addressed. “They must be brought in at once, with all possible speed.”
He paused, as if planning.
Sergeant Meek saluted.
“One man and myself will take the trip, sir, with your permission. Jest
give us the word, sir.”
“I’m with you, sergeant,” blurted Terry Miller.
“None better,” accepted the sergeant. “We’ll go on back to the
Arkansaw, cap’n, for the hosses. And with the hosses we’ll pick up
John and Tom, and if they can’t ride we’ll sling ’em in litters.”
Lieutenant Pike colored with pleasure.
“That is handsome of you, sergeant; and of you, Miller. You will march
as soon as Stout and Menaugh get in, and we can make the preparations.
Your volunteering for a journey afoot of almost two hundred miles over
two ranges of mountains waist deep in snow, at the risk of encountering
savages, and soldiers of a nation that may not be friendly, is worthy
of the uniform that you have worn.”
“By your leave, sir, there are some others who’d be proud to share the
honor with the sergeant and Terry,” spoke up Jake Carter, crippled
though he was. “I’ll answer for my feet, sir. They’ll carry me, once I
limber ’em up.”
“Two will be enough. I’m sorry that I can’t spare more, my man. I see
that if you all had your way you’d leave me without a garrison.”
Sergeant Meek and Terry felt highly tickled at having got in ahead of
the rest.
The next morning Hugh and Freegift arrived all right. The other two
were to start early on the morrow. Ten pounds of deer meat apiece was
all that might be spared them; they said it was plenty――they had to
travel light, anyway, and would hunt as they went.
The lieutenant, with Corporal Jackson, John Mountjoy and William Gordon
and Stub, walked with them for six miles, so that they might be shown
a better pass for the horses, than the one used by the corporal. Jerry
had reported that his pass was four feet deep with snow, during three
days’ travel.
After the sergeant and Terry had trudged on, the others killed a deer;
Stub and Corporal Jerry were sent back with it, to the stockade, but
the lieutenant took John and Bill with him, on a farther scout, down
the east side of the main river.
They were gone all day and the night. When they came in, the next
afternoon, they said that they had discovered fresh signs of men and
horses, south. The lieutenant called the garrison together and issued
strict orders. The two spies had left five days ago; and if Santa Fe
was only two days’ march distant, soldiers from there were likely to
appear at any moment now.
“We must especially watch out for Indians, my lads,” he directed. “The
tribes hereabouts are doubtless under the influence of the Spanish
government in New Mexico. When any strangers are sighted loitering
about or passing, you are to retire unobserved, if possible. If they
see you, you are not to run, however, nor permit them to approach you
with the idea of disarming you or taking you prisoner. Should you be
unable to evade them, you are to guard your liberty and bring them to
the fort, where I will attend to them.”
A sentry was posted all day on the top of a hill at the edge of the
stockade prairie, from where he had a fine view up and down the fork
and along the main river also. During the nights another sentry kept
watch from one of the bastions or little block-houses on the land-side
corners of the stockade.
The stockade had been enclosed by the log walls, the pickets had been
planted, and within a day or two the outside ditch would be ready for
the water.
On February 24 the lieutenant took Stub again upon another scout and
hunt. The two spies had been gone seven days, and nothing had been
heard from them. He was getting nervous while waiting for the sergeant
and Terry to return with the horses, Baroney, Pat, and John and Tom.
Meat was low; the men themselves had been too busy to hunt――but the
water was in the ditch and everything was snug and shipshape.
He and Stub were out two days, scouting eastward, to examine the
traveled road along which the Spanish might come. They made a circle
and arrived “home,” lugging the meat of three deer, about nine o’clock
at night.
Corporal Jerry greeted them, after the challenge of Freegift Stout, who
was the guard in the bastion.
“We were beginnin’ to be scared for you, sir,” he said. “We didn’t know
but what the Injuns or the Spanish had taken you.”
“All quiet here, corporal?”
“Yes, sir; all quiet.”
“That’s good. We’d have been back sooner, only we hunted farther than
we intended, and had heavy loads to pack in. Now if the other men with
the horses return in safety, we may all march on unmolested, through
American territory.”
But in the morning, while they were at breakfast, the musket of John
Brown, on the hill, sounded――“Boom!” It was a signal: “Strangers in
sight.” Corporal Jerry dropped his knife and bolted into a bastion, to
look. Everybody paused, to learn the news.
