The Quest of the Four: A Story of the Comanches and Buena Vista

"I do," said Phil, "but there is nothing here tooppose us, and doubtless we can make the crossing inpeace."

CHAPTER XI

WITH THE ARMY

The crossing of the Rio Grande was a formidabletask, and the train could never have accomplishedit in the face of a foe, even small in numbers, but no Mexicans were present, and they went about theirtask unhindered. One of the streams was too deep to beforded, but they cut down the larger trees and constructeda strong raft, which they managed to steer over with longpoles. The reluctant horses and mules were forced uponit, and thus the train was carried in safety over the deepwater. Nor was the task then ended. It usually took sixhorses and ten or twelve men to drag a wagon through thesand and carry it up the bank to the solid earth beyond, the way having been carefully examined in advance inorder to avoid quicksand.

It took three days to build the raft and complete thepassage. Phil had never worked so hard in his lifebefore. He pushed at wagon wheels and pulled at thebridles of mules and horses until every bone in him ached, and he felt as if he never could get his strength again.But the train was safely across, without the loss of aweapon or an animal. They were in Mexico, and theydid not deceive themselves about the greatness anddanger of the task that lay before them. Phil felt thecurious effect which the passage over the border from onecountry to another usually has on people, especially theyoung. It seemed to him that in passing that strip ofmuddy river he had come upon a new soil, and into a newclimate-into a new world, in fact. Yet the Texasshore, in reality, looked exactly like the Mexican, and waslike it.

"Well, Phil," said Bill Breakstone, "here we are inMexico. I'm covered with mud, so are you, and so isArenberg. I think it's Texas and Mexico mud mixed,so suppose we go down, find a clear place in the water, and get rid of it."

They found a cool little pool, an eddy or backwater, where the water standing over white sand was fairly clear, and the three, stripping, sprang in. The water was deep, and Bill plunged and dived and spluttered with greatdelight. Phil and Arenberg were not so noisy, but theyfound the bath an equal pleasure. It was an overwhelmingluxury to get the sand out of their eyes and earsand hair, and to feel the cool water on bodies hot withthe ache and grime of three days' hard work.

"You'd better make the best of it, Phil," said Breakstone."The part of Mexico that we are going into isn'tvery strong on water, and maybe you won't get anotherbath for a year."

"I'm doing it," said the boy.

"And don't you mind the fact," said Bill Breakstone,"that the alligators of the Rio Grande, famous fortheir size and appetite, like to lie around in lovely coolpools like this and bite the bare legs of careless boys whocome down to bathe."

Phil felt something grasp his right leg and pull hard.He uttered a yell, and then, putting his hand onBreakstone's brown head, which was rising to the surface, convulsively thrust him back under. But Breakstone cameup three yards away, pushed the hair out of his eyes, andlaughed.

"I'm the only alligator that's in the stream," he said,"but I did give you a scare for a moment. You arebound to admit that, Sir Philip, Duke of Texas andPrince of Mexico."

"I admit it readily," replied Phil, and, noticing thatBreakstone was now looking the other way, he divedquietly and ran his finger nails sharply along his comrade'sbare calf. Breakstone leaped almost wholly out of thewater and cried:

"Great Heavens, a shark is eating me up!"

Phil came up and said quietly:

"There are no sharks in the Rio Grande, Mr. WilliamBreakstone. You never find sharks up a river hundredsof miles from the ocean. Now, I did give you a scarefor a moment, you will admit that, will you not, SirWilliam of the Shout, the Shark, and the Fright?"

"I admit it, of course, and now we are even," saidBreakstone. "Give me your hand on it."

Phil promptly reached out his hand, and Breakstone, seizing it, dragged him under. But Phil, althoughsurprised, pulled down on Breakstone's hand with all hismight, and Breakstone went under with him. Both cameup spluttering, laughing, and enjoying themselves hugely, while Arenberg swam calmly to a safe distance.

"You are a big boy, Herr Bill Breakstone," he said."You will never grow up."

"I don't want to," replied Bill Breakstone calmly."When it makes me happy all through and through justto be swimming around in a pool of nice cool water, what's the use of growing up? Answer me that, HansArenberg."

"I can't," replied the German. "It isn't in me togive an answer to such a question."

"I suppose we've got to go out at last, dress again, and go back to work," said Breakstone lugubriously."It's a hard world for us men, Phil."

