A FRIEND IN NEED. 129 



cort. Mr. S.j who had charge of my house during 

 my absence, and had hoisted the American flag du- 

 ring the attack upon the city, had lived so long in that 

 country, and had beheld so many scenes of horror, 

 that he was not easily disturbed, and knew exactly 

 what to do. He accompanied me to the cabildo, 

 where we found the captain sitting bolt upright with- 

 in the railing, and the corregidor and his clerk, with 

 pen, ink, and paper, and ominous formality, exam- 

 ining him. His face brightened at sight of the only 

 man in Guatimala who took the least interest in his 

 fate. Fortunately, the corregidor was an acquaintance, 

 who had been pleased with the interest I took in the 

 sword of Alvarado, an interesting relic in his custody, 

 and was one of the many whom I found in that coun- 

 try proud of showing attentions to a foreign agent. I 

 claimed the captain as my travelling companion, said 

 that we had a rough journey together, and I did not 

 like to lose sight of him. He welcomed me back to 

 Guatimala, and appreciated the peril I must have en- 

 countered in meeting on the road the tyrant Morazan. 

 The captain took advantage of the opportunity to de- 

 tach himself, without any compunctions, from such dan- 

 gerous fellowship, and we conversed till it was too dark 

 to write, when I suggested that, as it was dangerous to 

 be out at night, I wished to take the captain home with 

 me, and would be responsible for his forthcoming. 

 He assented with great courtesy, and told the captain to 

 return at nine o'clock the next morning. The captain 

 was immensely relieved ; but he had already made up 

 his mind that he had come to Guatimala on a trading 

 expedition, and to make great use of his gold chains. 



The next day the examination was resumed. The 



Vol. II.— R 



