neighboring ranches. The people hated the Government so bitterly that
they were overjoyed to furnish assistance to the rebels. Demetrio's
men, therefore, were peacefully waiting for the complete recovery of Demetrio's wound had already healed. They began to discuss various
projects to go northward where, according to rumor, the rebels had
beaten the Federal troops all along the line. Demetrio Macias rode at the head of his men; behind him the members of
his staff: Colonel Anastasio Montanez, Lieutenant-Colonel Pancracio, Suddenly, Demetrio finds himself alone. Bullets whiz past his ears like
hail. He dismounts and crawls over the rocks, until he finds a parapet: "What do you say, boys?" Demetrio asked them as soon as the old man had
disappeared.

"To hell with the mochos! We'll kill every blasted one of them!" they
cried in unison. Demetrio, standing like a furious bull in the middle of the arena, cast
fierce glances at all the bystanders, Luis Cervantes, Anastasio,
Manteca, and the others. Bending over them, the rebels stripped those among the soldiers who
were best clad, laughing and joking as they despoiled them. Brushing
back his long hair, that had fallen over his sweating forehead and
covered his eyes, Demetrio said: A curse broke from Demetrio's parched lips.

"Fire at 'em. Shoot any man who runs away!"

"Storm the hill!" he thundered like a wild beast. Venancio's shout of protest was drowned out in the loud laughter of the
others. Demetrio, looking pale and sallow, motioned for silence. Then,
plaintively: Now it was Demetrio's men who screamed insults. Manteca, his smooth
face swollen in exertion, yelled his lungs out. Pancracio roared, the Demetrio's men camped in a corral.

"Do you remember Camilla?" Demetrio asked with a sigh as he settled on
his back on the manure pile where the rest were already stretched out. "Viva Demetrio Macias," they all shouted. Demetrio smiles and without further delay calls to his men to come in.
Like hungry dogs who have sniffed their meat, the mob bursts in, Demetrio buckled his cartridge belt about his waist and picked up his
rifle. He was tall and well built, with a sanguine face and beardless On the day General Natera began his advance against the town of
Zacatecas, Demetrio with a hundred men went to meet him at Fresnillo.

The leader received him cordially. Demetrio shook his bead.

"You wouldn't do that!"

"Why not? What are we staying on for? ... What cause are we defending
now?" When Demetrio announces that he will not allow looting and orders them
to disband, the mob, disconsolate, obeys him, and soon scatters; but The enthusiasm and rejoicing were general. Demetrio's friends, in the
excitement of drunkenness, offered their services. Demetrio was so For a second, Demetrio glanced at the soldiers' black coats hanging on
the wall, then at his own men, thick on the church tower behind the
iron rail. He smiled with satisfaction and turning to his men said: The enemy scatter in all directions, pursuing the few fugitives hiding
in the brush. Demetrio aims; he does not waste a single shot.
Once more Camilla glanced adoringly at Luis Cervantes' radiant, clean
face; at his glaucous, soft eyes, his cheeks pink and polished as a Camilla continued to cross-question him with such familiarity that she
suddenly found herself addressing him intimately, in the singular tu.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Luis Cervantes had ceased listening to
her. He thought: The more distrait and indifferent Luis Cervantes grew, the bolder
Camilla. At last, she said: "Listen to me, you nice young fellow, I "Camilla? What girl do you mean, Demetrio?"

"The girl that used to feed me up there at the ranch!" "What's your name?" he asked.

"Camilla."

"Ah, there's a lovely name! And the girl that bears it, lovelier still!" "I'll tell you, War Paint.... It's funny, but I'm beginning to fall for
him....  Would you believe it!" Camilla whispered back. "Liar!" Camilla said, her face transfigured with joy. "Suppose I hadn't
come after you?"

"I intended to say good-bye to you at the dance this evening." "Of course!" she replied.

They went on. The valley was lost in darkness; stars came out. Demetrio
put his arm around Camilla's waist amorously and whispered in her ear. At sundown, Camilla went to the river to fetch water as usual.  Luis
Cervantes, walking down the same trail, met her.  Camilla felt her That evening, there was much merrymaking at the dance, and a great
quantity of mezcal was drunk. "I miss Camilla," said Demetrio in a loud
voice. Everybody looked about for Camilla. "Why do you say that, Camilla?  You've been extremely kind to me; why,
you've been more than a friend, you've taken care of me as if you were Camilla's tongue clove to her mouth, heavy and damp as a rag; she could
not utter a word. A blush suffused her cheeks, turning them red as "I think," Venancio expressed his opinion with great seriousness, "that
if Camilla woke up in the General's bed, it was just a mistake. We gave him rags. He was careful to avoid questioning her. Three days
later, Camilla reappeared, more coy and eager than ever. Camilla wept all night. On the morrow at dawn, she begged Demetrio to
let her return home.

"If you don't like me, all right," he answered sullenly. "Why did you let them?" Demetrio asked indolently.

The man persisted, lamenting and weeping. Luis Cervantes was about to
throw him out with an insult. But Camilla intervened. Camilla felt something rise within her breast, an empty ache that
became a knot when it reached her throat; she closed her eyes fast to Camilla blushed. As he sought to seize her wrist, she grew frightened,
and Picking up the empty pitcher, flew out the door. Utterly at a loss, Camilla could not answer. Then he burst into
laughter again and repeated the question. A sense of confusion came
upon her. Disturbed, troubled, she said brokenly: Luis Cervantes hurried toward her with some cotton; but Camilla,
choking down her sobs and wiping her eyes, said hoarsely:
Camilla continued to cross-question him with such familiarity that she
suddenly found herself addressing him intimately, in the singular tu.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Luis Cervantes had ceased listening to
her. He thought: "Camilla? What girl do you mean, Demetrio?"

"The girl that used to feed me up there at the ranch!" The more distrait and indifferent Luis Cervantes grew, the bolder
Camilla. At last, she said: "Listen to me, you nice young fellow, I "What's your name?" he asked.

"Camilla."

"Ah, there's a lovely name! And the girl that bears it, lovelier still!" "La Adelita," the revolutionary song, to the settlement. Camilla, who
had come out when Maria Antonia shouted, could no longer control "I think," Venancio expressed his opinion with great seriousness, "that
if Camilla woke up in the General's bed, it was just a mistake. We and work." Then, aside to Camilla: "There's always more damned fools in
the valley than among us folk in the sierra, don't you think?" Once more Camilla glanced adoringly at Luis Cervantes' radiant, clean
face; at his glaucous, soft eyes, his cheeks pink and polished as a "Why did you let them?" Demetrio asked indolently.

The man persisted, lamenting and weeping. Luis Cervantes was about to
throw him out with an insult. But Camilla intervened. "Why do you say that, Camilla?  You've been extremely kind to me; why,
you've been more than a friend, you've taken care of me as if you were "Give Camilla the roan mare," Demetrio ordered Pancracio, who was
already saddling the horses.

"Camilla can't go!" said War Paint promptly. At sundown, Camilla went to the river to fetch water as usual.  Luis
Cervantes, walking down the same trail, met her.  Camilla felt her That evening, there was much merrymaking at the dance, and a great
quantity of mezcal was drunk. "I miss Camilla," said Demetrio in a loud
voice. Everybody looked about for Camilla. Camilla felt something rise within her breast, an empty ache that
became a knot when it reached her throat; she closed her eyes fast to gave him rags. He was careful to avoid questioning her. Three days
later, Camilla reappeared, more coy and eager than ever. War Paint called Camilla aside. Luis Cervantes hurried toward her with some cotton; but Camilla,
choking down her sobs and wiping her eyes, said hoarsely: Camilla, suddenly she reached out, seized the other's hair and pulled
with all her might. Camilla's horse shied; Camilla, trying to brush her Camilla's tongue clove to her mouth, heavy and damp as a rag; she could
not utter a word. A blush suffused her cheeks, turning them red as Utterly at a loss, Camilla could not answer. Then he burst into
laughter again and repeated the question. A sense of confusion came
upon her. Disturbed, troubled, she said brokenly:
sides. Did not the sufferings of the underdogs, of the disinherited
masses, move him to the core? Henceforth he espoused the cause of "Get those coming up from under! Los de Abajo! Get the underdogs!" he
screamed.

Now his fellows were exchanging rifles, laughing and making wagers on
their marksmanship. "As I was saying," Luis Cervantes resumed, "when the revolution is
over, everything is over. Too bad that so many men have been killed, "I've been a rebel the last two months!"

