Page:Lost with Lieutenant Pike (1919).djvu/302

 A great cheering arose, from that direction, as if the soldiery had been told that there would be no fighting, and were heartily glad.

The Spanish flocked forward, into the prairie in front of the stockade. Freegift and several of the other men, and Stub, did sally out, curious to inspect their new friends. The Spanish soldiers were regular dragoons, fifty; and mounted militia, fifty—a mixture, these, of Spaniards and Mexicans and Indians.

And they were kind and friendly, indeed. They brought food and blankets and insisted that the Americans accept. Freegift himself finally admitted:

"Well, I'd still prefer a little dust, for the honor of the army an' a proof that a half-froze American is as good a man as a dozen foreigners; but I don't deny they're treatin' us mighty handsome, the same as brothers-at-arms. The colors of 'em are a bit peculiar, yet their hearts seem white."

Toward noon Corporal Jerry sought out all the garrison and called them together, inside.

"Mountjoy, you an' I are to stay here, with some of the Spanish, an' a letter from the cap'n to hand to the sergeant when he comes. The rest of you are to get ready to march at once. So good luck to you—an' we'll see you later."