“It’s what they say. The lieutenant believes it. And we’re going to Santa Fe.”
“For what?”
“The governor wants to talk with him.”
“But not without a dust! Oh, no, now! Leave these good works, an’ go without a dust?”
Stub nodded soberly. Freegift dared not delay longer. He went off muttering. The other men also murmured. The plan was not to their liking.
Freegift returned with Corporal Jerry. The men trooped after him, to the lieutenant. Freegift acted as speaker. He saluted——
“What’s this? Why have you left your posts?” the lieutenant demanded.
“Please, cap’n. Beggin your pardon, sir—but ’tain’t true, is it, that were layin’ down our arms an’ givin’ up to them Spanish, to march out, an’ no fight offered? Sure, sir, we’re only eight and a boy; but we’re behind good walls, an’ you’re the proper kind of an officer, an’ ’twould be no great job at all to hold them fellers off till we could slip away with colors flyin’. You can’t trust them fellers, sir. An’ if you’ll only give us the orders, sir, we’ll hand out a dose of Yankee Doodle; eh, boys?”
“Yes, sir! We’re ready for a dust, cap’n, sir. We’d rather trust to our muskets than to those Spanish. We’re not afeared of ’em.”
“That will do,” Lieutenant Pike answered, but not unkindly. “You’re brave lads. I know I can depend on you—and with you I’d like to test our defences at which you’ve worked so faithfully. But we are marching of our own free will, and shall retain our arms. My orders are to avoid a conflict with the Mexican forces, unless attacked. Since we are unfortunately in Spanish territory, it will be better if we proceed boldly to the New Mexican capital, at the invitation of the governor, rather than put ourselves in the wrong by resistance.”