ceding night.

Lopez was at their head, and never relaxed his vigilance for a moment.
It was plain that he considered the padre a man of his word.

After we had remained about half an hour on the brow of the cliff, an
exclamation from one of the men drew our attention; and, looking round,
we perceived a band of horsemen straggling up the hill at a slow gallop.
It was Jarauta, with about fifty of his followers. They were soon
close up to us.

"_Buenos dias, caballeros_!" (Good day, gentlemen!) cried their leader
in a mocking tone, leaping down and approaching us, "I hope you passed
the night comfortably. Lopez, I am sure, provided you with good beds.
Didn't you, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain," answered the laconic Lopez.

"The gentlemen rested well; didn't they, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain."

"No kicking or tumbling about, eh?"

"No, Captain."

"Oh! then they rested well; it's a good thing: they have a long journey
before them--haven't they, Lopez?"

"Yes, Captain."

"I hope, gentlemen, you are ready for the road. Do you think you are
ready?"

As each of us had the shank of a bayonet between his teeth, besides
being tied neck and heels, it is not likely that this interrogatory
received a reply; nor did his "reverence" expect any, as he continued
putting similar questions in quick succession, appealing occasionally to
his lieutenant for an answer. The latter, who was of the taciturn
school, contented himself, and his superior too, with a simple "yes" or
"no."

Up to this moment we had no knowledge of the fate that awaited us. We
knew we had to die--that we knew; but in what way we were still
ignorant. I, for one, had made up my mind that the padre intended
pitching us over the cliffs.

We were at length enlightened upon this important point. We were not to
take that awful leap into eternity which I had been picturing to myself.
A fate more horrible still awaited us. _We were to be hanged over the
precipice_!

As if to aid the monster in his inhuman design, several pine-trees grew
out horizontally from the edge of the cliff; and over the branches of
these the Jarochos commenced reeving their long lazos. Expert in the
handling of ropes, as all Mexicans are, they were not long in completing
their preparations, and we soon beheld our gallows.

"According to rank, Lopez," cried Jarauta, seeing that all was ready;
"the captain first--do you hear?"

"Yes, Captain," answered the imperturbable brigand who sup