These men, with a few intimates,
consulted often and matured their plans, confident that the desire for
liberty was strong in the country and that the patriot people needed only
a leader to break out into insurrection.
Hidalgo's eager desire for liberty, long smouldering, burst into flame in
1810, when the Spanish authorities attempted to arrest in Queretaro some
revolutionists who had talked too freely. Warned of their danger, these
men fled or concealed themselves. News of this came quickly to Hidalgo and
taught him that with his reputation there was but one of two things to do,
he must flee or strike. He decided to strike, and in this he was supported
by Allende, whose liberty was also in danger.
The decisive step was taken on the 15th of September, 1810. That night
Hidalgo was roused from slumber by one of his liberty-loving friends, and
told that the hour had come. Calling his brother to his aid and summoning
a few of those in the secret, he led the small party of revolutionists to
the prison, broke it open, and set free certain men who had been seized
for their liberal ideas.
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