第3章

thoritiesinthesouth，inatowncalledLinares。GasparRuizwasentrustedwithasmallpartyonly，buttheyprovedthemselvesworthyofSanMartin\'sconfidence。

Theseasonwasnotpropitious。Theyhadtoswimswollenrivers。Theyseemed，however，tohavegal-

lopednightanddayout-ridingthenewsoftheirforay，andholdingstraightforthetown，ahundredmilesintotheenemy\'scountry，tillatbreakofdaytheyrodeintoitswordinhand，surprisingthelittlegarrison。

Itfledwithoutmakingastand，leavingmostofitsofficersinGasparRuiz\'hands。

"Agreatexplosionofgunpowderendedthecon-

flagrationofthemagazinestheraidershadsetonfirewithoutlossoftime。Inlessthansixhourstheywereridingawayatthesamemadspeed，withoutthelossofasingleman。Goodastheywere，suchanexploitisnotperformedwithoutastillbetterleadership。

"IwasdiningattheheadquarterswhenGasparRuizhimselfbroughtthenewsofhissuccess。AnditwasagreatblowtotheRoyalisttroops。Foraproofhedisplayedtousthegarrison\'sflag。Hetookitfromunderhisponchoandflungitonthetable。Themanwastransfigured；therewassomethingexultingandmenacingintheexpressionofhisface。HestoodbehindGeneralSanMartin\'schairandlookedproudlyatusall。Hehadaroundbluecapedgedwithsilverbraidonhishead，andweallcouldseealargewhitescaronthenapeofhissunburntneck。

"SomebodyaskedhimwhathehaddonewiththecapturedSpanishofficers。

"Heshruggedhisshouldersscornfully。\'Whataquestiontoask!Inapartisanwaryoudonotburdenyourselfwithprisoners。Iletthemgo——andherearetheirsword-knots。\'

"Heflungabunchofthemonthetableupontheflag。ThenGeneralRobles，whomIwasattendingthere，spokeupinhisloud，thickvoice:\'Youdid!Then，mybravefriend，youdonotknowyethowawarlikeoursoughttobeconducted。Youshouldhavedone——this。\'

Andhepassedtheedgeofhishandacrosshisownthroat。

"Alas，senores!Itwasonlytootruethatonbothsidesthiscontest，initsnaturesoheroic，wasstainedbyferocity。ThemurmursthataroseatGeneralRobles\'

wordswerebynomeansunanimousintone。ButthegenerousandbraveSanMartinpraisedthehumaneaction，andpointedouttoRuizaplaceonhisrighthand。Thenrisingwithafullglassheproposedatoast:\'Caballerosandcomrades-in-arms，letusdrinkthehealthofCaptainGasparRuiz。\'Andwhenwehademptiedourglasses:\'Iintend，\'theCommander-in-

Chiefcontinued，\'toentrusthimwiththeguardianshipofoursouthernfrontier，whilewegoafartoliberateourbrethreninPeru。Hewhomtheenemycouldnotstopfromstrikingablowathisveryheartwillknowhowtoprotectthepeacefulpopulationsweleavebehindustopursueoursacredtask。\'AndheembracedthesilentGasparRuizbyhisside。

"Lateron，whenweallrosefromtable，Iapproachedthelatestofficerofthearmywithmycongratulations。

\'And，CaptainRuiz，\'Iadded，\'perhapsyoudonotmindtellingamanwhohasalwaysbelievedintheupright-

nessofyourcharacterwhatbecameofDonaErminiaonthatnight?\'

"Atthisfriendlyquestionhisaspectchanged。Helookedatmefromunderhiseyebrowswiththeheavy，dullglanceofaguasso——ofapeasant。\'Senorteniente，\'

hesaid，thickly，andasifverymuchcastdown，\'donotaskmeaboutthesenorita，forIprefernottothinkaboutheratallwhenIamamongstyou。"

"Helooked，withafrown，allabouttheroom，fullofsmokingandtalkingofficers。OfcourseIdidnotinsist。

