This summons was of course
complied with, and marching the remnant of his command to the
capital, Captain Bezan reported himself again at head quarters. Here
he found his services had been, if possible, overrated, and himself
quite lionized. A major's commission awaited him, and the thanks of
the queen were expressed to him by the head of the department.
"A major,--one step is gained," said the young soldier, to himself;
"one round in the ladder of fame has been surmounted; my eyes are
now bent upward!"
And how he dreamed that night of Cuba, of rank and wealth, and the
power and position they conferred-and still his eyes were bent
upward!
With a brief period permitted for him to rest and recover from
slight wounds received in his late battles, Lorenzo, now Major
Bezan, was again ordered to the scene of trouble in the southern
district, where the insurgents, more successful with older officers
sent against them, had been again victorious, and were evidently
gaining ground, both in strength of purpose and numbers. This time
he took with him a full command of four companies, little less than
four hundred men, and departed under far better auspices than he had
done before, resolved, as at the outset, to lead his men where work
was to be done, and to lead them, too, on to victory or utter
destruction! It was a fearful resolve; but in his present state of
feelings it accorded with the spirit that seemed to actuate his
soul.
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