The New York herald., 1873-09-09

amounted to 10000 or 17,ooo All communication
| with Bilbao was also interrupted and that with
| Santander had just been forbidden This was Q
bright lookout for myself but after great deal OF
trouble and expense managed to obtain Q con-
veyance to Durango, where knew Lissaraga and
velasco were staying. on condition OF my being re-
sponsibe for the safety OF the horsex To this 1
agreed, and at twelve O'Clock we started. Not SIX
miles from vittoria we were challenged by the Car
lists, who, when told them was going to see
velasco, eventually let US pass sending one OF their
men with us, however. The coachman drove well; (;
he wanted to get back before nghtfal. and thus we
arrived in Durango at three p. M. 1t here that
Maroto and Espartero august Is. 1880 attempted
to plan the betrayal OF Don Carlos and that the
latter issued his famous Durango decree, ordering
all foreigners taken In arms against him to be scot
without the formaity of o trial Now, however, the
position is reversed; VelascO and Lssaraga are
here with 5000 men, all well armed with brand
new Snyders and are treating with the enemy.
One OF the most efficient officers OF the army told
me himself that his brother had just passed to the
Carlists; and shall not be surprised to hear that
he, too, has gone over shortly.
l at once waited on velasco and Lssaraga, and
learned from them tnat the troops under Bregua
were completely hemmed In at Vergara where he
hld remained for the last five days. not daring to
move. Velasco closing him In on the west and
south, and $500 Carlists the east, south of san
Sebastian, threatening his lett nank.
"An action.n said Velasco, ais inevitable. Bre-
qua cannot escape without our connivance, and
now our positions are reversed. Formerly we
were prosecuted by the troops and had to evade
them, which was easy enough for us to do; but now
the troops are being pursued by Us. We have taken
the offensive; and II we gain this battle in Gupaz-
coa which do not doubt we Will, we shall be 10
BilbOa In a fortnight
"And," inquired, "where are Eio and D0rfe.
garaya'
"They have returned to Navarro in order to
draw or some OF the troops into the Amezcoas,
and In case win will come up by way OF Orduha,
to Bilbao and attack 1t on the south and west
while Castor takes the Portugalete side.n
OFF FOR BILBAO.
This plan appeared very good, and as Bilbao
promised to be pretty hot place. asked VelascO
to let mo pass to it. He at once agreed; and,
taking my leave, went to find conveyance.
Carriages l found enough, but not horse to be
bad, nor q mule nor an ass. Every quadruped
above an OK had been requsitioned, and. as Veasco
had told me should not be able to pass the next
day, had to make up my mind to walk. SO, en-
gaging man to carry my portmanteau for the
modest sum OF oreals (s5), set out for my tramp
OF five leagues along road three inches deep in
0uSt ana Deneatn IearIuliy screening sun Tnere
was not bit OF shade along the road and every
thing radated heat, heat, heat. There was just
enough wind to fan the hot air into my face like
the blast from furnace. In ten minutes was
soaking, In half an hour boiling. hated my flesh;
I wished it would drop or and leave me to walk in
my bones At last the sun began to sink behind
the hills and, with redoubled activity, trudged
on, arriving at Bilbao at halfpast nine after hav
ing been challenged by one sleepy sentinel at the
Puente Nuevo scarcely ten minutes after we had
passed the last Carst outpost.
Tomorrow propose going into the mountains
west OF Portugalete, where the Carists are going
to dsembark 24pounder, and in day or two I
think shall be able to report some hard fighting.