. That proverb about it takin' two to make a fight is
all a bluff. It only takes one to make a fight. As far as we-all rebs
is concerned that evenin' we ain't honin' for trouble, leastwise, not
ontil mornin'; but them inordinate Yanks will have it, an' thar you be.
The fight can't be postponed.

"'Thar's no tumblin' hurry about how any of us goes to work. Both
sides has got old at the game an' war ain't the novelty she is once.
The Yanks is takin' their p'sition, an' we're locatin' our lines an'
all as ca'mly an' with no more excitement than if it's dress p'rade.
The Yanks is from Colorado. My sergeant speaks of 'em to me the next
day an' gives his opinion touchin' their merits.

"'"Where did you say them Yankees comes from, Major?" says my serjeant.

"'"Colorado," I replies.

"'"Which thar's about thirty minutes last evenin'," says my serjeant,
"when I shorely thinks they're recrooted in hell," an' my serjeant
shakes his head.

"'While I'm linin' up my battery mighty discontented an' disgruntled,
an orderly pulls my sleeve.

"'"Look thar, Major!" he says.

"'I turns, an' thar over on our right, all alone, goes Captain Edson
an' his lancers. Without waiting an' without commands, Captain Edson
has his boogler sound a charge; an' thar goes the lancers stampedin'
along like they're a army corps an' cap'ble of sweepin' the two
thousand cool an' c'llected Yankees off the Rio Grande.

"'For a moment all we does is stand an' look; the surprise of it leaves
no idee of action. The lancers swings across the grassy levels.
Thar's not a shot fired; Edson's people ain't got nothin' but them
reedic'lous spears, an' the Yanks, who seems to know it, stands like
the rest of us without firin' an' watches 'em come. It's like a
picture, with the thin bright air an' the settin' sun shinin' sideways
over the gray line of mountains fifty miles to the west.

"'I never sees folks more placid than the Yanks an' at the same time so
plumb alert. Mountain lions is lethargic to 'em. When Captain Edson
an' his lancers charges into 'em the Yanks opens right an' left, each
sharp of 'em gettin' outen the way of that partic'lar lancer who's
tryin' to spear him; but all in a steady, onruffled fashion that's as
threatenin' as it is excellent. The lancers, with Captain Edson, goes
through, full charge, twenty rods to the r'ar of the Yankee line. An',
gents, never a man comes back.

"'As Edson an' his troop goes through, the Yanks tur