There had been, at first, some doubt of Branch's fitness to take
the field at all--he had suffered a severe hemorrhage shortly
after his arrival at Cubitas--and it was only after a hysterical
demonstration on his part that he had been accepted as a soldier.
He simply would not be left behind. At first the Cubans regarded
him with mingled contempt and pity, for certainly no less
promising volunteer had ever taken service with them.
Nevertheless, he would doubtless have made many friends among them
had he not begun his service by refusing to abide by discipline of
any sort and by scorning all instruction in the use of arms,
declaring this to be, in his case, a silly waste of effort. Such
an attitude very naturally aroused resentment among the other men;
it was not long before they began to grumble at the liberty
allowed this headstrong weakling. But upon the occasion of the
very first fight this ill-will disappeared as if by magic, for,
although Branch deliberately disobeyed orders, he nevertheless
displayed such amazing audacity in the face of the enemy, such a
theatrical contempt for bullets, as to stupefy every one.
Moreover, he lived up to his reputation; he continued to be
insanely daring, varying his exploits to correspond with his
moods, with the result that he attained a popularity which was
unique, nay, sensational.
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