Page:Into Mexico with General Scott (1920).djvu/50

 other Americans stranded here did not dare to say anything.

Now that the North Americans (as they were called) had been driven out, in the north, very likely they would try to invade Mexico at another point. Yes, no doubt they might be foolish enough to try Vera Cruz, hoping to march even to the City of Mexico from this direction! Of course, the notion was absurd, for the City of Mexico was two hundred and eighty miles by road, and on the other side of the mountains. So the Vera Cruzans laughed and bragged.

"No hay cuidado, no hay cuidado! Somos muy valientes. Es una ciudad siempre heroica, esta Vera Cruz de nosotros," they said. Or, in other words; "No fear, no fear! We are very brave. It is a city always heroic, this Vera Cruz of ours."

"That is right," had agreed old Manuel and young Manuel, with whom Jerry lived and worked. "If those North Americans wish to come, let them try. We have two hundred great guns on the walls, and three hundred in the castle—some of them the largest in the world. Yes, and five thousand soldiers, and the brave General Morales to lead us."

"The Vera Cruz walls are ten feet thick, and those of the castle are fifteen feet thick," old Manuel added. "Cannon balls stick fast; that is all."

"The guns will kill at two miles," young Manuel added. "Never once have those North American ships dared to come within reach. The commander at the castle laughs. He says to the American commander: 'Bring on your fleet. You may fire all your shot at us and we will not take the trouble to reply. We only despise you.'"