"Quite willing," answered the Irishman, with an emphasis which showed how much the proposal was to his mind. "But why, Mr Rock, are you not a candidate yourself? You have seen service, and would make a good officer, I should say." "Me kandydate for officer! Wal, I'm big enough, thet's true, and ef you like, ugly enuf. But I ain't no ambeeshum thet way. Besides, this chile knows nothin' 'bout _drill_; an' that's what's wanted bad. Ye see, we ain't had much reg'lar sogerin' in Texas. Thar's whar the Mexikins hev the advantage o' us, an' thar's whar you'll hev the same if you'll consent to stan'. You say you will?" "I will, if you wish it." "All square then," returned the Texan, once more taking his _protege_ by the hand, and giving it a squeeze like the grip of a grizzly bear. "I'll be on the lookout for ye. Meanwhile, thar's six hours to the good yet afore it git sundown. So go and purpar' yur speech, while I slide roun' among the fellurs, an' do a leetle for ye in the line o' canvassin'." After a final bruin-like pressure of the hand the giant had commenced striding away, when he came again to a halt, uttering a loud "Hiloo!" "What is it?" inquired the young Irishman. "It seems that Cris Rock air 'bout one o' the biggest nummorskulls in all Noo-Orleans. Only to think! I was about startin' to take the stump for a kandydate 'ithout knowin' the first letter o' his name. How wur ye crissened, young fellur?" "Kearney--Florence Kearney." "Florence, ye say? Ain't that a woman's name?" "True; but in Ireland many men bear it." "Wal, it do seem a little kewrious; but it'll do right slick, and the Kearney part soun's well. I've hern speak o' Kate Kearney; thar's a song 'bout the gurl. Mout ye be any connexshun o' hern?" "No, Mr Rock; not that I'm aware of. She was a Killarney woman. I was born a little further north on the green island." "Wal, no matter what part o' it, yur are welkim to Texas, I reck'n, or the States eyther. Kearney--I like the name. It hev a good ring, an' it'll soun' all the better wi' `Capting' for a handle to 't--the which it shall hev afore ten o'clock this night, if Cris Rock ain't astray in his reck'nin'. But see as ye kum early to the rendyvoo, so as to hev time for a talk wi' the boys. Thar's a somethin' in that; an' if ye've got a ten dollar bill to spare, spend it on drinks all round. Thar's a good deal in that too." So saying, the Texan strode off, leaving Florence Kearney to reflect upon the counsel so opportunely extended. CHAPTER TWO. A LADY IN THE CASE. Who Florence Kearney was, and what his motive for becoming a "filibuster," the reader shall be told without much tediousness of detail.