ace of their previous encampment, a narrow shelf of the sierra. Here,
on the brink of the terrible ravine, which they had again to encounter,
they consulted upon a plan for their future operations; and it was
finally agreed that Messrs. Huertis and Hammond, with Antonio, and such
of the Indian muleteers as could be induced to proceed with the
expedition, should follow the bottom of the ravine, in its north-east
course, in which, according to Antonio, the river Legartos took its
principal supply of water, and remain at a large village, adjacent to
its banks, which they had seen, about five leagues distant; while Senor
Velasquez was to trace their late route, by way of Gueguetenango, to
Quezaltenango, where all the surplus arms and ammunition had been
deposited, and recruit a strong party of Indians, to serve as a guard,
in the event of an attack from the people of the unexplored region,
whither they were resolutely bound. In the meantime, Antonio was to
return home to Gueguetenango, await the return of Velasquez, with his
armed party, from Quezaltenango, and conduct them over the mountains to
the village on the plains, where Messrs. Huertis and Hammond were to
remain until they should arrive. It appears that Senor Velasquez was
abundantly supplied with solid funds for the recruiting service, and
that Mr. Huertis also furnished Antonio with a liberal sum, in addition
to his stipulated pay, wherewith to procure masses for the repose of his
unfortunate brother.

Of the adventures of Messrs. Huertis and Hammond, in the long interval
prior to the return of Velasquez, we have no account whatever; nor does
the journal of the latter contain any remarks relative to his own
operations, during the same period. The next date is July the 8th, when
we find him safely arrived with "nearly all the men he had engaged," at
an Indian village called Aguamasinta, where his anxious companions were
overjoyed to receive him, and where "they had obtained inestimable
information regarding the proper arrangement of the final purpose."
After this we trace them, by brief memoranda, for a few days, on the
devious course of the Legartos, when the journal abruptly and finally
closes. The remaining narrative of the expedition was written by Senor
Velasquez from memory, after his return to San Salvador, while all the
exciting events and scenes which it describes were vividly sustained by
the feelings which they originally inspired. As this excessively
in