208 



INCIDENT OP TRAVEL. 



tered, and one horse and rider rolled over in such a 

 way that I thought every bone in his body was broken ; 

 but the sport was so exciting that I, who at the begin- 

 ning was particularly careful to keep out of harm's way, 

 felt very much disposed to have my own horse's tail tied 

 up and take a lazo in my hand. The effect of the sport 

 was heightened by the beauty of the scene, with the 

 great volcanoes of Agua and Fuego towering above us, 

 and toward evening throwing a deep shade over the 

 plain. It was nearly dark when we returned to the 

 house. With that refinement of politeness, which I 

 believe is exclusively Spanish, the gentlemen escorted 

 us some distance on our road. At dark we reached 

 Guatimala, and, to our great satisfaction, learned at the 

 gate that the soldiers were confined to the barracks. 



The news of my arrest and imprisonment, with great 

 exaggeration of circumstance, had reached Guatimala 

 before me, and I was advised that the state govern- 

 ment intended making me a communication on the sub- 

 ject. I waited several days, and, not receiving any, 

 made a formal complaint, setting forth the facts, and 

 concluding that I did not attempt to suggest what 

 ought to be done, but felt satisfied that the government 

 would do what was consistent with its own honour and 

 the rights of a friendly nation. In a few days I re- 

 ceived an answer from the secretary of state, convey- 

 ing the regrets of the president for the occurrence, and 

 stating that, before receiving my note, the government 

 had taken the measures which it deemed proper in the 

 premises. As this was very indefinite, and as I bore 

 considerable anger against the parties, and, moreover, 

 as I heard out of doors something about these * ' meas- 

 ures," and considered it necessary, for the protection 

 of Americans who were or might be in that country, 