"One iss not a fish, and, being not a fish," saidArenberg, "one must go out on dry land some time orother to rest, and the some time has now come."

They swam to land, but Bill Breakstone began toplead.

"Let's lie here on the sand and luxuriate for a space,Sir Philip of the Rio Grande and Count Hans of theLlano Estacado, which is Spanish for the Staked Plain, which I have seen more than once," said Bill Breakstone."The sand is white, it is clean, and it has been waitinga long time for us to lie upon it, close our eyes, andforget everything except that we are happy."

"It iss a good idea," said Arenberg. "There aretimes when it iss well to be lazy, only most men think itiss all the time."

They stretched themselves out on the white sand andlet the warm sun play upon them, permeating their bodiesand soothing and relaxing every muscle. Phil had notfelt so peaceful in a long time. It had relieved him totell the secret of his quest to Breakstone, who, with hispermission, had told it in turn to Middleton and Arenberg, and now that he was really in Mexico with strongfriends around him he felt that the first great step hadbeen accomplished. The warm sun felt exceedingly good, his eyes were closed, and a pleasant darkness veiled them,a faint murmur, the flowing of the river, came to hisears, and he floated away with the current.

"Here! here! Sir Philip of the Sleepy Head, wake up.It isn't your first duty to go to sleep when you arrive inMexico! Besides, it's time we were back at the camp, orthey'll think Santa Anna has got us already! Also, youneed more clothes than you've got on just now!"

Phil sprang up embarrassed, but he saw Arenberglooking sheepish, also.

"You had good company, Sir Philip of the SleepyHead," exclaimed Breakstone joyously. "Count Hans,of the Snore was traveling with you into that unknownland to which millions have gone and returned, and ofwhich not one can tell anything."

"It iss so," said Arenberg. "I confess my weakness."

They dressed rapidly, and, refreshed and young again, ran back to the train. The twilight was now coming, andthe wagons were drawn up in the usual circular formation, with the animals in the middle, and, outside the circle, were burning several fires of dry cactus and cottonwood, around which men were cooking.

"Just in time for supper," said Bill Breakstone. "Iwas a great rover when I was a boy, but my mother saidI took care never to get out of sound of the dinner-bell.It may be funny, but my appetite is just as good inMexico as it was in Texas."

They ate strips of bacon, venison, and jerked buffalo, with a great appetite. They drank coffee and feltthemselves becoming giants in strength. The twilight passed, and a brilliant moon came out, flooding the plain withsilvery light. Then they saw a horseman coming towardthem, riding directly through the silver flood, black, gigantic, and sinister.

"Now what under the sun can that be?" exclaimedBill Breakstone.

"You should say what under the moon. It iss morecorrect," said Arenberg. "I can tell you, also, that itiss a white man, although the figure looks black here-Iknow by the shape. It iss also an American officer inuniform. I know it because I saw just then a gleam ofmoonlight on his epaulets. He iss coming to inspect us."

The approach of the stranger aroused, of course, thedeepest curiosity in everybody, and in a few moments acrowd gathered to gaze at this man who came on withsuch steadiness and assurance. His figure, stillmagnified by the moon, out of which he seemed to be riding, showed now in perfect outline. He carried no rifle, butthey could see the hilt of a sword on his thigh. He worea military cap, and the least experienced could no longerdoubt that he was an army officer.

"He knows that we are friends," said Middleton, "orhe would not come on so boldly. Unless I mistake much,he sits his horse like a regular officer of the United Statescavalry. That seat was learned only at West Point."

The stranger rode out of the magnifying rays. Hishorse and himself shrank to their real size. He camestraight to the group, leaped to the ground, and, holdingthe bridle in one hand, lifted his cap with the other insalute. Middleton sprang forward.

"Edgeworth," he exclaimed, "when you came near Ithought it was you, but I scarcely dared to hope."

The officer, tall and striking of appearance, withpenetrating gray eyes, seized Middleton's hand.

"And it is you, Middleton," he said. "What ameeting for two who have not seen each other since theywere at West Point together."

"But it's where we both want to be," said Middleton.

"That is so," said Edgeworth with emphasis, "but Ihad heard, George, that you were sent on an errand ofuncommon danger, and I had feared-I will not hesitate tosay it to you now-that you would never come back."

Middleton laughed. He was obviously delighted withthis meeting of the comrade of his cadetship. Thenhe introduced Woodfall and the others, after which heasked:

"How did you know we were friends, Tom? Youcame on as if you were riding to a garden-party."