Back ran Corporal Jerry, to the lieutenant, who was standing at the
entrance to his brush lean-to, buckling on his sword.
“Two men are crossin’ the prairie for the fort, sir. Menaugh (Hugh was
the sentinel pacing outside) is about to stop ’em.”
“See what they have to say. And if there are no more, admit them,”
ordered the lieutenant.
Away ran Corporal Jerry, for already Hugh was calling for the corporal
of the guard, while holding off the two strangers.
XIX
IN THE HANDS OF THE SPANIARDS
In a few minutes the two strangers crawled through the hole. They were
clad in blanket-coats and deer-hide trousers and fur caps; looked like
French traders――and Frenchmen they proved to be, for the lieutenant
called to them, in French, “Come here,” and he and they talked together
in that language.
Stub might catch only a word now and then; the men listened, puzzled,
prepared to grasp their stacked guns.
The lieutenant finished the conversation. The Frenchmen bowed politely
again, he saluted them and spoke to his party.
“These are two Frenchmen from Santa Fe, lads,” he said. “They inform
me that the governor of New Mexico is fearful of an attack upon us by
the Utah Indians, and has sent a detachment of fifty dragoons for our
protection. The detachment is within two days’ march of us. You know
your duty. I rely upon you to act in a manner that will reflect credit
upon our Country.”
Scarcely had he spoken when they all heard the sentinels outside
hailing loudly, with “Halt! Who comes there? Corp’ral of the guar-rd!
Post Number One!”
Out dived Corporal Jerry, once more.
“To arms! Man the works, men!” the lieutenant rapped.
They grabbed guns and hustled for the platforms under the loopholes.
There were more loopholes than men. Peeping through his, Stub might
see out into the prairie before the stockade. From up the fork a large
body of mounted soldiers had ridden into the edge of the clearing. John
Brown, who had come in from his hill, and Hugh Menaugh were holding
them back, Corporal Jerry was hastening to the scene.
The lieutenant also had seen.
“That is the company?” he demanded, of the two Frenchmen.
“Oui, Monsieur Lieutenant.”
“Tell the commander with my compliments to leave his men in the woods
where he now is, and I will meet him on the prairie before the fort.”
“Oui, oui.”
Out went the two Frenchmen.
“They look like a hundred,” remarked Jake Carter. “We’re only eight,
and an officer an’ a boy. But what’s the difference?”
“Sure, in case of a dust, Meek and Terry an’ the rest of ’em will be
sorry to miss it,” replied soldier Mountjoy.
“Hooray for a brush, if that’s the word. We’re equal to it, no matter
how many they send ag’in us.”
The men were keen for a fight. ’Twas a great thing, thought Stub, to
be an American. But the Spanish soldiers, halted at the edge of the
prairie within short gunshot, looked strong. About fifty, in one body,
were the dragoons; fifty appeared to be a mixture――a part Indians. But
all were well armed with short muskets, pistols, swords, lances and
shields――some in one style, some in another.
The lieutenant had left and was striding into the prairie, to meet two
Spanish officers. He had taken only his sword, by his side. That would
show his rank, for his clothes certainly did not. Nevertheless, the
two Spanish officers, all in their heavy crimson cloaks, and decorated
hats, and long boots, did not look any more gallant than he in his
ragged blanket-coat, torn trousers, moccasins and fur-lined bedraggled
makeshift cap.
The three saluted, and talked for a short time. Beyond, at the timber,
the horses pawed and snorted. Corporal Jerry and the two sentries
stayed, vigilant. At the loopholes, inside the stockade, the five men
and Stub peered, ready.
Presently one of the Spanish officers shouted a command to the
soldiers; they relaxed, at ease――some dismounted, to stretch their
legs; he and the other officer followed Lieutenant Pike to the stockade.
“No fight, hey?” uttered Alex Roy.
“But no surrender, either, you can bet,” grunted Freegift. “The cap’n
likely has something up his sleeve.”
The lieutenant entered, through the hole; the two Spanish officers
crawled in after――and an odd sight they made as they straightened
up, to stare about them curiously. It was plain that they were much
astonished by the completeness of the trap.
