Yet
Fannin still opposed.
"We whipped them off yesterday, and we can do it again to-day," he said.
But he was willing to leave it to the others, and, as they agreed that
there was no chance to hold out any longer, they decided to parley with
the Mexicans. A white cloth was hoisted on the muzzle of a rifle. The
Mexican fire ceased, and they saw officers coming forward. The sight was
almost more than Ned could stand. Here was a new defeat, a new tragedy.
"I shall meet them myself," said Fannin, as he rose painfully. "You come
with me. Major Wallace, but we do not speak Spanish, either of us."
His eye roved over the recruits, and caught Ned's glance.
"I have been much in Mexico," said Ned. "I speak Spanish and also
several Mexican variations of it."
"Good," said Fannin, "then you come with us, and you, too, Durangue. We
may need you both."
The two officers and the two interpreters walked out of the hollow,
passing the barricade of earth and dead oxen that had been of no avail,
and saw four Mexican officers coming toward them. A silk handkerchief
about the head of one was hidden partly by a cocked hat, and Ned at
once saw that it was Urrea, the younger. His heart swelled with rage and
mortification.
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