proper to be
repeated.

"Can't see why they picked _me_ out. There's Myers, and Wayne, and
Wood, not half my size, and that thin scare-the-crows Allen; but no--the
general wants _me_ killed. Die soon enough in this infernal nest of
centipedes without being shot in the chaparral! I wish the chaparral
was--!" and again the major's unmentionable words came pouring forth in
a volley.

I saw that it was useless to interrupt him until the first burst was
over. From his frequent anathemas on the "bushes" and the "chaparral",
I could gather that the service I was called upon to perform lay at some
distance from the camp; but beyond this I could learn nothing, until the
major had sworn himself into a degree of composure, which after some
minutes he accomplished. I then re-stated the object of my visit.

"We're going into the country for mules," replied the major. "Mules,
indeed! Heaven knows there isn't a mule within ten miles, unless with a
yellow-hided Mexican on his back, and such mules we don't want. The
volunteers--curse them!--have scared everything to the mountains: not a
stick of celery nor an onion to be had at any price."

"How long do you think we may be gone?" I inquired.

"Long? Only a day. If I stay overnight in the chaparral, may a wolf
eat me! Oh, no! if the mules don't turn up soon, somebody else may go
fetch 'em--that's all."

"I may ration them for one day?" said I.

"Two--two; your fellows'll be hungry. Roberts, of the Rifles, who's
been out in the country, tells me there isn't enough forage to feed a
cat. So you'd better take two days' biscuit. I suppose we'll meet with
beef enough on the hoof, though I'd rather have a rump-steak out of the
Philadelphia market than all the beef in Mexico. Hang their beef! it's
as tough as tan leather!"

"At four o'clock then, Major, I'll be with you," said I, preparing to
take my leave.

"Make it a little later, Captain. I get no sleep with these cursed
gally-nippers and things; but, stay--how many men have you got?"

"In my company eighty; but my order is to take only fifty."

"There again! I told you so; want me killed--they want old Bios killed!
Fifty men, when a thousand of the leather-skinned devils have been seen
not ten miles off! Fifty men! great heavens! fifty men! There's an
escort to take the chaparral with!"

"But they are fifty men worth a hundred, I promise you."

"Bring all--every son of a gun--bugler and all."

"But that,