Page:The Fall of Maximilan's Empire.djvu/130

122 and weary men, women and children, who swarmed into the fields to get a bit of grass or a branch of green bush once more in their hands after the dreary captivity of over three months within the walls of the beleaguered town. In an hour's time the tents were struck, the bugles sounded their cheerful ringing calls, and the body of rugged, half-clad, dirty, but undaunted men and boys that we have been calling an investing army, got into motion, with their tattered flags and pennons gayly flying. At about five o clock of that 27th day of June, 1867, the patriot army marched in and took possession of the city and fortifications. Mexico entire was now under her own flag; not a place was left under the dominion of the foreigner.

Some inclination was shown to open fire upon the "Tabasco," which was just then heaving up her anchor; but it was promptly announced that she was under the protection of the two men-of-war, and that any such demonstration would instantly start their broadsides. That ended it. In a short time the steamer got under way and put to sea, with her motley crew, heading for Mobile. She reached her destination in safety, and those hungry, gaunt-looking soldiers, straggling about the city, were the occasion of much wondering comment. The vessel herself disappeared from sight; entering the port under the pretension of being a man-of-war, no custom-house return noted her arrival nor her