Chapter 5

           DURINGthenighttheexpectantpopulacehadtakenpossessionofallthebelfriesinthetowninordertowelcomePedritoMontero,whowasmakinghisentryafterhavingsleptthenightinRincon.Andfirstcamestragglinginthroughthelandgatethearmedmobofallcolours,complexions,types,andstatesofraggedness,callingthemselvestheSulacoNationalGuard,andcommandedbySenorGamacho.Throughthemiddleofthestreetstreamed,likeatorrentofrubbish,amassofstrawhats,ponchos,gun-barrels,withanenormousgreenandyellowflagflappingintheirmidst,inacloudofdust,tothefuriousbeatingofdrums.ThespectatorsrecoiledagainstthewallsofthehousesshoutingtheirVivas!Behindtherabblecouldbeseenthelancesofthecavalry,the“army”ofPedroMontero.HeadvancedbetweenSenoresFuentesandGamachoattheheadofhisllaneros,whohadaccomplishedthefeatofcrossingtheParamosoftheHiguerotainasnow-storm.Theyrodefourabreast,mountedonconfiscatedCampohorses,cladintheheterogeneousstockofroadsidestorestheyhadlootedhurriedlyintheirrapidridethroughthenorthernpartoftheprovince;forPedroMonterohadbeeninagreathurrytooccupySulaco.Thehandkerchiefsknottedlooselyaroundtheirbarethroatswereglaringlynew,andalltherightsleevesoftheircottonshirtshadbeencutoffclosetotheshoulderforgreaterfreedominthrowingthelazo.