Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/427

Rh from Spain; some were wealthy hacendados; all of them loved life, as indeed had Leonardo Bravo. Nicolás Bravo's power over these prisoners was absolute. The humane Morelos, even, had told the young chieftain to have them shot, and so avenge his father's death. Venegas expected no less; and it shows at once the value placed upon a Bravo by the viceroy, and his indifference to human life, when he refused any number of captured Spaniards in exchange for Leonardo, as Morelos had offered.

But Nicolás could now have his just revenge; the custom of the war allowed it, and his general awarded it. Three hundred for one; and these not Indians or serfs, but good and pure blue-blooded Spaniards; after all, it was not such a mean price the cause would have for his dear old father's life. Calling them before him, he said:

"Your lives are forfeit. Your master, Spain's minion, has murdered my father, murdered him in cold blood for choosing Mexico and liberty before Spain and her tyrannies. Some of you are fathers, and may imagine what my father felt in being thrust from the world without one farewell word from his son—ay! and your sons may feel a portion of that anguish of soul which fills my breast, as thoughts arise of my father's wrongs and cruel death.

"And what a master is this you serve! For one life, my poor father's, he might have saved you all, and would not. So deadly is his hate that he would sacrifice three hundred of his friends rather than forego this one sweet morsel of vengeance. Even I, who am no viceroy, have three hundred lives for my father's. But there is yet a nobler revenge than all. Go, you are free! Go find your vile master, and henceforth serve him, if you can!"

The inhabitants of Tasco, who were royalists, following the example of the Chilapans, roused themselves to action for the king; those of Iguala and