested, and Caesar continued on his way. "Limpy" and
"Uncle Chinaman" followed him. Caesar was walking in the middle of the
highway, when, about half way home, a man on the run passed him. No
doubt he was going to give some signal.

"Limpy" and "Chinaman" shouted over and over:

"Don Caesar! Don Caesar!"

Caesar halted, and "Chinaman" and "Limpy" ran up to him.

"What's going on?" asked Caesar.

"They are lying in wait for you," said "Limpy." "Didn't you see a man go
past running?"

"Yes."

"We are going to stay with you. We will sleep at your house," said
"Chinaman," "and if they attack us, we will defend ourselves."

He showed a pistol which he carried in his sash.

The three walked on together, and as they passed a little grove in front
of the palace, a shadow passed by, crawling, and fled away.

"He was there," said "Chinaman."

They went into the house. Amparito, with the old nurse, was praying
before a lighted image.

XX. CONFIDENCE

_YES, HE IS THE HERO_

When he got up, Caesar found a lot of letters and notices from his
followers all over the district, giving him pointers.

With the help of a manservant who used to go about with him, he himself
got the motor ready and prepared to visit the polls.

As h