re my vocation calls me. I should
have gone already; but being in debt up to this time, my life belonged
to my creditors rather than to myself, and I had not the right to expose
it to danger."

"To expose your life?" interrogated Gertrudis, with an accent that
bespoke her interest in the brave man.

"Just so, Senorita," responded the _arriero_. "I have seen the heads of
Lopez and Armenta exposed upon the high road of San Luis del Rey. Who
knows but that my own may soon figure beside them? I speak openly,"
continued Trujano, looking round upon his audience, "and as if before
God. I know that my host, no more than God himself, would betray a
secret thus confided to him."

"Of course not," rejoined Don Mariano, with an air of hospitable
simplicity such as characterised the earlier ages. "But here," he
continued, "we are one and all of us devoted to the cause of our
country's liberty; and we shall pray for those who aid her in obtaining
it."

"We shall do more than that," said Tres-Villas in his turn; "we shall
lend our help to her. It is the duty of every Mexican who can wield a
sword and ride a horse."

"May all those who raise an arm in favour of Spain!" cried Gertrudis,
her eyes flashing with patriotic enthusiasm, "may they be branded with
infamy and disgrace! may they find neither a roof to shelter them, nor a
woman to smile upon them! may the contempt of those they love be the
reward of every traitor to his country!"

"If all our young girls were like you," said Trujano, looking gratefully
towards Gertrudis, "our triumph would soon be attained. Where is the
man who would not be proud to risk his life for one smile of your pretty
lips, Senorita, or one look from your beautiful eyes?"

As the _arriero_ said this, he glanced significantly towards the young
officer. Gertrudis hung her head, happy at hearing this homage rendered
to her beauty in presence of the man in whose eyes she alone cared to
appear beautiful.

After a pause Trujano continued: "_Dios y Libertad_! (God and Liberty!)
that is my motto. Had I been in a condition sooner to take up the cause
of my country, I should have done so--if only to restrain the excesses
that have already sullied it. No doubt you have heard of them, Senor
Don Mariano?"

"I have," replied the haciendado; and the shadow that at that moment
passed over his brow told that the news had troubled him.

"The blood of innocent Spaniards has been shed," continued the m