It was almost the middle of the afternoon when he awoke.  He heard a faint murmur of voices and a pleasant odor came to his nostrils.  He quickly remembered everything, and, stirring a little on his wooden couch he found a certain stiffness in the joints.  He realized however that all his strength had come back.

But Ned Fulton understood, although he had escaped from prison and had found shelter and sanctuary in the cathedral, that he was yet in an extremely precarious position.  The murmur of voices told him that people were in the church, and he had no doubt that the odor came from burning incense.

A little light from the narrow window fell upon him.  It came through colored glass, and made red and blue splotches on his hands, at which he looked curiously.  He knew that it was a brilliant day outside, and he longed for air and exercise, but he dared not move except to stretch his arms and legs, until the stiffness and soreness disappeared from his joints.  Contact with Spaniard and Mexican had taught him the full need of caution.

He was very hungry again, and now he was thankful for his restraint of the night before.  He ate the rest of the food in his pockets and waited patiently.

Ned knew that he had slept a long time, and that it must be late in the day.  He was confirmed in his opinion by the angle at which the light entered the window, and he decided that he would lie in the pew until night came again.  It was a trying test.  School his will as he would he felt at times that he must come from his covert and walk about the chapel.  The narrow wooden pew became a casket in which he was held, and now and then he was short of breath.  Yet he persisted.  He was learning very young the value of will, and he forced himself every day to use it and increase its strength.

In such a position and with so much threatening him his faculties became uncommonly keen.  He heard the voices more distinctly, and also the footsteps of the priests in their felt slippers.  They passed the door of the chapel in which he lay, and once or twice he thought they were going to enter, but they seemed merely to pause at the door.  Then he would hold his breath until they were gone.

At last and with infinite joy he saw the colored lights fade.  The window itself grew dark, and the murmur in the church ceased.  But he did not come forth from his secure refuge until it was quite dark.  He staggered from stiffness at first, but the circulation was soon restored.  Then he looked from the door of the chapel into the great nave.  An old priest in a brown robe was extinguishing the candles.  Ned watched him until he had put out the last one, and disappeared in the rear of the church.

Then he came forth and standing in the great, gloomy nave tried to decide what to do next.  He had found a night’s shelter and no more.  He had escaped from prison, but not from the City of Mexico, and his Texas was yet a thousand miles away.