his troops thus unable to cope with the situation, the President resorted to bribery, and offered Zapata $50,000 to disband his followers and live peaceably. The bandit took the bribe and gave his promise readily, but without the slightest intention of keeping it. He made no effort to disperse his followers, but rather increased their number, and became, if anything, more cruel and audacious than hitherto. Instances of his incredible cruelty might be multiplied, but one will suffice.
A handful of Federal troops (thirty-seven in all), recalled to Mexico by the authorities, and passing through Yantepec on their way, were there besieged by Zapata with a force of 3,000 men. Naturally the little garrison could not hope to prevail against such overwhelming odds; but rather than surrender or trust to Zapata's worthless promises of amnesty, they bravely held out until there was but one man left, and he mortally wounded. The Zapatistas then stormed and carried the improvised fortress, and finding the one gallant survivor—burned him alive.
The bandit and his followers now allied themselves to the partisans of Pascual Orozco; but Madero, whose government had not from the first been strong enough to cope with Zapata, chose to ignore this circumstance and to regard him as a loyal supporter. Another large bribe was offered and accepted, though Zapata had as little intention of keeping the peace as on the former occasion.
Again Madero opened hostilities, sending Generals Huerta and Figueroa against the rebel. At Horseshoe Hill, near Cuernavaca, the capital of Morelos, a severe engagement took place, resulting in a painful defeat for the Federal troops. Another fierce struggle ensued round the fortified dwelling of Zapata, and once more the Madero force was repulsed.
Once again the President entered into negotiations with Zapata, to fall back at length on his weak policy of bribery, though experience might have taught him how ineffectual it was. The bribe (30,000 pesos) went into the coffers of the
