XVI
FACING THE MEXICAN HOST
At eight in the morning assembly was ordered.
The division formed column. This looked like business.
General Scott had arrived; the Second, Third
and Fourth Divisions were coming rapidly. When
the First headed out of San Augustine, upon a broad
road leading to the north, Jerry himself felt a queer
little thrill. In that direction lay San Antonio, only
two miles and a half; beyond San Antonio was
Churubusco; and beyond Churubusco, Mexico City.
From San Augustine nothing could be seen of the country north. The view was interrupted by a great mass of blackish volcanic rock, thrown up like lava, and cooled into all kinds of ugly shapes. It was named El Pedrigal; was two miles north and south, and three miles east and west.
The road turned northward around the east end of the lava bed. In another mile the west end of Lake Xochimilco opened, opposite on the right—and the column suddenly halted. The road continued, but half a mile before there stretched across it the Mexican batteries of San Antonio.
Now the general officers consulted. In the column heads wagged. With the marshes of the lake upon the one hand and the jagged lava ridges upon the other, and the road running between straight into the breastworks, it did not look like a very happy prospect.