"Oh, I see!  That's why you speak with such faith and enthusiasm about
things we all felt when we joined the revolution." "I wanted to fight for the sacred cause of the oppressed, but you don't
understand ... you cast me aside.... Very well, then, you can do as you
please with me!" "The revolution benefits the poor, the ignorant, all those who have
been slaves all their lives, all the unhappy people who do not even "You ask me why I am still a rebel? Well, the revolution is like a
hurricane: if you're in it, you're not a man ... you're a leaf, a dead
leaf, blown by the wind." "How beautiful the revolution! Even in its most barbarous aspect it is
beautiful," Solis said with deep feeling. Then a vague melancholy
seized him, and speaking low: "Nonsense! Rot! What kind of doctor do you think you are? You're no
doctor at all. I'll wager you've already forgotten why you ever joined
us," said Quail. His staff obeys. Monico and the ladies kiss his hands, weeping with
gratitude. The mob in the street, talking and laughing, stands waiting
for the general's permission to ransack the cacique's house. Yes, failure! For he had never learned to appreciate exactly the
difference between fulminating sentences of death upon bandits in the
columns of a small country newspaper and actually setting out in search This signal insult was destined to bear poisonous fruit. Luis Cervantes
determined to play turncoat; indeed, mentally, he had already changed When Demetrio announces that he will not allow looting and orders them
to disband, the mob, disconsolate, obeys him, and soon scatters; but "That's nothing. We're going to do things different now. They tell me
that as soon as Crispin Robles enters a town he gets hold of all the Venancio's shout of protest was drowned out in the loud laughter of the
others. Demetrio, looking pale and sallow, motioned for silence. Then,
plaintively: She threw away the leaf she had crumpled in her hand and covered her
face with a corner of her apron. When she opened her eyes, Luis
Cervantes had disappeared. Late in the afternoon Luis Cervantes rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had
been sleeping on the hard pavement, close to the trunk of a fruit tree.
Anastasio, Pancracio and Quail slept nearby, breathing heavily. "See here, brothers," he said, "I spits out the truth when I sees
something. I always tell the boss that if these people stick to us very Luis Cervantes gave himself away. His eyes shone with such an obvious
greed that Quail recanted and said: together. A week later, after his first skirmish against the rebels, he
understood every rule of the game. Luis Cervantes would have taken up a
"I've been a rebel the last two months!"

"Oh, I see!  That's why you speak with such faith and enthusiasm about
things we all felt when we joined the revolution." We are not fighting to dethrone a miserable murderer, we are fighting
against tyranny itself. What moves us is what men call ideals; our The rebels were a maddened mob, sunburnt, filthy, naked. Their high
wide-brimmed straw hats hid their faces. The "high hats" came back as action is what men call fighting for a principle. A principle! That's
why Villa and Natera and Carranza are fighting; that's why we, every
man of us, are fighting." together. A week later, after his first skirmish against the rebels, he
understood every rule of the game. Luis Cervantes would have taken up a should use them. That means fighting. Against whom? For whom? That is
scarcely a matter of importance. revolutionists or bandits, call them what you will, were going to
depose the Government. Tomorrow would therefore belong wholly to them.
A man must consequently be on their side, only on their side. about the strength of the assailants, he had remained extremely quiet
and prudent; but now that they had driven the rebels back without
allowing them a chance to fire a single shot, he waxed bold and brave. "You ask me why I am still a rebel? Well, the revolution is like a
hurricane: if you're in it, you're not a man ... you're a leaf, a dead
leaf, blown by the wind." "The revolution benefits the poor, the ignorant, all those who have
been slaves all their lives, all the unhappy people who do not even right. Do you want to know why I'm a rebel? Well, I'll tell you. The prisoners grew confused; they looked at each other hesitatingly,
unable to give a prompt answer.

"They're Carranzistas," one of the soldiers said. "Well, I'm a revolutionist, too, you know. The Government drafted me
and I served as a private, but I managed to desert during the battle
the day before yesterday, and I've been walking about in search of you
all." "No. It's about their only pleasure after putting their bellies up as
targets for the enemy's bullets." Bending over them, the rebels stripped those among the soldiers who
were best clad, laughing and joking as they despoiled them. Brushing
back his long hair, that had fallen over his sweating forehead and
covered his eyes, Demetrio said: Another volley and a score of soldiers hurtled down from rock to rock.

"Come out, bandits. Come out, you starved dogs!"

"To hell with you, you corn rustlers!" Republic. No--we fought to defend the sacred rights of the people
against the tyranny of some vile cacique. And so, just as Villa or "Get those coming up from under! Los de Abajo! Get the underdogs!" he
screamed.

Now his fellows were exchanging rifles, laughing and making wagers on
their marksmanship. happy that he could scarcely speak. They were going to fight Orozco and
his men! At last, they would pit themselves against real men! At last "I wanted to fight for the sacred cause of the oppressed, but you don't
understand ... you cast me aside.... Very well, then, you can do as you
please with me!"
"I've been a rebel the last two months!"

"Oh, I see!  That's why you speak with such faith and enthusiasm about
things we all felt when we joined the revolution." We are not fighting to dethrone a miserable murderer, we are fighting
against tyranny itself. What moves us is what men call ideals; our action is what men call fighting for a principle. A principle! That's
why Villa and Natera and Carranza are fighting; that's why we, every
man of us, are fighting." The rebels were a maddened mob, sunburnt, filthy, naked. Their high
wide-brimmed straw hats hid their faces. The "high hats" came back as together. A week later, after his first skirmish against the rebels, he
understood every rule of the game. Luis Cervantes would have taken up a "You ask me why I am still a rebel? Well, the revolution is like a
hurricane: if you're in it, you're not a man ... you're a leaf, a dead
leaf, blown by the wind." revolutionists or bandits, call them what you will, were going to
depose the Government. Tomorrow would therefore belong wholly to them.
A man must consequently be on their side, only on their side. should use them. That means fighting. Against whom? For whom? That is
scarcely a matter of importance. about the strength of the assailants, he had remained extremely quiet
and prudent; but now that they had driven the rebels back without
allowing them a chance to fire a single shot, he waxed bold and brave. "The revolution benefits the poor, the ignorant, all those who have
been slaves all their lives, all the unhappy people who do not even right. Do you want to know why I'm a rebel? Well, I'll tell you. "No. It's about their only pleasure after putting their bellies up as
targets for the enemy's bullets." "Well, I'm a revolutionist, too, you know. The Government drafted me
and I served as a private, but I managed to desert during the battle
the day before yesterday, and I've been walking about in search of you
all." Yes, failure! For he had never learned to appreciate exactly the
difference between fulminating sentences of death upon bandits in the
columns of a small country newspaper and actually setting out in search "I wanted to fight for the sacred cause of the oppressed, but you don't
understand ... you cast me aside.... Very well, then, you can do as you
please with me!" happy that he could scarcely speak. They were going to fight Orozco and
his men! At last, they would pit themselves against real men! At last "As I was saying," Luis Cervantes resumed, "when the revolution is
over, everything is over. Too bad that so many men have been killed, them, saying, "Run for your lives." It was all crystal clear. Even his
noble-spirited horse, accustomed to battle, sought to sweep back on its Another volley and a score of soldiers hurtled down from rock to rock.

"Come out, bandits. Come out, you starved dogs!"

"To hell with you, you corn rustlers!" Bending over them, the rebels stripped those among the soldiers who
were best clad, laughing and joking as they despoiled them. Brushing
back his long hair, that had fallen over his sweating forehead and
covered his eyes, Demetrio said:
At the foot of a hollow, sumptuous and huge as the portico of an old
cathedral, Demetrio Macias, his eyes leveled in an eternal glance,
continues to point the barrel of his gun. His famous marksmanship fills him with joy. Where he settles his
glance, he settles a bullet. He loads his gun once more ... takes
aim.... Demetrio Macias smiles slyly. "Are friends," he asked, "usually
welcomed gun in hand?" Demetrio Macias' men grew silent for a moment. They believed they heard
the familiar rumor of firing in the distance. A few minutes elapsed but
the sound was not repeated. "Demetrio Macias!" the sergeant cried as he stepped back in terror.

The lieutenant stood up, silent, cold and motionless as a statue.

"Shoot them!" the woman croaked. Three blows with the butt of the rifle. Three more. No answer.
Pancracio disobeys orders. He fires, smashing the lock. The door opens. Demetrio Macias rode at the head of his men; behind him the members of
his staff: Colonel Anastasio Montanez, Lieutenant-Colonel Pancracio, In the brush and foliage of the sierra, Demetrio Macias and his
threescore men slept until the halloo of the horn, blown by Pancracio
from the crest of a peak, awakened them. He aimed at the large mirror on the opposite wall which gave back his
whole body in reflection. He took careful aim....

"Don't move, War Paint." "Get those coming up from under! Los de Abajo! Get the underdogs!" he
screamed.

Now his fellows were exchanging rifles, laughing and making wagers on
their marksmanship. "A shot, you say? All right, then, hand me my gun."

Anastasio Montanez rubbed his eyes, stretched out his arms and legs,
and stood up lazily. a shot lays him low. He falls like a bull pierced in the neck by the
matador's sword. Motionless, his smoking gun in his hand, Demetrio
waits for the soldiers to withdraw. "Twenty Mauser cartridges and a half yard of sausage if you let me
spill that lad riding the bay mare. All right! Watch me.... There! See
him jump! Like a bloody deer." as they gave orders, and soldiers, marching at ease, were clearly
audible. Demetrio raised his hand; the locks of rifles clicked. "Fire!"
he cried tensely. A loud volley of rifle shots rang out, deafening them. Demetrio's horse
reared, staggered on its hind legs, bent its forelegs, and fell to the On the morrow, casualties were reported. Always a few dead. An old
prostitute was found with a bullet through her stomach; two of Colonel
Macias' new men lay in the gutter, slit from ear to ear. motionless. Venancio falls close beside him, his chest riddled with
bullets. Meco hurtles over the precipice, bounding from rock to rock. Suddenly, Demetrio finds himself alone. Bullets whiz past his ears like
hail. He dismounts and crawls over the rocks, until he finds a parapet: The enemy scatter in all directions, pursuing the few fugitives hiding
in the brush. Demetrio aims; he does not waste a single shot. III

"General Macias, I want you to meet my future wife," Luis Cervantes
said with great emphasis as he led a beautiful girl into the dining
room.
"Now Chief," Cervantes pursued, "I took a fancy to you the first time I
laid eyes on you and I like you more and more every day because I Once more Camilla glanced adoringly at Luis Cervantes' radiant, clean
face; at his glaucous, soft eyes, his cheeks pink and polished as a "Right now I feel like getting damn drunk," Demetrio answered, spurring
his horse forward and leaving them as if he wished to abandon himself
entirely to his sadness.