"These，senores，werethelastwordsIwastohearhimutterforalong，longtime。Theverynextdayweem-

barkedforourarduousexpeditiontoPeru，andweonlyheardofGasparRuiz\'doingsinthemidstofbattlesofourown。Hehadbeenappointedmilitaryguardianofoursouthernprovince。Heraisedapartida。ButhisleniencytotheconqueredfoedispleasedtheCivilGovernor，whowasaformal，uneasyman，fullofsuspicions。HeforwardedreportsagainstGasparRuiztotheSupremeGovernment；oneofthembeingthathehadmarriedpublicly，withgreatpomp，awomanofRoyalisttendencies。Quarrelsweresuretoarisebe-

tweenthesetwomenofverydifferentcharacter。AtlasttheCivilGovernorbegantocomplainofhisinactivityandtohintattreachery，which，hewrote，wouldbenotsurprisinginamanofsuchantecedents。GasparRuizheardofit。Hisrageflamedup，andthewomaneverbyhissideknewhowtofeeditwithperfidiouswords。

IdonotknowwhetherreallytheSupremeGovernmenteverdid——ashecomplainedafterwards——sendordersforhisarrest。ItseemscertainthattheCivilGovernorbegantotamperwithhisofficers，andthatGasparRuizdiscoveredthefact。

"Oneevening，whentheGovernorwasgivingatertullia，GasparRuiz，followedbysixmenhecouldtrust，appearedridingthroughthetowntothedooroftheGovernmentHouse，andenteredthesalaarmed，hishatonhishead。AstheGovernor，displeased，ad-

vancedtomeethim，heseizedthewretchedmanroundthebody，carriedhimofffromthemidstoftheappalledguests，asthoughhewereachild，andflunghimdowntheouterstepsintothestreet。AnangryhugfromGasparRuizwasenoughtocrushthelifeoutofagiant；

butinadditionGasparRuiz\'horsemenfiredtheirpistolsatthebodyoftheGovernorasitlaymotionlessatthebottomofthestairs。

X

"AFTERthis——ashecalledit——actofjustice，RuizcrossedtheRioBlanco，followedbythegreaterpartofhisband，andentrenchedhimselfuponahill。A

companyofregulartroopssentoutfoolishlyagainsthimwassurrounded，anddestroyedalmosttoaman。

Otherexpeditions，thoughbetterorganized，wereequallyunsuccessful。

"Itwasduringthesesanguinaryskirmishesthathiswifefirstbegantoappearonhorsebackathisrighthand。Renderedproudandself-confidentbyhissuc-

cesses，Ruiznolongerchargedattheheadofhispartida，butpresumptuously，likeageneraldirectingthemove-

mentsofanarmy，heremainedintherear，wellmountedandmotionlessonaneminence，sendingouthisorders。

Shewasseenrepeatedlyathisside，andforalongtimewasmistakenforaman。Therewasmuchtalkthenofamysteriouswhite-facedchief，towhomthedefeatsofourtroopswereascribed。SherodelikeanIndianwoman，astride，wearingabroad-rimmedman\'shatandadarkponcho。Afterwards，inthedayoftheirgreatestprosperity，thisponchowasembroideredingold，andsheworethen，also，theswordofpoorDonAntoniodeLeyva。ThisveteranChilianofficer，havingthemis-

fortunetobesurroundedwithhissmallforce，andrunningshortofammunition，foundhisdeathatthehandsoftheAraucoIndians，thealliesandauxiliariesofGasparRuiz。Thiswasthefatalaffairlongremem-

beredafterwardsasthe\'MassacreoftheIsland。\'TheswordoftheunhappyofficerwaspresentedtoherbyPeneleo，theAraucanianchief；fortheseIndians，struckbyheraspect，thedeathlypallorofherface，whichnoexposuretotheweatherseemedtoaffect，andhercalmindifferenceunderfire，lookeduponherasasupernat-

uralbeing，oratleastasawitch。BythissuperstitiontheprestigeandauthorityofGasparRuizamongsttheseignorantpeopleweregreatlyaugmented。ShemusthavesavouredhervengeancetothefullonthatdaywhenshebuckledontheswordofDonAntoniodeLeyva。Itneverleftherside，unlesssheputonherwoman\'sclothes——notthatshewouldorcouldeveruseit，butshelovedtofeelitbeatinguponherthighasaperpetualreminderandsymbolofthedishonourtothearmsoftheRepublic。Shewasinsatiable。Moreover，onthepathshehadledGasparRuizupon，thereisnostopping。Escapedprisoners——andtheywerenotmany——usedtorelatehowwithafewwhisperedwordsshecouldchangetheexpressionofhisfaceandrevivehisflagginganimosity。Theytoldhowaftereveryskirm-

