keting as those same lusty troopers. No sooner did they set foot in
the enchanted land of roses than a damsel in distress, the Republica
Mexicana herself, came to them for succor. Or more literally, a
dissident governor, backed by the authority of President Juarez, offered
Shelby military control of the three northern states and grants in the
fabulously rich Sonora mines, if he would hang high his shield and
recruit his countrymen in the republican cause. There is little doubt
that General Shelby could have raised an army and become henceforth a
power in Mexico, for Washington would have smiled on the undertaking and
all Texas would have afforded a base of supplies. But the Missourian's
Round Table voted it down. They awaited Maximilian's reply which
Driscoll was to bring. Perhaps, too, they would have a chance to wage
war against the United States again, and that was better than being
smiled on.

Henceforth they fought the forlorn damsel herself, fought every foot of
the way through desert mesquite thick enough to daunt a tarantula. There
were guerrillas, robbers, spies, deserters, and Indian tribes. It was
one eternal ambush, incessantly a skirmish, often a pitched battle. They
saved a French garrison. They rescued a real maiden by a night attack on
an hacienda stronghold, and did it with strictly de rigueur dash and
chivalry. Once or twice they were even stung, by some "langourous
dusky-eyed scorpion of a saynorita" to fight among themselves,
cavalryman's code. Daniel was never one to spoil a romance by mentioning
that a tropical maid was faced like a waffle-iron, though more than
likely she was. Finally, as a last stroke, Fat Jenny promised to shoot
Shelby and hang the rest.

"You've been derogatory about this lady before," Driscoll interposed,
"and I want to know who she is."

"She is the English for Jeanningros, the French general at Monterey,
who'd heard about those negotiations with the Republica. But Shelby
formed in battle line, to storm his old city, and at the same time sent
word explaining that he hadn't accepted any offer from the Republica.
So, instead of shooting and hanging, Jenny asked us around for supper.
That's where I left 'em."

"What for?"

"W'y," said Boone in surprise, "to see if you'd gotten here, and to take
back Maximilian's answer."

"But what's the use? The Trans-Mississippi went and surrendered."

"Gra-cious, but you're in a vicious humor! Now, here's the use. Instead
of fifty th