According to the monastic regulation, which Trujano had imposed upon the besieged, they were each day called together to _oration_. On this morning, however, their reunion was earlier than usual: since it had for its object not only the ordinary prayers, but preparation for the combat that was to decide the issue of a long and irksome siege. At the same hour the Royalist camp was aroused by the beating of drums and bugles sounding the _reveille_; while behind the chain of hills that bounded the plain Morelos was silently setting his army in motion. In a few minutes the Piazza of Huajapam was filled with citizens and soldiers, all armed for the fight. They stood in silent groups, awaiting the prayer that would endue them with the necessary energy and enthusiasm. The horsemen were dismounted--each man standing by the head of his horse, and in the order in which they were accustomed to range themselves. Trujano appeared in his turn, his countenance solemn, yet smiling, with confidence in his heart as upon his lips. He was armed, according to his custom, with a long two-edged sword, which he had oft-times wielded with terrible effect. By his side marched Captain Lantejas, who for the time being was acting as an aide-de-camp. Behind them came a soldier, holding in hand two horses fully equipped for the field. One of these was the war-horse of Trujano himself; the other was intended for the aide-de-camp. Over the withers of the animal destined for the ex-student of theology rose a long lance, strapped to the stirrup and the pummel of the saddle. Don Cornelio would have had a difficulty in declaring why he had armed himself in this fashion. In reality, the lance was not a weapon of his own choosing, since he had never had any practice in the handling of one; but the horse had been brought to him thus equipped, and he passively accepted the lance, for the same reason that he was allowing himself to be led into the fight:--because he could not help it. The matin prayers were not extended to any great length of time. The dawn was already commencing to show itself in the east; and it would not be a great while before the sun would cast his golden bearing over the plains of Huajapam. The religious insurgent was deeply versed in Scripture. Many portions of the Bible were so familiar to him, that he could correctly repeat them without referring to the sacred book. In a voice, every tone of which was heard to the most distant corner of the Piazza, he repeated the following verses--the meaning of which was rendered more solemn by the circumstances under which they were recited:-- "The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. The dawn is come to those who dwell in the region of the shadow of death." "Lord, thou hast blessed thy land; thou hast delivered Jacob from captivity. Glory to the most high." A thousand voices repeated "Glory to the most high!"