After many hours of riding he called Cervantes. Camilla continued to cross-question him with such familiarity that she
suddenly found herself addressing him intimately, in the singular tu.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Luis Cervantes had ceased listening to
her. He thought: fighting!" Demetrio said, looking at the bulging sack of silver
Cervantes was passing to him. Cervantes left his seat to squat down by
Demetrio's side. Your affectionate friend,
  Luis Cervantes


Venancio finished reading the letter for the hundredth time and,
sighing, repeated: Luis Cervantes gave himself away. His eyes shone with such an obvious
greed that Quail recanted and said: "Set fire to the house!" he orders Luis Cervantes when they reach their
quarters.

With a curious eagerness Luis Cervantes does not transmit the order but
undertakes the task in person. Cervantes' feet. took us in.... She asked after you, Pancracio. Next morning Luis
Cervantes wakes me up. 'Quail, Quail, saddle the horses. Leave me mine Luis Cervantes, who already shared this hidden, implacably mortal
hatred of the upper classes, of his officers, and of his superiors, Luis Cervantes was obliging enough; he jumped down and joined her.

"You're proud, ain't you?  Have I been so mean that you don't even want
to talk to me?" The more distrait and indifferent Luis Cervantes grew, the bolder
Camilla. At last, she said: "Listen to me, you nice young fellow, I At sundown, Camilla went to the river to fetch water as usual.  Luis
Cervantes, walking down the same trail, met her.  Camilla felt her Luis Cervantes saw that the last remark was addressed to his bride;
with great surprise he realized that it was not Demetrio's foot he had Cervantes writhed at his friend's words; his argument was quite out of
place ... painful.... To avoid being forced to take issue, he invited
Solis to cite the circumstances that had destroyed his illusions. "I tell you honestly: I have been converted," Cervantes answered.

"Are you absolutely convinced?"

Solis sighed, filled the glasses; they drank. "Why did you let them?" Demetrio asked indolently.

The man persisted, lamenting and weeping. Luis Cervantes was about to
throw him out with an insult. But Camilla intervened. lulled by the narrator's mellifluous voice, began to snore. But Luis
Cervantes listened avidly and as soon as Venancio topped off his talk For three days she was nowhere to be found. It was always her mother,
Agapita, who answered Cervantes' call, and boiled the water for him and
His staff obeys. Monico and the ladies kiss his hands, weeping with
gratitude. The mob in the street, talking and laughing, stands waiting
for the general's permission to ransack the cacique's house. The general's staff smiled ... a sinister, malign smile....

Making their spurs ring against the pavement, they walked toward a
large pretentious house, obviously that of a cacique. "To the country of Monico the cacique!" possession to the earth. What man among them now remembered the stern
chief of police, the growling policeman, or the conceited cacique? What Republic. No--we fought to defend the sacred rights of the people
against the tyranny of some vile cacique. And so, just as Villa or protest against the evils of all the caciques who are overrunning the
whole nation. We are the elements of a social movement which will not They established themselves in a large gloomy house, which likewise
belonged to the cacique of Moyahua. The previous occupants had already Venancio was a barber. In his native town, he pulled teeth and
fulfilled the office of medicine man. He was accorded an unimpeachable Late in the afternoon Luis Cervantes rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had
been sleeping on the hard pavement, close to the trunk of a fruit tree.
Anastasio, Pancracio and Quail slept nearby, breathing heavily. Rosa or the other nearby ranches are on our side: they wouldn't try to
trail us. That cacique who's chased and run me ragged over these hills, Luis Cervantes saw his guards lying on top of a dung heap, snoring. In
his imagination, he reviewed the features of last night's men. One, "Look here, Chief," said Luis Cervantes. "You know that some of
Natera's men are at Juchipila, quite near here. I think we should join Dawn broke behind a cloud of fine reddish dust; the sun rose an immense
curtain of fiery purple. Luis Cervantes pulled his reins and waited for
Quail. "What's the last word on our deal, Quail?" "Get those coming up from under! Los de Abajo! Get the underdogs!" he
screamed.

Now his fellows were exchanging rifles, laughing and making wagers on
their marksmanship. 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. "By God, that chief of yours is a man!" Solis said. "What daring, what
assurance! He left me gasping--and a hell of a lot of other men with
more experience than me, too!" of the river margins, were playing cards. Anastasio Montanez, looking
on indifferently, turned his black hairy face toward Luis Cervantes
and, leveling his kindly gaze upon him, asked: "Well, I want to tell you something. You don't know that your chief is
a wicked man, do you? Shall I tell you what he did to me? You know "The fall of Zacatecas will be Huerta's requiescat in pace," Luis
Cervantes cried with unusual excitement. "We've got to be there before
the fight starts so that we can join Natera's army." They advanced toward the main road; in the distance they spied a figure
of an Indian sitting on the embankment. They drew up to him. He proved
Demetrio Macias rode at the head of his men; behind him the members of
his staff: Colonel Anastasio Montanez, Lieutenant-Colonel Pancracio, In the brush and foliage of the sierra, Demetrio Macias and his
threescore men slept until the halloo of the horn, blown by Pancracio
from the crest of a peak, awakened them. At the foot of a hollow, sumptuous and huge as the portico of an old
cathedral, Demetrio Macias, his eyes leveled in an eternal glance,
continues to point the barrel of his gun. Suddenly, Demetrio finds himself alone. Bullets whiz past his ears like
hail. He dismounts and crawls over the rocks, until he finds a parapet: Everything was still swathed in shadows as Demetrio Macias began his
descent to the bottom of the ravine. Between rocks striped with huge With all haste, Anastasio Montanez helped Demetrio up behind him on his
horse; the others retreated, seeking shelter along the walls of the
houses. Everything was silent, desolate. As soon as they saw men on horseback,
the people in the huts scurried into the hills to hide. Demetrio grew
indignant. Demetrio did not share the untoward exaltation. After all, they were
retreating defeated. He called Montanez and Pancracio aside and said: "Goddamn their souls, they've branded me!" Demetrio cried, his teeth
flashing.

Then, very swiftly, he slid down a gully and was lost.... Demetrio Macias' men grew silent for a moment. They believed they heard
the familiar rumor of firing in the distance. A few minutes elapsed but
the sound was not repeated. "Well, Demetrio, I think you had better hide, all the same."

Stolidly, the man finished eating; next he reached for a cantaro and
gulped down the water in it; then he stood up. "Demetrio Macias!" the sergeant cried as he stepped back in terror.

The lieutenant stood up, silent, cold and motionless as a statue.

"Shoot them!" the woman croaked. At midnight Demetrio Macias ordered the march to be resumed. The town
was five or six miles away; the best plan was to take the soldiers by
surprise, before reveille. "So your name is Demetrio Macias?" the girl asked suddenly. Seated on
the bar, she swung her legs; at every swing, the toes of her shoes
touched Demetrio's back. The soldiers had retreated; Demetrio began the search for the soldiers'
horses which had been hidden in the sierra. "So you're the famous Demetrio Macias, the hero of Zacatecas?" the girl
asked.

Demetrio bowed assent, while Blondie, laughing, said: "Viva Demetrio Macias," they all shouted. The enemy scatter in all directions, pursuing the few fugitives hiding
in the brush. Demetrio aims; he does not waste a single shot. A curse broke from Demetrio's parched lips.

"Fire at 'em. Shoot any man who runs away!"

"Storm the hill!" he thundered like a wild beast. VI

Demetrio Macias' wife, mad with joy, rushed along the trail to meet
him, leading a child by the hand. An absence of almost two years!
Luis Cervantes, who already shared this hidden, implacably mortal
hatred of the upper classes, of his officers, and of his superiors, "The fall of Zacatecas will be Huerta's requiescat in pace," Luis
Cervantes cried with unusual excitement. "We've got to be there before
the fight starts so that we can join Natera's army." together. A week later, after his first skirmish against the rebels, he
understood every rule of the game. Luis Cervantes would have taken up a "My name is Luis Cervantes, sir. I'm a medical student and a
journalist. I wrote a piece in favor of the revolution, you see; as a Luis Cervantes was obliging enough; he jumped down and joined her.

"You're proud, ain't you?  Have I been so mean that you don't even want
to talk to me?" "Look here, Chief," said Luis Cervantes. "You know that some of
Natera's men are at Juchipila, quite near here. I think we should join This signal insult was destined to bear poisonous fruit. Luis Cervantes
determined to play turncoat; indeed, mentally, he had already changed "Set fire to the house!" he orders Luis Cervantes when they reach their
quarters.

