Aleja de las penas la negra bruma,
Si dios hubiera hecho
De vino el mar, de vino el mar,
Yo me volviera pato, para nadar, para nadar:—
Esta es la vida, bebamos mas,
Esta es la vida, bebamos mas.
Jennings: Gentlemen of the jury, the month of July found us in Salvador, where we, as good American patriots, issued a declaration of interference that the Fourth of July shall be celebrated with all kinds of salutes, explosions, honors of war, oratory, and liquids known to tradition. It so happened that there were Salvadoreans also panting for liberty and liquids; there was a revolution planned, led by General Mary Esperanza Dingo, who was some punkins both for politics and color; but we had never met the general, and knew nothing about these great events. We gathered the Americans of the town, with their Winchesters, Colts and Navy forty-fives; we bought up all the fireworks, and most of the fire-water, and early in the evening, as soon as the thermometer had come down to 110, we started in at the Saloon of the Immaculate Saints—the Cantina de los Santos Immaculatos—taking all the drinks that bore American labels, and informing the atmosphere as to the glory and preeminence of the United States, and its ability to subdue, outjump and eradicate the other nations of the earth. I had just thrown a bottle of ginger ale through a portrait of Queen Victoria—or rather at a reflection of it which I saw in a mirror over the counter of the cantina—when we heard yells outside, and the galloping of horses’ hoofs, and a rattle of musketry. (the sounds are heard off-stage, as described; Jennings raises his voice) I shouted: “The infantry has turned out to do honor to the Fourth of July! E pluribus unum! Viva la Libertad! The stars and stripes forever!” We pulled out our shooting irons! Hurrah for liberty! We opened fire on the lights of the cantina—
(Jennings pulls a gun from under his coat and fires at the lights, which go out one by one at his shots, leaving the stage in complete darkness. Shouts, singing, trampling, and general uproar, during which a quick change is made. The wall which covers the kitchenette is closed, concealing it from sight. The postoffice pigeon-holes and grilled windows give outwards like double doors, leaving a large entrance to the street of Salvador. The stage becomes a cantina, or drinking place. Jennings assumes his costume of a battered silk hat and a dress-suit with only one tail to the coat. The others don the white costumes of Americans in the tropics. Red light gradually appears, revealing Espiritu de la Vina dancing and singing, Porter watching and the other five men, armed with rifles and revolvers, capering, shouting, and firing shots through the ceiling of the cantina. Joe is hiding in terror under the table.)
Jennings: Three cheers for the red, white and blue!
Raidler: Bully for you!