Curiosity and love of exciting adventure had enlisted the members of the corps in favor of aiding Mr. Dow’s projected enterprise, and through their continued solicitation, M. Hollydorf consented to waive the strict interpretation of his commission, designating a particular field of operation, by using his discretionary power in favor of the proposed scheme for raising the siege of the beleaguered city. Captain Greenwood without hesitation tendered the aid of his steamer, and being one of those peculiar persons who are accustomed to take the head of time by the forelock, he immediately commenced the precautionary labors to protect his vessel from the wily tricks of surprise practiced by the savages. The commandante of Santa Anna, being well acquainted with the methods of attack that led to the defeat of the various expeditions directed against the Chacas, proved of great use in suggesting precautions. The chief dread arose from the poisoned arrows of the savages, which inflicted incurable wounds, adding to death the horrors of lingering putrefaction. The fears anticipated from this source were relieved by the confidence inspired through the energetic character of the captain, whose experience with the superior cunning of the North American Indians prepared him to cope with the lower instincts of their southern congeners. * * * * * On the morning of the 23d of May the _Tortuga’s_ bow was turned against the swift middle current of the Pilcomayo’s bayou expanse, then at its height from the copious contributions of the rainy season in the high lands and mountain sources of its tributaries. Night still found us in the broad sea of waters, baffled in search of the interior mouth which was made more difficult from the confluent branches uniting with it near its Paraguayan embouchure. The commandante, anticipating the difficulty likely to be encountered, had been particular in giving directions; but although strictly followed, from a calculation of the steamer’s speed, twice the distance had been run without discovering the described landmarks. Uncertainty was rendered still more uncomfortable by the shallowing of the water, showing plainly that we were inland from the river’s channel. At midnight, while anchored, a hurricane, heralded by a thunder-storm, made the waters seethe with its force, causing our little craft to careen and bob with a politeness to the gusts that impaired our confidence in its self reliance. Padre Simon declared that the lightning set his teeth on edge, prompting him from its dazzling flashes to pray, but that the thunder so startled and confused him that he was unable to think, and as a dernier ressort was obliged to drink. This remedy finally rendered him proof to the best efforts of Jupiter Tonans; but on waking in the morning he complained that he could still hear the roll of the thunder in his head.