Read The Ferguson Rifle for Free Online Page A

others of my party moved in from the shadows, all except Shanagan and Bob Sandy, who wisely remained on watch.
    â€œWill you join us in some coffee, captain?” I suggested. Then I added, “I wasn’t aware that your king’s claims extended so far. In any event, the Louisiana Territory has been sold to the United States by the Emperor Napoleon.”
    He stared at me in total disbelief. Yet my assurance left him somewhat uncertain, as he accepted the coffee. Glancing from one to the other of us, he suddenly burst out, “I don’t believe it! It’s impossible!”
    â€œIt’s true,” I replied, and then added, “Under other conditions, captain, I’d resent your disbelief, but I’ll overlook it under the circumstances.”
    Before he could continue, I went on. “By the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso, the territory was returned to France. My government learned of this and began negotiations with the emperor. As you know, the slave revolt in Haiti and impending war with England left him in need of funds. The Senate approved the treaty and on the twentieth of December 1803, my government took formal possession.
    â€œTo repeat, Captain Fernandez, we welcome you as our guest.”
    His face flushed with irritation. Ebitt was grinning openly, and both Kemble and Talley had difficulty in restraining their amusement.
    â€œNonsense!” he exploded, then added quickly, “In any event, this isn’t a part of the Louisiana Territory. It’s administered from Santa Fe.”
    â€œI understand your surprise, captain,” I replied gently. “In such wide open country, one often rides farther than one realizes, but you’re now well within the territory of the United States.”
    The captain was not pleased. He had come, I was sure, to order us out of the country or to place us under arrest. Communication was slow and must come by sailing ship from Spain to Mexico, from Mexico City to Santa Fe, and no doubt Fernandez had been absent several weeks.
    â€œI believe none of this,” he said sharply, “and in any event, you’re under arrest. You’ll be taken to Santa Fe where your case will be disposed of … in due time.”
    I smiled at him. “Under arrest, captain? I could as easily arrest you, but the offense is trivial. I’m sure the amount of grass your horses have eaten will not cause us to suffer too much, but as for arresting us, you cannot. And captain, we will not be arrested.”
    He threw his cup to the ground. “You’ll surrender, or be taken by force!”
    â€œTake us, then.” Solomon Talley spoke quietly. “Take us, captain.”
    â€œI have forty men!” Fernandez threatened. “Surrender at once or we’ll kill you all!”
    I smiled at him, then glanced at Kemble and Talley. “Forty? The number won’t divide evenly, Kemble, so I guess it will be first come, first served.”
    â€œI’ll get my share,” Ebitt said.
    Fernandez turned abruptly and strode to his horse. The others had said nothing, but as he turned to go, one of them lifted a pistol.
    â€œI wouldn’t,” Heath warned, his rifle on its target. “I just wouldn’t at all.”
    The pistol was lowered, slowly, carefully. Then they rode away into the darkness.
    â€œI hate to leave such a good camp,” I said.
    â€œ
Leave
it? You don’t figure on runnin’?” Ebitt demanded.
    â€œNo, I don’t. Right yonder”—I pointed back of us—“about forty yards back there’s a few big, old cottonwood deadfalls. They fell just right for a breastwork. I ran upon it while I was gathering firewood.
    â€œThere’re several living trees, and there’s room inside for ourselves and our horses, a kind of natural fort. I think it might be wise to leave our fire burning and just pull back.”
    We did just that, and at the lower end of our natural redoubt,