With a curious eagerness Luis Cervantes does not transmit the order but
undertakes the task in person. From then on, Luis Cervantes' prestige with the soldiers increased.
Some actually dared to make confessions. One among them, conspicuous Luis Cervantes gave himself away. His eyes shone with such an obvious
greed that Quail recanted and said: A certain incident came to precipitate their action. Seated on a crag
of the sierra in the cool of the afternoon breeze, Luis Cervantes gazed "It's positively infamous, senor; look," Luis Cervantes said, pointing
to the bloodstains on his trousers and to his bleeding face. "Are you Luis Cervantes?"

"Yes.  You're Solis, eh?" Late in the afternoon Luis Cervantes rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had
been sleeping on the hard pavement, close to the trunk of a fruit tree.
Anastasio, Pancracio and Quail slept nearby, breathing heavily. "Well, but ... look here, let's have a drink, come along." Then:

"Hm," Solis went on, offering Cervantes a chair, "since when have you
turned rebel?" "As I was saying," Luis Cervantes resumed, "when the revolution is
over, everything is over. Too bad that so many men have been killed, "The spy!" Luis Cervantes cried triumphantly. "Didn't I tell you?" "Don't you think it advisable to go to Aguascalientes first, General?"
Luis Cervantes asked.

"What for?"

"Our funds are melting slowly." "Well, you see, just this week we recruited over five hundred new men;
all the money's gone in advance loans and gratuities," Luis Cervantes
answered in a low voice. Luis Cervantes' eyes shone. He took the phosphate box, heavy with its
contents, and stood up smiling.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said. "Good night, General! Sleep well."
Demetrio Macias rode at the head of his men; behind him the members of
his staff: Colonel Anastasio Montanez, Lieutenant-Colonel Pancracio, "So you're the famous Demetrio Macias, the hero of Zacatecas?" the girl
asked.

Demetrio bowed assent, while Blondie, laughing, said: In the brush and foliage of the sierra, Demetrio Macias and his
threescore men slept until the halloo of the horn, blown by Pancracio
from the crest of a peak, awakened them. "He's bleeding frightfully," said Anastasio Montanez, tearing off one
of his shirt-sleeves and tying it tightly about Demetrio's thigh, a
little above the wound. neighboring ranches. The people hated the Government so bitterly that
they were overjoyed to furnish assistance to the rebels. Demetrio's
men, therefore, were peacefully waiting for the complete recovery of "So your name is Demetrio Macias?" the girl asked suddenly. Seated on
the bar, she swung her legs; at every swing, the toes of her shoes
touched Demetrio's back. A curse broke from Demetrio's parched lips.

"Fire at 'em. Shoot any man who runs away!"

"Storm the hill!" he thundered like a wild beast. "So we're in Limon, eh, the famous Demetrio Macias' country, eh? Do you
hear that, Lieutenant? We're in Limon." At midnight Demetrio Macias ordered the march to be resumed. The town
was five or six miles away; the best plan was to take the soldiers by
surprise, before reveille. Demetrio, standing like a furious bull in the middle of the arena, cast
fierce glances at all the bystanders, Luis Cervantes, Anastasio,
Manteca, and the others. At the foot of a hollow, sumptuous and huge as the portico of an old
cathedral, Demetrio Macias, his eyes leveled in an eternal glance,
continues to point the barrel of his gun. "Demetrio Macias!" the sergeant cried as he stepped back in terror.

The lieutenant stood up, silent, cold and motionless as a statue.

"Shoot them!" the woman croaked. "Well, men," Demetrio said, "you know we've only twenty rifles, besides
my thirty-thirty. If there are just a few of them, we'll shoot until Everything was still swathed in shadows as Demetrio Macias began his
descent to the bottom of the ravine. Between rocks striped with huge Now it was Demetrio's men who screamed insults. Manteca, his smooth
face swollen in exertion, yelled his lungs out. Pancracio roared, the Demetrio and Camilla rode toward them. Inside the corral a man, clad in
shirt and trousers of cheap white cloth, sat greedily puffing at a That was when Demetrio Macias plunged in. Did he wait for orders? Not
he! He just shouted: "What do you say, boys?" Demetrio asked them as soon as the old man had
disappeared.

"To hell with the mochos! We'll kill every blasted one of them!" they
cried in unison. When Demetrio announces that he will not allow looting and orders them
to disband, the mob, disconsolate, obeys him, and soon scatters; but skin. The leg, badly swollen, seemed about to burst. At every move he
made, Demetrio stifled a moan. Luis Cervantes cut the ligaments, soaked
Once more Camilla glanced adoringly at Luis Cervantes' radiant, clean
face; at his glaucous, soft eyes, his cheeks pink and polished as a Camilla continued to cross-question him with such familiarity that she
suddenly found herself addressing him intimately, in the singular tu.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Luis Cervantes had ceased listening to
her. He thought: "Camilla? What girl do you mean, Demetrio?"

"The girl that used to feed me up there at the ranch!" The more distrait and indifferent Luis Cervantes grew, the bolder
Camilla. At last, she said: "Listen to me, you nice young fellow, I "Liar!" Camilla said, her face transfigured with joy. "Suppose I hadn't
come after you?"

"I intended to say good-bye to you at the dance this evening." "I'll tell you, War Paint.... It's funny, but I'm beginning to fall for
him....  Would you believe it!" Camilla whispered back. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Camilla."

"Ah, there's a lovely name! And the girl that bears it, lovelier still!" "I think," Venancio expressed his opinion with great seriousness, "that
if Camilla woke up in the General's bed, it was just a mistake. We "Why do you say that, Camilla?  You've been extremely kind to me; why,
you've been more than a friend, you've taken care of me as if you were "Of course!" she replied.

They went on. The valley was lost in darkness; stars came out. Demetrio
put his arm around Camilla's waist amorously and whispered in her ear. Camilla had never seen Luis Cervantes laugh so heartily.

"But it is really true, all this you've told me?" When Demetrio returned, Camilla, weeping, told him everything.

"Don't pay no attention to that crazy baggage. It's all lies, lies!" "He lied to me! He lied! He came to the ranch and he told me, 'Camilla,
I came just to get you. Do you want to go away with me?' You can be That evening, there was much merrymaking at the dance, and a great
quantity of mezcal was drunk. "I miss Camilla," said Demetrio in a loud
voice. Everybody looked about for Camilla. Camilla's tongue clove to her mouth, heavy and damp as a rag; she could
not utter a word. A blush suffused her cheeks, turning them red as Luis Cervantes hurried toward her with some cotton; but Camilla,
choking down her sobs and wiping her eyes, said hoarsely: gave him rags. He was careful to avoid questioning her. Three days
later, Camilla reappeared, more coy and eager than ever. At sundown, Camilla went to the river to fetch water as usual.  Luis
Cervantes, walking down the same trail, met her.  Camilla felt her Camilla wept all night. On the morrow at dawn, she begged Demetrio to
let her return home.

"If you don't like me, all right," he answered sullenly. Camilla felt something rise within her breast, an empty ache that
became a knot when it reached her throat; she closed her eyes fast to
"Of course!" she replied.

They went on. The valley was lost in darkness; stars came out. Demetrio
put his arm around Camilla's waist amorously and whispered in her ear. "Why did you let them?" Demetrio asked indolently.

The man persisted, lamenting and weeping. Luis Cervantes was about to
throw him out with an insult. But Camilla intervened. Camilla wept all night. On the morrow at dawn, she begged Demetrio to
let her return home.

"If you don't like me, all right," he answered sullenly. When Demetrio returned, Camilla, weeping, told him everything.

"Don't pay no attention to that crazy baggage. It's all lies, lies!" "Camilla? What girl do you mean, Demetrio?"

"The girl that used to feed me up there at the ranch!" "You know," Demetrio said softly, "I feel as though I'd like to see my
wife again!"

Shortly after, War Paint sought out Camilla. Camilla, frightened, hurried back to Demetrio's side.



X "Give Camilla the roan mare," Demetrio ordered Pancracio, who was
already saddling the horses.

"Camilla can't go!" said War Paint promptly. Slyly he winked at his companions. The prisoner had turned into an
animal; he gulped, panting, dry-mouthed. Camilla, who had witnessed the
scene, spurred her horse and caught up with Demetrio. That evening, there was much merrymaking at the dance, and a great
quantity of mezcal was drunk. "I miss Camilla," said Demetrio in a loud
voice. Everybody looked about for Camilla. Demetrio and Camilla rode toward them. Inside the corral a man, clad in
shirt and trousers of cheap white cloth, sat greedily puffing at a "Yes," she answered in a faint voice.

She was indeed beginning to "fall for him" as she had expressed it.

Demetrio slept badly. He flung out of the house very early. again in your life. Don't you know that Demetrio is on the point of
becoming a general, you silly girl? He'll be a very wealthy man, with Since Demetrio did not go to Limon or remember his wife again, Camilla
grew very happy. War Paint had merely stung herself, like a scorpion.



XI "You won't have long to wait.  Everything will be arranged when you
return," Luis Cervantes whispered to him.

