"Come back here," yelled one of the American officers. "You can't cross that river."
"The Hell you say," called Evelyn, who was already in the water, leading the procession. "At least, these guys will buy us a drink."
"Do you think it's safe to go over here now," Pearl asked Evelyn.
"Sure, and profitable—these guys will open every safe in the town, and all the champagne you can drink. I been through these things before," explained Evelyn, as the rebels were wading out to help them.
"You see," said Mickey, "these guys will drink so much they will just pass out all over the place, and you can go through their pockets right and left, in perfect safety, and how I'll go through them is nobody's business."
"It's all new to me, but I'm with you," answered Pearl.
"Sure, honey, that's the way—get all you can—you can't never have too much."
The rebels were throwing their hats in the air, shouting at their victory, with only one thought in their minds—to do all the looting possible, and drinking as well. They started with the nearest bar, the girls in their midst, singing, laughing, and looking forward to a hilarious time. They didn't wait to open the bottles of champagne—they broke the necks off and poured it over each other—they were wet from the river, so why not be wet with liquor.
The Federals of Mexico were taken to Fort Bliss and quartered until they could be sent back to Mexico—they weren't prisoners—they were more refugees than anything else.
The rest of the day and night was spent in drinking, dancing, singing and general hilarity. Juarez was never more gay or wild—looting was indulged in—in a big way; every safe was opened. The rebels needed gold, and American money, whether paper or silver, was gold to them—the girls getting their share of the loot.