168 Ten Years of my Life. 



Not liking to accept, without return, the hospitality of the 

 people of the town, Colonel \^n der Smissen and Felix gave a 

 great ball at some public hail, to which a great many persons 

 were invited, and which was a great success. 



As a large Liberal force was assembled not far from the 

 town, as said before, we expected to be attacked every day, 

 but instead ot that there arrived, soon after Christmas, an order 

 from General Bazaine to surrender Tulancingo to the Liberal 

 General Martinez, the chief of whose staff was sent under a 

 flag of truce to arrange that afifiir. Our officers were very 

 much astonished to hear from that officer that Bazaine and the 

 Liberals were on quite friendly terms, but they had to obey 

 orders, and we were ready to leave Tulancingo on the 28th of 

 December. 



Our situation Avas by no means reassuring, for we had heard 

 of the arrival of a noted guerilla chief, of the name of Caraba- 

 jal, with about a thousand men, who were no better than rob- 

 bers, and who did not care for any treaties or capitulations. 

 Moreover, our expectations in reference to the treachery of our 

 Mexican troops were fulfilled on the morning of the surrender. 

 The rascal who commanded them, a Colonel Peralta, went 

 over with his whole regiment of cavalry to the enemy. 



When we were assembled in the market-place, ready to 

 evacuate the town, I was there also with Jimmy. Now, that 

 dog is a very intelligent dog. Having accompanied me through 

 the whole American war, he had learnt that gmis are dangerous 

 engines, and that when shots are fired from them mischief is 

 done. 'He therefore has a most sensible dread of guns and 

 shots, because he is very fond of life, and of roast veal, and 

 beefsteak, and cutlets, and other things which make the exist- 

 ence of a dog agreeable, and which he is desirous of enjoyins; 

 as long as possible. When he saw in the market-place so 

 many shooting engines, the poor darling became frightened, 

 and ran home to his old quarters, hiding himselfin the bed, 

 I am sure many sensible men would like to do the same be- 

 fore a battle, if they only could muster courage enough to 

 rim away like Jirrimy, who has no prejudices. 



When I noticed the absence of my pet I was in despair, and 

 as the dog would not have trusted anybody else, dear, kind 

 Saim went back himself to fetch him. When he came out of 

 tile house he met some of the enemy, who had entered already, 