"What do you mean?" Demetrio asked.  "I thought that you and Camilla..." Camilla continued to cross-question him with such familiarity that she
suddenly found herself addressing him intimately, in the singular tu.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Luis Cervantes had ceased listening to
her. He thought: Don Monico, in consternation, throws himself at Demetrio's feet, clasps
his knees, kisses his shoes: "My wife! ... My children! ... Please,
Senor Don Demetrio, my friend!" The more distrait and indifferent Luis Cervantes grew, the bolder
Camilla. At last, she said: "Listen to me, you nice young fellow, I "Come on, Tenderfoot; here's a job for you," Pancracio said as he saw
Camilla on Demetrio's saddle, her face covered with blood. "You go to father's house, quick!" Demetrio ordered. She wanted to hold
him in her arms; she entreated, she wept. But he pushed away from her
Original Title: LOS DE ABAJO




PART ONE As she began, Anastasio Montanez and Quail lay on the floor near the
stretcher, their mouths gaping, all ears to the story. But Fortunata's "Get those coming up from under! Los de Abajo! Get the underdogs!" he
screamed.

Now his fellows were exchanging rifles, laughing and making wagers on
their marksmanship. their leather sandals, scattering death and destruction below them. In
the belfry, a few men struggled to emerge from the pile of dead who had
fallen upon them. Late in the afternoon Luis Cervantes rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had
been sleeping on the hard pavement, close to the trunk of a fruit tree.
Anastasio, Pancracio and Quail slept nearby, breathing heavily. "See here, brothers," he said, "I spits out the truth when I sees
something. I always tell the boss that if these people stick to us very It was all a matter of a few minutes. Once in the alley, hugging to the
walls, they marched forward in single file until they reached the rear "Down there, down there!" said Demetrio as he leveled his rifle at the
translucent thread of the river. When, after many hours of climbing, he gazed back, huge flames shot up
from the depths of the canyon by the river. It was his house,
blazing....



II Like monkeys the others followed him, reaching the other side with
bleeding, grimy hands. The rest was easy. The deep worn steps along the "Of course it's not empty. How about the light and that child there?
Look here, confound it, we want to eat, and damn quick tool Are you
coming out or are we going to make you?" suspect they are poor because the rich who stand above them, the rich
who rule them, change their sweat and blood and tears into gold..." From peak to peak, the shouts rang as distinctly as though uttered
across a street. Suddenly, Quail stood up, naked, holding his trousers From that night onward Venancio, unlike the others, ceased calling him
Tenderfoot. He addressed him as Louie.

It was Louie, this, and Louie, that, right and left, all the time. At the foot of a hollow, sumptuous and huge as the portico of an old
cathedral, Demetrio Macias, his eyes leveled in an eternal glance,
continues to point the barrel of his gun. strained their eyes, they could distinguish others behind him, ten,
twenty, a hundred. ... Then, suddenly, darkness swallowed them up. Only Below in the depths of the canyon, through the gauze of the rain they
could see the tall, sheer palms shaking in the wind, opening out like "Goddamn their souls, they've branded me!" Demetrio cried, his teeth
flashing.

Then, very swiftly, he slid down a gully and was lost.... to count for yourself.... One, two, three ... and when you've had
enough you just tell me and I'll stop.' And Blondie pulled out his
sword and beat him till he cried for mercy." Another volley and a score of soldiers hurtled down from rock to rock.

"Come out, bandits. Come out, you starved dogs!"

"To hell with you, you corn rustlers!"
At the foot of a hollow, sumptuous and huge as the portico of an old
cathedral, Demetrio Macias, his eyes leveled in an eternal glance,
continues to point the barrel of his gun. Demetrio Macias rode at the head of his men; behind him the members of
his staff: Colonel Anastasio Montanez, Lieutenant-Colonel Pancracio, "Demetrio Macias!" the sergeant cried as he stepped back in terror.

The lieutenant stood up, silent, cold and motionless as a statue.

"Shoot them!" the woman croaked. "So your name is Demetrio Macias?" the girl asked suddenly. Seated on
the bar, she swung her legs; at every swing, the toes of her shoes
touched Demetrio's back. "Viva Demetrio Macias," they all shouted. "So you're the famous Demetrio Macias, the hero of Zacatecas?" the girl
asked.

Demetrio bowed assent, while Blondie, laughing, said: Demetrio Macias' men grew silent for a moment. They believed they heard
the familiar rumor of firing in the distance. A few minutes elapsed but
the sound was not repeated. VI

Demetrio Macias' wife, mad with joy, rushed along the trail to meet
him, leading a child by the hand. An absence of almost two years! That was when Demetrio Macias plunged in. Did he wait for orders? Not
he! He just shouted: Everything was still swathed in shadows as Demetrio Macias began his
descent to the bottom of the ravine. Between rocks striped with huge Demetrio Macias smiles slyly. "Are friends," he asked, "usually
welcomed gun in hand?" When Demetrio announces that he will not allow looting and orders them
to disband, the mob, disconsolate, obeys him, and soon scatters; but Demetrio Macias was too elated to listen to him. "I'm a colonel, my
lad! And you're my secretary!" a shot lays him low. He falls like a bull pierced in the neck by the
matador's sword. Motionless, his smoking gun in his hand, Demetrio
waits for the soldiers to withdraw. Then, after a pause: "All right, Demetrio Macias, if you don't want to
shake hands, all right! But it's because you don't know me, that's why, "All right, all right!" said Montanez. "Viva Demetrio Macias, our
chief, and long life to God in His heaven and to the Virgin Mary." "You'll see: you'll feel much better now."

Obeying Remigia's instructions, Demetrio lay motionless, crumpled up on
one side. Demetrio's words. Fools do not eat fire. That very day Valderrama
disappeared mysteriously as he had come. Don Monico, in consternation, throws himself at Demetrio's feet, clasps
his knees, kisses his shoes: "My wife! ... My children! ... Please,
Senor Don Demetrio, my friend!" Suddenly, Demetrio finds himself alone. Bullets whiz past his ears like
hail. He dismounts and crawls over the rocks, until he finds a parapet:
"You ask me why I am still a rebel? Well, the revolution is like a
hurricane: if you're in it, you're not a man ... you're a leaf, a dead
leaf, blown by the wind." "But you've only a handful of men down here; you'll only be an
unimportant chieftain. There's no argument about it, the revolution is "I've been a rebel the last two months!"

"Oh, I see!  That's why you speak with such faith and enthusiasm about
things we all felt when we joined the revolution." "Nonsense! Rot! What kind of doctor do you think you are? You're no
doctor at all. I'll wager you've already forgotten why you ever joined
us," said Quail. "The revolution benefits the poor, the ignorant, all those who have
been slaves all their lives, all the unhappy people who do not even The rebels were a maddened mob, sunburnt, filthy, naked. Their high
wide-brimmed straw hats hid their faces. The "high hats" came back as revolutionists or bandits, call them what you will, were going to
depose the Government. Tomorrow would therefore belong wholly to them.
A man must consequently be on their side, only on their side. We are not fighting to dethrone a miserable murderer, we are fighting
against tyranny itself. What moves us is what men call ideals; our "Well, I'm a revolutionist, too, you know. The Government drafted me
and I served as a private, but I managed to desert during the battle
the day before yesterday, and I've been walking about in search of you
all." together. A week later, after his first skirmish against the rebels, he
understood every rule of the game. Luis Cervantes would have taken up a Yes, failure! For he had never learned to appreciate exactly the
difference between fulminating sentences of death upon bandits in the
columns of a small country newspaper and actually setting out in search "All right; just as you say. But don't forget that tenderfoots are like
moisture, they seep in everywhere. It's the tenderfoots who stopped us
reaping the harvest of the revolution." Anastasio and Pancracio, convinced by this simple, lucid explanation
answered:

"That's God's truth! They've no guts! That's the trouble with them!" "It ain't that, I guess. They don't give a whoop for the other side
either."

"But why should they like us?"

They spoke no more. "Well, but ... look here, let's have a drink, come along." Then:

"Hm," Solis went on, offering Cervantes a chair, "since when have you
turned rebel?" about the strength of the assailants, he had remained extremely quiet
and prudent; but now that they had driven the rebels back without
allowing them a chance to fire a single shot, he waxed bold and brave. neighboring ranches. The people hated the Government so bitterly that
they were overjoyed to furnish assistance to the rebels. Demetrio's
men, therefore, were peacefully waiting for the complete recovery of "These fellows have no guts. It's not so hard to take a town. It's like
this. First, you open up, this way...." He sketched a vast gesture, "I heard him too," Anastasio answered. "People who can read and write
get things clear, all right; nothing was ever truer. But what I can't "As I was saying," Luis Cervantes resumed, "when the revolution is
over, everything is over. Too bad that so many men have been killed,
"The revolution benefits the poor, the ignorant, all those who have
been slaves all their lives, all the unhappy people who do not even "How beautiful the revolution! Even in its most barbarous aspect it is
beautiful," Solis said with deep feeling. Then a vague melancholy
seized him, and speaking low: "How beautiful the revolution!
  Even in its most barbarous aspect it is beautiful,"
  Solis said with deep feeling.



I "As I was saying," Luis Cervantes resumed, "when the revolution is
over, everything is over. Too bad that so many men have been killed, "I've been a rebel the last two months!"

