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Spencer rifle. It loads from the breech like this."
He took out a metal tube and pushed it into an opening in the wooden stock,
then worked the cocking lever. "It is now loaded. It contains twenty bullets
in that tube. They can be fired just as fast as they can be levered into the
firing chamber and the trigger pulled." He passed the rifle over toDiáz who
turned it over and over in his hands.
"I have heard of these. Is this how you load it?"
He pulled the lever down and back and the ejected cartridge fell to the
ground.
"It is. Then, after firing, you do the same thing again. The empty cartridge
will be ejected and a new one loaded."
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Diázlooked around, pointed at a dead tree ten yards away and waved his men
aside. He raised the rifle and pulled the trigger; splinters flew from the
tree. He loaded and fired loaded and fired until the magazine was empty. There
was a splintered circle on the tree; smoke hung in a low cloud. The silence
was broken as theguerrillerros shouted loud approval.Diáz looked down at the
gun and smiled for the first time.
"It is a fine weapon. But I cannot win battles with this single gun."
"There is a ship now loading in theUnited States that will bring a thousand
more of these and ammunition. It will be sailing forMexico very soon." He took
a heavy leather bag from the roll and passed it over as well. "There are
silver dollars here which you can use for food and supplies. There will be
more coming on the ship."
Diázleaned the rifle carefully against the log and hefted the money bag.
"TheUnited States is most generous, DonAmbrosio . But this is a cruel and
savage world and only saints are generous without expecting some kind of
reward in return. Has your country suddenly become a nation of saints? Or is
there something that they may want from me in return for all this largesse? It
was not so long ago that I walked out of these mountains to join the others in
the battle for my country against your Gringo invaders from the north. That
war is hard to forget. Many Mexicans died before the American guns."
"Those days are long over. As is the war between the states. There is peace
inAmerica now between North and South, just as there is peace between the
American government and yourJuaristas . Guns and ammunition, like these, are
crossing the border in greater numbers.America is waging a diplomatic war
against Maximilian and the French. It will be a fighting war if the French do
not acquiesce to their demands. Even as we speak attacks byJuaristas in the
north are being launched against the French, and the Austrian and Belgian
troops they command."
"And your Americans wish me to do the same? To march againstMexico City ?"
"No. Their wish is that you go south. Have you heard of the troop landings
there?"
"Just some mixed reports. Strange soldiers in strange uniforms. Something
about building a road. It is hard to understand why they should be doing this
here. People I have talked to think that they must be mad."
"The soldiers are British. And far from being mad they have a carefully
worked out plan. Let me show you, if I may?"
Diázwaved him over. He took a map from his saddle pouch and unrolled it. He
sat besideDiáz on the log and pointed at the south ofMexico .
"The landings were made here on the Pacific shore at the small
fishingvillageofSalina Cruz . The soldiers are from many countries in the
East, but mainly fromIndia . Their commanders are British, and what they mean
to do is to build a road across the isthmus here, to Vera Cruz on theAtlantic
."
"Why?"
"Because these troops are from many places in theBritish Empire . FromChina
andIndia . The North Americans, though they do not wish it, are still at war
with the British. They believe that when the road is complete these troops
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will be used to invade theUnited States ."
"Now it is all becoming very clear,"Diáz said, his voice suddenly cold. "Your
Americans wish me to pull their hot chestnuts from the fire. But I am a
patriot not a mercenary."
"I think that it would be more correct to say that my enemy's enemy is my
friend. These British troops are also allies of the French. They must be
driven from Mexican soil. As proof of what I say I have something else for
you." He drew the envelope from inside his jacket and passed it over.
"This is addressed to you. From Benito Juarez."
Diázheld the letter in both hands and stared at it thoughtfully. Juarez, the
President ofMexico . The man and the country for which he had fought these
many long years. He opened it and read. Slowly and carefully. When he had
finished he looked over at O'Higgins.
"Do know what he says here?"
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