ish，aftereveryraid，aftereverysuccessfulaction，hewouldrideuptoherandlookintoherface。Itshaughtycalmwasneverrelaxed。Herembrace，senores，musthavebeenascoldastheembraceofastatue。Hetriedtomelthericyheartinastreamofwarmblood。SomeEnglishnavalofficerswhovisitedhimatthattimenoticedthestrangecharacterofhisinfatuation。"

AtthemovementofsurpriseandcuriosityinhisaudienceGeneralSantierrapausedforamoment。

"Yes——Englishnavalofficers，"herepeated。"Ruizhadconsentedtoreceivethemtoarrangeforthelibera-

tionofsomeprisonersofyournationality。Intheterritoryuponwhichheranged，fromseacoasttotheCordillera，therewasabaywheretheshipsofthattime，afterroundingCapeHorn，usedtoresortforwoodandwater。There，decoyingthecrewonshore，hecapturedfirstthewhalingbrigHersalia，andafterwardsmadehimselfmasterbysurpriseoftwomoreships，oneEnglishandoneAmerican。

"Itwasrumouredatthetimethathedreamedofsettingupanavyofhisown。Butthat，ofcourse，wasimpossible。Still，manningthebrigwithpartofherowncrew，andputtinganofficerandagoodmanymenofhisownonboard，hesentherofftotheSpanishGovernoroftheislandofChiloewithareportofhisexploits，andademandforassistanceinthewaragainsttherebels。TheGovernorcouldnotdomuchforhim；

buthesentinreturntwolightfield-pieces，aletterofcompliments，withacolonel\'scommissionintheroyalforces，andagreatSpanishflag。ThisstandardwithmuchceremonywashoistedoverhishouseintheheartoftheAraucocountry。Surelyonthatdayshemayhavesmiledonherguassohusbandwithalesshaughtyreserve。

"TheseniorofficeroftheEnglishsquadrononourcoastmaderepresentationstoourGovernmentastothesecaptures。ButGasparRuizrefusedtotreatwithus。ThenanEnglishfrigateproceededtothebay，andhercaptain，doctor，andtwolieutenantstravelledinlandunderasafe-conduct。Theywerewellreceived，andspentthreedaysasguestsofthepartisanchief。Asortofmilitarybarbaricstatewaskeptupattheresidence。

Itwasfurnishedwiththelootoffrontiertowns。Whenfirstadmittedtotheprincipalsala，theysawhiswifelyingdown(shewasnotingoodhealththen)，withGasparRuizsittingatthefootofthecouch。Hishatwaslyingonthefloor，andhishandsreposedonthehiltofhissword。

"Duringthatfirstconversationheneverremovedhisbighandsfromthesword-hilt，exceptonce，toarrangethecoveringsabouther，withgentle，carefultouches。

Theynoticedthatwhenevershespokehewouldfixhiseyesuponherinakindofexpectant，breathlessatten-

tion，andseeminglyforgettheexistenceoftheworldandhisownexistence，too。Inthecourseofthefarewellbanquet，atwhichshewaspresentrecliningonhercouch，heburstforthintocomplaintsofthetreatmenthehadreceived。AfterGeneralSanMartin\'sdeparturehehadbeenbesetbyspies，slanderedbycivilofficials，hisservicesignored，hislibertyandevenhislifethreatenedbytheChilianGovernment。Hegotupfromthetable，thunderedexecrationspacingtheroomwildly，thensatdownonthecouchathiswife\'sfeet，hisbreastheaving，hiseyesfixedonthefloor。Shereclinedonherback，herheadonthecushions，hereyesnearlyclosed。

"\'AndnowIamanhonouredSpanishofficer，\'headdedinacalmvoice。

"ThecaptainoftheEnglishfrigatethentooktheopportunitytoinformhimgentlythatLimahadfallen，andthatbythetermsofaconventiontheSpaniardswerewithdrawingfromthewholecontinent。

