Their partisans
chiefs, half-soldier, half-robber, did us more harm than the
regulars, and mercy was never given or asked between them and us.
Me and Rube Pearson worked mostly together. We had 'fit' the
Indians out on the prairies for years side by side, and when Uncle
Sam wanted men to lick the Mexicans, we concluded to go in
together. We 'listed as scouts to the 'Rangers,' that is, we agreed
to fight as much as we were wanted to fight, and to go on in front
as scouts, in which way we had many a little scrimmage on our own
account; but we didn't wear any uniform, or do drill, which
couldn't have been expected of us. We shouldn't have been no good
as regulars, and every one knew that there were no better scouts in
the army than Rube Pearson and Seth Harper. Lor', what a fellow
Rube was, to be sure! I ain't a chicken," and the Yankee looked
down at his own bony limbs, "but I was a baby by the side of Rube.
He were six feet four if he were an inch, and so broad that he
looked short unless you saw him by the side of another man. I do
believe Rube Pearson were the strongest man in the world. I have
heard," Seth went on, meditating, "of a chap called Samson: folks
say he were a strong fellow. I never came across any one who had
rightly met him, but a good many have heard speak of him.
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