by J. T. Edson
Showing no sign of his feelings, but counting upon the people with him to act correctly, Ole Devil started to walk slowly forward. Having drawn similar conclusions, Mangrove Hallistead stepped out to catch him up. Smiling her thanks at Dumoulin, Corrinne put off the pretence of shaking the stone from beneath her foot and followed. By the time the Texian was almost on the crowd, his companions had joined him. No more questions were asked and the onlookers parted to let his party through.
‘Whew!’ Hallistead ejaculated, sotto voce, once they were beyond the crowd. ‘You really told them, my Mephistophelian young friend. Let us hope that they bear in mind what you said and allow the incident to be forgotten.’
‘It’s a pity they can’t all be kept occupied by something to make them forget it,’ Corrinne declared, frowning pensively.
‘I doubt if anything short of the threat of an attack by the Mexicans would do that, my dear,’ Hallistead replied. ‘And I’m afraid such a contingency is remote.’
‘That’s true, madame,’ Dumoulin went on. ‘According to our scouts, there aren’t any Mexicans within miles.’
‘Good heavens!’ Corinne gasped, looking very concerned. ‘Does that mean nobody is keeping watch for them?’
Remembering their last meeting, xxv Ole Devil was puzzled by the little blonde’s attitude. Demure, petite and fragile as she might appear, he had had no cause to think of her as the frightened and helpless female she seemed to be at that moment. Glancing at her husband in the hope of enlightenment, he failed to detect a clue on a face which—like the woman’s—was capable of producing whatever kind of expression or emotion the situation called for.
‘They are, madame, never fear,’ Dumoulin said, clearly having none of the Texian’s misgivings. Instead, all his masculine protective instincts were aroused by the little blonde’s apparent perturbation and he wanted to reassure her. ‘Some of Colonel Smith’s scouts are always on watch well to our rear. There’s no chance of the Mexicans arriving without our knowing.’
‘Oh, that is a relief!’ Corrinne breathed and, looking a little less worried, continued, ‘Manny darling, don’t you think you should tell the colonel about the cause of the duel?’
‘Egad yes, my dove, I do and I will,’ the entertainer agreed, and started to comply with something less than his usual verbosity.
Before Dumoulin had heard the whole of what Lieutenants Gerard Jaloux and Marcel Pierre-Quint had tried to bring about, a splutter of explosive French profanity erupted from him. Then, remembering that there was a lady present—although Corinne was showing neither distress nor horror at the vehemence of his reaction—he made a visible effort to control his temper and listened to the rest of the explanation in silent, ever growing anger.
‘The damned young fools!’ the colonel spat out, after Hallistead had stopped speaking. ‘Did Maitre D’Armes de Lepage know what they were up to?’
‘They didn’t say he did in so many words,’ the entertainer admitted. ‘But I received the impression that he was not averse to the possibility of being able to engage Captain Hardin in a duel. Is he the kind of man who would countenance such an irresponsible scheme?’
‘He’s acquired a name as a duelist as well as a fencing master,’ Dumoulin replied. ‘Men of that kind generally want to enhance their reputations by taking to the “field of honor”, particularly against somebody who is regarded as being a capable fighting man himself. But I don’t want to say he would have agreed to the scheme if he’d been told about it.’
‘Is he likely to take up for those two, sir?’ Ole Devil inquired.
‘He knows my orders on the matter,’ the colonel said. ‘He also knows that he’s anything but my beau ideal for a maitre d’armes. So I think that he’ll think twice, as he did when they asked him in the first place, before he does anything to give me an excuse to get rid of him.’
‘May I make a request, sir?’ Ole Devil asked, his tone formally respectful.
‘You may, captain,’ Dumoulin authorized.
‘Will you ensure that all your men know I have taken part in my last duel,’ the Texian said. ‘We’re fighting a war against the Mexicans, not with each other. So I’ll consider the next man who issues a challenge to be an enemy of my country and treat him accordingly.’
‘I understand and concur, captain,’ Dumoulin declared, impressed by the complete lack of bombast or arrogance in the young man’s attitude. He was doing no more than stating a fact, which he had every intention of putting into effect. ‘And I’d like to thank you again on my nephew’s behalf. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have my duties to attend to. I’ll do everything in my power to prevent any further mischief.’