"GasparRuizraisedhishead，andwithouthesitation，speakingwithsuppressedvehemence，declaredthatifnotasingleSpanishsoldierwereleftinthewholeofSouthAmericahewouldpersistincarryingonthecon-

testagainstChiletothelastdropofblood。Whenhefinishedthatmadtiradehiswife\'slongwhitehandwasraised，andshejustcaressedhiskneewiththetipsofherfingersforafractionofasecond。

"Fortherestoftheofficers\'stay，whichdidnotextendformorethanhalfanhourafterthebanquet，thatferociouschieftainofadesperatepartidaover-

flowedwithamiabilityandkindness。Hehadbeenhospitablebefore，butnowitseemedasthoughhecouldnotdoenoughforthecomfortandsafetyofhisvisitors\'

journeybacktotheirship。

"Nothing，Ihavebeentold，couldhavepresentedagreatercontrasttohislateviolenceorthehabitualtaciturnreserveofhismanner。Likeamanelatedbeyondmeasurebyanunexpectedhappiness，heover-

flowedwithgood-will，amiability，andattentions。Heembracedtheofficerslikebrothers，almostwithtearsinhiseyes。Thereleasedprisonerswerepresentedeachwithapieceofgold。Atthelastmoment，suddenly，hedeclaredhecoulddonolessthanrestoretothemastersofthemerchantvesselsalltheirprivateproperty。Thisunexpectedgenerositycausedsomedelayinthedepar-

tureoftheparty，andtheirfirstmarchwasveryshort。

"LateintheeveningGasparRuizrodeupwithanescort，totheircampfires，bringingalongwithhimamuleloadedwithcasesofwine。Hehadcome，hesaid，todrinkastirrupcupwithhisEnglishfriends，whomhewouldneverseeagain。Hewasmellowandjoyousinhistemper。Hetoldstoriesofhisownexploits，laughedlikeaboy，borrowedaguitarfromtheEnglishmen\'schiefmuleteer，andsittingcross-leggedonhissuperfinepon-

chospreadbeforetheglowoftheembers，sangaguassolove-songinatendervoice。Thenhisheaddroppedonhisbreast，hishandsfelltotheground；theguitarrolledoffhisknees——andagreathushfelloverthecampafterthelove-songoftheimplacablepartisanwhohadmadesomanyofourpeopleweepfordestroyedhomesandforlovescutshort。

"Beforeanybodycouldmakeasoundhesprangupfromthegroundandcalledforhishorse。

"\'Adios，myfriends!\'hecried。\'GowithGod。I

loveyou。AndtellthemwellinSantiagothatbetweenGasparRuiz，coloneloftheKingofSpain，andtherepublicancarrion-crowsofChilethereiswartothelastbreath——war!war!war!\'

"Withagreatyellof\'War!war!war!\'whichhisescorttookup，theyrodeaway，andthesoundofhoofsandofvoicesdiedoutinthedistancebetweentheslopesofthehills。

"ThetwoyoungEnglishofficerswereconvincedthatRuizwasmad。Howdoyousaythat?——tileloose——eh?

Butthedoctor，anobservantScotsmanwithmuchshrewdnessandphilosophyinhischaracter，toldmethatitwasaverycuriouscaseofpossession。Imethimmanyyearsafterwards，butherememberedtheexperi-

enceverywell。Hetoldme，too，thatinhisopinionthatwomandidnotleadGasparRuizintothepracticeofsanguinarytreacherybydirectpersuasion，butbythesubtlewayofawakeningandkeepingaliveinhissimplemindaburningsenseofanirreparablewrong。Maybe，maybe。ButIwouldsaythatshepouredhalfofhervengefulsoulintothestrongclayofthatman，asyoumaypourintoxication，madness，poisonintoanemptycup。

"IfhewantedwarhegotitinearnestwhenourvictoriousarmybegantoreturnfromPeru。Systematicoperationswereplannedagainstthisblotonthehonourandprosperityofourhardlywonindependence。Gen-

eralRoblescommanded，withhiswell-knownruthlessseverity。Savagereprisalswereexercisedonbothsidesandnoquarterwasgiveninthefield。HavingwonmypromotioninthePerucampaign，Iwasacaptainonthestaff。GasparRuizfoundhimselfhardpressed；atthesametimeweheardbymeansofafugitivepriestwhohadbeencarriedofffromhisvillagepresbyteryandgallopedeightymilesintothehillstoperformthechristeningceremony，thatadaughterwasborntothem。

