NEEDLESS ALARM. 93 
bitants was changing into reserve and evident 
distrust. Secret cabals were going on against 
us; and even the Government seemed inclined 
to act, if not with positive hostility, at least 
violently and arbitrarily towards us. 
The attention of the unreflecting and easily 
excited Chilians had first been attracted by the 
mustachios worn by one of my companions. 
They took him for a disguised Spaniard, who 
had accompanied us to sow discontents, and 
gain back the hearts of the people to the old 
government. Other misrepresentations may also 
have been made against us; but we were neither 
able to discover them, nor the actual intentions 
entertained towards us. 
When the ship was ready to sail, and I 
thought to quit Talcaguana in a few days, I 
returned to Conception to take leave of the 
President Freire. While on the road, being 
mounted on a spirited horse, I had got a little 
the start of my companions, and was stopping 
on a height to contemplate the beautiful land- 
scape around me, when a well-dressed young 
man, coming from the direction of the town, 
suddenly met me, stood still, looking attentively 
ab 
