By tacit agreement, throughout our long voyage no mention had been made of its purpose since the evening of our visit with the Blennerhassets. Intimate as had been my relations with Alisanda and her uncle, it was not the part of an honorable man to receive confidences bearing on Don Pedro's plans, until I had seen General Wilkinson and learned whether Colonel Burr's test of influence would stand. Unless committed to the furtherance of the far-reaching projects which the Colonel had outlined to me, I felt that I had no right to share the secrets of the scheme.  
In with my wish, Don Pedro had refrained from all to the subject, going so far as seldom to mention his home and country. In consequence, this being Alisanda's first voyage to New Spain, I learned so little of their plans that when we landed at Natchez I knew only that they expected to sail from New Orleans to Vera Cruz, and from there to travel either by diligencia or private coach to a town named Chihuahua, in the desert interior, where the don was of a great estate. Even of the nature and customs of the country I had gathered few facts to add to the vague information acquired in past years from the Spanish Creoles.
 
But with our approach to Natchez, that which had been least in my thoughts became the uppermost. General Wilkinson was at Natchez, and the nature of his response to my letters from Colonel Burr was a matter of vital importance to me. A few days after our arrival would bring about my parting from Alisanda. If that parting took place without the knitting of new ties for the future, what hope had I of ever again looking into the depths of her dark eyes?
 
But should the Commander-in-Chief prove the feasibility of Colonel Burr's plans by agreeing to war and support the invasion of Mexico, and should he, in addition, give to me the leadership of the Western expedition, how strong my cause for hope! At once I could enter into the plans of Don Pedro, and while he journeyed back to Chihuahua, to prepare his friends for the revolution, I could lead my expedition across the great plains, my approach to Santa Fe to be the signal for the uprising. With war raging on the Sabine River and in Texas, the interior provinces would be drained of Spanish troops; so that the revolution could be gotten well under way before the Viceroy could send up an army from the City of Mexico.
 
Though not a man of military training, I then believed, and am still convinced, that this plan of campaign would have met with certain success. Thousands of our frontiersmen were ready at the word to fling themselves across the Spanish borders, and with such men as the General Jackson to lead them, they would have soon crushed all the forces which General Herrera could have brought against them. Their march across Texas and to the City of Mexico would have been marked by an unbroken succession of victories, while I, fighting side by side with Don Pedro in the revolutionary army of Mexico, with Alisanda to win!—
 
But enough of idle dreams! Those who base their plans on the leadership of wild schemers and double-dyed should be grateful if the outcome finds them unsmirched by the company they have kept.
 
We to the under the at Natchez, and I, dressed fittingly for the occasion, had the pleasure of escorting Alisanda up to the little town on the hilly slope behind the bluff-crest,—my companion finding much to interest her in the motley crowd of Spanish and French Creoles, Americans, negro slaves, and Chickasaw Indians.
 
The don had not expected to stop at this seat of the Government of Mississippi Territory; else I have no doubt Colonel Burr would have provided him with a letter to insure hospitality from the persons who had so fêted that statesman the preceding Fall. As it was, I arranged for the best accommodation to be had at Mickie's Hotel, and at once set about the disposal of our floating home.
 
It being understood that I might be required to hasten north to St. Louis, Don Pedro had to sell the flat, since, without my company, it would be more convenient to continue the voyage to New Orleans in a passenger boat. A flat is worth so little at this end of the river trade that I was glad to bargain the craft for twenty dollars to a family of French creoles. At New Orleans I might have sought in vain for a purchaser. Scores of flats are there abandoned by the rivermen, many of whom return to the upper towns afoot.
 
After some hours of delay at the water front, I returned to Mickie's with a cartload of impedimenta, including my own chest. Don Pedro met me at the door, with the information that he had already seen General Wilkinson, who, upon learning that I also bore despatches, had sent him to summon me to the headquarters. The don's expression, so far as one might read his proud features, told me that the interview had not been over-satisfactory.
 
"You are not pleased at General Wilkinson?" I asked.
 
"Nada, John," he answered with a which volumes.
 
I could well imagine what he would have said, had not his courtesy prevented.
 
"I will hasten," I said. "It may be he will meet you in a more favorable mood after he has seen the letters I bear."
 
"God knows! Who can tell?" he murmured in Spanish.
 
"I hope to know within the hour," I replied.
 
"Sabe Dios—Quien sabe?" he repeated, as I set off.
 
I found the General's headquarters without difficulty, and upon mentioning my name, was at once passed in by the sentinel on guard in the . When I entered the office, I found the General studying a map of Lower Louisiana, in company with Colonel Cushing, his second in command. For a moment he stared at me with stupid , as if he had been overcome with the whiskey, a bottle of which stood on the table before him. But even as I gave my name, he recognized me and me to a seat at the table, with a show of cordiality.
 
"Of course, of course, Dr. Robinson! Take a seat! I'm with all kinds of visitors in these days of war. But a gentleman is always welcome. Colonel Cushing, you have met Dr. Robinson?—No?—One of our most young physicians,—alrea............