y, then."

"No, nor chaney either."

"Well, what is it?"

"It's only a stone wall painted, you greenhorn!"

"Stone-thunder! it's solid delf, I say."

"Try it with your bayonet, Jim."

_Crick_--_crick_--_crick_--_crinell_! reached my ears. Turning round, I
saw that one of the men had commenced breaking off the japanned work of
the parapet with his bayonet.

"Stop that!" I shouted to the man.

The remark of Chane that followed, although uttered _sotto voce_, I
could distinctly hear. It was sufficiently amusing.

"The captain don't want yez to destroy what'll be his own some day, when
he marries one of thim young Dons. Here comes the owld one, and, by the
powers! he's got a big paper; he's goin' to make over the property!"

Laughing, I looked round, and saw that the Don was returning, sure
enough. He hurried up, holding out a large sheet of parchment.

"Well, Senor, what's this?" I inquired.

"_No soy Mexicano--soy Espanol_!" (I am no Mexican--I am a Spaniard),
said he, with the expression of a true hidalgo.

Casting my eye carelessly over the document, I perceived that it was a
_safeguard_ from the Spanish consul at Vera Cruz, certifying that the
bearer, Don Cosme Rosales, was a native of Spain.

"Senor Rosales," said I, returning the paper, "this was not necessary.
The interesting circumstances under which we have met should have
secured you good treatment, even were you a Mexican and we the
barbarians we have been represented. We have come to make war, not with
peaceful citizens, but with a rabble soldiery."

"_Es verdad_ (Indeed). You are wet, Senor? you are hungry?"

I could not deny that I was both the one and the other.

"You need refreshment, gentlemen; will you come to my house?"

"Permit me, Senor, to introduce you to Major Blossom--Lieutenant
Clayley--Lieutenant Oakes: Don Cosme Rosales, gentlemen."

My friends and the Don bowed to each other. The major had now recovered
his complacency.

"_Vamonos, caballeros_!" (Come on, gentlemen), said the Don, starting
towards the house.

"But your soldiers, Capitan?" added he, stopping suddenly.

"They will remain here," I rejoined.

"Permit me to send them some dinner."

"Oh! certainly," replied I; "use your own pleasure, Don Cosme, but do
not put your household to any inconvenience."

In a few minutes we found our way to the house, which was neither more
nor less than the cage-looking structure already described.

CHAPTER T