nd three persons, the foremost of whom was the
chief alguazil, entered, looked cautiously around them, and then beckoned
to the executioner, who rose from his hard couch, and preceded them into
a narrow gloomy corridor. This led them into another vault, of dismal and
dreary aspect. It was lighted by a single lamp, of which the light fell so
pale and dim upon the grey and gloomy walls, that it seemed as if the
intention had been to give those who entered only a gradual acquaintance
with the horrors of the place. The roof was supported by pillars of
enormous thickness; along the walls were fixed tables and benches of
various construction, some resembling chests, others grates, and some like
small carts; but all of iron. Chains, thick as a man's arm, hung upon the
walls and pillars, which were running with moisture, and in these fetters
were figures, in sitting, standing, and kneeling postures, of which the
outline was that of human beings, but, whether living or dead, the
imperfect lamp-light rendered it impossible to distinguish. They gave,
however, no sign of vitality. There were also numerous low doors, or
rather iron gratings, closing narrow holes in the wall. The aspect of the
whole place was that of a subterranean slaughter-house, with dens around
it for wild beasts.

Upon entering this vault, two of the four persons, who were wrapped in
ample cloaks, paused behind one of the pillars, while the other two
hastened to a cell and crept into it. It was one of those dungeons devised
by the ingenious cruelty of Mexico's tyrannical rulers, and which had
received the appropriate name of _inferniellos_--five feet high, six feet
long, and as many broad. No superfluity of furniture--a stone bench, rings
and chains. Upon the former a young man now sat, or rather hung, his neck
encircled by a massive iron ring, his hands stretched out and maintained
by chains in the attitude of one upon the cross, his head drooping forward
over the iron collar. A cap that covered his head was drawn down over eyes
and face, allowing little more than the mouth and chin to be visible. From
time to time the unfortunate captive uttered deep moans, like those of
some vanquished and expiring lion, and which for an instant startled his
two visitors. Recovering himself, however, the chief alguazil, for he was
one of them, approached the prisoner, and endeavoured to open the
neck-iron. His companion, the executioner, hastily seized his arm.

"Beware, Seno