Then Conselhiero made his way to a mountain, where he encamped with his
followers, and prepared to defy the authorities.

The Governor, still thinking the whole affair was but an insignificant
riot, sent a small body of soldiers after the insurgents, with orders to
make them break up their camp and move off.

When the soldiers arrived at Conselhiero's encampment, they made very
light of being sent out to disperse a body of tramps and vagabonds.

Their amusement did not last long. A number of women, armed with heavy
swords, rushed out upon them, and attacked them so furiously that they
were forced to run for their lives.

More troops were sent out by the Governor, and three times were they
beaten by Conselhiero's strange army of women and men.

The authorities refused to believe that there was anything serious in
these defeats, and persisted in thinking "the fanatics," as Conselhiero's
followers are called, a parcel of crazy lunatics who would soon come to
their senses.

At last when it was found that Conselhiero was preaching the return of the
monarchy to the people, and that peasants and soldiers were alike flocking
to his standard, in the hope of seeing a prince on the throne of Brazil,
they began to see that this man was by no means crazy, but that he was a
very serious enemy who must be seriously treated.

There is a very strong wish in the hearts of many Brazilians for the
return of the monarchy, and numbers of influential people are joining