by the followers of Galeana--who stood in need of this
well-timed supply of weapons.

Almost on the instant that Lantejas presented himself in the courtyard,
the cannon, El Nino, thundered forth another discharge. It was the
signal of departure; and the little army, putting itself in motion,
marched off from the hacienda of San Diego--the new _alferez_ taking his
place with the rest.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morelos was shortly after joined by other partisans, till his troop had
grown into a small army; and, after two months of long marches, and
sharp skirmishes with the Spanish troops--out of which he always issued
victorious--the insurgent general found himself in front of the town of
Acapulco, on the Pacific Ocean. He was now besieging that place--which
he had been ironically commanded to take--and with a fair prospect of
obtaining its speedy surrender.

As for the student of theology, two months' campaigning had somewhat
_soldierised_ him. He had obtained a great reputation for courage;
although his heart in moments of danger had often been upon the point of
failing him.

On the first occasion that he was under fire, he was by the side of Don
Hermenegildo Galeana, who had acquired a complete ascendancy over him,
and whose terrible glances he more dreaded than even the presence of the
enemy. Don Hermenegildo of course fought in the foremost rank; where,
with his lance and long sabre, he was accustomed to open a wide circle
around his horse, that no enemy dared to intrude upon, and which, for
the sword of the trembling ensign, left absolutely nothing to do.
Lantejas having learnt, in the first encounter, the advantage of this
position, ever afterwards took care to keep well up with the redoubtable
Don Hermenegildo.

There was another man, who, from habit, always fought alongside Galeana,
and who scarce yielded to the latter either in courage or dexterity.
This was Costal, the Zapoteque; and protected by these two, as by a pair
of guardian angels, Lantejas scarce ran any danger in the hottest fight;
while at the same time he was constantly gaining fresh laurels by
keeping the position.

For all this, his glory sat upon him like a burden too heavy for his
back, and one that he was not able to cast from his shoulders. To
desert from the insurgent army was impossible: a price was set upon his
head. Besides, Morelos had given to that corner of the Sabana rive