Part 5 (2/2)

In fine, a more merciful course was determined upon; only _decimation_ of the prisoners--every tenth rees in their guiltiness--all were alike in this respect--and the fate of each was to be dependent on pure blind chance

When the retaken escapadoes had been brought back to El Salado, they were drawn up in line of single file, and carefully counted A heluarding them, was made use of as a ballot-box Into this were thrown a number of e call French or kidney beans--the _pijoles_ of Mexico--in count corresponding to that of the devoted victiuishable chiefly by their colour Two sorts are common, the black and white; and these were chosen to serve as tickets in that dread lottery of life and death For every nine white beans there was a black one; he who drew black would be shot within the hour!

Into the hard soldier's head-piece, appropriate for such purpose, the beans were dropped, and the drawing done as designed I, who norite of it long after, can truthfully affirrander exhibition of iven at El Salado The men who exemplified it were of no particular nation As a matter of course, thethelishmen, Scotchmen, Irishmen, French, and Gere of their captors, now their judges, and about to become their executioners But when that helmet of horrible contents was carried round, and held before each, not one showed the slightest fear or hesitancy to plunge his hand into it, though knowing that what they should bring up between their fingers hter a their comrades, by some quaint _jeu d'esprit_ One reckless fellow--no other than Cris Rock--as he fearlessly rattled the beans about, cried aloud--

”Wal, boys, I guess it's the tallest gamblin' I've ever took a hand at

But this child ain't afeerd I was born to good luck, an' ao under--jest yet”

The event justified his confidence, as he drew _blank_--not _black_, the fatal colour

It was now Kearney's turn to undergo the dread ordeal; and, without flinching, he was about to insert his hand into the hel hold of it, stayed him

”No, Cap!” he exclaimed; ”I'm nded, putty bad, as ye see,”--(he had received a lance thrust in their struggle with the Guards)--”an' it over it Thurfor, your life's worth ood jest now So let me take your chance That's allowed, as these skunks hev sayed the been --from humane motives as pretended--that any one who could find a substitute rim mockery it seemed; and yet it was not so; since, besides Cris Rock, eous fellow proposed the same to comrade and friend--in the case of two brothers the elder one insisting upon it

Though fully, fervently appreciating the generous offer, Florence Kearney was not the man to avail himself of it

”Thanks, brave co his hand fro it into the helmet ”What's left of your life yet is worth ood as yours--we'll see”

It proved so, athe line as they saw his hand drawn out with a white bear between the fingers

”Thanks to the Alhty!” joyously shouted the Texan, as he made out the colour ”Both o' us clar o' that scrape, by Job! An' as there ain't no need for in”

And get well he did, despite the long after ues; his health and strength being co within his prison-cell in the city of Mexico

CHAPTER TEN

THE ACORDADA

One of the most noted ”lions” in the City of Mexico is the prison called La Acordada Few strangers visit the Mexican capital without also paying a visit to this celebrated penal establishloo to sadden the heart, and be ever afterwards renance and pain

There is, perhaps, no prison in the universal world where one may witness so many, and such a variety of criminals; since there is no crime known to the calendar that has not been coaol-birds of the Acordada

Its cells, or cloisters--for the building was once a ers, ravishers, highway robbers, and a fair ad cowed or repentant, but boldly brazening it out, and even boasting of their deeds of villainy, fierce and strong as when doing them, save the disabled ones, who suffer from wounds or some loathsome disease

Nor is all their criminal action suspended inside the prison walls It is carried on within their cells, and still more frequently in the courtyards of the ancient convent, where they are permitted to meet in common and spend a considerable portion of their tireasy, squatted on the flags, card-playing--and cheating when they can--now and then quarrelling, but always talking loud and cursing

Into the raded humanity were thrust two of the unfortunate prisoners, taken at the battle of Mier--the thom our tale has alone to do

For reasons that need not be told, radation; the h the city to the pleasant suburban village of Tacubaya

But Florence Kearney and Cris Rock were not aned to the horrid pandemonium we have painted