JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



167 



pan and a gridiron ! With such conveniences at our com- 

 mand, there was a prospect before us of a pleasant journey, 

 and of an exemption from the privations to which travel- 

 lers are usually subjected in that wild and unsettled 

 country. 



In our evening meal, we were accompanied by our host, 

 the proprietor of the estate, and by the officer commanding 

 the escort. The latter was quite a young man, very un- 

 like a Spanish American, having blue eyes, light hair, and 

 a fair complexion. His rank was that of brevet captain. 

 He had fought in the battle of Amatitan, and been pro- 

 moted in consequence. He was poorly attired, and still 

 worse mounted, and was without a sword — the last thins: 

 that an officer should part with. There was a rakish 

 reckless air about him, which, taken in connexion with his 

 want of a sword, led us to suspect that he was somewhat 

 of a gambler ; but there was also a refinement in his man- 

 ner and conversation, that threw a gloss over his faults — 

 whatever they might be — and induced one to look upon 

 them with indulgence. 



