The Rebel Chief

ain, more than five and twenty leagues in circumfe

ed, cut up by ravines, studded with hills, and closed

ry, as pulque, that beverage so dear to the Mexicans, is

, whose leaves, armed with formidable points, are thick

e to the city of Cholula, formerly very important, but which, now fallen fr

the sanctuary of the religion. Considerable ruins, very remarkable from an archaeological point of view, still bear witness to the truth of

hich the inhabitants of the country give the name of Monte hecho a ma

remedios," is entirely constructed of bricks, its height is one hundred and seventy feet, and its base, according to

unknown cradle of the Egyptian pyramids, whose construction they refer to the deluge; and the same was the case in Mexico. On this subject he r

rated savant, and relate here this tradition, s

f these giants, of the name of Xelhua, who was an architect, erected near Cholula, in memory of the mountain of Tlaloc, which had served as a refuge to him and his brothers, an artificial column of a pyramidal form. The gods, seeing with jealousy, this edifice, whose peak

ding the Biblical account of the

d to the celebrated professor, but which we, in spite of our

s not even a Mexican name-is the god of the air, the god legislator par excellence; he was white and bearded, his black cloak was studded with red crosses,

d give them laws; he consented, and remained for twenty years among them. After which, considering his mission temporarily terminated, he went to t

rected on the pyramid, still prayed to Quetzalcoatl, whose return among them they piously awa

vered with earth on all sides; it is a thoroughly wooded mount, the top

laid bare the sun-dried brick

the pyramid at the very spot where the t

f love has been substituted for a barbarous and cruel faith; it would ha

very simple reason that this temple was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, and that the only offerings laid on the altar of this god consisted of productions of the earth,

t incessantly changed their colour, and gradually assumed all the colours of the rainbow, until they at last became blended into one red mass; day

ped up in their sarapes,

suddenly turned to the right and entered a

thout running the risk of breaking one's neck twenty times in ten minutes. Here and there came arroyos, which had to be crossed with the water up to the horses' girths; then there were mounds to ascend and descend; lastly,

o's rancho, which was reached by steps cut a

t the two strangers

the barrels of their guns into a crevice at the base of t

pletely to adhere to the ground, became slowly detached, turned on invisible hinge

t through a great number of imperceptible f

said one of t

up above?" th

there in an hour, unles

at is und

ed up, and, at a signal from López, entered

the present,

exactly into the rock, that there was not the slightest solution of continuity, and it would have been impossible to find t

rounding plain, seeking, doubtless, to assure himself that he was re

rew his gun on his shoulder, and began slowly ascendi

er, Puebla, with its numerous painted and conical cupolas, which made it resemble an eastern city. Then the eye wandered

early hour, and which the first sunbeams were beginning to gild with lustrous tints: then, after breathing a suppressed

ior was more comfortably arranged than might have been reasonably expected in a country where the exig

world. They represented different episodes in the wars of the empires, and were decently framed and glazed. In a corner, about six feet from the ground, a statuette, representing Nuestra Se?ora de Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico, was placed on a mahogany console, edged with points, on which were fixed yellow wax taper

and which was most unexpected in such a place: it was a Black Forest cuckoo clock, s

entrance door, and placed exa

n the right int

stranger entered the ra

to which he drew a butaca, then rolled a husk cigarette, which he lit and smoked as calmly an

! I have time: he wil

k in the butaca; his eyes closed, his hand loosed its hold of

ty woman, twenty-three at the most, with blue eyes and light hair, came into the room stealthily,

graceful whole which pleased at the first glance. Her excessively white complexion distinguished her from the other rancheros' wives, who are genera

a finger laid on her lip, doubtless to recommend two persons who follow

their rather ordinary features had nothing striking about them, ex

Mexican rancheros; as for

the stranger, stopped before

ed through the open window, an

he sprang up suddenly and opened his eyes; "Wh

ero replied, in the same languag

s a joyous waking for me, since I find you at my side. Good day! Louise, my girl. Good day! Mother Thérè

woke up, Mr. Oliver," t

you were doubtless f

n it. You did not expec

hérèse replied; "López inf

d his tongue," Oliver said, gaily

with us, I hope?" th

vaquero said; "I should like to se

said, laughingly; "do no

ed by Thérèse, who was her mother, as Lo?ck was her father,

ing Mexican, I do not expect the fr

ed, with a smile; "We will

news doubles

o the dining room, preparing the breakfast, and laying the table,

atisfied?" Olive

s de la Cruz is a good master; besides, as

ou only depend o

a worthy man, although a majord

therwise. However, it was on my recommendation that you c

m you of it, Mr. Oliver; but i

er looked at

going wrong elsew

" the vaquero stammere

shook h

m, sternly, "the conditions I imposed o

not forget

ve not

N

ue still beli

d hanging his head; "bu

es you su

e prairies, his character has completely changed. The ten years

ing," the adventurer rem

rror, "musing is a bad counsellor: I was very guilty, b

hy I pardoned you. Justice will be

at having been mixed up in this sinister

centrated energy-"very terrible ind

sigh, which did n

he said, with a sudden change

him too well, sir; he is alw

he is not here

"he has gone out: hang it, he is free,

red in a gloomy voice. Then sud

s brea

to the efforts of the adventurer, the former gaiety soon returne

ez suddenly ent

do not know what he is bringing, but he is

rancho, they really saw a man leading a horse by the bridl

hem from distinguishing

r attentively examining the arrival for some moments,

eps, to the amazement of the vaquero and the two women who soon saw

o men and had halted to await