Page:Into Mexico with General Scott (1920).djvu/138

 "I know them!" Jerry exclaimed. "They aren't in the army. They're brush cutters." He ran aside. "Hello, Manuel."

The two Manuels had been cringing and smiling and repeating: "Good Americanos! Valient soldiers! Do not harm us, and God will reward you." They saw Jerry, and recognized him. "Gringo puppy," they hissed. "Where have you been?"

"Yes, I'm a gringo," Jerry answered. "And I'm in the army of the Americans. You said they couldn't take Vera Cruz. What do you say now?"

"They took Vera Cruz by standing off and killing all the people," old Manuel snarled, in Spanish. "But wait, till they try to march on. Our Santa Anna and fifty thousand brave men are coming to meet them. Hear that, gringito? You'll wish you'd stayed in the brush with old Manuel."

Jerry laughed. He told Hannibal what had been said, and Hannibal laughed. As they went on they looked back. The two Manuels were scuttling out of the camp, unharmed, for the soldiers were more interested in the turkey.

Teams and cavalry mounts, and wagons and supplies were very slow in arriving, so that the army stayed in camp at Vera Cruz for over a week without a move. The yellow fever increased—only the fresh lively air blown in by the northers had held it down; and as soon as the northers ceased then the vomito would rage as usual. A large number of the men, especially the Volunteers, were ill with disease caused by drinking bad water and by over-eating.

General Scott reorganized the army for the march inland. The general orders changed the assignment