The expedition sailed on the 23d of August, and the ketch was ordered to sail for San Juan del Sur. Scarcely had the Vesta passed the mouth of the harbor before she saw the schooner San José making for the port, her decks being apparently filled with men. The schooner passed close to the brig, and some aboard of the latter recognized Mendez among the passengers of the San José. Walker ordered the Vesta to be put about, and leaving her near the mouth of the harbor, he, with Valle, took a small boat and endeavored to overhaul the schooner as she sailed slowly up toward the river; but they were unable to reach her until some minutes after she had come to anchor. On boarding the schooner it was ascertained she was from Punta Arenas, and that Ramirez, who had come passenger, had already taken a boat and started for the town, fearing to meet the Americans after his conduct at Rivas. Chélon easily persuaded Mendez to go aboard the Vesta, but, as they had to wait for the ebb tide, it was nearly dark when they started for the brig. As they passed down the harbor, Valle insisted on saying good-bye once more to his two daughters, whom he had brought as far as Point Ycaco. The girls, with a younger brother, got into the boat with their father, and went with him some distance down the harbor, the old man promising them presents from Granada when he returned, and the girls as gay as if their parent was going out with a hunting party. The old revolutionist took his eldest son (not more than fifteen) with him, and telling the younger to take care of his sisters, he embraced them as composedly as if he expected to meet them at breakfast the next morning, and saying adieu again and again as he put off for the Vesta, left them, to pass through many a scene of peril and danger before again meeting them. After getting to sea the cholera was less severe among the troops, and few died between the time of leaving Realejo and the arrival of the brig at San Juan del Sur. The passage was long, and it was the 29th of August before the Vesta made the port. Two Americans seeing her outside brought Walker the intelligence that all the Legitimist troops had left San Juan as soon as the well-known brig hove in sight. The ketch had not arrived, nor had she been seen by the Vesta for several days. Some uneasiness was felt on her account, but the calms and contrary winds which had prevailed and the slow sailing of the craft were sufficient to explain her non-appearance. Soon after dark the Vesta dropped anchor in the port, but it was determined not to land the forces until the next morning.