128 



INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL. 



timala ; but we learned enough to satisfy us that it 

 would be less difficult to reach Palenque from New- 

 York than from where we were. We had many prep- 

 arations to make, and, from the impossibility of getting 

 servants upon whom we could rely, were obliged to 

 attend to all the details ourselves. The captain was 

 uncertain what to do with himself, and talked of going 

 with us. The next afternoon, as we were returning to 

 the house, we noticed a line of soldiers at the corner of 

 the street. As usual, we gave them the sidewalk, and 

 in crossing I remarked to the captain that they eyed us 

 sharply and spoke to each other. The line extended 

 past my door and up to the corner of the next street. 

 Supposing that they were searching for General Guz- 

 man or other officers of General Morazan who were 

 thought to be secreted in the city, and that they would 

 not spare my house, I determined to make no difficulty, 

 and let them search. We went in, and the porter, with 

 great agitation, told us that the soldiers were in pursuit 

 of the captain. He had hardly finished when an officer 

 entered to summon the captain before the corregidor. 

 The captain turned as pale as death. I do not mean 

 it as an imputation upon his courage ; any other man 

 would have done the same. I was as much alarmed 

 as he, and told him that if he said so I would fasten the 

 doors ; but he answered it was of no use ; they would 

 break them down ; and it was better for him to go with 

 the officers. I followed him to the door, telling him 

 not to make any confessions, not to commit himself, and 

 that I would be with him in a few minutes. I saw 

 at once that the affair was out of the hands of the 

 chief of the state, and had got before an inferior tribu- 

 nal. Mr. Catherwood and Mr. Savage entered in time 

 to see the captain moving down the street with his es- 