"A scout brought news of you," he replied. "Wehave a small force about twenty miles ahead, and I rodeback to meet you, and see what was here."

"We have some good men," said Woodfall, "and theyare willing to fight. We've come a good many hundredsof miles for that purpose."

"I believe you," said Edgeworth, running his trainedeyes over the crowd. "A finer body of men I never saw, and we need you, every one of you."

"What news?" asked Middleton eagerly.

"Much of it, and all bad. Our government has mixedthe situation badly. We've been steadily strengtheningScott, and, in the same proportion, we've been weakeningTaylor. There are rumors, I don't know howauthentic-perhaps you have heard them-that Santa Anna is comingnorth with a great force to destroy us. Taylor is expectedto retreat rapidly, but he hasn't done it. You know oldRough and Ready, George."

"I hope to Heaven he won't retreat!" exclaimed Middleton.

"He hasn't. So far he has advanced," said Edgeworth."But I ride back with you in the morning, boys, and I think great things are going to happen before long.Besides the men with you, Middleton, we've use foreverything you've got in the wagons. You won't suffer,Mr. Woodfall."

The train moved the next morning an hour earlierthan usual. Wheels were turning before daylight.Hearts were beating high, and they pushed on at greatspeed now, for wagons, until past sunset. In the middleof the day it was hot, in the evening chill winds blewdown from the crests of distant mountains, but at alltimes, morning, noon, and evening, they marched in acloud of dust, much of it impregnated with alkali. Itannoyed Phil and his comrades terribly, sifting into nose, mouth, ears, and eyes, putting a bitter taste on thepalate, and making them long for the sweet waters of thepool in which they had bathed so luxuriously.

The next day was the same; more dust, more alkali, and the deadly monotony of a treeless and sandy plain.But that night it was extremely cold. They wereapproaching the mountains, the spurs of the Sierra Madre, and the winds were sharp with the touch of ice and snow.Winter, also, had come, and in the night ice formed inthe infrequent rivulets on the plain. Now and then theypassed little Mexican villages, mostly of the adobe huts, with dirt and children strewed about in great quantities.The children were friendly enough, but the womenscowled, and the men were away. Phil did not find thevillages picturesque or attractive in any sense, and hewas disappointed.

"I hope this isn't the best Mexico has to show," he said.

"It isn't very inviting," said Bill Breakstone, "youwouldn't look around here for a Forest of Arden or aVale of Vallombrosa, but this is only the introduction toMexico. Monterey, which General Taylor took, is a finecity, and so are others farther down. I've seen a lot ofthem myself. Don't you worry, Phil, you'll find enoughto interest you before you get through."

They also picked up some wandering scouts andhunters, who joined them in their march. Several ofthese brought news. Taylor was at Saltillo, and his forcewas small. The Mexicans were raiding to the veryoutskirts of the city, and they looked upon Taylor's army asalready destroyed. The American force of about fourthousand five hundred men contained less than fivehundred regular troops. The others, although good material, were raw volunteers, very few of whom had been under fire.

Phil saw Middleton and Edgeworth talking togethervery anxiously, and he knew that they were full ofapprehensions. It seemed as if Fate itself were playing intothe hands of Santa Anna. Occasionally they saw bandsof Mexican guerillas hovering on the horizon, but theydid not bother with them, keeping straight on for Taylorand Saltillo. The cold still increased, both day andnight, and the winds that came from the peaks of theSierra Madre, now plainly in view, cut to the bone. Philwas glad to take to the wagons for sleep, and to wraphimself in double blankets. It was now well intoDecember, but in two more days they expected to reach Taylorat Saltillo.

The last day of the march came, and every heart inthe train beat high with expectancy. Even the armyofficers, Middleton and Edgeworth, trained to suppression oftheir emotions, could not restrain their eagerness, andthey, with Woodfall and others, rode on ahead of thetrain. Phil, Bill Breakstone, and Arenberg were in thislittle group, but the three were at the rear.

"Phil, you were right when you called it a strangelooking land," said Bill Breakstone, "and I'm of theopinion that we're going to see strange things in it. Ourmilitary friends look none too happy, and as I've eyesand ears of my own I know we're likely to have livelytimes after Christmas. Did you know that Christmas wasnot far away, Phil?"

"No, I had forgotten all about it," replied Phil,"but, since you mention it, I remember that it is December.Ah, what is that shining in the sun straight aheadof us, Bill?"

