e
infernal tones, which he had been fancying he had heard somewhere
before. His fancy was not at fault, as he now ascertained--on seeing
near the cannon a tall Indian, who was holding to his lips an immense
sea-shell, from which proceeded the mysterious sounds. It was Costal
and his conch, at that moment performing the _metier_ of first bugler in
the army of Morelos. Morelos himself, surrounded by a staff of
officers, stood at one end of the spacious courtyard, in the act of
distributing fusils to the newly enrolled troops.

Lantejas perceived the necessity of making ready for the departure which
was evidently about to take place; and having dressed himself, he
descended to the court and mingled among the other officers--beyond
doubt the most lugubrious ensign in all the insurgent army.

The first person he encountered was the terrible Galeana; and he
trembled lest the piercing glance of the warrior should detect under the
lion's skin the heart of the hare.

Luckily for him, however, Galeana had at that moment something else to
think of, than to scrutinise the thoughts of an obscure ensign; and all
the rest were deceived by the martial air which he had done his best to
assume.

Morelos, as stated, was at the moment making a distribution of fusils, a
large quantity of which appeared by his side piled along the pavement of
the courtyard.

It is necessary to explain how these arms had fallen so appropriately
into the hands of the insurgent general--which they had done by a
circumstance that might appear almost providential.

While retiring from the hacienda of San Luis, on account of the insane
demonstrations of the student, and with the latter transported in a
litter, Morelos encountered near San Diego the insurgent leader, Don
Rafael Valdovinos. The latter, already at the head of a small
_guerilla_ was just on his way to join the _cura_ of Caracuaro.

Having received information that the Spanish Government had forwarded a
large number of fusils to the neighbouring village of Petitlan, for the
purpose of equipping a corps of militia belonging to that place, the
insurgent general thought that these guns might serve better in the
hands of his own followers; and with the band of Valdovinos he made a
rapid march upon Petitlan, and succeeded in capturing them.

The rumour of this dashing action had reached San Diego before Morelos
himself; and, shortly after his arrival there, his troops were further
strengthened