Some said that there ought to be an uprising, others desired to fly, though they saw this pact, like an anathema, which would follow them everywhere, a sentence of death. Death and dishonor if they fulfilled it; death and dishonor if they did not. There were some who wept with rage. I attempted to console them as well as I could and gradually they departed until, finally, only Crispin Medina and Juan Valadéz were with me. “Did you sign?” I asked them. “Unfortunately yes, but only on one of the copies.” “On which?” “On that of Don Julio.” At that moment, he entered. “Are you still talking of that unhappy document?” he asked us. “Yes, sir.” “And what do you think?” “We think, General,” I said to him, “as every worthy man, who respects himself and who desires an honorable career in politics, must think; this agreement is absurd because impracticable; it is hateful because it wars against all the good sentiments of mankind; and it is monstrous, immoral, iniquitous, because it orders destruction and slaughter.” “You are right,” he answered. “I ought not to have agreed so far with Rojas, and for my part, the compact is broken from this moment.” He drew forth his copy and tore it to pieces. The next day on taking up our line of march, Rojas said to me: “You not only do not sign yourself but breed disaffection among the other leaders.” I frankly told him my opinion, which he heard with interest. When I had finished he added: “I am not shooting you now, because Julio and his people forbid it.... But, we will see later.... We have a lot of unsettled accounts.” He cast a sinister glance at me and then left, urging his horse to a gallop. JOSÉ LÓPEZ-PORTILLO Y ROJAS. [Illustration] José López-Portillo y Rojas was born at Guadalajara May 26, 1850. His father was an eminent lawyer and teacher in the law school. Son of wealthy parents, the young man was given every opportunity for study, first in his home city and later at the capital. His final studies in law were made at Guadalajara, where, in 1871, he became _licenciado_. His parents then gave him an opportunity for foreign travel. He visited the United States, Great Britain and Ireland, France and Italy, Egypt and the Holy Land. On his return he published his _Impresiones de viaje_ (Impressions of Travel). Since that time Señor López-Portillo y Rojas, has practiced law, represented his state in the National Congress, taught in the law school and done important work in journalism. His writings are always clear, direct and marked by a literary style of unusual grace and purity. Besides his scattered articles and the book already mentioned, he has edited--with notable scholarship--the interesting _Cronica de Jalisco_ (Chronicle of Jalisco) of Fray Antonio Tello, and written a novel, _La Parcela_ (The Piece of Land). It is from this last work that our selections are taken.