The lieutenant led the two officers to his brush shelter. Stub heard
his own name called――the lieutenant beckoned to him. So he jumped down
and went over.
“These two gentlemen of the Spanish army of New Mexico are to be my
guests at breakfast, boy,” said the lieutenant. “I wish you to serve
us. Bring out the best we have. The provisions given me by the Indian
we met can now be put to good use.”
It was fortunate indeed that the lieutenant had saved the meal, goose
and pieces of bread particularly. They were a treat――although doubtless
the Spanish soldiers were used to even that fare. At any rate, most of
the stuff soon disappeared, washed down by water, after the table had
been set, so to speak.
The lieutenant and his guests chatted in French. When they had finished
eating, and the two Spanish officers had wiped their moustaches with
fine white handkerchiefs, the lieutenant said, crisply:
“Have I the pleasure to understand that this is a friendly call upon me
by his Majesty’s troops, at the instance of the New Mexico government?”
The elder officer coughed. He answered politely:
“Señor, the Governor of New Mexico, being informed that you have missed
your route, has ordered me to offer you in his name mules, horses,
money, or whatever you may need, for the purpose of conducting you to
the head of the Red River. From Santa Fe that is eight days’ journey,
before open to navigation. We have guides and know the routes.”
“What! Missed my route, sir? Is not this the Red River?”
“No, señor. This is the Rio Grande del Norte, of New Mexico. The Red
River is many leagues to the southeast.”
The lieutenant flushed red. His thin hands clinched, and he gazed
bewildered.
“Impossible. Why was I not told this by those two men ten days ago, and
I would have withdrawn?”
The officer twirled his moustache and shrugged his shoulders.
“Quien sabe (Who knows), Señor Don Lieutenant? But I now have the honor
to inform you, and am at your service.”
The lieutenant recovered, and stepped outside a few paces.
“Stout!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Lower the flag and roll it up. It will not be hoisted again without my
orders.”
“Sir?” Freegift stammered. And――――
“Oh, no, sir! Not that! Not haul down the flag! Let us keep it flyin’,
sir. We can do it.”
Those were the cries. The lieutenant lifted his hand.
“Silence. I thank you, men. This is not surrender. I have no thought
of surrender. But we are not upon the Red River. We are upon the Rio
del Norte, in Mexican territory, and in courtesy to that government I
am lowering the flag of my own free-will. By building this stockade we
have unwittingly trespassed.”[I]
[I] All the Rio Grande River which flows southward through south
central Colorado into New Mexico was Spanish territory. The Lieutenant
Pike party had crossed the Sangre de Cristo Range and had struck the
Rio Grande near present Alamosa in the southern half of Colorado’s
great San Luis Park or Valley. The largest of the White Mountains, on
the east, was Sierra Blanca (“White Mountain” today), altitude 14,390
feet, ranking third among the peaks of the Rockies. From the camp at
the river the Pike men had travelled south, and built their stockade
about five miles up the Conejos (Rabbits) River, which enters the Rio
Grande from the west. Did he know this to be the Rio Grande del Norte,
or did he really think it to be the Red River? Why did he stop in what
was certainly Spanish territory? Did he wish to be captured? Or did he
only take a chance? Historians have puzzled over this ever since.
The men muttered; the two visiting officers sat uneasy; but Freegift
lowered the flag, caught it in his arms, and with rather a black glance
at the red cloaks folded it carefully.
“By thunder, when we raise it ag’in, it’ll stay,” he grumbled, as he
went to stow it away.
“His Excellency Governor Alencaster requests the pleasure of a talk
with you at Santa Fe, señor,” said the elder officer, with a smile, to
the lieutenant. “He is desirous of entertaining you and learning the
story of your journey. For your accommodation he has provided me with
one hundred animals, to carry your baggage.”
“I thank His Excellency, but it is impossible for me to accept the
invitation,” replied Lieutenant Pike, seating himself again. “I can
only send him my apologies for trespassing, by mistake, upon his
domain. I will wait here merely until the return of my sergeant and the
remainder of my company, and then withdraw at once to American soil. My
orders forbid me entering into Spanish territory.”
“His Excellency will be much distressed not to see you, señor,” the
officer insisted. “I must beg of you to take advantage of our escort.
Otherwise I cannot answer for your safety.”
At this, the lieutenant straightened, and his eyes flashed.
