ck, 'long wi' Dan Boone an' his lot. So ye've been eddycated
at a milintary school, then? D'ye unnerstan' anything about the
trainin' o' sogers?"

"Certainly I do."

"Dog-goned, ef you ain't the man we want! How'd ye like to be an
officer? I reck'n ye're best fit for that."

"Of course I should like it; but as a stranger among you, I shouldn't
stand much chance of being elected. You choose your officers, don't
you?"

"Sartin, we eelect 'em; an' we're goin' to hold the eelections this very
night. Lookee hyar, young fellur; I like yer looks, an' I've seed proof
ye've got the stuff in ye. Now, I want to tell ye somethin' ye oughter
to know. I belong to this company that's jest a formin', and thar's a
fellur settin' hisself up to be its capting. He's a sort o' half
Spanish, half French-Creole, o' Noo-Orleans hyar, an' we old Texans
don't think much o' him. But thar's only a few o' us; while 'mong the
Orleans city fellurs as are goin' out to, he's got a big pop'larity by
standin' no eend o' drinks. He ain't a bad lookin' sort for sogerin',
and has seen milintary sarvice, they say. F'r all that, thar's a
hangdog glint 'bout his eyes this chile don't like; neither do some o'
the others. So, young un, if you'll come down to the rendyvoo in good
time, an' make a speech--you kin speechify, can't ye?"

"Oh, I suppose I could say something."

"Wal, you stump it, an' I'll put in a word or two, an' then we'll
perpose ye for capting; an' who knows we mayent git the majority arter
all? You'er willin' to try, ain't ye?"

"Quite willing," answered the Irishman, with an emphasis which showed
how much the proposal was to his mind. "But why, Mr Rock, are you not
a candidate yourself? You have seen service, and would make a good
officer, I should say."

"Me kandydate for officer! Wal, I'm big enough, thet's true, and ef you
like, ugly enuf. But I ain't no ambeeshum thet way. Besides, this
chile knows nothin' 'bout _drill_; an' that's what's wanted bad. Ye
see, we ain't had much reg'lar sogerin' in Texas. Thar's whar the
Mexikins hev the advantage o' us, an' thar's whar you'll hev the same if
you'll consent to stan'. You say you will?"

"I will, if you wish it."

"All square then," returned the Texan, once more taking his _protege_ by
the hand, and giving it a squeeze like the grip of a grizzly bear.
"I'll be on the lookout for ye. Meanwhile, thar's six hours to the good
yet afore it git sundown. So go and