edingly important role
you are destined to play in the revolution. It is not true that you
took up arms simply because of Senor Monico. You are under arms to
protest against the evils of all the caciques who are overrunning the
whole nation. We are the elements of a social movement which will not
rest until it has enlarged the destinies of our motherland. We are the
tools Destiny makes use of to reclaim the sacred rights of the people.
We are not fighting to dethrone a miserable murderer, we are fighting
against tyranny itself. What moves us is what men call ideals; our
action is what men call fighting for a principle. A principle! That's
why Villa and Natera and Carranza are fighting; that's why we, every
man of us, are fighting."

"Yes ... yes ... exactly what I've been thinking myself," said Venancio
in a climax of enthusiasm.

"Hey, there, Pancracio," Macias called, "pull down two more beers."

XIV

"You ought to see how clear that fellow can make things, Compadre,"
Demetrio said. All morning long he had been pondering as much of Luis
Cervantes' speech as he had understood.

"I heard him too," Anastasio answered. "People who can read and write
get things clear, all right; nothing was ever truer. But what I can't
make out is how you're going to go and meet Natera with as few men as
we have."

"That's nothing. We're going to do things different now. They tell me
that as soon as Crispin Robles enters a town he gets hold of all the
horses and guns in the place; then he goes to the jail and lets all the
jailbirds out, and, before you know it, he's got plenty of men, all
right. You'll see. You know I'm beginning to feel that we haven't done
things right so far. It don't seem right somehow that this city guy
should be able to tell us what to do."

"Ain't it wonderful to be able to read and write!"

They both sighed, sadly. Luis Cervantes came in with several others to
find out the day of their departure.

"We're leaving no later than tomorrow," said Demetrio without
hesitation.

Quail suggested that musicians be summoned from the neighboring hamlet
and that a farewell dance be given. His idea met with enthusiasm on all
sides.

"We'll go, then," Pancracio shouted, "but I'm certainly going in good
company this time. My sweetheart's coming along with me!"

Demetrio replied that he too would willingly take along a girl he had
set his eye on, but that he hoped none of his men would leave bitter
memories beh