‘I wouldn’t like to be in those three’s shoes when he gets back,’ Ole Devil remarked, watching the colonel stamping away.
‘He’s in a somewhat difficult position, for all of that,’ Hallistead pointed out. ‘Being in command of a privately financed volunteer regiment puts a serious limit to the extent of his disciplinary powers, as you may have cause to know.’
‘It does, although we’re luckier than most in that respect,’ Ole Devil answered. ‘But I hope that he can keep them under control until we leave. I meant what I told him.’
‘He didn’t doubt it,’ the entertainer declared. ‘And I’m sure he’ll find a way to make sure they don’t cause trouble in the future.’ xxvi
‘By the way,’ Ole Devil said. ‘I was coming to see you when I met them. Can you spare me a few minutes, please?’
‘Certainly,’ Hallistead affirmed. ‘The Grand Hotel is in the offing. Shall we avail ourselves of its far from extensive facilities?’
‘I’d rather be getting back to my Company, if it’s all the same with you,’ Ole Devil objected. ‘Fooling with them’s kept me away much longer than I intended and I still have a lot to do ready for the morning.’
‘That’s understandable,’ Hallistead declared, knowing that Company ‘C’ was leaving. ‘So I will perambulate thence with you and can pay my respects to Colonel Fog in passing. And what about you, light of my life?’
‘I don’t think I’ll come,’ Corrinne replied. ‘Unless, of course, you need my advice too, Captain Hardin?’
‘While I’d count it an honor to be seen in your company, ma’am,’ the Texian replied, sweeping his hat off with a flourish. ‘Your husband can tell me all I want to know.’
‘Then I’ll go and wait for you at the hotel, darling,’ Corrinne informed her husband, glancing in that direction. ‘Why there’s charming Colonel Smith. I wonder if he’s heard that there are any marauding bands of Mexicans in the vicinity. Perhaps he’ll be able to put my mind at ease about it.’
‘I’ve heard ‘Deaf” Smith called a whole heap of things, mostly deserved, on occasion,’ Ole Devil remarked, watching the little blonde join the obviously delighted old Chief of Scouts. ‘But “charming” wasn’t one of them.’
‘Or me, I admit,’ Hallistead replied.
‘What do you think your lady’s up to?’ the Texian inquired.
‘She seems deeply disturbed by the possibility that we will hear the Mexicans are approaching with the intention of launching an offensive,’ the entertainer suggested. ‘What would happen, do you think, if such a threat should eventuate?’
‘Everybody would be too busy watching out for them to go around looking for mischief,’ Ole Devil surmised with a grin. ‘But it won’t happen, will it?’
‘As I told Corrinne, the contingency is remote,’ Hallistead answered, but his tone lacked conviction. They started to walk towards where the Texas Light Cavalry were camped and he went on, ‘Now, in what manner do you wish me to render assistance?’
‘I’m not at liberty to explain why,’ Ole Devil warned, ‘but I have to take a small party into the center of the Mexican Army.’
‘No easy task,’ Hallistead said quietly, showing no surprise. ‘How did you propose to accomplish it?’
‘Would it be possible to disguise Tommy, the other man and myself so we co
uld get in there and carry out our assignment?’
‘By day, or at night?’
‘We could move in to the center by night, but getting there and doing what we have to will mean working in daylight.’
‘Do you wish to impersonate specific personages?’ Hallistead asked, but his voice expressed no enthusiasm.
‘No,’ Ole Devil replied. ‘Just to pass for Mexicans to avoid suspicion if we meet any. Once we5ve done our work, it doesn’t matter if they realize we’re Texians.’
‘To pass at a distance, you would require the appropriate garments and even saddles, which would be easy enough to obtain,’ Hallistead decided, being an authority on the subject of make-up and disguise as they had been his specialty in the theater. ‘However, at under fifty yards and with your face shaved and hair either hidden or cut, your features would probably give you away. That would be even more so in the case of your worthy Oriental factotum. He could never pass as a person of Latin origin. An Indian, mayhap, with stain on his skin and wearing a black wig, which I could supply.’
‘We don’t intend to let anybody get that close on the way in,’ Ole Devil pointed out. ‘And we can cover the final stage during the night.’
