Its embargo on arms had been little more than a pretense of
neutrality, which had fooled the Federals not at all, and it was
an open secret that financial assistance to the uprising was
rendered from some mysterious Northern source. The very presence
of American troops along the border was construed by Mexicans as a
threat against President Potosi, and an encouragement to revolt,
while the talk of intervention, invasion, and war had intensified
the natural antagonism existing between the two peoples. So it was
that Ellsworth, while he did his best to see to it that his client
should make the journey in safety and receive courteous treatment,
doubted the wisdom of the undertaking and hoped for no practical
result.
Alaire took Dolores with her, and for male escort she selected,
after some deliberation, Jose Sanchez, her horse-breaker. Jose was
not an ideal choice, but since Benito could not well be spared, no
better man was available. Sanchez had some force and initiative,
at least, and Alaire had no reason to doubt his loyalty.
The party went to Pueblo by motor--an unpleasant trip, for the
road followed the river and ran through a lonesome country,
unpeopled save for an occasional goat-herd and his family, or a
glaring-hot village of some half-dozen cubical houses crouching on
the river-bank as if crowded over from Mexican soil.
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