They had taken possession of the old military barracks at Malone, and were running the town to suit their own inclinations.

As the days wore on and the prospects of their receiving arms and supplies to equip the invaders became more and more remote, the leaders chafed, fumed and fretted alternately, and finally became absolutely discouraged.

Their fondest hopes were blasted, and they bitterly berated the United States Government in blasphemous language for stopping their expeditions.

While the officers were in this frame of mind, their soldiers were worse.

They were living on short rations, and their promise of a pleasant sojourn in "The Land of Plenty," where they hoped to revel in all the luxuries of life (when they captured it), was likely to prove but an empty dream.