nd Young when
they were safe aboard with us, as did also Fray Antonio, whose daring
spirit was mightily aroused by witnessing their splendid bravery. And in
giving them hearty words of praise for what they had done--which yet
fell far short of their deserts--I naturally likened them to the Roman
hero. Indeed, I may say that the parallel that I there drew was an apt
one, and in some of its turns was not devoid of grace.

"I can't say, Professor," Young answered, when I had finished, "that I
ever heard o' th' party you refer to, but if this Horace--what did you
say his last name was?--pinched his fingers in th' drawbridge chains as
damnably as I pinched mine in th' chains of that infernal grating, I'll
bet a hat he was sorry that he hadn't run away!" And I truly believe
that Young thought more about his pinched fingers than he did about the
resolute bravery that he had shown in finishing his work upon the wall
in the very face of the advancing enemy.

Being once out of range of the darts, we pulled towards the other boats
leisurely; for now we were entirely safe against pursuit, and were free
to go upon the lake in whatsoever direction we pleased. That some
positive line of action had been determined upon was evident, for the
flotilla already was in motion as we came up in the rear of it--the boat
containing the members of the Council leading--and the order was passed
back to us that we should follow with the rest. From the direction in
which we were heading, Tizoc inferred that we were bound for the only
other considerable town in the valley, that which had grown up around
the shafts leading to the great mine whence the Aztlanecas drew their
supply of gold. There was a very grave look upon his face as he told us
of our probable destination; and presently added that the population of
this town--save the few freemen who were in charge of the workings, and
the large guard of soldiers that always was maintained there--was made
up wholly of Tlahuicos who had been selected from their fellows to be
miners because of their exceptional hardiness and strength.

It was among these men, he went on to tell us speaking in a low, guarded
voice, that the most dangerous of the revolts of the Tlahuicos
invariably had their origin; for the miners were fierce, half-savage
creatures, naturally turbulent and rebellious, and were stirred
constantly to resentful anger because of the life of crushing toil that
they were condemned to lead. So d