“My safety will be attended to, sir. I shall not move until the safety
of my sergeant and party, some of whom may be suffering, is assured
also. Do I understand that your intent is to use force to convey me to
the governor?”
The officer spread his hands and shook his head.
“No, no, señor! Not in the least. But it is necessary that for the
information of the governor-general the governor of New Mexico should
receive from you personally an explanation of your presence within his
frontier, that he may send in the proper report. If you wish to go
with us now, very well; or if you wish to wait for the return of your
other party, very well. But in that case we shall be obliged to obtain
more provisions from Santa Fe, and dispatch a small number for that
purpose.” Even Stub, who had been listening agog, and catching most
of the words, knew that this meant reinforcements. “If you decide to
march with us now,” the officer added, “I will leave here an Indian who
speaks English, and a part of my dragoons, to greet your sergeant and
escort him and his men to join you at Santa Fe.”
The lieutenant bit his lip and fidgeted. He was of two minds; but one
thing was certain: he could not get rid of these Spanish without a big
fight. And the worst of that would be, that he was an invader and had
broken the law.
He did not hesitate long.
“I shall not yield to force, sir,” he said. “We are American soldiers
and prepared to defend ourselves, as you have seen. However, in
consideration of your courteous attitude I am disposed to go with your
escort to His Excellency, and give him the explanation that is due from
one friendly nation to another. But I must leave two of my men here,
to receive the sergeant and reassure him; otherwise, I promise you, he
will not come on without a fight, except by direct orders from me.”
“That is agreed, señor,” bowed the officer. “And we may consider the
matter very happily settled. You have my respectful thanks.”
The lieutenant’s eyes fell upon Stub.
“Tell Stout to send Corporal Jackson in to me.” He spoke to the Spanish
officer. “I will instruct my men to permit yours to approach, and would
suggest that you inform your company we are willing to receive them as
friends, if their actions so warrant.”
“Thanks, señor.”
Stub sought Freegift Stout.
“The lieutenant says for you to tell Jerry to come in.”
Freegift climbed down.
“What’s it all about? Say! Is it true we’re not on the Red River yet,
but on what they call the Rio del Norte? Sure, that’s not so.”
“It’s what they say. The lieutenant believes it. And we’re going to
Santa Fe.”
“For what?”
“The governor wants to talk with him.”
“But not without a dust! Oh, no, now! Leave these good works, an’ go
without a dust?”
Stub nodded soberly. Freegift dared not delay longer. He went off
muttering. The other men also murmured. The plan was not to their
liking.
Freegift returned with Corporal Jerry. The men trooped after him, to
the lieutenant. Freegift acted as speaker. He saluted――――
“What’s this? Why have you left your posts?” the lieutenant demanded.
“Please, cap’n. Beggin your pardon, sir――but ’tain’t true, is it, that
were layin’ down our arms an’ givin’ up to them Spanish, to march out,
an’ no fight offered? Sure, sir, we’re only eight and a boy; but we’re
behind good walls, an’ you’re the proper kind of an officer, an’
’twould be no great job at all to hold them fellers off till we could
slip away with colors flyin’. You can’t trust them fellers, sir. An’ if
you’ll only give us the orders, sir, we’ll hand out a dose of Yankee
Doodle; eh, boys?”
“Yes, sir! We’re ready for a dust, cap’n, sir. We’d rather trust to our
muskets than to those Spanish. We’re not afeared of ’em.”
“That will do,” Lieutenant Pike answered, but not unkindly. “You’re
brave lads. I know I can depend on you――and with you I’d like to test
our defences at which you’ve worked so faithfully. But we are marching
of our own free will, and shall retain our arms. My orders are to avoid
a conflict with the Mexican forces, unless attacked. Since we are
unfortunately in Spanish territory, it will be better if we proceed
boldly to the New Mexican capital, at the invitation of the governor,
rather than put ourselves in the wrong by resistance.”
“Yes, sir. If you say so, sir,” they replied, with glum faces.
“Corporal, you may draw the sentries in,” continued the lieutenant “The
Spanish soldiers are to be allowed to move freely outside of the works.
Some of the men may meet them, to treat them civilly, for I wish no
sign of suspicion to be shown.”
The two Spanish officers had gone to their troops. 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.”
