Away he rode upon his mule, keeping company with them.
The dozen in their train followed, raising as they went by
such a dust cloud that presently all became like figures upon
worn arras. They rode toward Santa Fe, and I followed on
foot.
CHAPTER IV
SANTA Fe rose before me, a camp in wood, plaster and
stone, a camp with a palace, a camp with churches.
Built of a piece where no town had stood, built that
Majesty and its Court and its Army might have roofs and
walls, not tents, for so long a siege, it covered the plain, a
city raised in a night. The siege had been long as the war
had been long. Hidalgo Spain and simple Spain were gathered
here in great squares and ribbons of valor, ambition,
emulation, desire of excitement and of livelihood, and likewise,
I say it, in pieces not small, herded and brought here
without any "I say yes" of their own, and to their misery.
There held full flavor of crusade, as all along the war had
been preached as a crusade. Holy Church had here her
own grandees, cavaliers and footmen. They wore cope and
they wore cowl, and on occasion many endued themselves
with armor and hacked and hewed with an earthly sword.
At times there seemed as many friars and priests as soldiers.
Out and in went a great Queen and King. Their court was
here. The churchmen pressed around the Queen.
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