present, of only about eight hundred of General Huerta's Mexican
Federals. But suppose it was rumored that the Americans intended
to land at Vera Cruz. Isn't it likely that the garrison would
be greatly increased?"

"Let 'em increase their old garrison," smiled Dalzell, contemptuously.
"The first landing parties from our fleet would drive out any kind
of a Mexican garrison that Huerta could put in that town."

"Exactly," nodded Dave, "and then the Mexicans would naturally
fall back."

"We can chase 'em," asserted Ensign Dalzell.

"Certainly, but a large force of Mexicans might fall back along the
coast, through the swampy country we are now facing."

"In that case," argued Dan, "we wouldn't have to follow the brown
rascals on foot. We could use the ship to follow 'em, and land
and fight where we found 'em."

"To be sure," Ensign Darrin agreed. "But the Mexicans, knowing
their own swamps, would have considerable advantage. They might
have part of their force retreat, drawing us further and further
into a swamp, and then have another force get between us and our
ships."

"Let 'em try it," retorted Dan Dalzell, grimly, "If there is anything
new that the Greasers want to know about American methods of fighting,
our fleet is full of officers who are willing to be patient