"Oh, I see!  That's why you speak with such faith and enthusiasm about
things we all felt when we joined the revolution." "What about you?  Are you tired of the revolution?" asked Cervantes
sharply. "Well, I'm a revolutionist, too, you know. The Government drafted me
and I served as a private, but I managed to desert during the battle
the day before yesterday, and I've been walking about in search of you
all." "All right; just as you say. But don't forget that tenderfoots are like
moisture, they seep in everywhere. It's the tenderfoots who stopped us
reaping the harvest of the revolution." "What kind of beasts are you?" the prisoner cried. He could say no
more: Anastasio's fist, crashing down upon his face, sent his head
turning on his neck, covered with blood. revolutionists or bandits, call them what you will, were going to
depose the Government. Tomorrow would therefore belong wholly to them.
A man must consequently be on their side, only on their side. "Here you may witness the blessings of the revolution caught in a
single tear." "Well, I want to tell you something. You don't know that your chief is
a wicked man, do you? Shall I tell you what he did to me? You know "What a brute that Blondie is: you ought to see what he did to a
wretched prisoner," she said. Then she told Demetrio what had occurred.
The latter wrinkled his brow but made no answer. Then Fortunata gave vent to her sorrows. She liked these gentlemen of
the revolution, all right, that she did--for, three months ago, you "You ask me why I am still a rebel? Well, the revolution is like a
hurricane: if you're in it, you're not a man ... you're a leaf, a dead
leaf, blown by the wind." you might perhaps have found some use for it. What, in heaven's name,
do I stand to gain, whether the revolution wins or loses?" War Paint rocked in her saddle, convulsed with mirth. Camilla, unable
to control herself, blurted out:

"The beast! His heart's rotten to the core! No wonder I loathe him!" "I wanted to fight for the sacred cause of the oppressed, but you don't
understand ... you cast me aside.... Very well, then, you can do as you
please with me!" "God, there's a roundabout way to tackle the question. If I were you,
I'd just shoot him and let it go at that," said Pancracio
contemptuously. the revolution, because it's the revolution!"
His staff obeys. Monico and the ladies kiss his hands, weeping with
gratitude. The mob in the street, talking and laughing, stands waiting
for the general's permission to ransack the cacique's house. The general's staff smiled ... a sinister, malign smile....

Making their spurs ring against the pavement, they walked toward a
large pretentious house, obviously that of a cacique. "To the country of Monico the cacique!" possession to the earth. What man among them now remembered the stern
chief of police, the growling policeman, or the conceited cacique? What Republic. No--we fought to defend the sacred rights of the people
against the tyranny of some vile cacique. And so, just as Villa or protest against the evils of all the caciques who are overrunning the
whole nation. We are the elements of a social movement which will not They established themselves in a large gloomy house, which likewise
belonged to the cacique of Moyahua. The previous occupants had already Venancio was a barber. In his native town, he pulled teeth and
fulfilled the office of medicine man. He was accorded an unimpeachable Late in the afternoon Luis Cervantes rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had
been sleeping on the hard pavement, close to the trunk of a fruit tree.
Anastasio, Pancracio and Quail slept nearby, breathing heavily. Rosa or the other nearby ranches are on our side: they wouldn't try to
trail us. That cacique who's chased and run me ragged over these hills, Luis Cervantes saw his guards lying on top of a dung heap, snoring. In
his imagination, he reviewed the features of last night's men. One, "Look here, Chief," said Luis Cervantes. "You know that some of
Natera's men are at Juchipila, quite near here. I think we should join Dawn broke behind a cloud of fine reddish dust; the sun rose an immense
curtain of fiery purple. Luis Cervantes pulled his reins and waited for
Quail. "What's the last word on our deal, Quail?" "Get those coming up from under! Los de Abajo! Get the underdogs!" he
screamed.

Now his fellows were exchanging rifles, laughing and making wagers on
their marksmanship. 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. "By God, that chief of yours is a man!" Solis said. "What daring, what
assurance! He left me gasping--and a hell of a lot of other men with
more experience than me, too!" of the river margins, were playing cards. Anastasio Montanez, looking
on indifferently, turned his black hairy face toward Luis Cervantes
and, leveling his kindly gaze upon him, asked: "Well, I want to tell you something. You don't know that your chief is
a wicked man, do you? Shall I tell you what he did to me? You know "The fall of Zacatecas will be Huerta's requiescat in pace," Luis
Cervantes cried with unusual excitement. "We've got to be there before
the fight starts so that we can join Natera's army." They advanced toward the main road; in the distance they spied a figure
of an Indian sitting on the embankment. They drew up to him. He proved
"You go to father's house, quick!" Demetrio ordered. She wanted to hold
him in her arms; she entreated, she wept. But he pushed away from her When Demetrio announces that he will not allow looting and orders them
to disband, the mob, disconsolate, obeys him, and soon scatters; but "Demetrio, please. For God's sake, don't go away! My heart tells me
something will happen to you this time." Demetrio shook his bead.

"You wouldn't do that!"

"Why not? What are we staying on for? ... What cause are we defending
now?" Demetrio did not share the untoward exaltation. After all, they were
retreating defeated. He called Montanez and Pancracio aside and said: Demetrio's face grew dark. Both remained silent, lost in anguish.
Demetrio suppressed a sigh. Memories crowded and buzzed through his
brain like bees about a hive. Demetrio's words. Fools do not eat fire. That very day Valderrama
disappeared mysteriously as he had come. Suddenly, Demetrio finds himself alone. Bullets whiz past his ears like
hail. He dismounts and crawls over the rocks, until he finds a parapet: Don Monico, in consternation, throws himself at Demetrio's feet, clasps
his knees, kisses his shoes: "My wife! ... My children! ... Please,
Senor Don Demetrio, my friend!" again in your life. Don't you know that Demetrio is on the point of
becoming a general, you silly girl? He'll be a very wealthy man, with Then, suddenly, he noted the surprise with which Demetrio and his men
greeted his suggestion. Crestfallen, he realized they still considered
him of no account. "All right," said Demetrio, "you can go where you're headed for, see,
but you be damn careful not to tell anyone you saw us, because if you "Well, Demetrio, I think you had better hide, all the same."

Stolidly, the man finished eating; next he reached for a cantaro and
gulped down the water in it; then he stood up. "Why did you let them?" Demetrio asked indolently.

The man persisted, lamenting and weeping. Luis Cervantes was about to
throw him out with an insult. But Camilla intervened. Demetrio reappeared. Seeing him, Solis relapsed into silence.

"Come along," Demetrio said to Cervantes. "Come with me." "That's one on you, my dear.... Demetrio's going to leave you flat! He
told me so himself; 'I'm going to get my real woman,' he says, and he Demetrio repeats his order to search.

Once again the women disappear to return this time with a moth-eaten
wallet containing a few Huerta bills. As Demetrio began to tell that famous exploit, the men realized the
danger they were facing. What if the enemy, instead of being two days Demetrio handed the reins of his horse to his orderly and walked slowly
along the steep trail with his wife and son. "What? What's that you're saying?" Still she could not catch Demetrio's
meaning. Then the truth dawned upon her. "You want to send me away? By
God, I suppose you believe all the filth that bitch..."
Suddenly, Demetrio finds himself alone. Bullets whiz past his ears like
hail. He dismounts and crawls over the rocks, until he finds a parapet: Demetrio awoke with a start. He waded the river, following its course
which ran counter to the canyon; he climbed the crags laboriously as an Demetrio did not share the untoward exaltation. After all, they were
retreating defeated. He called Montanez and Pancracio aside and said: "Well, Demetrio, I think you had better hide, all the same."

Stolidly, the man finished eating; next he reached for a cantaro and
gulped down the water in it; then he stood up. The soldiers had retreated; Demetrio began the search for the soldiers'
horses which had been hidden in the sierra. the mountains in the background, and over the sky, burning like a roof
afire. He began to sing. He put such feeling into his voice and such
expression into the strings that, as he finished, Demetrio turned his The enemy scatter in all directions, pursuing the few fugitives hiding
in the brush. Demetrio aims; he does not waste a single shot. Everything was silent, desolate. As soon as they saw men on horseback,
the people in the huts scurried into the hills to hide. Demetrio grew
indignant. As Demetrio began to tell that famous exploit, the men realized the
danger they were facing. What if the enemy, instead of being two days When Demetrio announces that he will not allow looting and orders them
to disband, the mob, disconsolate, obeys him, and soon scatters; but At sunset, amid the flames dyeing the sky with vivid, variegated
colors, they descried a group of houses up in the heart of the blue
mountains. Demetrio ordered them to carry him there. With all haste, Anastasio Montanez helped Demetrio up behind him on his
horse; the others retreated, seeking shelter along the walls of the
houses. Demetrio's words. Fools do not eat fire. That very day Valderrama
disappeared mysteriously as he had come. "You go to father's house, quick!" Demetrio ordered. She wanted to hold
him in her arms; she entreated, she wept. But he pushed away from her "Goddamn their souls, they've branded me!" Demetrio cried, his teeth
flashing.

Then, very swiftly, he slid down a gully and was lost.... A curse broke from Demetrio's parched lips.

"Fire at 'em. Shoot any man who runs away!"

"Storm the hill!" he thundered like a wild beast. Demetrio's wound had already healed. They began to discuss various
projects to go northward where, according to rumor, the rebels had
beaten the Federal troops all along the line. "Right now I feel like getting damn drunk," Demetrio answered, spurring
his horse forward and leaving them as if he wished to abandon himself
entirely to his sadness.

After many hours of riding he called Cervantes. On the morrow, Demetrio complained bitterly of his wound; he could no
longer ride on horseback. They were forced to carry him the rest of the
way on a makeshift stretcher of leaves and branches. "Here, kid, take these bills. It ain't much. But you'll be all right
with some alcohol and arnica."

