Not until several hours after the arrival of Don Cornelio did the
insurgent Colonel warn his troops of the coming event. Then they were
instructed to be ready at the first dawn of day, for a sortie against
the Royalist camp--which at the same instant of time was to be attacked
by Morelos on the opposite side.
While the shadows of night were still hanging above the beleaguered
town, a singular noise was heard proceeding from the Piazza. It
resembled the creaking of a watchman's rattle, or rather half-a-dozen of
these instruments that had been sprung together. Such in reality it
was: for since the church bells had been converted into cannon, the
rattles of the _serenos_ had been substituted as a means by which to
summon the inhabitants to prayers!
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."