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NARRATIVE OF A 



and to retrace our steps was out of the question. In this 

 dilemma an alternative was proposed by Don Jose, which 

 was that we should proceed to Esquipulas, a town situ- 

 ated on the road to St. Salvador, and about sixty miles to 

 the left of the Guatemala road. From that town the com- 

 munications with the capital might possibly be open. 

 And should that not be the case, we could remain tljere 

 under the hospitable roof of the curate, who was a near 

 relative of his, and would be glad to entertain us. 



As there was no reason for apprehending any danger 

 on the road to Esquipulas, which was one lying out of 

 the track of the insurgents, the plan of Don Jose was ap- 

 proved of and adopted. Just as we had come to this con- 

 clusion, we were agreeably surprised by the appearance 

 of the curate of Tocoy, who had that moment arrived in 

 town. On my making him acquainted with our inten- 

 tion, he shook his head, and accompanied his disapproba- 

 tion of the plan with the most melancholy forebodings. 

 " I wish you would not go," said he, addressing Mr. M. 

 and me ; "I should be so sorry if anything happened to 

 you f and turning to Don Jose, he added, " you make 

 yourself responsible for any evil that may befall these gen- 

 tlemen." We thanked the Padre for the interest he took 

 in our behalf, but our minds were made up, and the next 

 morning we took leave of him and of Don Mariano. 

 "The blessed Virgin be with you," said the curate on 

 our departure ; which was responded to by me with the 

 usual wish that he might live a thousand years. 



After proceeding a few miles, the green plains of Saca- 

 pa entirely disappeared, and we came to an arid, hilly 

 country, where every thing looked parched by the sun. 

 The heat, too, which was great, was the more oppressive 

 from the stillness of the air, and the absence of any trees 

 to shade us. Further on, we came to a steep mountain, 

 where masses of rock, like lava, gave evidence of the ex- 

 istence, at some remote period, of a volcano. The ground 

 was very much broken, and covered with loose stones, 



