road; or if so, he took care not to
show himself. Canales fought not for glory alone, and the rangers were
not the foes he cared to encounter. Rich baggage-trains were the game
he was used to hunt; and our solitary "company-wagon," filled with
frying-pans, camp-kettles, sick soldiers, and tattered blankets--half
alive with those charming little insects of the genera _pules_ and
_pediculus_--had no attractions for the gallant guerrillero.

On reaching the town, we were surprised to find that the division had
not yet moved. It was to have marched on that morning; but a
countermand had arrived from head-quarters, delaying the movement for
some days--perhaps a week.

This was rare news to me; and as soon as I heard it, my mind became
occupied with projects and anticipations of a pleasant nature. I had
hoped that we should be sent back to the rancheria, but alas! no--our
orders were to remain with the division.

As every available building was occupied by troops, the rangers, as
usual, were treated as "outsiders," and compelled to take to the grass.

Half-a-mile from the town, a spot was shown us for our camp. It was on
the banks of a pretty rivulet; and there, having picketed our steeds,
stretched our canvas to the sun, and washed the dust from our faces, we
made ourselves at home.

I did not remain long by the camp. As soon as the tents were fairly
pitched, I left them, and walked back into the town--partly to get more
definite information as to the future movements of the army, and partly
with the design of indulging a little in the social feeling. I had some
old comrades among the different regiments of the division; and, after
such a long spell of rustication, I was not indisposed to refresh my
spirit by the renewal of former fellowships.

At head-quarters, I learned definitely that we should not march for a
week at the least. So far good; and after hearing this, I proceeded to
the _fonda_--the rendezvous of all the jovial spirits of the army. Here
I encountered the friends of whom I was in search; and for a short while
I found respite from the thoughts that had been harrowing me.

I soon gathered the current "camp gossip," and learned who were the
"newspaper heroes" of the hour; over many of whose names my friends and
I could not restrain either our satire or laughter. It appeared that
the men of deeds were scarcely known beyond the limits of the army
itself, while others, who in the field of battle h