A RUN TO NICARAGUA. 349 



transit are in the hands of the enemy, Walker must 

 have remained for many days in total ignorance of 

 the occurrence, which cannot but seriously affect his 

 position ; while, in all probability, the first authentic 

 intelligence which he received of its details were, 

 some weeks after, from the lips of one of his most 

 tried friends and followers, whom I accompanied as 

 far as Panama on his way to rejoin Walker from the 

 Pacific side, and who could not have arrived at head- 

 quarters for a month after the capture of the steam- 

 ers by Spencer. It is easy to imagine the state of 

 uncertainty and suspense in which General Walker 

 has been kept by this unexpected, and to him unac- 

 countable, cessation of reinforcements and supplies 

 from the Atlantic coast. Meantime the effects of the 

 blow have been somewhat over-estimated in Central 

 America : it is generally supposed that the career of 

 General Walker is terminated, and that in another 

 month the invasion of Nicaragua by filibusters will 

 become matter of history. Even if that be so, the 

 episode will always be interesting ; but if, on the 

 other hand, the Americans permanently retain their 

 footing in the country, every record of the earlier 

 events of their occupation of it, and every incident 

 in the career of their leader, will become valuable. 

 Having had some favourable opportunities of becom- 

 ing acquainted with these, I will briefly recount the 

 history of Walker and his expedition up to this time. 

 The discovery of gold in California produced a rush 



