Find that we were mistaken in starting so late, — Difficulty in turning my horse, — Pass an uncomfortable night, — Dreary prospect, — Mules get mired, — My mule gives out, — On my legs again, — Unpleasant position, — Cheered by the promise of the Almighty, — Arrive at Virgin Bay, — Wash and bathe myself, — Burgo's miserable steamer, — Incidents,— Uncomfortable night, — Fort Carlos, — Break our Kudder, — Make a Substitute, — Rapids, — Interview with female passengers, — Their ignorance of the journey, — Advice, — Start for Grey town, — Find the steamer Daniel Webster, — Baggage not arrived, — Poor accommodation,— Sail without our luggage, — Stop at Havana, — Arrive at New York, — Bad treatment, at the transit office, — Build a schooner, — Sail for Australia, — Wrecked, — Taken off and carried to Hamburg, — Particulars in my letter, — Visit to Kiel, Duke of Wellington, — Blockading fiett, — Interview with Sir Charles Napier, — Return to Hamburg, — Start for Berlin, — Return to Hanover, — Take the cars for Cologne, — Go up the Rhine, — Return to Cologne, — Start for Brussels.
It did not take lono; to convince me that we had made a mistake in leaving at midday, as night would overtake us before we could reach a suitable place to sleep. Owing to the recent rain, the road was almost impassable, our mules were fairly wallowing in the mud, and there was do< one in the party that had not either been thrown oil, or obliged to dismount, in order to extricate his animal. In some places we were under the necessity of leaving the mule to scrabble out the best way he could, while the riders did the same, and when, within half an hour of Bundown, on coming to a dry spot, I proposed to stop for the night It was then raining quite fast, and darkness would soon be upon us.
But no; the word was, go on as far as wc can, while we have daylight. Being somewhat in advance of the company, and some distance up the side of a rock, beneath which was a deep precipice, and the pathway was so narrow, that the mule could scarcely get foothold, and now so dark that the animal refused to advance another inch. Just at that moment, I heard the Indian yell, which I knew was a signal for a halt. Here I was, a mile ahead, on the edge of a rock; an attempt to turn my mule would be sure destruction to both. To my great joy, I heard the footsteps of the guide close by, and called him.
With his assistance, dismounted, and with good management turned the mule round. 1 rode back to where they halted, and if they had tried, could not have selected a worse place. No shelter, except a large tree, which, upon the least agitation, poured the water down upon us in torrents. We had nothing to lie upon except the bare mud, although we contrived to haul some small boughs under us, which, however, immediately sunk in the mud. Our animals remained during the night immovably fixed, poor creatures, without food or drink. I think this was the longest night I ever knew. I was somewhat afraid of cramp, or fever, but escaped both. It was with much difficulty that we extricated our mules from the miry clay.
We endeavored to be as cheerful as possible, being well aware of the unpleasant journey before us. We abandoned the idea of keeping together, as every one seemed intent on looking out for himself. We had not been more than an hour under way, when I heard a loud screaming some distance behind, which was from an Irish boy, hailing his father, who was just behind me. The fellow was singing out, " Father! father! I am stuck fast." I stopped, while the father went back, and sure enough, his poor beast was so firmly mired that it was impossible to get him out, and there he must die. My poor brute began to tell me, by unmistakable signs, that he must stop.
My position now, was anything but agreeable. If I could get to Rivas, I was safe, but that was impossible. The Irishman and his son were far behind, literally swimming through the mud. Very soon my mule stopped, entirely exhausted. I dismounted, and Left him to his fate, feeling somewhat doubtful about my own. It was noon, and I was entirely ignorant of the distance, or of the right road, hungry, thirsty and weary, I scrabbled, having lost my hat and one shoe. My shoe, however, after much labor, I found again. My strength failed me, and 1 sat down on a rock. Remembering God's promise, started again, and after wallowing an hour, came to an old hollow tree, and thought of crawling into it, just leaving my head out, and if I died there, some one, probably, might recognize me.