It was still dark, but through the chinks of a few of the mud huts we
could see the red glow of a fire, and were warned by this to move
forward and take up our position at the head of the main street.
Before we advanced, skirmishers were sent out to restrain any of the
people in the huts who might attempt to arouse the garrison. But we
need not have concerned ourselves, for those of the natives who came
to their doors, yawning and shivering in the cool morning air, shrank
back at the sight of us, and held up their hands. I suppose, as we
crept out of the mist, we were a somewhat terrifying spectacle, but I
know that I personally felt none of the pride of a conquering hero.
The glimpse I had caught of the sleeping town, peaceful and
unconscious, and the stealth and silence of our movements, depressed
me greatly, and I was convinced that I had either perpetrated or was
about to perpetrate some hideous crime. I had anticipated excitement
and the joy of danger, instead of which, as I tiptoed between the poor
gardens, I suffered all the quaking terrors of a chicken thief.

We had halted behind a long adobe wall to the right of the main
street, and as we crouched there the sun rose like a great searchlight
and pointed us out, and exposed us, and seemed to hold up each one of
us to the derision of Santa Barbara. As the light flooded us we all
ducked our heads simultaneously, and looked wildly about us as though
seeking for some place to hide. I felt as though I had been caught in
the open street in my night-gown. It was impossible to justify our
presence. As I lay, straining my ears for Garcia's signal, I wondered
what we would do if the worthy citizen who owned the garden wall,
against which we lay huddled, should open the gate and ask us what we
wanted. Could we reply that we, a hundred and fifty men, proposed to
seize and occupy his city? I felt sure he would tell us to go away at