Return to Mexico. 181 



The General therefore answered that it was beyond his 

 power to make any promises in reference to the Emperor or 

 tfre troops in Queretaro. He commanded only one half of the 

 army, and could only treat about Mexico. He would not ac- 

 cept the surrender of that city under any conditions ; he was 

 sure to take it, and would not suffer Marquez and others to 

 escape who ought to be hung. If, however, the foreign troops 

 would come out and surrender, he would grant them life and 

 liberty, and everything they could carry with them except arms. 

 He would take diem at the expense of the Government to any 

 port they desired, in order to return to Europe. If, however, 

 1 was determined to go to Queretaro, he would give me a pass 

 and a letter to Escobedo, to whom he must leave it whether 

 he would permit me to enter that city or not. 



It was about four o'clock p.m., and after having taken a cup 

 of coffee with the General, I mounted my horse to return to 

 Mexico, in order to hear what the foreign officers had to answer 

 to the propositions of Diaz. As it was broad daylight, and the 

 garita 1 came from was about four miles from Guadalupcj 1 

 resolved to enter Mexico by the Garita de Guadalupe. An 

 escort, led by an officer, accompanied me as far as they could 

 venture, and fixing my white handkerchief to my riding- whip I 

 rode at a gallop towards the garita. 



When I passed a little bridge in front of the fortification, so 

 close to it that I could distinguish the faces of the soldiers, 

 the sentinel fired a shot at me, which 1 took as a hint to stop. 

 I therefore stopped, expecting that the officer would send out 

 some men to examine me. I saw them line the breastwork, 

 but had no idea what they were about, when suddenly they 

 fired a volley at me. The bullets whizzed round my head, one 

 even grazing my hair, others striking the ground around my 

 horse. At this I was more angry than frightened, for it was so 

 stupid to fire at a single woman — as if I could have stormed 

 their battery ! My first impulse was to rush upon the cow- 

 ards, and send my whip round their long ears ; but when I 

 heard behind me the clatter of the hoofs of my escort, who 

 advanced to my assistance, and saw the soldiers in the battery 

 reload their guns in great harry, I would not endanger others, 

 and turned round. 



My little black Mexican horse darted off like an arrow, and 

 I bent my head down to his neck. The wretches sent another 



