A
reception was arranged for him at the City Hall, and the Mayor came
down to the steamer in a carriage with four horses to escort him
thither. From the deck Sam could see a banner stretched across the
street, on which was an inscription to the "Hero of San Diego, the
Subduer of the Moritos, the Capturer of Gomaldo, the Conqueror of the
Great White Temple, and the Friend and Instructor of the Emperor." A
few months before, Sam would have enjoyed this display without alloy,
but now his health was really shattered, and in the bottom of his heart
he felt that he was unworthy of it all, for he was not the perfect
soldier he had believed he was, and under his uniform beat the heart of
a vulgar civilian. His military instincts had their limit; his
obedience could only be relied upon under certain circumstances. He was
a mere amateur, and had no claim to rank as a military hero at all.
A swarm of reporters settled down upon General Jinks as soon as they
could get on board, insisting upon having his opinion as to the growth
of the city since he had seen it, the superiority of its climate to
that of any part of the world, and the beauty of its women. Sam
answered all these questions satisfactorily, and surrendered himself to
the committee of citizens who had come on deck to welcome him. His
luggage was passed without delay by the Custom House officials, and he
was conducted down the wharf toward the carriage which awaited him.
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