He struggled on all of the next day. Most of his strength was gone, but
pride still kept him going. Orizaba was growing larger and larger,
dominating the landscape, and Ned again drew courage from the lofty
white cone that looked down upon them.
Late in the afternoon he heard a trumpet blow, and there was a great
stir in the force of Cos. Men held themselves straighter, lines were
re-formed, and the whole detachment became more trim and smart. General
Cos on his white horse rode to its head, and he was in his finest
uniform. Somebody of importance was coming! Ned was keen with curiosity
but he was too proud to ask. The Tlascalans had proved a churlish lot,
and he would waste no words on them.
The road now led down into a beautiful savanna, thick in grass, and with
oaks and pines on all sides. Cos' companies turned into the grass, and
Ned saw that another force entering at the far side was doing the same.
All the men in the second force were mounted, the officer who was at
their head riding a horse even finer than that of Cos. His uniform, too,
was more splendid, and his head was surmounted by a great three-cornered
hat, heavy with gold lace. He was compact of figure, sat his saddle
well, and rode as if the earth belonged to him.
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