said that I should do my best to
justify his confidence.

We bivouacked on the banks of a stream some ten miles from the scene of
our encounter with the loyalists. On our way thither, Mejia told us that
he had taken and destroyed Tres Cruces, and was now contemplating an
attack on General Griscelli at San Felipe, as to which he asked my
opinion.

I answered that, as I knew nothing either of the defense of San Felipe or
of the strength and character of the force commanded by General Griscelli,
I could give none. On this, Mejia informed me that the place was a large
village and military post, defended by earthworks and block-houses, and
that the force commanded by Griscelli consisted of about twenty-five
hundred men, of whom about half were regulars, half native auxiliaries.

"Has he any artillery?" I asked.

"About ten pieces of position, but no field-guns."

"And you?"

"I have none whatever."

"Nor any infantry?"

"Not here. But my colleague, General Estero, is at present organizing a
force which I dare say will exceed two thousand men, and he promises to
join me in the course of a week or two."

"That is better, certainly. Nevertheless, I fear that with one thousand
horse and two thousand foot, and without artillery, you will not find it
easy to capture a strong place, armed with ten guns and held by
twenty-five hundred men, of whom half are regulars. If I were you I would
let San Felipe alone."

Mejia frowned. My advice was evidently not to his liking.

"Let me tell you, _senor coronel_" he said, arrogantly, "our patriot
soldiers are equal to any in the world, regular or irregular. And, don't
you see that the very audacity of the enterprise counts in our favor? The
last thing Griscelli expects is an attack. We shall find him unprepared
and take him by surprise. That man has done us a great deal of harm. He
hangs every patriot who falls into his hands, and I have made up my mind
to hang him!"

After this there was nothing more to be said, and I held my peace. I soon
found, moreover, that albeit Mejia often made a show of consulting me he
had no intention of accepting my advice, and that all his officers (except
Carmen) and most of his men regarded me as a _gringo_ (foreign interloper)
and were envious of my promotion, and jealous of my supposed influence
with the general.

We bivouacked in a valley on the verge of the llanos, and the next few
days were spent in raiding cattle and preparing _tasajo_. W