Having been put on shore, I approached the guard at the end of the mole, expecting to be detained, but my miserable appearance rendered me insignificant in his eyes, and I was allowed to enter the town without question.

I traversed the streets as one bewildered, gazing upon all I saw with the avidity and eagerness of one who hopes against hope, in the desire to meet with some familiar object, until at length a sign-board, bearing the name of P. FLUSK, met my eye. I knew nothing of the Spanish language, and thus far in my ramble I had seen nothing else upon the various signs that were placed above the stores and warehouses; but here was something, which, if not English, seemed at least more like what I had been accustomed to than any thing that I had yet met with, and accordingly I determined to enter the house, which, as I had supposed, was one of public entertainment. I inquired of a person behind the bar for the master of the house, and was overjoyed at receiving an answer in the English language, notwithstanding in that answer I found nothing else to encourage me. The bar-tender told me that the master was not at home, and, supposing me a beggar, added that he had nothing for me; whereupon I said I would wait till the master came home, and took a seat for that purpose. Finding at length that I was determined to remain, the barkeeper called the proprietor from another part of the house, where he had been from the time of my entrance. I found him to be an Irishman, and at once made known to him my situation and wants. He said

"You may stay here for awhile, but you must pay your board. What can you do?"

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'Oh, I can do any thing; give me a shelter, and you shall see that I will soon find employment, and be able to pay you."

"Very well; I will board you. Let us see what you

will do."

With an anxious heart I set about seeking employment; but I soon found that my promise to my landlord had been made under a too sanguine expectation. I went from door to door, from street to street, asking for a situation as salesman, clerk, or any thing, but nobody understood me, and the universal reply was, "No le entiendo austed !" (I don't understand you.) From day to day the same weary and unsuccessful round; and at each succeeding night, the inquiry of my host, as to my success, fell heavier upon my heart, when I knew that I must give him the same and oft-repeated answer-" I have found nothing to do."

Two or three weeks had thus passed, and I had paid nothing for my board. I felt sick at heart, for the idea of having contracted an obligation that I could not repay, pressed more heavily upon my mind than all the other evils that attended me. My host had been kind and indulgent, and seemed to take an interest in me, as well on my account as his own; and one evening, after the usual fruitless efforts of the day, he again said to me—

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Young man, what can you do?"

I said, "I will do any thing that will give me an honest living."

"Well," said he, "I will see if I can get you a master." He was as good as his word, and on the following day I was introduced to a Frenchman by the name of Coquelet, who kept a fancy and perfumery store, which it was to be my duty to assist him in attending.

I soon found myself in good quarters. My master was kind to me, and by assiduity, I soon won his confidence and esteem; with his wife, too, who was an amiable lady, I soon became a great favorite; and it is to this family that I am indebted for all that afterwards befell me, whether for good or for ill, during a long series of terrible and bloody years. At this house I first saw a certain officer, of high rank in the service of the republic, who occasionally visited the family

of my employer, and from whom I received many little tokens of kindness.

I remained with Coquelet several months; the necessities of my destitution had all been supplied, my obligations to my friend Flusk were satisfied, and with this relief from anxiety, and ease of circumstances, came a restless desire for change. I suffered with ennui from the confinement of my shop, which seemed to me more as a prison-house than an asylum; and although sincerely gratified for the many manifestations of kindness which I had received from the family, I spake often and freely to Madame of my desire for more active employThis was at length communicated by the lady to the officer above-mentioned, with a request that he would, if possible, assist me in the attainment of my wish. This officer had already shown me evidences of a "liking;" and immediately after this announcement had been made to him, he sent for me, and said—

ment.

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My young friend, would you like to enter the army of the republic ?"

Almost choking with joy, I replied

"Señor, nothing would delight me more."

"Very well," said he, "I will see if I can obtain a flag for you."

A flag! thought I, as the officer left the house. Is it possible that I am to have a commission! and with the rank of a Bandero at the first step! I made no attempt to conceal my delight, or to check the visions of glory that flitted across my imagination. The officer was true to his promise, and two or three days after this interview the Supreme Director, Pursedon, placed in my hands my commission, with the words, "Go now, young man, and make your own way up the ladder of fortune."

I will do it, thought I, for, although the rank of Bandero or flag-bearer is the lowest in commission in the service, I felt as though I had even then been placed at the head of a com

mand. I had already, under the tutelage of my employer and his lady, made rapid advances in the study of the Spanish language, and was even now able to hold ordinary conversations in that language; the thirst for distinction was in my breast; the thought of danger never entered my mind, and I considered myself qualified in every respect for the duties assigned me. I was a mere boy, and knew but little of the intrinsic merits or claims of my situation upon my love of liberty. I only knew that I was a soldier in the army of a country that had, like my own, driven from its shores the political interference of foreign power, and would willingly, at that moment, have defended with my life the flag which had been so suddenly and unexpectedly placed in my keeping. Ah! little did I dream of the horrors to which its possession was but the incipient step.

I was immediately dispatched with letters to Gov. Lopez, then at Santa Fé, and embarked on board a vessel on the Rio Parana. Our voyage, which lasted several days, was to me one of almost unalloyed happiness, checked only by the delay which held me from my regiment. A delay rendered more tedious from the singularly circuitous and serpentine windings of the river itself; often leading us in its course a distance of twelve and fifteen leagues to accomplish a single league of travel; but the richness of the country, and the splendor of the scenery through which we passed, the river itself being studded with islands, inhabited only by tigers and beasts of prey, or occasionally employed as hiding-places by bands of ladrones and desperadoes, would have supplied my mind with a ready and never-failing antidote for the tediousness of my journey, had it not been already filled with burning aspirations to martial glory.

Arrived at the place of destination, I presented myself to Gov. Lopez, who received me graciously, and having read his dispatches, ordered me to cross the river to the town of Rajada, capital of the province of Entre Rios, and report to

Gen. Ramarez. I did as directed, and soon after received from Gen. Ramarez a commission as ensign in his own corps. On presenting me with the commission, the general said to me

"Anglo-American, the recommendations that you bring, have given us great confidence in you. I hope you are a true patriot."

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General," I replied, "let my actions show to my countrymen that I am always ready to fight for liberty."

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"It is very well," said he; you are now going to fight against the Gen. Artegas."

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Artegas?" said I.

Yes, the monster who gives no quarter to the officers of an enemy when made prisoners."

“Then we must fight our way, and not become prisoners," I replied.

"True; but do you know his mode of disposing of those who fall into his hands ?"

"I have been told that he sews them in raw hide, and leaves them in the sun to perish."

"You have been told rightly, and now know what will be your fate if taken by him in battle."

This Artegas, famous alike for his cruelty and his bravery, was the first man who raised the brand of discord in the new republic. He was a resident of Entre Rios; and instigated by the Spaniards, set on foot a rebellion against the constituted authorities of his country. His influence and disaffection after a short time extended over his own province, also Corrientes, Missiones, and a part of the Banda Oriental; the latter of which, though not a province of the Argentine, received the sympathies of that country, and was almost considered as a part of their own territory.

Having raised an army and taken a position on the western border of the Banda Oriental, he bade defiance to the Supreme Director of the Argentine; and it was to suppress this revolt that Ramarez was ordered to move.