348 TKAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



an enemy, so that the probability of his firing upon 

 her might be removed. General Mora was found at 

 his post, with 800 men, followed by a rear-guard of 

 300, who have since also arrived. In addition to 

 these, two transport corps of 600 men are alternately 

 employed in carrying provisions, ammunition, &c., 

 from the interior to the embarcadero. 



" Having now the four river-steamers at command, 

 the Castillo Rapids and the steamers John Ogden and 

 Ruth were soon taken by General Mora. He then 

 moved up to Fort San Carlos, which, with the large 

 steamer and detachment of men there, was also taken 

 by stratagem. Then the two lake-steamers, San Carlos 

 and Virgin, not aware of these occurrences, came across 

 the lake with passengers from California, and were also 

 taken by General Mora, who generously sent the pas- 

 sengers on to Grey town in the captured steamers." 



Such is the Costa Rican account of this very cleverly 

 executed enterprise, which we have no reason to re- 

 gard as incorrect in its details, as there is no doubt 

 about the truth of its results. It was just at the 

 moment that Captain Spencer had finished politely 

 landing the Californian passengers, to the number of 

 four hundred, above alluded to, that we made our 

 appearance in the Texas ; when, as he had nothing to 

 detain him except a laudable curiosity to inspect us, 

 he vanished as soon as that was satisfied. As there 

 are no means of communicating across Lake Nicar- 

 agua, now that the steamers hitherto used for the 



