"'It pleases you to make a joke of it, Kearny,' said I, without smiling. 'But it is no joke to me to think of my Gatling mired in the river ooze.' "'As to that,' said Kearny, abandoning his light mood at once, 'I have already done what I could. I have had some experience in hoisting stone in quarries. Torres and I have already spliced three hawsers and stretched them from the steamer's stern to a tree on shore. We will rig a tackle and have the gun on terra firma before noon to-morrow.' "One could not remain long at outs with Bad-Luck Kearny. "'Once more,' said I to him, 'we will waive this question of luck. Have you ever had experience in drilling raw troops?' "'I was first sergeant and drill-master,' said Kearny, 'in the Chilean army for one year. And captain of artillery for another.' "'What became of your command?' I asked. "'Shot down to a man,' said Kearny, 'during the revolutions against Balmaceda.' "Somehow the misfortunes of the evil-starred one seemed to turn to me their comedy side. I lay back upon my goat's-hide cot and laughed until the woods echoed. Kearny grinned. 'I told you how it was,' he said. "'To-morrow,' I said, 'I shall detail one hundred men under your command for manual-of-arms drill and company evolutions. You will rank as lieutenant. Now, for God's sake, Kearny,' I urged him, 'try to combat this superstition if it is one. Bad luck may be like any other visitor--preferring to stop where it is expected. Get your mind off stars. Look upon Esperando as your planet of good fortune.' "'I thank you, Captain,' said Kearny quietly. 'I will try to make it the best handicap I ever ran.' "By noon the next day the submerged Gatling was rescued, as Kearny had promised. Then Carlos and Manuel Ortiz and Kearny (my lieutenants) distributed Winchesters among the troops and put them through an incessant rifle drill. We fired no shots, blank or solid, for of all coasts Esperando is the stillest; and we had no desire to sound any warnings in the ear of that corrupt government until they should carry with them the message of Liberty and the downfall of Oppression. "In the afternoon came a mule-rider bearing a written message to me from Don Rafael Valdevia in the capital, Aguas Frias.