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Show DOLORES. 87 Farther up in the foot- hills I found a secluded cove, walled in by precipitous rocks and beautiful with bright- hued mountain flowers; and there, with my hunting- knife, I dug her graye. Taking one tress from her dark hair, I laid her to rest, then wandered away in the mountains, careless what became of me. The buds of the mountain rose, with a few raspberries, were my only food for days ; often I pon-dered whether I should not abandon exertion, and yield a life which was worth so little. But life is sweet, and youth does not easily sur-render it. " The fifth day, I was found by a party of hunters, who took me to Fort Lancaster, where I was received as one risen from the dead. The mountain fever, natural result of my toils and suiferings, now prostrated me, and for weeks I hovered between life and death. The late autumn saw me again abroad, and with returning strength came a desire for vengeance. I sought the capital of Texas to take arms against the Mexicans, but a sort of peace had been made. Dissatisfied, restless, but with my yearning for revenge not quite gone, I drifted eastward and through the State of Louisiana. In the spring of 1846 I descended Red River to New Orleans. Retir-ing late the night of my arrival, and utterly ignorant of what had occurred among nations for many months, in the morning I was wakened by the noise of fife and drum, by the yells of a multitude in the streets, and the Jong resonant cry of a recruiting agent: " ( Turn out ! Turn out ! all you who are willing to fight for your country ! General Taylor is surrounded, and in all probability cut to pieces, but come on and take revenge out of the d d Mexicans ! ' " I was mad with joy. Without breakfast, and scarcely more than half dressed, I ran into the street, and was soon in the ranks of the recruits. The old cannon of 1812 were brought out and thundered through the city; thousands, tens of thousands thronged the streets, with loud cries for country and vengeance, and before the next night a full regiment was ready to embark. The incoming boat from Matamoras brought news that, instead of being ' cut to pieces/ your general had really been victorious at Palo Alto and Resaca cle la Palma ; but there was no cessation in the excitement and the volun-teering. In a wonderful ' y short time our little command was on the Rio Grande. But there was a long period of inaction, and before it ended, I, with many others, was transferred to the army near Vera Cruz. Then there was action enough. " At Cerro Gordo, Cherubusco, Chepultepec, in a dozen fierce en-counters, I sought death where others fell, but found it not. I stood |
