IDS Ten Years of my Life. 



his promise. He was afraid his carriage would be broken to 

 pieces ; he called ray idea* a-woman's whim, and said that the 

 whole thing was foolish and useless. I was in despair, and 

 tried my best to get the carriage from Mr. Bahnsen, in which 

 I succeeded after a great deal of trouble, and under the con- 

 dition that one of his partners, a Mexican, should accompany 

 me. 



It was already five o'clock in the morning when we started 

 with two drivers, as usual, and five mules. These animals 

 were used to drag the heavy diligence, and having such a light 

 load behind them they became quite unmanageable, and after 

 we had proceeded only a few leagues they succeeded in run- 

 ning against a stone fence and breaking the pole, thus fulfil- 

 ling the fears of Mr. Bahnsen. 



My Mexican companion was in despair, and after much ado 

 and useless lamentations, the pole was tied up, and we arrived 

 at San Michael, where I thought it better to leave Mr. Bahn- 

 sen's light concern behind and to take the diligence. Thus 

 we travelled as fast as possible all day, and arrived without 

 any further accident at a hacienda half-way to San Luis. It 

 was now midnight. I wanted to go on immediately, but the 

 straw man whom Mr. Bahnsen had given me as an escort de- 

 clared that he was tired, that he required sleep, that the road 

 was infested with robbers ; in short, that he would not go any 

 farther that night. 



I had at last to give way, but only on condition that we 

 should start again at three o'clock. I was up at that time, 

 and coachmen and mules were ready, but my sleepy escort 

 was not to be seen, and all our thundering against his door 

 was in vain. I had already made up my mind to leave him to 

 his slumbers and to travel alone, when he appeared at six 

 o'clock, nicely dressed with kid gloves, and ordering his cup 

 of chocolate. I was exceedingly angry and expressed my 

 opinion of him pretty freely. 



Between six and seven o'clock p.m. we arrived at San Luis, 

 and put up at Mr. Bahnsen's house, where his sisters received 

 me with the utmost kindness. I had continually before my 

 mind that melancholy face of the august martyr in Queretaro, 

 which looked up so thankfully to mine from his sick bed when 

 I departed, and was urged by the fear that every minute's 

 delay might cost him his life ; I therefore did not care for my 



