totally unprotected. By this time the light had increased sufficiently
for us to see the white fronts of the houses, and the long empty
street, where rows of oil-lamps were sputtering and flickering, and as
they went out, filling the clean, morning air with the fumes of the
dying wicks. It had been only two weeks since I had seen paved
streets, and shops, and lamp-posts, but I had been sleeping long
enough in the open to make the little town of Santa Barbara appear to
me like a modern and well-appointed city. Viewed as I now saw it, our
purpose to seize it appeared credulous and grotesque. I could not
believe that we contemplated such a piece of folly. But the native
officer pointed down the street toward a square building with
overhanging balconies. In the morning mist the warehouse loomed up
above its fellows of one story like an impregnable fortress.

Miller purred with satisfaction.

"That's the place," he whispered; "I remember it now. If we can get
into it, they can never get us out." It seemed to me somewhat like
burglary, but I nodded in assent, and we ran back through the
outskirts to where Laguerre was awaiting us. We reported that there
were no pickets guarding our side of the town, and the building Garcia
had designated for defence seemed to us most admirably selected.

It was now near to the time set for the attack to begin, and Laguerre
called the men together, and, as was his custom, explained to them
what he was going to do. He ordered that when we reached the warehouse
I was to spread out my men over the plaza and along the two streets on
which the warehouse stood. Porter was to mount at once to the roof and
open fire on the barracks, and the men of B and C Troops were to
fortify the warehouse and erect the barricades.