Tocelebratetheevent，Isuppose，Ruizexecutedoneortwobrilliantforaysclearawayattherearofourforces，anddefeatedthedetachmentssentouttocutoffhisretreat。GeneralRoblesnearlyhadastrokeofapoplexyfromrage。Hefoundanothercauseofinsomniathanthebitesofmosquitoes；butagainstthisone，senores，tumblersofrawbrandyhadnomoreeffectthansomuchwater。Hetooktorailingandstormingatmeaboutmystrongman。AndfromourimpatiencetoendthisingloriouscampaignIamafraidthatallweyoungofficersbecamerecklessandapttotakeunduerisksonservice。

"Nevertheless，slowly，inchbyinchasitwere，ourcolumnswereclosinguponGasparRuiz，thoughhehadmanagedtoraisealltheAraucaniannationofwildIndiansagainstus。ThenayearormorelaterourGovernmentbecameawarethroughitsagentsandspiesthathehadactuallyenteredintoalliancewithCar-

reras，theso-calleddictatoroftheso-calledrepublicofMendoza，ontheothersideofthemountains。WhetherGasparRuizhadadeeppoliticalintention，orwhetherhewishedonlytosecureasaferetreatforhiswifeandchildwhilehepursuedremorselesslyagainstushiswarofsurprisesandmassacres，Icannottell。Thealliance，however，wasafact。Defeatedinhisattempttocheckouradvancefromthesea，heretreatedwithhisusualswiftness，andpreparingforanotherhardandhazardoustussle，beganbysendinghiswifewiththelittlegirlacrossthePequenarangeofmountains，onthefrontierofMendoza。

XI

"NowCarreras，undertheguiseofpoliticsandliberalism，wasascoundrelofthedeepestdye，andtheunhappystateofMendozawasthepreyofthieves，robbers，traitors，andmurderers，whoformedhisparty。

Hewasunderanobleexterioramanwithoutheart，pity，honour，orconscience。Heaspiredtonothingbuttyranny，andthoughhewouldhavemadeuseofGasparRuizforhisnefariousdesigns，yethesoonbecameawarethattopropitiatetheChilianGovern-

mentwouldanswerhispurposebetter。IblushtosaythathemadeproposalstoourGovernmenttodeliveruponcertainconditionsthewifeandchildofthemanwhohadtrustedtohishonour，andthatthisofferwasaccepted。

"WhileonherwaytoMendozaoverthePequenaPassshewasbetrayedbyherescortofCarreras\'men，andgivenuptotheofficerincommandofaChilianfortontheuplandatthefootofthemainCordillerarange。

Thisatrocioustransactionmighthavecostmedear，forasamatteroffactIwasaprisonerinGasparRuiz\'

campwhenhereceivedthenews。Ihadbeencapturedduringareconnaissance，myescortofafewtroopersbeingspearedbytheIndiansofhisbodyguard。Iwassavedfromthesamefatebecauseherecognizedmyfeaturesjustintime。NodoubtmyfriendsthoughtI

wasdead，andIwouldnothavegivenmuchformylifeatanytime。Butthestrongmantreatedmeverywell，because，hesaid，Ihadalwaysbelievedinhisinnocenceandhadtriedtoservehimwhenhewasavictimofinjustice。

"\'Andnow，\'washisspeechtome，\'youshallseethatIalwaysspeakthetruth。Youaresafe。\'

"IdidnotthinkIwasverysafewhenIwascalleduptogotohimonenight。Hepacedupanddownlikeawildbeast，exclaiming，\'Betrayed!Betrayed!\'

"Hewalkeduptomeclenchinghisfists。\'Icouldcutyourthroat。\'

"\'Willthatgiveyourwifebacktoyou?\'IsaidasquietlyasIcould。

"\'Andthechild!\'heyelledout，asifmad。Hefellintoachairandlaughedinafrightful，boisterousmanner。\'Oh，no，youaresafe。\'

