nd our breathing was so heavy and so tremulous that each
breath was like a long-drawn sob. Truly, then, we were glad to fall in
in advance of the supporting column and so make our way, with a strong
rear-guard for our protection, across the bit of level land that lay
between us and the lake.

At the water-side boats were in readiness for us, and here we found also
the members of the Council who had ordered, and who were the recognized
leaders of, the revolt. There was still more fighting ahead of us, for
the necessity of sending back the relief party had prevented the seizing
of the water-gate; and this was a matter that had to be attended to
quickly, for we could see bodies of men coming down several of the
streets in pursuit of us, and unless we escaped outside the wall before
they overtook us there was a strong and dismal probability that our
whole plan would fail. Therefore, we tumbled aboard the boats with all
possible rapidity, and while the pursuing parties still were far in our
rear we shoved off from the shore.

Two minutes' quick rowing sufficed to carry our flotilla of boats across
the basin, and so brought us to the long pier that extended landward
from beside the water-gate, and from which an open stair-way ascended to
the top of the wall. On the pier there was no one at all to oppose our
landing; and the force on the wall was not likely to be a large one, for
the outbreak had come so suddenly that there had been no time to
increase the small detail maintained in this position in times of peace.
Only a few of our men, therefore--thirty or forty, perhaps--were ordered
out of the boats to the attack, of which the leader was Tizoc, and with
which Rayburn and Young went as volunteers. I also would have joined the
party; but Rayburn, knowing that I was slightly wounded, begged me to
stay where I was; and Young, as he ran up the stairs, called back to me:
"You just see that they keep steam up, Professor. We'll attend t' takin'
off th' brakes."

What went on above us, on top of the wall, we could not see; but the
work done there was done quickly. There was a little shouting, a sound
of arms clashing, and then four or five men--as though this were the
easiest way of getting rid of them--were thrown over the parapet, and
fell near us in the water. To these short shrift was given. As they came
to the surface, our fellows instantly finished them with a spear-thrust
or two. Then we heard the sound of a windlass creak