Her fingers closed about the hilt with a
certain solace. After Benito was safe--
Voices in the next room caught her interest by a mention of the Santa
Clara battle.
"Hull is fighting mad," she heard. "He promises to bring the greasers to
their knees. It's unconditional surrender or no quarter, Brannan says."
"First catch your pig--then butcher it," said another, meaningly. "The
Spaniards have the best of it thus far. Hull's shouting frantically for
reinforcements. Well, he won't get me. I think the rancheros have their
side as well as we. If this stiff-necked commander would listen
to reason."
"He hasn't heard the other side," the first speaker resumed. "If he knew
what Alcalde Bartlett had done to these poor devils through his horse
and cattle raids--"
A third man laughed. "He'll never learn that, partner, have no fear;
who'll tell him?"
"Well, here's to Uncle Sam," said a fourth voice. Followed a clink of
glasses. Inez Windham sat up swiftly and dried her eyes. A daring
thought had come to her.
Why should not she tell Commander Hull the truth!
She rose and smoothed her ruffled gown. A swift look from the window
revealed that the road was clear.
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