Page:Into Mexico with General Scott (1920).djvu/172

 Dragoons ahead, General Worth and staff following; the artillery afoot, and the infantry and their bands trudging gallantly after, and the white-topped wagons bringing up the rear.

"We're surely bound to 'see the elephant,' as the Volunteers say," uttered Jerry's neighbor, the thin drummer.

That evening when bivouac was made they were almost six thousand feet in air. The views had been marvelous. Jerry hastened to find Hannibal, as usual, for talk and practice. On the way he passed Lieutenant Grant, who stopped him as he saluted.

"How do you like your new job by this time?"

"First rate, sir, I'll learn, the drum major says. Haven't done so awfully bad, but of course they're easy on me. I don't know much about the drills yet."

"I don't wonder. You were thrown right into things without previous instruction on that line."

"Yes, sir. Do you think we'll have a fight on the road, sir?"

"There's a chance. If the pass beyond, called La Joya, is held in force it may give us a little trouble. But we can depend upon General Worth, you know."

"Guess so, sir. How's Pompey, lieutenant?"

"Pompey? That black rascal? Oh, Pompey lost all his money the first night to those gambler camp followers, and he's down to plain cooking."

The lieutenant stepped on; Jerry saluted again and ran along.

"La Joya? Sure thing," Hannibal said "It's like Cerro Gordo, and we're the men to take it."

The next day's march was another stiff climb.