A RUN TO NICARAGUA. 363 



the neighbourhood of the town of Eivas. It was 

 here that the weak president in an evil hour listened 

 to the whisperings of Salhazar and General Hteres, 

 influential leaders of the old party, who took this 

 opportunity of inflaming the mind of Eivas with 

 jealousy against "Walker, until at last they induced 

 him to enter into a traitorous correspondence with 

 the Costa Eican Government, in which he assured 

 the enemies of his country of his co-operation in any 

 designs that they might entertain against the Nicar- 

 aguan army, commanded by General Walker ; and as 

 an earnest of his sincerity, he wrote to Walker, urging 

 him to come with all speed to Leon, to defend him 

 from threatened attacks from that quarter, hoping 

 thus to withdraw his attention from the town of 

 Eivas, so as to enable the Costa Eicans to attack it. 

 with greater chance of success. General Walker, in 

 compliance with this request, had scarcely accom- 

 plished half the journey, when he heard of the attack 

 upon the town of Eivas. He instantly returned, 

 fought the Costa Eicans, as above described, dis- 

 covered the treachery, and proceeded at once to 

 Leon. Here he saw Eivas, but did not tax him 

 with his unworthy conduct. His close connection 

 with that imbecile old man, and a certain regard he 

 entertained for him, prevented his bringing about 

 an open rupture : he simply informed him, that in 

 consequence of what had come to his knowledge, he 

 had determined, upon the expiration of Eivas' presi- 



