On finding himself alone, he reduced the speed of his horse to a walk, and became absorbed in a reverie of reflection. The last words of Trujano--what could they mean? "_The road is open for you, believe me_." Was it an assurance that he should be welcomed at the hacienda of Las Palmas? Should he proceed thither, as the insurgent colonel had counselled him? or should he go direct to Del Valle, to make arrangements for his last campaign against the brigand Arroyo? Once more had commenced the struggle between love and duty. Don Rafael would not have hesitated long as to the course he should pursue, had some good genius only made known to him a certain fact--that at that same hour an accident was occurring at the hacienda Del Valle, of a nature to reconcile the two conflicting sentiments that had warped the thread of his destiny. A messenger from Don Mariano--the same who had brought back Roncador to Del Valle--had on that very day again presented himself at the hacienda. This time his errand was one of a purely personal nature--to Don Rafael Tres-Villas himself. "Where are you from?" demanded Veraegui of the messenger, in his usual blunt Catalonian fashion. "Oajaca!" "Who has sent you?" "Don Mariano de Silva." "What do you want with the Colonel?" "I can only declare my errand to the Colonel himself." "Then you will have to go to Huajapam first--that is, unless you prefer to wait till he arrives here. We expect him in three or four days." "I prefer going to Huajapam," rejoined the man "my errand is of such a nature that it will not bear delay." This messenger was on his way to Huajapam, and not more than thirty leagues from the town, at the moment when Don Rafael was leaving it to proceed in the opposite direction. Meanwhile Trujano, returning to the field of battle covered with the bodies of his dead and wounded enemies, caused all his soldiers to kneel, and publicly render thanks to God for having delivered them from their long and painful siege. Morelos at the same moment ordered his troops to prostrate themselves in prayer; and then a psalm was sung by all in chorus, to consecrate the important victory they had gained. Don Rafael was still not so distant from the field but that he could hear the swelling of many voices in the pious chaunt. The sounds fell with melancholy effect upon his ears, until the tears began to chase themselves over his cheeks. In reviewing the circumstances which had influenced him to change his line of conduct in regard to this revolution, he reflected that had he given way to more generous instincts, and not allowed himself to be forced astray by the desire of fulfilling a rash vow, his voice would at that moment have been mingling with theirs--one of the loudest in giving thanks for the success of a cause of which he was now the irreconcilable enemy!