Hide-and-seek Warfare. 173 



utterly demoralized army, he might have occupied that city 

 without any difficuky. He, however, only reached the neigh- 

 bourhood of the capital on the third day, when the Imperi.il 

 troops had recovered a little from their defeat. Marquez had 

 long before lost all courage and hope, and as his fate could not 

 be doubtful if he fell into the hands of the Liberals, he had 

 prepared everything to go to Vera Cruz, and to leave Mexico 

 and the German troops to do what they could for themselves. 

 I suppose he was prevented from carrying out this plan by the 

 fear of falling from the frying-pan into the fire if he left Mexico, 

 for the road to Vera Cruz was barred by Porfirio Diaz's army. 



The advanced guard of the Liberal army passed our house 

 in Tacubaya, and I admired their fine horses and uniforms, the 

 greater part of which they had taken from the Imperial '^sts. 



Before their arrival, fighting between the Imperialists and 

 Liberal guerillas was going on in the very streets of Tacubaya, 

 and frequently right before our house. Though \ye had closed 

 the blind my curiosity prevailed, and I and Helena Hube 

 peeped out to see what was going on, to the dismay of old Mr. 

 Hlibe, who was afraid a bullet might kill or wound us. The 

 spectacle, was, however, too attractive, and we could not stay 

 away. It was curious and almost ridiculous to see how the 

 skirmishers of both parties played hide-and-seek, running now 

 around corners, and popping suddenly out to fire a few shots, 

 by which, however no real harm was done. It looked more 

 like play than war. 



Tacubaya was occupied, and also Chapultepec, without any 

 resistance from the Imperialists, and the siege of Mexico 

 commenced. 



