132 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



it became apparent that a pacific arrangement 

 between Lozada and the Government would 

 be highly improbable, and I was given to under- 

 stand that hostilities would be likely to com- 

 mence about the middle of January. I there- 

 fore made arrangements to return to the ship 

 on the 13th, and warned all those who were 

 desirous of securing their own safety to accom- 

 pany or follow us to San Bias, where they 

 would be under the protection of the British 

 flag. 



Before daylight of the 13th I left Tepic, 

 accompanied by Mr. Heaven and as many of 

 the officers as happened to be then staying 

 there. Our departure had already been delayed 

 long enough, for we found the roads in the 

 possession of Lozada' s soldiers, who imme- 

 diately stopped us outside the city, but on 

 ascertaining that we were English officers they 

 allowed us to proceed, and we reached San 

 Bias without further molestation. 



The road between San Bias and Tepic is not 

 considered a safe one, as a .band of brigands 



