Part 3 (1/2)
BUCK--Be you Captain Lee?
LEE--That's my name. What can I do for you?
BUCK--You can't do nothin' for me. Me and my friends can do anything we want for ourselves. We ain't helpless, see?
LEE--That being the case, I wish you would proceed to your own affairs and allow me to attend to mine.
BUCK--We'd be happy to have you, but this here you're doing now, don't happen to be none of your business.
LEE--Evidently you are looking for trouble, but I am much too busy to oblige you.
BUCK--Unless you leave off being busy right here and now, you're pretty liable to land in a heap o' trouble.
LEE--I am not in the least interested in your threats and I will ask you to be kind enough to leave in order to save me the trouble of having you put out.
BUCK--I reckon you don't know who you're talking to. I'm Buck Brown and this is Coyote Jim, my running mate, and all the rest of these here is our pals and have come to back us up in anything we say.
LEE--I am here to work not to argue. If you are not away from these works in three minutes, I will take means to see that you are.
BUCK--Did you know the city gov'ment wasn't going to give you no money for your work?
LEE--They can do as they like with their own, but I was sent here to do certain work, and I will do it.
BUCK--(_Pointing._) Do you see them cannons up there? Unless you quit your dirty meddlin', you'll have a chance to get acquainted with them.
LEE--Do you think I'd be kept from doing my duty by a pack of bullies and cowards? Go back and hide behind your cannon. You'll need more than those to protect you if you meddle again.
(_BUCK and his friends skulk out._)
SCENE III
_Banquet Hall of the Palace, City of Mexico, after its conquest by the American forces. Officers sitting around the table._
Characters
General Scott General Wilc.o.x General Twiggs General Magruder Thirty other officers
WILc.o.x--Well, I must say I'm thankful it's all over and I do hope it isn't long before we can get back to G.o.d's own country. Furthermore, I for one am thankful enough to be sitting here enjoying myself.
SCOTT--I am inclined to believe that if it had not been for one Captain Robert E. Lee, you and I would still be fighting those slippery Mexicans.
PIERCE--Yes, I have the utmost confidence in the skill and judgment of Captain Lee.
TWIGGS--His gallantry and good conduct deserve the highest praise.
WILc.o.x--(_Rising and raising his gla.s.s._) Gentlemen, I wish to propose a toast that I know you will all drink heartily. I propose the health of the Captain of Engineers who found a way for our army into the city.
Gentlemen, (_Raising his gla.s.s again_) the health of Captain Robert E.