A RUN TO NICARAGUA. 345 



mitted their lives to the precarious chances of the 

 river upon the same rafts, which had now become 

 rickety and insecure. They arrived close to Grey- 

 town about two o'clock on the morning of the 24th. 

 Here again fortune favoured them ; for a steamer 

 was just getting up her steam to ascend the river. 

 She was immediately taken, with three others. Had 

 the expedition been delayed an hour later in its 

 descent, it must have perished. It would indeed 

 have been ' touch and go ' ; the slightest touch from 

 the steamer would have separated the slightly-bound 

 pieces of the rafts, and sent the Costa Ricans instan- 

 taneously to a watery grave. 



" By dawn of day the steamers were taken, without 

 loss, and the Costa Ricans also in possession of Punta 

 Castilla (or Punta Arenas), which they have always 

 claimed as belonging to their country. 



" At the same time, the inhabitants of Greytown 

 became aware of the presence of this unexpected 

 invasion. The place was soon in confusion and com- 

 motion, one party, the most numerous, threatening 

 violence to the foreigners in the place (mostly Ameri- 

 cans), under the cry of ' Viva Costa Eica ! ' However, 

 the officers commanding the expedition discounte- 

 nanced any and every hostile attempt against the 

 inhabitants of Greytown, and left the place next 

 morning in the captured vessels. 



" In the meantime, the U. S. consul made an 

 application to the officer commanding the British 



