The colonel showed no disposition to detain them, and it was not until they had been on their southward march for an hour that he wheeled his glittering column in the same direction.
Captain Skinner and his men knew nothing about that, and when noon came they found a capital camping-place, precisely as it had been described to them. A beautiful spot it was, with groves of shady trees and a fine spring of water, and there was more than one drove of long-horned cattle in sight.
"Somebody or other's careless about his critters," remarked one of the miners; but the Captain's face was sober.
"It looks too much as if they'd been driven up this way to feed the cavalry on. I don't like it."
"Cap, do you hear that? If it ain't another bugle you can shoot me!"
More than one was heard within the next half-hour, and three consecutive squadrons of lancers rode within sight of the miners' camp and dismounted for their noon-day meal.
They had a perfect right to do so. They were in their own country. Besides, they were not interfering with anybody. There was a good many of them, to be sure, and it was a curious thing that they should happen to come.
"Thar's too big a crop o' lancers this year to suit me," muttered Bill. "Thar's a squad of 'em coming now."
Not a large squad; only a couple of officers and their orderlies, on a very proper errand, very politely done.
It was their duty, they said, with many apologies. General Garcia desired to know who were his neighbors, and so forth.