After drinking a great deal of alcohol and beer, Demetrio spoke:
neighboring ranches. The people hated the Government so bitterly that
they were overjoyed to furnish assistance to the rebels. Demetrio's
men, therefore, were peacefully waiting for the complete recovery of Demetrio's wound had already healed. They began to discuss various
projects to go northward where, according to rumor, the rebels had
beaten the Federal troops all along the line. Bending over them, the rebels stripped those among the soldiers who
were best clad, laughing and joking as they despoiled them. Brushing
back his long hair, that had fallen over his sweating forehead and
covered his eyes, Demetrio said: Demetrio shook his bead.

"You wouldn't do that!"

"Why not? What are we staying on for? ... What cause are we defending
now?" The enthusiasm and rejoicing were general. Demetrio's friends, in the
excitement of drunkenness, offered their services. Demetrio was so When Demetrio announces that he will not allow looting and orders them
to disband, the mob, disconsolate, obeys him, and soon scatters; but "What do you say, boys?" Demetrio asked them as soon as the old man had
disappeared.

"To hell with the mochos! We'll kill every blasted one of them!" they
cried in unison. Demetrio, standing like a furious bull in the middle of the arena, cast
fierce glances at all the bystanders, Luis Cervantes, Anastasio,
Manteca, and the others. A curse broke from Demetrio's parched lips.

"Fire at 'em. Shoot any man who runs away!"

"Storm the hill!" he thundered like a wild beast. Now it was Demetrio's men who screamed insults. Manteca, his smooth
face swollen in exertion, yelled his lungs out. Pancracio roared, the "Viva Demetrio Macias," they all shouted. Suddenly, Demetrio finds himself alone. Bullets whiz past his ears like
hail. He dismounts and crawls over the rocks, until he finds a parapet: Venancio's shout of protest was drowned out in the loud laughter of the
others. Demetrio, looking pale and sallow, motioned for silence. Then,
plaintively: Demetrio smiles and without further delay calls to his men to come in.
Like hungry dogs who have sniffed their meat, the mob bursts in, everyone applauded enthusiastically. Demetrio took the insignia in his
hands; and with flushed face, and eyes shining, declared with great
candor: Demetrio repeats his order to search.

Once again the women disappear to return this time with a moth-eaten
wallet containing a few Huerta bills. Demetrio Macias rode at the head of his men; behind him the members of
his staff: Colonel Anastasio Montanez, Lieutenant-Colonel Pancracio, Demetrio did not share the untoward exaltation. After all, they were
retreating defeated. He called Montanez and Pancracio aside and said: On the day General Natera began his advance against the town of
Zacatecas, Demetrio with a hundred men went to meet him at Fresnillo.

The leader received him cordially. Then, suddenly, he noted the surprise with which Demetrio and his men
greeted his suggestion. Crestfallen, he realized they still considered
him of no account.
Once more Camilla glanced adoringly at Luis Cervantes' radiant, clean
face; at his glaucous, soft eyes, his cheeks pink and polished as a Camilla continued to cross-question him with such familiarity that she
suddenly found herself addressing him intimately, in the singular tu.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Luis Cervantes had ceased listening to
her. He thought: The more distrait and indifferent Luis Cervantes grew, the bolder
Camilla. At last, she said: "Listen to me, you nice young fellow, I "Camilla? What girl do you mean, Demetrio?"

"The girl that used to feed me up there at the ranch!" "What's your name?" he asked.

"Camilla."

"Ah, there's a lovely name! And the girl that bears it, lovelier still!" "I'll tell you, War Paint.... It's funny, but I'm beginning to fall for
him....  Would you believe it!" Camilla whispered back. "Liar!" Camilla said, her face transfigured with joy. "Suppose I hadn't
come after you?"

"I intended to say good-bye to you at the dance this evening." "Of course!" she replied.

They went on. The valley was lost in darkness; stars came out. Demetrio
put his arm around Camilla's waist amorously and whispered in her ear. At sundown, Camilla went to the river to fetch water as usual.  Luis
Cervantes, walking down the same trail, met her.  Camilla felt her That evening, there was much merrymaking at the dance, and a great
quantity of mezcal was drunk. "I miss Camilla," said Demetrio in a loud
voice. Everybody looked about for Camilla. "Why do you say that, Camilla?  You've been extremely kind to me; why,
you've been more than a friend, you've taken care of me as if you were Camilla's tongue clove to her mouth, heavy and damp as a rag; she could
not utter a word. A blush suffused her cheeks, turning them red as "I think," Venancio expressed his opinion with great seriousness, "that
if Camilla woke up in the General's bed, it was just a mistake. We gave him rags. He was careful to avoid questioning her. Three days
later, Camilla reappeared, more coy and eager than ever. Camilla wept all night. On the morrow at dawn, she begged Demetrio to
let her return home.

"If you don't like me, all right," he answered sullenly. "Why did you let them?" Demetrio asked indolently.

The man persisted, lamenting and weeping. Luis Cervantes was about to
throw him out with an insult. But Camilla intervened. Camilla felt something rise within her breast, an empty ache that
became a knot when it reached her throat; she closed her eyes fast to Camilla blushed. As he sought to seize her wrist, she grew frightened,
and Picking up the empty pitcher, flew out the door. Utterly at a loss, Camilla could not answer. Then he burst into
laughter again and repeated the question. A sense of confusion came
upon her. Disturbed, troubled, she said brokenly: Luis Cervantes hurried toward her with some cotton; but Camilla,
choking down her sobs and wiping her eyes, said hoarsely:
their leather sandals, scattering death and destruction below them. In
the belfry, a few men struggled to emerge from the pile of dead who had
fallen upon them. "Get those coming up from under! Los de Abajo! Get the underdogs!" he
screamed.

Now his fellows were exchanging rifles, laughing and making wagers on
their marksmanship. suspect they are poor because the rich who stand above them, the rich
who rule them, change their sweat and blood and tears into gold..." In the distance, from a conical heap of reeds and dry straws, man after
man emerged, one after the other, their legs and chests naked, lambent "See here, brothers," he said, "I spits out the truth when I sees
something. I always tell the boss that if these people stick to us very strained their eyes, they could distinguish others behind him, ten,
twenty, a hundred. ... Then, suddenly, darkness swallowed them up. Only "Of course it's not empty. How about the light and that child there?
Look here, confound it, we want to eat, and damn quick tool Are you
coming out or are we going to make you?" Like monkeys the others followed him, reaching the other side with
bleeding, grimy hands. The rest was easy. The deep worn steps along the "Yes? Really? Well, if you want my opinion, I think this is just what
ought to happen. So far as I'm concerned, you can go straight to hell.
We're all fed up with you, see?" "The revolution benefits the poor, the ignorant, all those who have
been slaves all their lives, all the unhappy people who do not even Original Title: LOS DE ABAJO




PART ONE The smoke of the guns hangs thick in the air. Locusts chant their
mysterious, imperturbable song. Doves coo lyrically in the crannies of
the rocks. The cows graze placidly. Another volley and a score of soldiers hurtled down from rock to rock.

"Come out, bandits. Come out, you starved dogs!"

"To hell with you, you corn rustlers!" "You know I'm on guard around here. Well, I hears a noise in the brush,
see, and I shouts, 'Who goes there?' and then this lad answers, Pop, pop! One shot for each of them, and a well-earned rest for a pair
of poor sinners, be damned to them!" "Hey, men," said a workman sticking his head out of a large door, "go
for 'em through the back of the chapel. They're all in there. Cut back From peak to peak, the shouts rang as distinctly as though uttered
across a street. Suddenly, Quail stood up, naked, holding his trousers A workingman appeared at the small door of the spiral staircase,
announcing that the assailants were hidden in a corral where they might
easily be captured. This message came from the citizens keeping watch
on housetops. and work." Then, aside to Camilla: "There's always more damned fools in
the valley than among us folk in the sierra, don't you think?" to count for yourself.... One, two, three ... and when you've had
enough you just tell me and I'll stop.' And Blondie pulled out his
sword and beat him till he cried for mercy."
Luis Cervantes, who already shared this hidden, implacably mortal
hatred of the upper classes, of his officers, and of his superiors, together. A week later, after his first skirmish against the rebels, he
understood every rule of the game. Luis Cervantes would have taken up a "The fall of Zacatecas will be Huerta's requiescat in pace," Luis
Cervantes cried with unusual excitement. "We've got to be there before
the fight starts so that we can join Natera's army." Luis Cervantes was obliging enough; he jumped down and joined her.

"You're proud, ain't you?  Have I been so mean that you don't even want
to talk to me?" "My name is Luis Cervantes, sir. I'm a medical student and a
journalist. I wrote a piece in favor of the revolution, you see; as a "Look here, Chief," said Luis Cervantes. "You know that some of
Natera's men are at Juchipila, quite near here. I think we should join This signal insult was destined to bear poisonous fruit. Luis Cervantes
determined to play turncoat; indeed, mentally, he had already changed "Set fire to the house!" he orders Luis Cervantes when they reach their
quarters.

