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Amongst other information obtained was the expected arrival of the Spanish brig of war Potrillo, with money on board for the payment of the garrison. As we were busily employing ourselves in inspecting the channels, the officer commanding the garrison began to suspect that our object might not altogether be pacific, this suspicion being confirmed by the detention of his officer.
Then he stepped back, wriggling his fuzzy little tail and blinking his big eyes curiously. "Well, potrillo," began Felipe, grinning down upon the tiny specimen of life, "we goin' now to town! But first you must be ready! You ready? All right! We go now!" And he cracked the whip over the team.
Suddenly a heavy fire was opened upon us from the various forts, to which we did not reply, but, our reconnoissance being now completed, withdrew beyond its reach. Having occupied two days in reconnoitring on the third the Potrillo hove in sight; and being also deceived by our Spanish colours was captured without a shot 20,000 dollars and some important despatches being found on board.
During the arrest of these officers, I had determined upon an attack upon the fortifications of Callao, intending to carry them by a coup de main, similar to that which had succeeded at Valdivia, and having, on the 18th, taken soundings in the Potrillo, was convinced of the feasibility of the plan.
Then he's makin' a fast goer bet you' life! I haf give heem " He suddenly interrupted himself and laid firm hold upon the man's arm. "You coom wit' me!" he invited, and began to drag the other toward the swing-doors. "You coom look at thot potrillo!" They went outside. On the curb, Felipe gazed about him, first with a look of pride, then with an expression of blank dismay.
"Thees potrillo," he observed, "he's bringin' me mooch good luck! He's " He suddenly interrupted himself, aware that the other was striding away. "Where you go now, Franke?" he asked, and then, quick to sense approaching trouble: "Never mind thee big bet, Franke! You can pay me ten dolars soom time! All right?" There was painful silence. "All right!" came the reply, finally, through the darkness.
"Thee early worm he's takin' thee potrillo! How cooms thot, señor?" he asked, enjoying the other's sudden discomfiture. "You takin' thot li'l' horse for thee walk thee exercise?" And then, without waiting for a reply, had there been one forthcoming, which there was not, he slammed down the window, leaped to the door, flung it open all levity now gone from him. "Pedro Garcia!" he raged.
And would not this delay set him back the one day he had gained over his fellow-townsmen? And would not these same fellow-townsmen rejoice in this opportunity to overtake him worse, to leave him behind? They would! "Oh, well," he concluded, philosophically, stretching out upon his back and drawing his worn and ragged sombrero over his eyes, "soon is comin' a potrillo."
Then, as the other shook his head negatively, "Well, I haf new one potrillo nice li'l' horse si!" He cleared his throat and frowned at the listening bartender. "He's comin' couple days before, oop on thee mesa." He picked up the glass, noted that it was empty, placed it down again. "I'm sellin' thot potrillo quick," he went on "bet you' life!
I haf see thees caballo in town one mornin', and a girl she is ridin' heem, and everybody is lookin', and so I'm lookin'." He paused to roll a cigarette. "And then," he continued, drawing a deep inhale of smoke, "I haf know quick lak thot" he snapped his fingers sharply "quick lak thot" he snapped his fingers again "there's my potrillo grown big lak a house! And so "
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