‘True, but even in the darkness there could be problems. Unless I’m prying beyond acceptable depths, is the third member of your party a Chicano.’
‘A Texian.’
‘Then you will have the language problem to contend with, should you be challenged,’ the entertainer warned. ‘There are sure to be sentries posted and, no matter how well you speak Spanish, your accents might give you away.’
‘So you don’t think much of our chances?’
‘Not at close quarters,’ Hallistead admitted. ‘A disguise is never entirely satisfactory, nor long lasting, when it requires make-up and is for use out of doors. That would be particularly so in the current inclement weather. It would require frequent renewal and that is no task to be undertaken without training. No, my Mephistophelian young friend, there is no way you can utilize a disguise at close quarters and be sure of success.’
‘That’s just about what I figured,’ Ole Devil admitted and gave a shrug. ‘We’ll just have to try it some other way.’
‘If you haven’t completed the selection of your party, or even if you have and consider the idea meritorious, I could accompany you and renew the make-up when necessary,’ Hallistead offered. ‘Not even that will guarantee success, but it is worthy of consideration.’
‘Thank you for the offer, sir,’ Ole Devil drawled. ‘But three is the maximum that we could hope to take through.’
‘I’ll leave that in your hands, captain,’ the entertainer declared. ‘And I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.’
‘You only closed up a way I wasn’t really counting on, sir,’ Ole Devil drawled philosophically. ‘There’s another open to us. While I was on my way to collect the General’s caplocks, I picked up a letter of identification Santa Anna had given to a white renegade. xxvii That might get us through.’
‘I hope that it does,’ Hallistead said sincerely, without attempting to try and find out the nature of the assignment. ‘Isn’t this your second-in-command coming?’
‘Yes,’ Ole Devil affirmed, looking to where Mannen Blaze was exhibiting an uncharacteristic haste as he strode towards them from the Texas Light Cavalry’s neat lines of tents.
‘In considerable haste, too,’ the entertainer went on, frowning. ‘I hope that nothing is amiss.’
‘So do I,’ Ole Devil seconded grimly.
‘Howdy, Mr. Hallistead,’ Mannen greeted, then gave his full attention to his superior. ‘Paul Dimmock’s just come back, Cousin Devil.’
‘He made good time,’ Ole Devil said quietly, feeling sure that the redhead had something more to add.
‘Sergeant Smith met them bringing in a herd of cattle they’d found,’ Mannen continued. ‘Trouble is, so did some fellers who heard about the fuss at the hotel. Paul told me he’d like to see you as soon as it’s convenient.’
‘Where is he now?’ Ole Devil asked, sensing his cousin had left much unsaid.
‘Down at the horse lines, the last I saw of him,’ Mannen replied.
‘I’ll go and see him,’ Ole Devil decided. ‘If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Hallistead?’
‘Of course,’ the entertainer answered. ‘Is Colonel Fog available, Mr. Blaze?’
‘Yes, sir,’ Mannen confirmed.
‘Take Mr. Hallistead to see the colonel,’ Ole Devil ordered and, even though Mannen Blaze knew why Lieutenant Paul Dimmock had insisted upon the interview, he signified his assent without a moment’s hesitation.
Leaving the burly redhead to escort the entertainer, Ole Devil walked swiftly through the camp. Making his way to the well guarded lines of picketed horses, he was pleased to observe that the man he was seeking stood alone and some distance from the nearest sentry.
Since the destruction of his former regiment, along with the other prisoners at Goliad, Paul Dimmock had laid aside the attire of the New Orleans Grays and wore the uniform of an officer in the Texas Light Cavalry. Almost as tall as Ole Devil, he was slightly heavier in build and had short cropped light brown hair. The bitter lines on his good looking face had not been there before the massacre of Colonel James Walker Fannin’s command. Seeing his superior coming, he strode forward with a demeanor of indignation and anger.
‘Before you say what you’re thinking,’ Ole Devil drawled, as they halted face to face, in his voice a coldly prohibitive note. ‘Don’t!’
‘You—!’ Dimmock began, ignoring the warning.
‘I took steps to prevent something stupidly senseless from happening,’ Ole Devil interrupted. ‘You don’t need to prove anything, especially to a bunch of young fools with too much time and not enough work on their hands.’
‘But they—!’ Dimmock tried to protest.
