he outpost.
One of the men pointed to me; and the orderly trotting forward, drew up
in front of the alcalde's house, and announced that he was the bearer of
a dispatch from the general-in-chief, at the same time showing a folded
paper. I directed him to pass it up on the point of his sabre, which he
did; and then saluting me, he turned his horse and galloped back as he
had come.

I opened the dispatch, and read:--

"_Head-quarters, Army of Occupation_,--

"_July --th_, 1846.

"Sir,--You will take a sufficient number of your men, and proceed to the
hacienda of Don Ramon de Yargas, in the neighbourhood of your station.
You will there find five thousand head of beeves, which you will cause
to be driven to the camp of the American army, and delivered to the
commissary-general. You will find the necessary drivers upon the
ground, and a portion of your troop will form the escort. The enclosed
_note_ will enable you to understand the nature of your duty.

"A.A. Adjutant-general.

"Captain Warfield."

"Surely," thought I, as I finished reading--"surely there is a
`Providence that shapes our ends.' Just as I was cudgelling my brains
for some scheme of introduction to Don Ramon de Vargas, here comes one
ready fashioned to my hand."

I thought no more about the lazo: the rope was no longer an object of
prime interest. Trimmed and embellished with the graceful excuse of
"duty," I should now ride boldly up to the hacienda, and enter its gates
with the confident air of a welcome guest. Welcome, indeed! A contract
for five thousand beeves, and at war-prices! A good stroke of business
on the part of the old Don. Of course, I shall see him--"embrace him"--
hobnob with him over a glass of Canario or Xeres--get upon the most
intimate terms, and so be "asked back." I am usually popular with old
gentlemen, and I trusted to my bright star to place me _en rapport_ with
Don Ramon de Vargas. The coralling of the cattle would occupy some
time--a brace of hours at the least. That would be outside work, and I
could intrust it to my lieutenant or a sergeant. For myself, I was
determined to stay by the walls. The Don must go out to look after his
vaqueros. It would be rude to leave me alone. He would introduce me to
his daughter--he could not do less--a customer on so large a scale! We
should be left to ourselves, and then--Ha! Ijurra! I had forgotten
_him_. Would _he_ be there?

The recollection of this man fell like