Returning to the parade, I ordered the six mules and four ponies
brought to my door, saddled and bridled, and all the men not on guard
to assemble under arms with cartridge-boxes filled. Fortunately, the
mail-riders had arrived the previous evening from Santa Fe, so I
ordered them to form a part of the expedition, and placed the party
of thirteen under command of Sergeant Cunningham, mounted upon my
horse.
The sergeant was directed to take the "reserved trail" through the
hills into the valley of San Antonio and bring his men into the
western end of La Puerta before the Indians could pass through it. I
impressed it upon him on no account to fire unless the redmen showed
fight, to leave his mules and horses concealed in the timber at the
entrance of the canon, and so dispose his men as to convey the
impression that thirteen was but a part of his force.
Just before the horsemen were to start I overheard Private Tom Clary,
who was mounted on Frank's recent equine acquisition, Sancho, say to
the boy:
"Corpril Frank, laddie, can ye give me the Naviho words for _whoa_ and
_get up_? I'm afeared the little baste 'll not understand me English,
and may attimpt to lave for his troibe.
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