same short rank with a dumpy, strutty little "rascal" like young Tommy Jones, aged only fourteen.
The fifers were mainly men. Jerry's partner, Fifer O'Toole, outreached him by a foot.
At rest intervals the troops were now given chances to see the city and nearby country. Puebla far surpassed Vera Cruz. The saying ran: "Puebla is the first heaven, Mexico (the City of Mexico) is the second." The paved streets were many and broad, flanked by splendid stone buildings and traversed by the rattling coaches of the wealthy. There were one hundred churches, and innumerable fine stores; the markets teemed with fruits and vegetables. The houses were thrown open to the officers and men; General Worth had started in by not interfering with the city government as long as it did not interfere with him; General Scott continued the system. He permitted the city watchmen to patrol with their arms as before, so that at night there were two sets of guards.
The Mexican watchmen would chant:
"Ave Maria! Son las doce de la noche, y sereno," which meant: "Hail, Mary! It is eleven o'clock and quiet."
While the American sentries growled:
"Post Number One (or Two, or Three). All's well."
Six miles out from the city were the ruins of the ancient Aztec Indian town of Cholula, with a pyramid of clay and stone blocks two hundred feet high, mounted by one hundred and forty steps. When Cortez, the conquerer, came through here in 1520 the pyramid was used for human sacrifices, and the
