The Revolt.                                         <*S
selves in their true colours, justly fearing punishment ; but so soon-as the count left
duaymas for Pitic, they threw off the mask, and in company with a few scamps of
their own stamp, whom they picked up iu the slums aoout the port, commenced a
life of disor 'er and debauchery.
Colonel Florès and Don Antonio did not fail to profit by the irregular conduct of
these men and planted spies upon them, who excite 1 them by all the means at their
command to redouble their disorderly conduct. These emissaries cleverly spread the
repor* that Don Louis had purposely deceived his comrades, that the mines of the
Plancha de la Plata had no existent, that he had obtained no concession, and that
his object was very different from what he had stated to his followers.
These calumnies, at first weak and as it were ashamed to expose themselves in
broad daylight in a short time obtained a degree of consistency ; and a great fermen-
tation was visible in the company. The officets, justly alarmed at what was pass-
ing, assembled in council, and resolved to warn the count of the alarming srate of
matters, and the dangers that menaced the expedition.
Colonel Florès, as delegate of the government, was present at this council, and
gav- his opinion that a courier should be despatched to the count at once. The
courier was reallv sent off, but almost immediately intercepted. This happened on
the third day after the count's departure. The officer to whom he mtiusted the
command reassured by the departure of the courier, and desirous lo coyer his respon-
sibility by executing the orders he had receivec... ordered the assembly to be sounded
at davbreak of the fourth day, and issued oiders for immediate departure.
Mu'rmurs broke out on all sides, cries and yells were heard, and for some time
there was an inextricable confusion. Colonel F.oiès had hurned up, on hearing
what was taking place. He insinuated that it would be probably imprudent to
leave Guaymas, with the soldiers in their present state of excitement, and that it
would be better to await the count's return, who warned by the courier sent off the
previous day, would doubtlessly arrive at once, and a hundred other more or less
specious arguments.                                                                               .        .
But the temporary commandant was an old African soldier, trained in habits of
discipline and who only obeyed his orders. He replied sharplv to the c -lonel that
he be»ged him to attend to his own affairs, for what was occulting in no way con-
cerned him. As for himself he had his orders, and would ob;y them, whatever the
consequences might be.                                                                   _ .
Colonel Florès finding himself so sharply taken up, and perceiving that he was on
the wrong toad, immediately changed his b .tteries, and perfectly coincided with the
officer whom he utged to continue as he had begun, and not yield an inch to the
insuboidmation of his soldiers. The commandant shrugged his shoulders contempt-
uously at these new suggestions from the worthy colonel, and walking into the
middle of the yard, where the soldiers, forming scattered groups, were consulting
together, he ordered the buglers to sound the assembly.
Hs was at once obeyed ; but the adventurers yelled at the buglers, and redoubled
their shouts and vociferations. The commandant remained motionless on the
spot he had selected, with his arms folded on his chest ; when the buglers had given
the call, he pulled out his watch and coolly looked at the hour. The insurgents
watched him ciosely, the other officers had come s*-**, and ranged themselves round
their chief.                                                                                     .                           ' -- -
" Return to your squads, gentlemen," he said to them in a clear voice, whicn,
though net n-ised above the tone of an ordinary conversation, was distinctly heard by
all.    Your men have five minutes to fall in; we shall start in a quaiter of an
A prolonged laugh greeted these words. The commandant returned his sabre to
iU scabbard, and  walked with a measured step up to one of the scamps who had