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the rest of tlie cattle before us. My first horse bore me forty miles, 

 and I changed him at ten o'clock. The night was fine, and after 

 a rapid but pleasant journey, we forded the river St. Lucia and 

 halted at two in the morning, half way on the route to Monte 

 Video. At the house, into the corral of which our horses were driven 

 for the purpose of changing them, I procured a slight repast of dried 

 figs, after which we again mounted and travelled tolerably fresh 

 until six in the morning, when we were again obliged to change, 

 having proceeded about one hundred English miles. Our horses^ 

 now began to lose their generous spirit, and were very much dis- 

 tressed. As our progress became slower and our changes more fre- 

 quent, my anxiety increased, because I was aware there were- 

 Spanish parties scouring the country about Monte Video, and 

 stopping the passage of all provisions from the interior. To avoid 

 suspicion I rode in the dress of a Peon, with the lazo coiled up and 

 hung at my saddle. At eleven o'clock the heat of the day became 

 oppressive, and our horses flagged exceedingly. To add to my dis- 

 tress I had a violent haemorrhage from the nose, and could obtain 

 no water to drink or wash with, so that, through thirst and the 

 coagulation of blood, I was nearly suffocated. On arriving within 

 twelve miles of Monte Video our horses were nearly worn out ; but 

 no rest could be allowed for either them or the men. At noon we 

 reached an English picquet>-guard on the outposts ; after the usual 

 questions I was conducted by a soldier to the officer, to whom 

 having explained some particulars, I rode to General Lumley's tent, 

 and afterwards into the town. 



No language can describe my emotions on beholding an English 

 flag on that tower in which I had been so often confined, and on 

 seeing English soldiers in possession of a place where I had ex- 

 perienced so much injustice and oppression. The joy I felt made 

 me forget my fatigue and the dangers I had passed through. I rode 

 up to my friend's house ; all was barricadoed, and I feared the worst 

 might have happened ; but on advancing to the window I observed 



