Page:The Rambler in Mexico.djvu/216

210 I furnish you with the following note made at the moment of my scrutiny:—

"Carbine I. Much worse for wear—no flint and a broken trigger—cannot imagine how it is to be discharged.

"Carbine II. Seen much service, no flint, no ramrod.

"Carbine III. Lock broken short off, and otherwise damaged.

"Carbine IV. Utterly devoid of all appearance of lock.

"Carbine V. Furnished with all the outward signs except ramrod; but from its appearance, doubt very much its efficiency, especially as I have no proof that there is a single cartridge, either in the weapons or in the cartridge boxes."

So much for the arming of our escort. Now as to their valour.

For what purpose were they hired—at the cost of eighteen dollars, to ride by the side of the coach, from La Pueblo to Perote? To scare away thieves and robbers. But if the thieves would not be frightened—to fight? No! such an idea never came into their heads. To fight!—he, he—ha, ha—ho, ho!—to get, perhaps, a shot from a real carbine, or a slash across the nose—or at least to be lassoed, half strangled, dragged from horseback, and ground to powder, by being hurried along the road for a few hundred yards—and all that for only eighteen dollars! and for the pleasure of their valours, the three heretic dons? No, the idea is ridiculous! Does it not appear almost such to you? Seriously speaking, I believe an escort in Mexico is never expected to fight, not only because I never heard of a well-accredited case of their doing so, but from the peculiar style and character of the arms wherewith they are furnished. This strange circumstance apart, I must give our dragoons a good character. They gave us no trouble, always stuck to the carriage, spoke not an unnecessary word, and were dismissed at Perote, where all danger from banditti was supposed to be at an end.

To resume the notice of our journey. Six leagues