s will see the example
I'll set around here. But if you can't capture them, Lieutenant, kill
them all. Don't leave a man of them alive, do you understand?"

In high good humor, he began pacing up and down the room, formulating
the official despatch he would send off no later than today.

To His Honor the Minister for War,
General A. Blanquet,
Mexico City.

Sir:

I have the honor to inform your Excellency that on the morning of ... a
rebel army, five hundred strong, commanded by ... attacked this town,
which I am charged to defend. With such speed as the gravity of the
situation called for, I fortified my post in the town. The battle
lasted two hours. Despite the superiority of the enemy in men and
equipment, I was able to defeat and rout them. Their casualties were
twenty killed and a far greater number of wounded, judging from the
trails of blood they left behind them as they retreated. I am pleased
to state there was no casualty on our side. I have the honor to
congratulate Your Excellency upon this new triumph for the Federal
arms. Viva Presidente Huerta! Viva Mexico!

"Well," the young captain mused, "I'll be promoted to major." He
clasped his hands together, jubilant. At this precise moment, a
detonation rang out. His ears buzzed, he--

XVII

"If we get through the corral, we can make the alley, eh?" Demetrio
asked.

"That's right," the workman answered. "Beyond the corral there's a
house, then another corral, then there's a store."

Demetrio scratched his head, thoughtfully. This time his decision was
immediate.

"Can you get hold of a crowbar or something like that to make a hole
through the wall?"

"Yes, we'll get anything you want, but ..."

"But what? Where can we get a crowbar?"

"Everything is right there. But it all belongs to the boss."

Without further ado, Demetrio strode into the shed which had been
pointed out as the toolhouse.

It was all a matter of a few minutes. Once in the alley, hugging to the
walls, they marched forward in single file until they reached the rear
of the church. Now they had but a single fence and the rear wall of the
chapel to scale.

"God's will be done!" Demetrio said to himself. He was the first to
clamber over.

Like monkeys the others followed him, reaching the other side with
bleeding, grimy hands. The rest was easy. The deep worn steps along the
stonework made their ascent of the chapel wall swifter. The church
vault hid them from the