The men muttered; the two visiting officers sat uneasy; but Freegift lowered the flag, caught it in his arms, and with rather a black glance at the red cloaks folded it carefully.
"By thunder, when we raise it ag'in, it'll stay," he grumbled, as he went to stow it away.
"His Excellency Governor Alencaster requests the pleasure of a talk with you at Santa Fe, señor," said the elder officer, with a smile, to the lieutenant. "He is desirous of entertaining you and learning the story of your journey. For your accommodation he has provided me with one hundred animals, to carry your baggage."
"I thank His Excellency, but it is impossible for me to accept the invitation," replied Lieutenant Pike, seating himself again. "I can only send him my apologies for trespassing, by mistake, upon his domain. I will wait here merely until the return of my sergeant and the remainder of my company, and then withdraw at once to American soil. My orders forbid me entering into Spanish territory."
- [Footnote: From the camp at the river the Pike men had travelled south,
and built their stockade about five miles up the Conejos (Rabbits) River, which enters the Rio Grande from the west. Did he know this to be the Rio Grande del Norte, or did he really think it to be the Red River? Why did he stop in what was certainly Spanish territory? Did he wish to be captured? Or did he only take a chance? Historians have puzzled over this ever since.]