‘What would it have proved to call one, or all of them out?’ Ole Devil continued relentlessly. ‘Not a solitary damned thing and it would have settled less.’
‘It would have proved that—’ Dimmock tried to explain.
‘For each one you’d faced and beaten, there’d be another to take his place,’ Ole Devil pointed out, ignoring the other’s words. ‘Only it wouldn’t have stopped just between you and those six. The men of Company “C” like and respect you enough to want to take your part. Once that happened, the rest of the New Orleans’ Wildcats would have felt obligated to stand by their own. Mister, the Republic of Texas’s Army has more than enough problems without stupid, pointless feuds among its ranks.’ He raised his right hand as his subordinate made as if to speak. ‘I know, I took an un-gentlemanly liberty by interfering in your private affairs. But, Lieutenant Dimmock, we’re not gentlemen any more. We’re officers, responsible for the lives of the men under our command. And, as you asked to come into my Company, you’re under my command. That gives me the right to interfere and take whatever steps I feel are necessary if something’s happening that could put you and the rest of my Company in jeopardy.’ Pausing for a few seconds to let his meaning sink in, he finished, ‘If I’d had the slightest doubts about your courage, I wouldn’t have taken you into Company “C”—or be asking if you’ll volunteer for a dangerous assignment.’
‘I will, sir,’ Dimmock agreed, looking slightly abashed as he conceded that his superior had made very good sense.
‘You’d better hear what it is, first,’ Ole Devil warned. ‘It will mean going into the middle of the Mexican Army—’
‘I’ll still go,’ Dimmock declared. ‘And thanks—for everything.’
‘Come on,’ Ole Devil said, satisfied that he had achieved his purpose. ‘I’ll tell what else we’re going to do as we go back to the tents.’
‘Whooee!’ the lieutenant ejaculated, when he had heard what they intended to do. ‘That will be something, if we can pull it off.’
Before Ole Devil could make any reply, they heard bugles blowing the alarm from the other regiments’ camps.
‘The Mexicans are coming!’ yelled a voice and the cry was taken up elsewhere.
‘Do you know something, Mr. Dimmock,’ Ole Devil drawled, displaying no alarm. ‘I had a feeling this was going to happen.’
Chapter Eight – A Threat to El Presidente’s Life
‘This is our third day out and still no sign of the Mexicans,’ remarked Lieutenant Paul Dimmock as he rode with Ole Devil Hardin and Tommy Okasi in a westward direction just before noon on April 6. Then a wry grin came to his face and he went on, ‘There doesn’t even seem to be hide nor hair of that bunch who caused all the fuss around San Felipe the night before we left.’
‘Very wise and ancient Nipponese saying—’ the little Oriental commenced.
‘Which he’s just made up,’ chorused the two Texians.
‘It is better to be assailed by a thousand imaginary attackers than one who is real,’ Tommy finished, refusing to be put off by the interruption.
‘Is that a wise saying?’ Dimmock inquired of Ole Devil, although they both knew to what the little Oriental was referring.
Every section of the Republic of Texas’s Army assembled around San Felipe had stood to arms all through the night in question, but no attack was made. In fact, apart from voices calling insulting messages and threatening the wrath which would descend very shortly, there had been no evidence of hostile presences in the vicinity. Only a few of the Texians had been perceptive enough to notice that the callers’ broken English accents were more like those of Anglos impersonating Chicanos than Mexicans employing a foreign tongue. Some of the more discerning had put this down to a deception on the part of white renegades, several of whom were known to be serving Presidente Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who had no desire to let their countrymen know they were there.
A few others knew, or suspected, the truth.
Being both shrewd and determined, Corrinne Hallistead had not merely been content to hope that there would be no further incidents between the Texians and the New Orleans’ Wildcats. Instead, working with a willing ‘Deaf’ Smith, she had concocted a plot based upon her questions regarding how the news that Mexicans were in the vicinity would be received. The two scouts who had helped Ole Devil disperse the crowd after the duel were told to ride out of the town and return to raise a false alarm. Then, to make sure that everybody remained at their posts, the aged Chief of Scouts and his men had been responsible for the various challenges and threats from the darkness. Finally, they had come back shortly after dawn claiming that they had been searching for the enemy, who had now withdrawn and was too far away to make pursuit worthwhile.