"Iassuredhimthathiswife\'slifewassafe，too；butIdidnotsaywhatIwasconvincedof——thathewouldneverseeheragain。Hewantedwartothedeath，andthewarcouldonlyendwithhisdeath。

"Hegavemeastrange，inexplicablelook，andsatmutteringblankly，\'Intheirhands。Intheirhands。\'

"Ikeptasstillasamousebeforeacat。

"Suddenlyhejumpedup。\'WhatamIdoinghere?\'hecried；andopeningthedoor，heyelledoutorderstosaddleandmount。\'Whatisit?\'hestam-

mered，cominguptome。\'ThePequenafort；afortofpalisades!Nothing。Iwouldgetherbackifshewerehiddenintheveryheartofthemoun-

tain。\'Heamazedmebyadding，withaneffort:"I

carriedheroffinmytwoarmswhiletheearthtrembled。Andthechildatleastismine。Sheatleastismine!\'

"Thosewerebizarrewords；butIhadnotimeforwonder。

"\'Youshallgowithme，\'hesaid，violently。\'Imaywanttoparley，andanyothermessengerfromRuiz，theoutlaw，wouldhavehisthroatcut。\'

"Thiswastrueenough。Betweenhimandtherestofincensedmankindtherecouldbenocommunication，accordingtothecustomsofhonourablewarfare。

"Inlessthanhalfanhourwewereinthesaddle，flyingwildlythroughthenight。Hehadonlyanescortoftwentymenathisquarters，butwouldnotwaitformore。Hesent，however，messengerstoPeneleo，theIndianchiefthenranginginthefoothills，directinghimtobringhiswarriorstotheuplandsandmeethimatthelakecalledtheEyeofWater，nearwhoseshoresthefrontierfortofPequenawasbuilt。

"WecrossedthelowlandswiththatuntiredrapidityofmovementwhichhadmadeGasparRuiz\'raidssofamous。Wefollowedthelowervalleysuptotheirprecipitousheads。Theridewasnotwithoutitsdan-

gers。Acorniceroadonaperpendicularwallofbasaltwounditselfaroundabuttressingrock，andatlastweemergedfromthegloomofadeepgorgeupontheuplandofPequena。

"Itwasaplainofgreenwirygrassandthinflower-

ingbushes；buthighaboveourheadspatchesofsnowhunginthefoldsandcrevicesofthegreatwallsofrock。

Thelittlelakewasasroundasastaringeye。Thegarri-

sonofthefortwerejustdrivingintheirsmallherdofcattlewhenweappeared。Thenthegreatwoodengatesswungto，andthatfour-squareenclosureofbroadblackenedstakespointedatthetopandbarelyhidingthegrassroofsofthehutsinsideseemeddeserted，empty，withoutasinglesoul。

"Butwhensummonedtosurrender，byamanwhoatGasparRuiz\'orderrodefearlesslyforwardthoseinsideansweredbyavolleywhichrolledhimandhishorseover。IheardRuizbymysidegrindhisteeth。\'Itdoesnotmatter，\'hesaid。\'Nowyougo。\'

"Tornandfadedasitsragswere，thevestigesofmyuniformwererecognized，andIwasallowedtoapproachwithinspeakingdistance；andthenIhadtowait，becauseavoiceclamouringthroughaloopholewithjoyandastonishmentwouldnotallowmetoplaceaword。

ItwasthevoiceofMajorPajol，anoldfriend。He，likemyothercomrades，hadthoughtmekilledalongtimeago。

"\'Putspurstoyourhorse，man!\'heyelled，inthegreatestexcitement；\'wewillswingthegateopenforyou。\'

"Iletthereinsfalloutofmyhandandshookmyhead。\'Iamonmyhonour，\'Icried。

"\'Tohim!\'heshouted，withinfinitedisgust。

"\'Hepromisesyouyourlife。\'

"\'Ourlifeisourown。Anddoyou，Santierra，adviseustosurrendertothatrastrero?\'

"\'No!\'Ishouted。\'Buthewantshiswifeandchild，andhecancutyouofffromwater。\'