He pointed with his finger and showed the faintestred tint under the horizon.

"That," replied Breakstone, "is a red tile roof on ahouse in Saltillo, and you're the first to see the town.Good eye, my boy. Now, the others have seen it, also!Look how they quicken the steps of their horses!"

They broke into a gallop as they came into a shallow, pleasant valley, with green grass, the Northern palms, clear, flowing water, and many a neat stone house withits piazzas and patios. The domes of several fine churchesrose into view, and then men in uniforms, rifle in hand, stood across the road. Phil knew their faces; these menwere never bred in Mexico. Brown they were with thewind and sun of many days, but the features beneath thebrown were those of the Anglo-Saxons, the Americans ofthe North, his own people.

"Halt!" came the sharp order from the commander ofthe patrol.

Middleton replied for them all, but, as Phil rodepast, he leaned over and said to the bronzed leader of thepatrol:

"I'm here, Jim Harrington. I told you in Paris thatI was coming to Mexico. It's a long road, and you'reahead of me, but I'm here."

The leader, a thick-set, powerful man of fifty-five, looked up in amazement. At first he had not recognizedPhil under his tan and layer of dust, but now he knewhis voice.

"Phil Bedford, by all that's wonderful!" he exclaimed."I didn't think that you and I would evermeet in Mexico, but when the call came I couldn't keepaway!"

Then he lowered his tone and asked:

"Any news of John?"

Phil shook his head sadly.

"Not a thing," he replied, "but I'm going to find him!"

"I believe you will," said Harrington, "but yoursearch is going to be delayed, Phil. You'll have to waitfor something else that none of us will ever forget. But,Phil, you've landed among friends. Lots of the boys thatyou used to know in Paris and around there are here."

As Phil rode on, the truth of Harrington's words wasconfirmed. Tan and dust did not keep strong, heartyvoices from hailing him.

"Hey, you, Phil Bedford, where did you come from?"

"Is that old Phil Bedford? Did he drop from theclouds?"

"Here, Phil, shake hands with an old friend!"

He saw more than a score of familiar faces. Anumber of these soldiers were almost as young as himself, and two or three of them were related to him by blood.He had a great sensation of home, an overpoweringfeeling of delight. Despite strangeness and distance, oldfriends and kindred were around him. But old friendsdid not make him forget his new friends, or think anyless of them. He introduced Middleton, Bill Breakstone, and Arenberg. Middleton was compelled to hurry toGeneral Taylor with his report, but the other tworemained and affiliated thoroughly.

"You camp with us," said Dick Grayson, a distantcousin of Phil's. "We've got a fine place over here, justback of the plaza. Lots of Kentuckians here, Phil-infact, more from our state than any other. The rest aremostly from Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, andLouisiana. We haven't got many regulars, but we'vegot mighty good artillery, and we're ready to give a goodaccount of ourselves against anybody. You ought to seeold Rough and Ready. He's as grim as you please.Just as soon bite a ten-penny nail in two as not. Madclean through, and I don't blame him, because he's beenrobbed to strengthen Scott."

Phil and his comrades went readily with Grayson.The wagon train was already scattering through theencampment, the volunteers taking their places here andthere, while Woodfall and his associates were arrangingfor the sale of their available supplies. Phil, Breakstone, and Arenberg owned their horses, and, leading them withthe bridles over their arms, they walked along with theirnew friends. Phil noticed that the town was well builtin the Mexican style, with many handsome houses andsigns of prosperity. The American invaders had harmednothing, but their encampment was spread throughoutthe city.

The group walked by a green little park in which asmall fountain was playing. A young Mexican in sombrero, gaudy jacket and trousers sat on a stone bench andidly thrummed a guitar. Several thick-set Mexicanwomen, balancing on their heads heavy jars of water, passed placidly by. A small train of burros loaded withwool walked down another street. There was nothingsave the presence of the soldiers to tell of war. It alllooked like play. Phil spoke of the peaceful appearanceof everything to Dick Grayson. Grayson shrugged hisshoulders.

"You cannot tell a thing by its looks in thiscountry," he said. "Mexicans seem nearly always to beasleep, but, as a rule, they are not. You don't see manymen about, and it means that they are off with theguerillas, or that they've gone south to join Santa Anna.We haven't done any harm here. We've treated thepeople in Saltillo a good deal better than their own rulersoften treat them, and we're friendly with the inhabitants, but Mexicans are bound to stand with Mexicans, just asAmericans stand with Americans. It's natural, and Idon't blame 'em for it."

