AN ATTACK. 



83 



women ran past, and telling us that the soldiers were 

 returning in that direction, hid themselves among the 

 ruins. We turned down a road and were intercepted 

 on a little eminence, where we were obliged to stop and 

 look down upon them as they passed. We saw that 

 they were irritated by an unsuccessful day's work, and 

 that they had found agua ardiente, for many of them 

 were drunk. A drummer on horseback, and so tipsy 

 that he could hardly sit, stopped the line to glorify Gen- 

 eral Carrera. Very soon they commenced the old 

 touchstone, " Viva Carrera !" and one fellow, with the 

 strap of his knapsack across his naked shoulders, again 

 stopped the whole line, and turning round with a fero- 

 cious expression, said, " You are counting us, are you?" 



We disappeared, and by another street got back to 

 the house. We waited a moment, and, determined to 

 get out of the town and sleep at the first hacienda on 

 the road, left the house to go again to General Fi- 

 goroa for his despatches ; but before reaching it we 

 saw new confusion in the plaza, a general remounting 

 and rushing to arms. As soon as General Figoroa 

 saw us, he spurred his horse down the street to meet 

 us, and told us, in great haste, that General Morazan 

 was approaching and almost upon the town. He had 

 that moment received the news, and was going out to 

 attack him. He had no time to sign the despatches, 

 and while he was speaking the lancers galloped past. 

 He shook hands, bade us good-by, hasta luego (until 

 presently), asked us to call upon Carrera in case we 

 did not see him again, and dashing down the line, put 

 himself at the head of the lancers. The foot-soldiers 

 followed in single file on a run, carrying their arms as 

 was most convenient. In the hurry and excitement we 

 forgot ourselves till we heard some flattering epithets, 



