n
more than they liked fighting, and had an unpleasant way of answering a
remonstrance from their officers with a thrust from their spears.

Mejia owed his ascendancy over them quite as much to his good fortune in
war as to his personal prowess and resolute character.

"If I were to lose a battle they would probably take my life, and I should
certainly have to resign my command," he observed, when we were talking
the matter over after the pursuit (which, night being near, was soon
abandoned); "and a _llanero_ leader must lead--no playing the general or
watching operations from the rear--or it will be the worse for him."

"I understand; he must be first or nowhere."

"Yes, first or nowhere; and they will brook no punishment save death. If a
man disobeys me I either let it pass or shoot him out of hand, according
to circumstances. If I were to strike a man or order him under arrest, the
entire force would either mutiny or disband. _Si senor_, my _llaneros_ are
wild fellows."

They looked it. Most of them wore only a ragged shirt over equally ragged
trousers. Their naked feet were thrust into rusty stirrups. Some rode
bare-backed, and there were among them men of every breed which the
country produced; mestizoes, mulattoes, zambos, quadroons, negroes, and
Indios, but all born _gauchos_ and _llaneros_, hardy and in high
condition, and well skilled in the use of lasso and spear. They were
volunteers, too, and if their chief failed to provide them with a
sufficiency of fighting and plunder, they had no hesitation in taking
themselves off without asking for leave of absence.

When Mejia heard that a British force was being raised for service against
the Spaniards, he was greatly delighted, and offered me on the spot a
command in his "army," or, alternatively, the position of his principal
aide-de-camp. I preferred the latter.

"You have decided wisely, and I thank you, _senor coronel_. The advice and
assistance of a soldier who has seen so much of war as you have will be
very valuable and highly esteemed."

I reminded the chief that, in the British army, I had held no higher rank
than that of lieutenant.

"What matters that? I have made myself a general, and I make you a
colonel. Who is there to say me nay?" he demanded, proudly.

Though much amused by this summary fashion of conferring military rank, I
kept a serious countenance, and, after congratulating General Mejia on his
promotion and thanking him for mine, I