I have been
studying your drawings of the defensive works at San Antonio Garita
and find them entirely comprehensive. A council of officers has been
called, and perhaps it will be as well for you to remain."

"At what time shall I be here, General?"

"It is about time now," answered the commander-in-chief, consulting
his watch. "You have quite recovered from your wounds?" he added,
kindly.

"Yes, thank you, General."

"I see by the newspapers you were reported dead. If your friends read
that it will cause them needless anxiety. You had better see that the
matter is corrected."

"It is hardly worth while," returned the young man, slowly.

The commanding general glanced at him in some surprise. "A strange
fellow!" he thought. "Has he reasons for wishing to be considered
dead? However, that is none of my business. At any rate, he is a good
soldier." And, after a moment, he continued: "Cerro Gordo was warm
work, but there is warmer yet in store for us. Only Providence, not
the Mexicans, can stop us. But here are the officers," as General
Pillow, Brevet-General Twiggs and a number of other officers entered.

The commander-in-chief proceeded to give such information as he had,
touching the approaches to the city. Many of the officers favored
operating against San Antonio Garita, others attacking Chapultepec.
Saint-Prosper, when called on, stated that the ground before the San
Antonio gate was intersected by many irrigating ditches and that much
of the approach was under water.

"Then you would prefer storming a fortress to taking a ditch?" said
one of the generals, satirically.

"A series of ditches," replied the other.

"Colonel Saint-Prosper is right," exclaimed the commanding general. "I
had already made up my mind. Let it be the western gate, then."

And thus was brought to a close one of the most memorable councils of
war, for it determined the fate of the City of Mexico.

Saint-Prosper looked older than when seen in New Orleans, as though he
had endured much in that brief but hard campaign. His wound had
incapacitated him for only a few months, and in spite of the climate
and a woful lack of medical attendance and nourishing supplies, his
hardy constitution stood him in such stead he was on his feet and in
the saddle, while his comrades languished and died in the fierce heat
of the temporary hospitals. His fellow-officers knew him as a fearless
soldier, but a man reticent about himself, who made a confida