With a curious eagerness Luis Cervantes does not transmit the order but
undertakes the task in person. From then on, Luis Cervantes' prestige with the soldiers increased.
Some actually dared to make confessions. One among them, conspicuous Luis Cervantes gave himself away. His eyes shone with such an obvious
greed that Quail recanted and said: "It's positively infamous, senor; look," Luis Cervantes said, pointing
to the bloodstains on his trousers and to his bleeding face. "Well, but ... look here, let's have a drink, come along." Then:

"Hm," Solis went on, offering Cervantes a chair, "since when have you
turned rebel?" A certain incident came to precipitate their action. Seated on a crag
of the sierra in the cool of the afternoon breeze, Luis Cervantes gazed "As I was saying," Luis Cervantes resumed, "when the revolution is
over, everything is over. Too bad that so many men have been killed, "Are you Luis Cervantes?"

"Yes.  You're Solis, eh?" "The spy!" Luis Cervantes cried triumphantly. "Didn't I tell you?" "Well, you see, just this week we recruited over five hundred new men;
all the money's gone in advance loans and gratuities," Luis Cervantes
answered in a low voice. Late in the afternoon Luis Cervantes rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had
been sleeping on the hard pavement, close to the trunk of a fruit tree.
Anastasio, Pancracio and Quail slept nearby, breathing heavily. Camilla continued to cross-question him with such familiarity that she
suddenly found herself addressing him intimately, in the singular tu.
Absorbed in his own thoughts, Luis Cervantes had ceased listening to
her. He thought: "Don't you think it advisable to go to Aguascalientes first, General?"
Luis Cervantes asked.

"What for?"

"Our funds are melting slowly."
The rebels were a maddened mob, sunburnt, filthy, naked. Their high
wide-brimmed straw hats hid their faces. The "high hats" came back as Some of the soldiers, gazing at the spire of the church, sighed sadly.
They marched forward through the canyon, uncertain, unsteady, as blind In the distance, from a conical heap of reeds and dry straws, man after
man emerged, one after the other, their legs and chests naked, lambent Before resuming their march, they built a fire on which to roast some
bull meat. Anastasio Montanez, searching for food among the huizache Another volley and a score of soldiers hurtled down from rock to rock.

"Come out, bandits. Come out, you starved dogs!"

"To hell with you, you corn rustlers!" Bending over them, the rebels stripped those among the soldiers who
were best clad, laughing and joking as they despoiled them. Brushing
back his long hair, that had fallen over his sweating forehead and
covered his eyes, Demetrio said: "Hey, there, woman: we want food! Give us eggs, milk, beans, anything
you've got! We're starving!"

"Curse the sierra! It would take the Devil himself not to lose his way!" Demetrio awoke with a start. He waded the river, following its course
which ran counter to the canyon; he climbed the crags laboriously as an strained their eyes, they could distinguish others behind him, ten,
twenty, a hundred. ... Then, suddenly, darkness swallowed them up. Only The sun, beating down upon them, dulled their minds and bodies and
presently they were silent. All day long they rode through the canyon, Yes, failure! For he had never learned to appreciate exactly the
difference between fulminating sentences of death upon bandits in the
columns of a small country newspaper and actually setting out in search They resumed their march; their uncertainty translated into a
lugubrious silence. Slowly, inevitably, the catastrophe must come; it Everything was silent, desolate. As soon as they saw men on horseback,
the people in the huts scurried into the hills to hide. Demetrio grew
indignant. Late in the afternoon Luis Cervantes rubbed his eyes and sat up. He had
been sleeping on the hard pavement, close to the trunk of a fruit tree.
Anastasio, Pancracio and Quail slept nearby, breathing heavily. Before dawn, they left for Tepatitlan. Their silhouettes wavered
indistinctly over the road and the fields that bordered it, rising and their leather sandals, scattering death and destruction below them. In
the belfry, a few men struggled to emerge from the pile of dead who had
fallen upon them. They advanced toward the main road; in the distance they spied a figure
of an Indian sitting on the embankment. They drew up to him. He proved up and down the steep, round hills, dirty and bald as a man's head,
hill after hill in endless succession. At last, late in the afternoon, Since nobody knew where the city square was, Venancio made him walk
ahead to show the way. Trembling with fear, the poor devil told them
they were doing him a terrible wrong. Now the moving dwarf figures were lost in the dense chaparral, now they
reappeared, stark and black against the ocher. The voices of officers,
At the foot of a hollow, sumptuous and huge as the portico of an old
cathedral, Demetrio Macias, his eyes leveled in an eternal glance,
continues to point the barrel of his gun. Demetrio Macias rode at the head of his men; behind him the members of
his staff: Colonel Anastasio Montanez, Lieutenant-Colonel Pancracio, "Demetrio Macias!" the sergeant cried as he stepped back in terror.

The lieutenant stood up, silent, cold and motionless as a statue.

"Shoot them!" the woman croaked. On the morrow, casualties were reported. Always a few dead. An old
prostitute was found with a bullet through her stomach; two of Colonel
Macias' new men lay in the gutter, slit from ear to ear. at last, insults. Pancracio brought his stony face close to Manteca,
who looked at him with snake's eyes, convulsive, foaming at the mouth. Everything was still swathed in shadows as Demetrio Macias began his
descent to the bottom of the ravine. Between rocks striped with huge motionless. Venancio falls close beside him, his chest riddled with
bullets. Meco hurtles over the precipice, bounding from rock to rock. Demetrio Macias' men grew silent for a moment. They believed they heard
the familiar rumor of firing in the distance. A few minutes elapsed but
the sound was not repeated. III

"General Macias, I want you to meet my future wife," Luis Cervantes
said with great emphasis as he led a beautiful girl into the dining
room. disappeared. His eyes gleamed with the light of madness. His glance
strayed over the square, the tumbled kiosk, the old adobe houses, over A painful silhouette crosses his mind. He sees a woman with a child in
her arms walking over the rocks of the sierra in the moonlight. A house
in flames.... Tears of rage and pain rise to Demetrio's eyes as Anastasio slowly
slides from his horse without a sound, and lies outstretched, "All right, all right!" said Montanez. "Viva Demetrio Macias, our
chief, and long life to God in His heaven and to the Virgin Mary." "So we're in Limon, eh, the famous Demetrio Macias' country, eh? Do you
hear that, Lieutenant? We're in Limon." "Yes ... yes ... exactly what I've been thinking myself," said Venancio
in a climax of enthusiasm.

"Hey, there, Pancracio," Macias called, "pull down two more beers." "Get out, all of you; it's aching again. Anastasio put out the candle.
Lock him up in the corral and let Pancracio and Manteca watch him.
Tomorrow, we'll see." "As I was saying," Luis Cervantes resumed, "when the revolution is
over, everything is over. Too bad that so many men have been killed, Demetrio Macias smiles slyly. "Are friends," he asked, "usually
welcomed gun in hand?" a shot lays him low. He falls like a bull pierced in the neck by the
matador's sword. Motionless, his smoking gun in his hand, Demetrio
waits for the soldiers to withdraw. "So your name is Demetrio Macias?" the girl asked suddenly. Seated on
the bar, she swung her legs; at every swing, the toes of her shoes
touched Demetrio's back.
What rebel group does Demetrio's group support? Who is Camila in love with? What is Camila's status in society? How does the causes leader change? How certain are the rebels of who they are fighting for? How certain are the rebels of what they are fighting for? What kind of accuracy does Macias fire his rifle with? Who is in love with Cervantes? What is a cacique? Why does Demetrio Macias flee into the mountains? Why does Luis Cervantes join the rebels? What does Demetrio Macias start with his band of rebels? Who is Camila really in love with? Why does Camila become lovers with Demetrio? Why is the story called the ones below? What happens to Demetrio Macias in the end? Why aren't the rebels better leaders than the current government? Which character uses the revolution as an excuse to do cruel things? What is a cacique? Why does Demetrio have to abandon his family? What does Demetrio do after escaping to the mountains? What do Demetrio and the rebels support? Who is Camila in love with? Who are the 'ones below'? Why has Luis Cervantes joined the rebels? What do the rebels struggle to find along their path? What are the last images we see of Macias?
Mexican Revolution Mexican Revolution
Cervantes Luis Cervantes
peasant peasant
from day to night Because those who joined him ended up behaving just like those they were rebelling again, he loses hope that things can ever change.
not very uncertain
not very not certain at all
deadly deathly accuracy
Camila Camila
a leader or important person a leader or important person
The local cacique sends soldiers after him because they are enemies. Because federal soldiers come looking for him.
He was mistreated by the Federales, so he turns on them. He was mistreated by the Federales. 
The Mexican Revolution. He starts practicing the very abuses that he used to suffer.
Luis Cervantes. Cervantes
Luis Cervantes cheats her into it. She gets cheated into it. 
The Mexican people are mistreated no matter who rules over them. Because that is the position of the Mexican people
He goes back to his family and fights it out with the Federales. he is all alone, firing his rifle into an unbeatable army of enemies
They practice what was done to them, they don't know any better. Because they are abusive and practice injustice.
Guero Margarito. Guero Margariot
A leader, or important person A cacique is a leader or important person in this town.
The Federales are looking for him. Because the Federales come looking for him.
He forms a group of rebels. He forms a group of rebels.
Mexican Revolution Mexican Revolution
Cervantes Luis Cervantes
The Mexican People Mexican people
He was mistreated by the federals. Because he has been mistreated by the federal soldiers.
A cause a cause
He is alone, firing his gun, extremely outnumbered. Alone firing his rifle at his enemies. 