Travels in the United States, etc.,: during 1849 and 1850./ By the Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley.

ALARM OF LADRONES.
their appearance; and one, who looked like a chief or captain
among them, galloped tolerably near, and seemed to be busily occupied in reconnoitring our carriages, the passengers, and the possible booty.
The French gentleman seemed convinced they were —" Les
voleurs! oui, ma foi, les voila, tenez, il faut-Mais, non-attendez,
voyons un pen. Eh, oui! c'est le mme m;" and elevating his
voice, leaning half out of the carriage, taking off his sombrero,
and waving his hand, he called, "Como! Sefior, quien se lo hubiera imaginrado? Se lo hubieran esperado? Pardiez! Me alegro
de ver a V.! Celebro mucho ver a V. Me atrevere6 a pedir
adonde v, V.?" Many compliments passed between them, and
after a number of mutual civilities and salutations, and a perfect
lightning flash of brilliant teeth, shown by the gracious smiles of
the caballero, away he dashed froxn the side of the carriage, still
bowing to the seiioras, and being joined by his companions, was
soon lost to sight. The French gentleman told us, he had met
him accidentally somewhere, and been enabled to show him some
trifling kindness and civility, and that on recognizing him so luckily,
he reminded the caballero of it, and for his sake were thus saved
our watches and coins.
By this time we were shaken almost out of all knowledge; one
of our bonnets looked like a small coal-scuttle in convulsions; a
wretched Mexican had his sombrero almost smashed into his face;
another had his visage knocked about with many whacks, pleasingly
diversifying his olive complexion with patches of black and blue.
When we attempted to talk, it was very much like speaking in
entrechats, our poor words had to cut such extraordinary capers in
our throats. The unhappy Monsieur seemed at one moment like
an Indian juggler about to bolt a sword, scabbard and all, or a
boa constrictor preparing to swallow its victim, and beginning
vKith one limb at first. The poor man had only got his neighbor's
elbow in his mouth, which another jolt almost sent half way down
his throat.
Our conversation was necessarily fitful. "Mais oi done est
mon chapeau? Cette voiture fait danser tout d'une maniereOh! je vous en prie-Ne vous derangez pas, Monsieur." But
Monsieur just at that moment was very much "derange;" he was
tossed as in a blanket to the highest roof, and down again, and
probably alighted upon the identical chapeau they were looking
for. "No le incomoda a V. este paquete, Seior?" And "este
paquete," at the same moment of time, lodged itself unscrupulously
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