Part 20 (1/2)

He felt good as sure there was soe which had just passed He now no longer doubted having seen his old captain in it But how ca? He had been in the city, that's certain--was now out of it, and going at a speed that ustin by that route There were troops quartered there; had they declared for the Liberals?

It ht be so, and Rivas was on his way to ht appear on the _calzada_, at the corner round which the carriage had just turned

The sergeant was now in a state of nervous perplexity Although his eyes were on the road his thoughts were not there, but all turned inward, coht he to take? That of the _Liberales_ or the _Parti Pretre_? He had been upon both through two or three alternate changes, and still he was but a _sargento_ And as he had been serving Santa Anna for a longer spell than usual, without a single step of pro the Republican party one -coveted epaulette of _alferez_

While still occupied with his a to decide into which scale he should throw the weight of his sword, un once more boomed out, answered by the canon of Chapultepec

Still, there was no cracking of rifles, nor continuous rattle of musketry, such as should be heard coincident with that cry which in the Mexican overne not only to hiht be a parley--the cal would yet burst forth, in full fusillade--such as they had been accusto on, however, they heard not that; only the bells, bells, bells, jingling all over the city, as though it were on fire, those of the cathedral leading the orchestra of caun fro one from the ”Su patience, beginning to fear there would be no _pronuncia, when the notes of a cavalry bugle broke upon their ears

”At last!” cried one, speaking the h the sound were a relief to the of it So, _ca will be the cracking of carbines!”

They all ran to the stack ofas before; but not to hear any cracking of carbines

Instead, the bugle again brayed out its truh only infantry men, they understood

There was the ”Quick march!” and ”Double quick!” but they had no time to reflect on what it was for, nor need, as just then a troop of Hussars was seen defiling out froallop

In a few seconds they were up to the gate, which, being still open, they could have passed through, without stop or parley For all, theyup, and shouting back along the line--

”_Alto_!”

The ”halt” was proclai cohort to a stand

”_Sargento_!” thundered he at their head to the guard-sergeant, ith his ain at ”Present arrey horses, five men in it?”

”Only four men, Senor Colonel; but all the rest as you describe it”

”Only four! What can that s?”

”The sa since it passed?”

”Not quite twenty one round the corner; yonder where you see the dust stirring”

”_Adelante_!” cried the colonel, without waiting to question further, and as the truallop!” the Hussar troop went sweeping through the gate, leaving the guard-sergeant and his rin; he, their chief spokes with a sorrowful air--

”Well _horito_, after all!”

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

AN ILL-USED COACHMAN