“That you will,” they answered. “And be sure you fetch Sparks and
Dougherty. They’re the ones who need all these fine fixin’s.”
Horses were provided, as promised by the Spanish officer. Riding
comfortably on these, and escorted by fifty of the dragoons and
militia and the two officers (whose names were Lieutenant Don Ignatio
Saltelo and Lieutenant Don Bartholomew Fernandez), after dinner they
rode twelve miles westward up the fork to the Spanish camp. Now they
numbered only Lieutenant Pike, Privates Freegift Stout, Alex Roy, Hugh
Menaugh, William Gordon, Jacob Carter, John Brown, and Jack Pursley
otherwise Stub. Corporal Jerry Jackson and Private John Mountjoy
remained at the stockade, with the other fifty Spanish soldiers, to
wait for Sergeant Meek, and Private Terry Miller, who were bringing in,
across the mountains, John Sparks and Tom Dougherty (lacking feet and
fingers), Baroney Vasquez and interpreter, Pat Smith, and the horses.
Truly, the little American column had become much scattered.
“Jinks! I’d like to be there at the reception and see the sergeant’s
face,” Alex Roy chuckled. “’Specially when he learns we ain’t been on
the Red River at all!”
“It may seem like a joke, but it’s a rough one,” quoth William Gordon.
“A look at the cap’n’s face is enough for me. To think, after all
these months he’s never got anywhere. ’Twill be a great report that
he’ll have to turn in, ’less he aims to l’arn something of the Spanish
country. At any rate, we’ve hauled down our flag, and given up our fort
and I’m sorry for him. He deserved better.”
XX
STUB REACHES END O’ TRAIL
“Santa Fe! The city of Santa Fe! Behold!”
Those were the cries adown the delighted column. Here they were, at
last; but this was the evening of the fifth day since leaving the camp,
and the distance was more than one hundred and sixty miles. The two
spies, who had said that Santa Fe was only two days’ journey from the
stockade, had lied.
The first stage of the trip had been very cold, in deep snow. Then, on
the third day, or March 1, they had emerged into a country of warmth
and grass and buds, at the first of the Mexican settlements――a little
town named Aqua Caliente or Warm Springs. Hooray!
They all, the Americans, viewed it curiously. The houses were low and
one-story, of yellowish mud, with flat roofs; grouped close together so
that they made an open square in the middle of the town and their rears
formed a bare wall on the four sides.
“’Tis like a big brick-kiln, by jinks,” remarked Freegift. “Now I
wonder do they build this way for fear o’ the Injuns?”
The people here numbered about five hundred――mainly Indians themselves,
but tame Indians, Pueblos who lived in houses, with a mingling of
Mexican blood. From the house-tops they welcomed the column; and
thronging to meet it they brought out food and other gifts for the
strangers. That night there was a dance, with the Americans as guests
of honor.
“If this is the way they treat prisoners,” the men grinned, “sure,
though some of us can’t shake our feet yet, we’re agreeable to the good
intentions.”
The same treatment had occurred all the way down along the Rio Grande
del Norte, through a succession of the flat mud villages. There had
been feasting, dancing, and at every stop the old women and old men had
taken the Americans into the houses and dressed their frozen feet.
“This feet-washin’ and food-givin’ makes a feller think on Bible
times,” William Gordon asserted. “The pity is, that we didn’t ketch up
with that Spanish column that was lookin’ for us and gone right home
with ’em for a friendly visit. They’d likely have put us on the Red
River and have saved us our trouble.”
“Well, we ain’t turned loose yet, remember,” counseled Hugh Menaugh.
“From what I l’arn, the Melgares column didn’t aim to entertain us
with anything more’n a fight. But now we’re nicely done, without
fightin’.”
“Yes, this here politeness may be only a little celebration,” Alex
mused. “It’s cheap. For me, I’d prefer a dust or two, to keep us in
trim.”
There had been one bit of trouble, which had proved that the
lieutenant, also, was not to be bamboozled. In the evening, at the
village named San Juan, or St. John, the men and Stub were together in
a large room assigned to them, when the lieutenant hastily entered. He
had been dining at the priest’s house, with Lieutenant Bartholomew; but
now a stranger accompanied him――a small, dark, sharp-faced man.
The lieutenant seemed angry.