Here we all gathered, like so many drowned rats. Among the passengers was a lady, a sea captain's wife, who was in rather a delicate situation. She was quite wet, and must remain so during the night, as her trunks were soaked in salt water, and of course all her apparel wet. I rendered her husband what assistance lay in my power, and finally succeeded in getting a part of the shed screened off for her accommodation. There was one other house, but it was too small to accommodate more than twenty persons. It had been nearly destroyed only a few nights before our arrival, by the Spanish soldiers, in consequence of some misunderstanding between the latter and some forty or fifty Americans.
A serious fight occurred; the Spaniards, about two hundred in number, assailed the house and fairly riddled it with bullets. Several were killed on both sides. These soldiers were quartered a short distance from our long shanty, and there was some talk of punishment; but as we were all anxious to get away, the matter was dropped. It was now night; there were about two hundred steerage passengers in the building, and nearly all of them were drunk. The place was a perfect bedlam, and the air fairly rang with drunken yells. I procured a grass hammock, and huno- it up away in the further corner of the shed, as I thought out of the way of everybody.
One of the men who was employed in the building, cautioned me about snakes. He said there were any quantity of them, of the most venomous kind; and if I did not hang my hammock very high, they would crawl into bed with me. However, snake or no snake, I turned in, and fell asleep. Just as I began to dream about sweet home, I was aroused by sonic one throwing themselves across my body. I jumped out. it was very dark, and demanded what the fellow meant. Be showed no inclination to move, so I cast off one end of my hammock, and let him down. The first I knew was a vivid sight of the sun, moon, and seven stars.
He was a powerful Missourian, and hit me between the eyes, such a blow, that completelv capsized me. I picked myself up, and got hold of something. They say that " a drowning man will catch at a straw; " but I rather think that I caught something heavier than a straw, by the looks of his cheek next mornino-. Several of my friends who happened to be near, came to&the rescue, and took him away; he dropped his hat in the fray, which I picked up, and at daylight next morning heard him enquiring for it. " Here is your hat, sir," said I; " and do you know how you abused me last night? y "Well, now, look here, stranger, I was drunk, lou B this cut on my face." " Yes, and if I had had a pistol, you would never have worn your hat again." He was a gentlemanly fellow, after all, and made i every sort of acknowledgment.
We shook hands, and made the matter up., i We had another trouble to encounter; there were no.mules to be had here. At San Francisco, we had paid our fore 0 Grevtown, and were allowed eighty pounds of luggage Free: all over that was to be paid for to the transit agent, at UK place where we now were, and were also to have mules in readiness immediately on the arrival of the steamer. There were three persons attached to the agency, who transacted their business under a tent, a short distance from the beach. Much discontent was manifest among the passengers, on account of the delay. The agents had sent out muleteers in all directions, to search for mules.
In the meantime the luggage was weighed and paid for. No one thought of looking at their ticket; but one man happening to look at his, saw that 84 pounds were allowed free of charge. This caused a general discovery. The fact was made known to the agents, and the money demanded back, which they refused, saying that the agent in San Francisco had no right to frank a pound of luggage. The tent was now surrounded, and the immediate destruction of everything belonging to the concern threatened, if the money was not paid. They very prudently rectified the mistake, and this matter was settled. The next trouble was about the mules, which, contrary to specification, were not ready.
The agents were again threatened, and were told that they would be held accountable for expenses while we were detained. They were evidently much frightened, seeing who their customers were. On Monday evening, twenty- four mules were brought in, and I was lucky enough to get a very poor one. Our luggage was in charge of the agents, who were to forward it immediately to Greytown. At 12 o'clock, Tuesday, twenty of us were ready, and started on our journey to Virgin Bay. We were advised by those who knew the country, not to start until next morning; but being anxious to leave the miserable hole, we pushed ahead, and soon came on to the mud region, previously crossing a rapid river about twenty yards wide.