"We're equipping a commissary and barracks," thus a member informed Benito. "Doesn't look much like disbanding, does it? The Chivs. think we're through. No such luck. This is costing me $50 a day in my business," he sighed. "We've got a dozen blacklegs, shoulder-strikers and ballot-stuffers in there now, awaiting trial. We've turned all the petty offenders over to the police." Benito laughed. "And have you noticed this: The Police Courts are convicting every single one of them promptly!" "Yes, they're learning their lessons ... but we've trouble ahead. These Southerners and politicians have the Governor in their pocket. He's sent two men to Washington to ask the President for troops. Farragut has been asked to bombard the city. He's refused. But General Wool has promised them arms from Benicia if the Governor and Sherman prove that anarchy exists." "They can't," Benito contended. "Not by fair means, no.... But that won't stop them. Yesterday Chief Justice Terry of the Supreme Court issued a habeas corpus writ for Billy Mulligan, Harrison came down today and served it." "What happened?" asked Benito, eagerly. "Well, the hotheads wanted to resist--to throw him out. But Bluxome saw through the scheme--to get us on record as defying Federal authority. So he hid Billy Mulligan and let Harrison search. Of course he found no one. We were politely regretful." "Which settles that," remarked Benito, chuckling. "Not so fast, old boy!" the other Vigilante cautioned. "Harrison's no fool. He couldn't go back outwitted.... So he simply lied. Wrote on the warrant, 'service resisted by force.'" * * * * * On the following day Major General Sherman of the State Militia received the following document, dated "Executive Department, Sacramento, June 2d, 1856": Information having been received by me that an armed body of men are now organized in the City and County of San Francisco, in this State, in violation of law; and that they have resisted the due execution of law by preventing a service of a writ of habeas corpus duly issued; and that they are threatening other acts of violence and rebellion against the constitution and the laws of the State; you are hereby commanded to call upon such number as you may deem necessary of the enrolled militia, or those subject to military duty, also upon all the voluntary independent companies of the military division under your command--to report, organize, etc., and act with you in the enforcement of the law. J. NEELY JOHNSON. * * * * *