road. When inquiry is made, the
Jersey wagon will have attracted the attention of every Mexican, and
Fray Ignatius will receive positive assurances that you were in it and
are beyond his power. And certainly, without definite intelligence, he
would never suspect you of being anywhere on the highway to Mexico."

"Shall we be quite alone?"

"For two or three days you will be quite alone. Ortiz will, however,
return with the wagon by a circuitous route; for, sooner or later, you
are sure to need it. Fear not to trust him. Only in one respect will you
need to supplement his advice by your own intelligence: he is so
eager to fight Santa Anna, he may persuade himself and you that it is
necessary to fly eastward when it is not. In all other points you may be
guided by him, and his disguise as a peon is so perfect that it will be
easy for him to gather in the pulquerias all the information requisite
for your direction. I have been out to the house, and I can assure you
that Lopez has considered everything for your comfort."

"However, I would rather go with you, Thomas."

"It must be as mother desires."

When the circumstances were explained to the Senora, she was at first
very determined to accept neither alternative. "She would remain where
she was. She was a Flores and a Gonzaga. Santa Anna knew better than
to molest her. She would rather trust to him than to those dreadful
Americans." Reminded of Fray Ignatius, she shed a few tears over
the poor padrecito, and assured her children they had made a mistake
regarding him, which neither oil nor ointment, nor wit nor wisdom, could
get over.

It was almost impossible to induce her to come to a decision of any
kind; and only when she saw Antonia and Isabel were dressed for
a journey, and that Thomas had locked up all the rooms and was
extinguishing the fires, could she bring herself to believe that the
trial so long anticipated had really come.

"My dearest mother! My own life and the lives of many others may now
hang upon a few moments. I can remain here no longer. Where shall I take
you to?"

"I will not leave my home."

"Santa Anna is almost here. As soon as he arrives, Fray Ignatius
and twelve of the Bernardine monks are coming here. I was told that
yesterday."

"Then I will go to the convent. I and my daughters."

"No, mother; if you go to the convent, Antonia and Isabel must go with
me."

She prayed, and exclaimed, and appealed to saints and angels, and to th