Of course, there arose the rumor of a fierce battle between Americans
and Indians. To silence this silly talk and to avoid unpleasant
complications, I surrendered myself to the alcalde of the precinct
and accused myself of having disturbed the peace of the realm.
Pleading my case, I stated that as there was nobody but the peace
disturbers involved, and as said parties did not make any further
claim upon the Honorable Court, therefore, under the statute of the
Territory and the Constitution of the United States, the law required
that the court mulct the guilty parties in the payment of a nominal
fine and discharge the culprits. The Honorable Court decreed that I
as an American ought to know the American law best, and discharged me
after I paid my self-imposed fine. The administering of justice in
cases of importance was, of course, relegated to the United States
Circuit Courts, but Uncle Sam did not care to meddle with the many
troublesome alcaldes or justices of the peace, as he did not
understand the Spanish language very well. This was certainly
humiliating and embarrassing, but who can blame him, as no one is
over anxious to be rated an ignorant person.
My Mexican friends decided to give a farewell party in my honor.
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