This command in a foreign language was made necessary by the extraordinary number of Frenchmen who had first answered the call of gold in the El Dorado of '49; and then with equal enthusiasm responded to this demand for essential justice. Coleman waited while the multitude shifted here and there. When the component parts had again come to rest he made his next announcement: "Now each company will elect its own officers, but those officers are subject to the orders of the Executive Committee." Numbers one hundred and one to two hundred inclusive, the company in which Keith and Johnny Fairfax found themselves, were for the most part strangers to one another, They exchanged glances, hesitating as to how to begin. Then a small, spectacled, man spoke up. "Gentlemen," said he, "we must get organized as rapidly as possible, Mr. Coleman is waiting. We need for a leader a man who is experienced in active life. I nominate John Fairfax as captain of this company." Johnny gasped and turned red. "Who's your little friend?" Keith whispered. "Never saw him before in my life," replied Johnny. The announcement was received with indecision. Nobody immediately replied or commented aloud on the nomination, but men were asking each other in undertones. The little spectacled man saw this, and spoke up again: "Perhaps I should say that Mr. Fairfax is better known as Diamond Jack." Faces cleared, heads nodded. A murmur of recognition replaced the puzzled frowning, "Good man," "The express rider," "Danny Randall's man," they told each other. "I do not know Mr. Fairfax," the spectacled man was saying, "but I saw his name just before mine on the register." "This is Fairfax," said Keith, thrusting the reluctant Johnny forward. He was elected to the post by acclamation. "Nominations for a lieutenant?" suggested the spectacled man, but Keith interrupted. "If you all have as much confidence in Mr. Fairfax as I have," said he, "perhaps you'll give him free hand and let him pick his own officers." This seemed a good idea, and was instantly adopted. "Well, I thank you, gentlemen," said Johnny, "and we'll do our best to become efficient. Report your names and addresses to this gentleman here--" "Willey," supplied the little man. "We shall drill to-morrow at eight sharp. Bring whatever weapons----" But Coleman was again speaking and on this very subject: "The committee have arranged with George Law," he was saying, "to supply or hire muskets to the number of several thousands. These weapons will be at this hall to-morrow morning early. Company captains can then make their requisitions." A murmur of inquiry swept the hall. "George Law? Where did _he_ get several thousand muskets?" And the counter current of information making its way slowly--they were only flintlocks, perfectly efficient though, had bayonets--superseded government arms--brought out some time ago by Law to arm some mysterious filibustering expedition that had fizzled.