The volunteer _rendezvous_ was in a tavern, better known by the name of
"Coffee House," in the street called Poydras. The room which had been
chartered for the occasion was of ample dimensions, capable of
containing three hundred men. Drawn together by the printed
proclamation that had attracted the attention of the young Irishman in
his afternoon stroll, two-thirds of the above number had collected, and
of these at least one-half were determined upon proceeding to Texas.
It was a crowd composed of heterogeneous elements--such as has ever
been, and ever will be, the men who volunteer for a military, more
especially a filibustering expedition.
Present in the hall were representatives of almost every civilised
nation upon earth. Even some that could scarce boast of civilisation;
for among the faces seen around the room were many so covered with
beards, and so browned with sun, as to tell of long sojourn in savage
parts, if not association with the savages themselves. In obedience to
the counsels of the Texan, Florence Kearney--a candidate for command
over this motley crew--made early appearance in their midst. Not so
early as to find that, on entering the room, he was a stranger to its
occupants. Cris Rock had been there before him, along with a half-score
of his _confreres_--old Texans of the pure breed--who having taken part
in most of the struggles of the young Republic, had strayed back to New
Orleans, partly for a spree, and partly to recruit fresh comrades to aid
them in propagating that principle which had first taken them to Texas--
the "Monroe Doctrine."
To these the young Irishman was at once confidentially introduced, and
"stood drinks" freely. He would have done so without care of what was
to come of it; since it was but the habit of his generous nation. Nor
would this of itself have given him any great advantage, for not long
after entering the room, he discovered that not only drinks, but
dollars, were distributed freely by the opposition party, who seemed
earnestly bent upon making a captain of their candidate.
As yet Kearney had not looked upon his competitor, and was even ignorant
of his name. Soon, however, it was communicated to him, just as the man
himself, escorted by a number of friends, made his appearance in the
room. The surprise of the young Irishman may be imagined; when he saw
before him one already known, and too well-known,--his rival in the
affections of Luisa Valverde!
Yes; Carlos Santander was also a candidate for the command of the
filibusters.
To Kearney the thing was a surprise, and something besides. He knew
Santander to be on terms of very friendly and intimate relationship not
only with Don Ignacio, but other Mexicans he had met at the exile's
house. Strange, that the Creole should be aspiring to the leadership of
a band about to invade their country! For it was _invasion_ the Texans
now talked of, in retaliation for a late raid of the Mexicans to their
capital, San Antonio. But these banished Mexicans being enemies of
Santa Anna it was after all not so unnatural. By humiliating the
Dictator, they would be aiding their own party to get back into power--
even though the help came from their hereditary foemen, the squatters of
Texas.
All this passed through the mind of the young Irishman, though not
altogether to satisfy him. The presence of Santander there, as aspirant
for leadership, seemed strange notwithstanding.
But he had no opportunity for indulging in conjectures--only time to
exchange frowns at his rival and competitor, when a man in undress
uniform--a Texan colonel--who acted as chairman of the meeting, mounting
upon a table, cried "Silence!" and, after a short pithy speech, proposed
that the election of officers should at once proceed. The proposal was
seconded, no one objecting; and, without further parley, the "balloting"
began.
There was neither noise nor confusion. Indeed, the assembly was one of
the quietest, and without any street crowd outside. There were reasons
for observing a certain secrecy in the proceedings; for, although the
movement was highly popular all over the States, there were some
compromising points of International law, and there had been talk of
Government interference.
The election was conducted in the most primitive and simple fashion.
The names of the candidates were written upon slips of paper, and
distributed throughout the room--only the members who had formed the
organisation having the right to vote. Each of them chose the slip
bearing the name of him he intended to vote for, and dropped it into a
hat carried round for the purpose. The other he threw away, or slipped
if to his pocket.
When all had deposited their ballots, the hat was capsized, and the bits
of paper shaken out upon the table. The chairman, assisted by two other
men, examined the votes and counted them. Then ensued a short interval
of silence, broken only by an occasional word of direction from the
chairman, with the murmuring hum of the examiners, and at length came in
a clear loud voice--that of the Texan colonel--"_The votes are in favour
of Kearney! Florence Kearney elected Captain by a majority of
thirty-three_!"
A cheer greeted the announcement, in which something like a screech from
Cris Rock could be heard above all voices; while the giant himself was
seen rushing through the crowd to clasp the hand of his _protege_, whom
he had voluntarily assisted in promoting to a rank above himself.
During the excitement, the defeated candidate was observed to skulk out
of the room. Those who saw him go could tell by his look of sullen
disappointment he had no intention of returning; and that the
filibustering cohort was not likely to have the name, "Carlos
Santander," any longer on its roll-call.
He and his were soon forgotten. The lieutenants were yet to be chosen.
One after another--first, second, and _brevet_--was proposed, balloted
for, and elected in the same way as the captain.
Then there was a choice of sergeants and corporals, till the
organisation was pronounced complete. In fine, fell a shower of
congratulations, with "drinks all round," and for several successive
rounds. Patriotic speeches also, in the true "spread-eagle" style, with
applauding cheers, and jokes about Santa Anna and his _cork-leg_; when
the company at length separated, after singing the "Star-Spangled
Banner."