War's Alarms. ICio 



AVhilst all these negotiations were going on we amused our- 

 selves in the usual way in Mexico. The life we were leading 

 was pleasant enough, but my Hotspur Felix panted for war. 

 Though as kind-hearted as could be, and as gentle as a 

 lamb, he had the pugnacious instincts of a fighting cock. War 

 was his very element. That he once, when still a boy, was 

 left with seven wounds on the battle-field, did not cure him. 

 Through the American war he escaped without a hurt. A 

 shot in his right arm, which was rather dangerous, received in 

 a duel, did not cure him either. When any one looked askance 

 at him, or too admiringly at me, his eye became vicious and 

 the colour of his face heightened. He was like a cocked pistol, 

 every moment ready to go off. 



The Belgian Corps, under Colonel van der Smissen, was 

 ordered on an expedition into the interior. Salm could not 

 bear the idea of staying in Mexico idling away his time. He 

 urgently applied to the Secretary of War for permission to join 

 the expedition as a volunteer, and was quite crazy with plea- 

 sure when it was granted. I, who had been always with him, 

 could not realise the idea of being left behind, but he would 

 not listen to my going with him. At last, after a hard battle 

 of six hours, he had to surrender. I and Jimmy were to ac- 

 company him. 



We left Mexico on the 8th of November, at eight o'clock in 

 the morning, only with one company, but met the rest of the 

 Belgian Legion on the road. Passing through St. Christoval, 

 we arrived on the 9th in Tipaguca, where we had scarcely 

 pitched our tents when an alarm was beaten. Columns of the 

 enemy were reported before us. Salm and A^an der Smissen 

 reconnoitred, and they advanced towards Tipaguca, and it 

 was decided on attacking the enemy at once. Salm snorted 

 battle, and I caught the excitement. I wouldn't be left bel^ind. 

 I declared I would rather brave the dangers of battle than 

 those awaiting me, perhaps, if I was left behind. Van der 

 Smissen smiled, advised me not to fire my revolver at a dis- 

 tance, but to save my six shots for a hand-to-hand fight. Salm 

 made an angry face and dropped his lorgnette, but I joyously 

 pressed my horse between both of theirs at the head of the 

 troops, and we advanced at a quick pace. 



The enemy for a good while were not aware of our presence, 

 but when they 'law us, and understood unmistakeably that we 



