Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/432



402 TO THE TEBICUARY RIVER.

hardly accommodate two guests ; I was also imwilling to tax any further Lieutenant-Commander Bushels hospitality. Moreover the Brazilian authorities were opposed to private visits amongst their enemies^ and, after the frankness and courtesy with which they had received me, it was impossible to ignore their wishes. Finally, I knew too well that, after the many tales told concerning the maltreatment of strangers by the Paraguayans, a report of my captivity, per- haps of my torture and death, would have at once been spread by a host of " friends,^^ and that the " sick leave,"*^ so freely granted to me, implied the condition that it must be used with due prudence.

At that time also an evil report was current concerning a certain Baron von Veren, whom the Tribuna of Buenos Aires called Major Barsen. This Prussian officer wishing to see service in the Far West, left Bordeaux, and was at once arrested at Rio de Janeiro upon the charge of intending to levy war against the Empire. When set free at the instance of his minister he j)^ii'sued his journey to Buenos Aires, where again, upon a similar count, he found himself in the same predicament. Compelled to give his word that â– ! he would not at once visit Paraguay, Baron von Versen crossed the Pampas, and, retracing his way, presented him- self to the President of Paraguay. For the third time he was arrested as a spy, and, on this occasion, only the action of December 27, 1868, saved him from being shot. After which he thought proper to revisit Europe. The fact is that almost all so-called pasados, or deserters from the Para- guayan army, are told off by their government to collect information, and the authorities naturally believe that all unknown strangers who visit them are in a similar category. Thus my trip to the upper waters was deferred hasta mejor opportunidad.

On the evening of September 3 I bade a regretful fare-