e family affairs that require me at home, and--" Lantejas here
paused, as if inwardly ashamed of the deceit he was practising.
"Besides, General, to say the truth, this soldier's life is not suited
to me, nor I to it. I was born to be a priest, and would greatly desire
to complete my theological studies, and enter upon that career to which
my inclinations lead me. Now that success has crowned your army, you
will no longer require me?"

"_Vita Cristo_!" exclaimed Morelos, "not require you! Ah, friend
Lantejas, you are too valiant a soldier of the Church militant to be
spared so easily as that. Like that faithful adherent of some French
king, whose name I do not now remember, you would be the very man to
wish yourself hanged if Acapulco were taken without you. I must refuse
your application, then, although I see it vexes you. I refuse it,
because I am too well satisfied with your services to let you go. You
were my first follower; and do you know what people say, that the three
bravest men in our little army are Don Hermenegildo Galeana, Manuel
Costal, and yourself? And what at this moment still more endears you to
me is, that you propose leaving me just as fortune is showering her
favours upon me; whereas, with most other friends, the reverse is
usually what may be expected. I have just heard that the Captain Don
Francisco Gonzales has been killed in the affair of Tonaltepec. You
will replace him in the command of his company--Now? _Captain_
Lantejas?"

The new captain bowed his thanks in silence, and was about to retire.

"Do not go yet!" commanded the General; "I have something more to say to
you. You have, I believe, some relative or relatives living near
Tehuantepec. Well, I have a commission for some one to that part of the
country, and I require a man of courage and prudence to execute it. I
have thought of sending _you_, as soon as we have taken Acapulco--which
I trust will be in a very short time."

Lantejas was about to open his mouth, and inquire the nature of this
confidential mission, when he was interrupted by the entrance of two men
into the tent. One of these was Costal the Indian; the other was a
stranger both to Morelos and the captain. The latter was again about to
retire, when Morelos signed him to stay.

"There's the General," said Costal, pointing out the commander-in-chief
to the man who accompanied him, and who was in the costume of a Spanish
officer.

The latter regarded for