"I'd wager that many a message is carried off to theenemy by these stolid looking women," said Bill Breakstone.

Yet the town itself showed little hostility. Nevertheless,Phil could not keep from feeling that it was thoroughlythe enemy of the invader, as was natural. As BillBreakstone truly said, information concerning theAmericans was certainly sent to the Mexican leaders.Everything that the Americans might do in the town wouldquickly become known to the enemy, while a veil alwayshung before the Mexican troops and preparations. Nevertheless, the life of the city, save for the reduction in thenumber of its adult inhabitants, went on as usual.

Some of the officers occupied houses, but all the menand younger officers were in tents, either in the openplaces of the town or on the outskirts. Phil, Arenberg, and Breakstone spent that night with Dick Grayson andothers in a little park, where about twenty tents stood.These were to be their regular quarters for the present, and, as Middleton had foreseen, the reinforcement waswelcomed eagerly. They ate an abundant supper, and, the night being cold, afire was built within the ring of thetents. Here they sat and talked. Besides Dick Grayson, there were "Tobe" Wentworth, Elijah Jones, SamParsons, and other old friends of Phil.

As they sat before the cheerful blaze and put theirblankets over their backs to shield themselves from thebitter mountain winds, they discussed the war and, afterthe manner of young troopers, settled it, every one in hisown way and to his own perfect satisfaction. "Tobe"Wentworth was not an educated youth, but he was agreat talker.

"I could a-planned this war," he said, "an' carriedit right out without a break to a finish."

"Why didn't you do it, then?" asked Dick Grayson.

"I did think o' writin' to Washin'ton once," saidTobe calmly, "an' tellin' them how it ought to be done, but I reckoned them old fellows would be mighty set intheir ways an' wouldn't take it right. Old men don't liketo be told by us youngsters that they don't know much."

"I've got a plan, too," said an Indiana youth namedForsythe.

"What is it?" asked Wentworth scornfully.

"It's a secret. I ain't ever goin' to tell it toanybody," said Forsythe. "I've drawed up my will, an'I've provided that when I die it's to be buried with me, still unread, folded right over my heart."

All laughed, but "Tobe" rejoined:

"Sech modesty is becomin' in Hoosiers, all the moreso because it's the first time I ever knowed one of themto display it."

"Did you ever hear about that gentleman from Injianythat went out in the Kentucky Mountains once, drivin' afine buggy?" asked Forsythe. "He noticed some bigboys runnin' along behind him. He didn't think muchof it at first, but they kept right behind him mile aftermile, but sayin' nothin' an' offerin' no harm. At lasthis curiosity got the better of him, an' he leaned back andasked: 'Boys, why are you followin' me this way?' Thenthe biggest of them boys, a long, lean fellow, bare-footed and with only one suspender, up and answers:'Why, stranger, we reckoned we'd run behind an' see howlong it would take for your hind wheels to ketch up withyour front wheels.'"

"Tobe" Wentworth sat calm and unsmiling until thelaughter died. Then he said:

"Any of you fellers know how the people of Injianygot the name of Hoosiers? No? Well, I'll tell you.It's so wild and rough over there, an' them people are soteetotally ignorant an' so full of curiosity that, whenevera gentleman from Kentucky crosses the Ohio and goesalong one of their rough roads, up they pop everywhere, and call out to him: 'Who's yer?' meaning 'Who areyou?' and that started the word Hoosier, which all overthe world to-day means the people from Injiany."

When the second laugh died, Bill Breakstone rubbedhis hands together.

"I see that I've fallen upon a merry crowd," he said,"and it is well. The spirit of youth is alwaysdelightful, and it leads to the doing of great things."

"You talk like an actor," said Dick Grayson, not asa criticism, but in tones of admiration.

"I talk like an actor," replied Bill Breakstone withmajesty, "because I am one."

"You don't say so! You don't mean it!" exclaimeda dozen voices at once.

"I am, or, rather, was," replied Bill with dignity,"although I will admit that I am now engaged in otherpursuits."

Most of them still looked at him doubtfully, and Bill, his honor at stake, became the subject of a suddeninspiration.

"I see that some of you suspect my veracity, which isnatural under the circumstances," he said. "Now, Isaid I was an actor, and I'll prove that I'm an actor byacting."

"You don't mean it!" they cried again.