"

"Very well, then; set about it."

Lincoln returned to the company and selected four of the most active of
his men, with whom he proceeded towards the entrance. I ordered the
soldiers to throw themselves on that side of the inclosure, and cover
the party in case of an attack; but none was made. A movement was
visible among the Mexicans, as they perceived Lincoln and his party rush
out towards the body; but, seeing they would be too late to prevent them
from carrying it off, they wisely kept beyond the reach of the American
rifles.

The body of the German was brought into the inclosure and buried with
due ceremony, although his comrades believed that before many hours it
would be torn from its "warrior grave", dragged forth to feed the coyote
and vulture, and his bones left to whiten upon the naked prairie. Which
of us knew that it might not in a few hours be his own fate?

"Gentlemen," said I to my brother officers, as we came together, "can
you suggest any mode of escape?"

"Our only chance is to fight them where we stand. There are four to
one," replied Clayey.

"We have no other chance, Captain," said Oakes, with a shake of the
head.

"But it is not their intention to fight _us_. Their design is to starve
us. See! they are picketing their horses, knowing they can easily
overtake us if we attempt to leave the inclosure."

"Cannot we move in a hollow square?"

"But what is a hollow square of fifty men? and against four times that
number of cavalry, with lances and lazos? No, no; they would shiver it
with a single charge. Our only hope is that we may be able to hold out
until our absence from camp may bring a detachment to our relief."

"And why not send for it?" inquired the major, who had scarcely been
asked for his advice, but whose wits had been sharpened by the extremity
of his danger. "Why not send for a couple of regiments?"

"How are we to send, Major?" asked Clayley, looking on the major's
proposition as ridiculous under the circumstances. "Have you a pigeon
in your pocket?"

"Why?--how? There's Hercules runs like a hare; stick one of your
fellows in the saddle, and I'll warrant him to camp in an hour."

"You are right, Major," said I, catching at the major's proposal; "thank
you for the thought. If he could only pass that point in the woods! I
hate it, but it is our only chance."

The last sentence I muttered to myself.

"Why do you hate it, Captain?" inquired the major, who h