Santa Barbara, and were given a grand welcome by the allies and the
townspeople. I had never witnessed such enthusiasm, but it was not
long before I found out the cause of it. In our absence everybody had
been celebrating the victory with aguardiente, and half of Garcia's
warriors had become so hopelessly drunk that they were lying all over
the plaza, and their comrades were dancing and tramping upon them.

I found that this orgy had put Laguerre in a fine rage, and I heard
him send out the provost guard with orders to throw all the drunken
men into the public corral for lost mules.

When he learned of this Garcia was equally indignant. The matter ended
with Laguerre's locking up Garcia's soldiers with our prisoners-of-war
in the yard barracks, where they sang and shouted and fought until
they were exhausted and went to sleep.

There was still much drink left on requisition, but the conquering
heroes had taken everything there was to eat, and for some time I
wandered around seeking for food before I finally discovered Miller,
Von Ritter, and Aiken in the garden of a private house enjoying a most
magnificent luncheon. I begged a share on the ground that I had just
overcome two helpless brass cannon, and they gave me a noisy welcome,
and made a place for me. I was just as happy as I was hungry, and I
was delighted to find someone with whom I could discuss the fight. For
an hour we sat laughing and drinking, and each talking at the top of
his voice and all at the same time. We were as elated as though we had
captured the city of London.

Of course Aiken had taken no part in the fight, and of course he made
light of it, which was just the sort of thing he would do, and he