In the meantime Sherman was enrolling men.  They came in rather fast, most of them law-breakers seeking protection, and a small minority of reputable citizens honestly opposed to Vigilante methods.  But the armories were bare of rifles and ammunition.  Sherman dispatched a hasty requisition to General Wool, reminding him of his promise.  Days passed and no arms arrived.  The new recruits were calling for them.  Some of them drilled with wooden staves and were laughed at.  They quit in disgust.  Then Sherman went to Sacramento.  Something was wrong.  Johnson, nervous and distraught, showed him a letter from General Wool.  It was briefly and politely to the effect that he had no authority to issue arms without a permit from the War Department.

Sherman, always for action, seized his hat.  “Come,” he said, as though the Governor were a subaltern.  “We’ll go to Benicia.  We must have a talk with General Wool.”  And the Governor went.

But Wool, though courteous, proved obdurate.  The militia remained unarmed.

CHAPTER XLVIII

SHERMAN RESIGNS

On Saturday, June 7, Benito found Coleman sitting at his desk in the executive chamber of Fort Gunnysacks.  His usually cheerful countenance wore an anxious look, a look of inner conflict.  He glanced up, almost startled, as Benito entered.

“Fred Macondray and his party are outside,” said Windham.  “They would like to see you.”

“What do they wish?” asked Coleman in a harassed tone.

“They’re leaving for Benicia today to see the Governor,” Benito answered.  “Want your final word on mediation matters.”

Coleman rose with a brisk movement.  He paced the room half a dozen times, his hands behind him, his head slightly bent, before he spoke.

“Bring ’em in.  Call Bluxome and as many of the Executive Committee as you can find.”

Benito departed.  Presently there filed into the room nine gentlemen, headed by Macondray.  They belonged neither to the Vigilantes nor to the Law and Order Party.  And they were now bent on averting a clash between the two.

“William,” Macondray, acting as the spokesman, “what message shall we take the Governor?”

Bluxome, Smiley, Dempster and others of the Executive Committee entered.  Coleman explained to them the purpose of Macondray and his friends.  “What shall we say to them, boys?” he asked.

“Put it in your own words,” Bluxome said.  “We’ll stand by what you say.”

Coleman faced Macondray and his companions.  “Tell J. Neely Johnson,” he announced, “that if he will consent to withdraw his proclamation we will, on our part, make no further parade of our forces on the street, nor will we resist by force any orders of the court.”

Bluxome and his companions nodded.  Macondray looked a trifle puzzled.  “Suppose he declines to withdraw the proclamation?” he asked, hesitatingly.