about four o'clock in the afternoon
This rigorous measure had no effect in retarding the insurrection . Shortly after , a ranchero , named Antonio Valdez , raised the standard of independence , and , at the head of a small _ guerilla _ of country-people , commenced a war of retaliation . Many Spaniards fell into his hands ; and their blood was spilled without mercy : for in this sanguinary manner did the Mexican revolution commence ; and in such fashion was it continued . On the same day in which the student of theology arrived at the Hacienda las Palmas , and about four o'clock in the afternoon -- just after the hour of dinner -- the different members of the family , along with their guests , were assembled in one of the apartments of the mansion . It was the grand _ sala _ or reception room , opening by double glass doors upon a garden filled with flowering plants , and beautiful shade trees . Two individuals , already known to the reader , were absent from this reunion . One was the student himself , who , notwithstanding that he was now in perfect security , had so delivered himself up to the remembrance of the dangers he had encountered while reclining under his terrible dais of tigers and serpents , that he had been seized with a violent fever , and was now confined to his bed .