He could see that the town was in a state of ferment, and that the inhabitants were running about from place to place.

After waiting a little while he thought it unsafe to land, and determined to go to the town of Omoa, where he knew the government forces were in possession.

He had travelled about four miles from Puerto Cortez when he sighted the Lucy B.

He decided to wait for her, and find out from her how matters stood in Puerto Cortez.

Suddenly, when about half a mile away, the Lucy B. fired on the Rover.

Captain Reed instantly ordered the engines to be stopped, and brought the vessel to a standstill; but before the sailors had time to carry out his orders, another shot was fired at him.

Soon after the vessel was boarded by General Reyes, of the Nicaraguan government, and six of his followers.

He examined the ship’s papers, and though finding them in order, still had the ship searched from end to end, declaring that the Rover was carrying arms and ammunition to the rebels in Puerto Cortez.

When his search was over, and nothing had been found, Captain Reed vigorously protested against the treatment to which he had been subjected, and pointed to the American flag which was flying at the mast-head.

General Reyes replied that he might protest all he pleased, but he ought to consider himself lucky that the Lucy B. had not sunk his vessel.

The captain of the Rover will enter a protest against the action of the Nicaraguans.

We have spoken several times about the insignificant character of the revolutions in South America.  We think it may interest our readers if we quote for them the statement on this subject, made by a gentleman who has been a good many years in Honduras, and who has large interests there.

He says:  “A revolution down there is really nothing but an election.

“At election times the candidate for the Presidency who controls the guns wins the election.  If the President doesn’t suit after he is elected, some man gathers a force together, and a revolution follows.

“As nobody pays much attention to an election, so nobody pays much attention to a revolution, except those most nearly interested in its success or failure.

“The present President, Senor Bonilla, came into office after he had carried through a successful revolution against somebody else.

“He is a clever man, and absolutely honest, but his standard is too high for Honduras.”

Richard Harding Davis has written a story called “Soldiers of Fortune,” which gives a very excellent account of one of these South American revolutions.

* * * * *

The Massachusetts Assembly has made its annual appropriation for the destruction of the Gipsy moth.

This is a moth whose larvae (as the caterpillars are called) do so much damage to foliage that the State has spent large sums of money in an attempt to destroy the troublesome pest.  The matter has now been brought to the attention of Congress, and in the last Agricultural Appropriation Bill a special provision was made for a careful investigation of the matter.