Page:The rise and fall of the Emperor Maximilian.djvu/222

206 either the important documents or the telegraphic despatch alluded to in his confidential letter of October 21. An incident, which should be related, marked the commencement of the young sovereign's journey. The halting-stages of the imperial cortège had been purposely arranged, so that General Castelnau should be unable to fall in with Maximilian. Nevertheless, the two travellers met for an instant in the village of Ayotla at breakfast-time; and although the envoy of Napoleon III. sought admittance to the young emperor, he had to leave without having obtained an audience.

The emperor's journey proceeded rapidly without his being annoyed by the guerillas, who, if they had not been held in check by the display of our troops, had intended to seize his person. An important movement of Juarist contingents had taken place on the coast of Oajaca, which Porfirio Diaz was menacing. During the whole journey, Maximilian only stayed at the houses of the Mexican clergy. On October 24, he slept at the priest's house at Acacingo. The road between this large village and La Canada is furrowed out by the rains of winter, and in the dry weather is smothered with dust. The country is rough, and covered with woods, in which redoubled watchfulness against attack was requisite. On one occasion the attendants of the sovereign were put in dread.

On the road ahead of them, a whirlwind of dust was stirred up under the tread of a party of red-clad horsemen. It turned out to be a squadron of the French contre-guerilla, who had come to flank his majesty's road. Maximilian made a few enquiries as to the positions which the contre-guerillas occupied in the Terres Chaudes, and then relapsed into the obstinate silence which he had maintained since his