Ahead of the Army Part 22

What happened or was said next, he did not know until he felt himself somewhat roughly shaken by somebody, and was forced to exclaim:

"Hullo, Captain Kemp! Are you here, too? I declare!"

"Here I am," said the captain, "and I'm going to take you and your father back to New York on the ship that brought us. You have been in Mexico long enough."

Ned did not so much as have time to hurrah again before Senora Ta.s.sara came forward to say to him:

"That is not all, Senor Carfora. For the sake of my husband's health, and for other reasons, he and I and Felicia and Senora Paez are intending to spend our next winter in the United States. We have accepted your father's invitation to be pa.s.sengers with you. What do you think of that?"

Ned could hardly say what he thought, but he tried to, and perhaps his best effort was made when he said to Felicia:

"Isn't it tip-top! I'll show you all over the city,--but I'm afraid you will get awfully seasick on the way. I did at first."

"She will have to run the risk of that," laughed her mother, but after Ned's long conference with his father was ended, she and Ned spent the rest of the evening in a discussion of the sights which were to be seen in the great city of the Americans.

"There would be no use in your remaining here now," Mr. Crawford had said to Ned. "My business with the army will run right along for a time, but nothing else can be done until all things are quiet and settled.

Then we may try and find out what good your Mexican experience has done you."

Mr. Crawford went away at a late hour, but Ned was out of the house early enough the next morning. He had a strong notion in his head, and it led him to the grand plaza, to stand in front of the government building which had been the headquarters of so many different kinds of governments of Mexico. It was really a fine and costly affair, but the Mexican national banner was no longer floating from its tall flagstaff.

Instead of it was a broad and beautiful Stars and Stripes, and it had never before appeared to Ned so very beautiful.

He was gazing up at that evidence that the city was in the hands of General Scott and his army, when a voice that he knew hailed him with:

"Hullo, youngster! That's our flag. Where's your friend Grant? Have you seen him?"

"Captain Lee!" exclaimed Ned. "Yes, I've seen him. He's all right."

"So I hear," said Lee. "And they say he distinguished himself at Molino del Rey. His regiment lost a number of men, too."

"Well," said Ned, "I wasn't with my regiment in these battles here, but I'm glad that my army has taken Mexico. Grant's a splendid fellow."

"My regiment! My army!" laughed Captain Lee. "All right; that's the way every American boy ought to feel. I guess you are right about Grant, too. He may be heard of again some day."

"Tell you what," said Ned. "When I get to New York, I mean to join one of our city regiments as soon as I can. Then, if there ever is another war, I'm going to join him. I'd like to serve under him."

"Good!" said Lee. "And then I may hear of Colonel Crawford, of Grant's Division, United States Volunteers. Good-by. Take care of yourself."

THE END.