doing nothing. Come on, let's go and warn the rest of the
boys."

The news met with cries of joy.

"Ah, we're going to meet them!" cried Pancracio jubi-
lantly, first among them to rejoice.

"Of course, we're going to meet them! We'll strip them
clean of everything they brought with them."

A few moments later, amid cries of joy and a bustle of
arms, they began saddling their horses. But the enemy
turned out to be a few burros and two Indians, driving
them forward.

"Stop them, anyhow. They must have come from some-
where and they've probably news for us," Demetrio
said.

Indeed, their news proved sensational. The Federal
troops had fortified the hills in Zacatecas; this was said
to be Huerta's last stronghold, but everybody predicted
the fall of the city. Many families had hastily fled south-
ward. Trains were overloaded with people; there was a
scarcity of trucks and coaches; hundreds of people,
panic-stricken, walked along the highroad with their be-
longings in a pack slung over their shoulders. General
Panfilo Natera was assembling his men at Fresnillo; the
Federals already felt it was all up with them.