TIDINGS OF DISASTER. 



69 



the second in command ; all were celebrated in that 

 country for their beauty ; and though the circum- 

 stances of the night prevented my seeing much of 

 them, I looked upon this as one of the most lady- 

 like and interesting family groups I had seen in the 

 country. 



Our first inquiry was for mules. Colonel Molina, the 

 son-in-law, after endeavouring to dissuade us from con- 

 tinuing, sent out to make inquiries, and the result was 

 that there were none to hire, but there was a man who 

 had two to sell, and who promised to bring them early 

 in the morning. We had vexations enough without add- 

 ing any between ourselves ; but, unfortunately, the cap- 

 tain and Don Saturnino had an angry quarrel, growing 

 out of the breaking down of the mules. I was appeal- 

 ed to by both, and in trying to keep the peace came 

 near having both upon me. The dispute was so violent 

 that none of the female part of the family appeared in 

 the sala, and while it was pending Colonel Molina was 

 called off by a message from the commandant. In half 

 an hour he returned, and told us that two soldiers had 

 just entered the town, who reported that Morazan had 

 been defeated in his attack on Guatimala, and his whole 

 army routed and cut to pieces ; that he himself, with 

 fifteen dragoons, was escaping by the way of the coast, 

 and the whole of Carrera's army was in full pursuit. 

 The soldiers were at first supposed to be deserters, but 

 they were recognised by some of the town's people ; 

 and after a careful examination and calculation of the 

 lapse of time since the last intelligence, the news was 

 believed to be true. The consternation it created in 

 our little household cannot be described. Morazan's 

 defeat was the death-knell of sons and brothers. It 