"\'Thenshewouldbethefirsttosuffer。Youmaytellhimthat。Lookhere——thisisallnonsense:weshalldashoutandcaptureyou。\'

"\'Youshallnotcatchmealive，\'Isaid，firmly。

"\'Imbecile!\'

"\'ForGod\'ssake，\'Icontinued，hastily，\'donotopenthegate。\'AndIpointedatthemultitudeofPeneleo\'sIndianswhocoveredtheshoresofthelake。

"Ihadneverseensomanyofthesesavagesto-

gether。Theirlancesseemedasnumerousasstalksofgrass。Theirhoarsevoicesmadeavast，inarticulatesoundlikethemurmurofthesea。

"MyfriendPajolwasswearingtohimself。\'Well，then——gotothedevil!\'heshouted，exasperated。ButasIswungroundherepented，forIheardhimsayhurriedly，\'Shootthefool\'shorsebeforehegetsaway。\'

"Hehadgoodmarksmen。Twoshotsrangout，andintheveryactofturningmyhorsestaggered，fellandlaystillasifstruckbylightning。Ihadmyfeetoutofthestirrupsandrolledclearofhim；butIdidnotattempttorise。Neitherdaredtheyrushouttodragmein。

"ThemassesofIndianshadbeguntomoveuponthefort。Theyrodeupinsquadrons，trailingtheirlongchusos；thendismountedoutofmusket-shot，and，throw-

ingofftheirfurmantles，advancednakedtotheattack，stampingtheirfeetandshoutingincadence。Asheetofflameranthreetimesalongthefaceofthefortwithoutcheckingtheirsteadymarch。Theycrowdedrightuptotheverystakes，flourishingtheirbroadknives。

Butthispalisadewasnotfastenedtogetherwithhidelashingsintheusualway，butwithlongironnails，whichtheycouldnotcut。Dismayedatthefailureoftheirusualmethodofforcinganentrance，theheathen，whohadmarchedsosteadilyagainstthemusketryfire，brokeandfledunderthevolleysofthebesieged。

"DirectlytheyhadpassedmeontheiradvanceI

gotupandrejoinedGasparRuizonalowridgewhichjuttedoutupontheplain。Themusketryofhisownmenhadcoveredtheattack，butnowatasignfromhimatrumpetsoundedthe\'Ceasefire。\'Togetherwelookedinsilenceatthehopelessroutofthesavages。

"\'Itmustbeasiege，then，\'hemuttered。AndI

detectedhimwringinghishandsstealthily。

"Butwhatsortofsiegecoulditbe?WithoutanyneedformetorepeatmyfriendPajol\'smessage，hedarednotcutthewaterofffromthebesieged。Theyhadplentyofmeat。And，indeed，iftheyhadbeenshorthewouldhavebeentooanxioustosendfoodintothestockadehadhebeenable。But，asamatteroffact，itwasweontheplainwhowerebeginningtofeelthepinchofhunger。

"Peneleo，theIndianchief，satbyourfirefoldedinhisamplemantleofguanacoskins。Hewasanathleticsavage，withanenormoussquareshockheadofhairresemblingastrawbeehiveinshapeandsize，andwithgrave，surly，much-linedfeatures。InhisbrokenSpan-

ishherepeated，growlinglikeabad-temperedwildbeast，thatifanopeningeversosmallweremadeinthestockadehismenwouldmarchinandgetthesenora——

nototherwise。

"GasparRuiz，sittingoppositehim，kepthiseyesfixedonthefortnightanddayasitwere，inawfulsi-

lenceandimmobility。Meantime，byrunnersfromthelowlandsthatarrivednearlyeveryday，weheardofthedefeatofoneofhislieutenantsintheMaipuvalley。

Scoutssentafarbroughtnewsofacolumnofinfantryadvancingthroughdistantpassestothereliefofthefort。Theywereslow，butwecouldtracetheirtoilfulprogressupthelowervalleys。IwonderedwhyRuizdidnotmarchtoattackanddestroythisthreat-

eningforce，insomewildgorgefitforanambuscade，inaccordancewithhisgeniusforguerillawarfare。

Buthisgeniusseemedtohaveabandonedhimtohisdespair。

"Itwasobvioustomethathecouldnottearhimselfawayfromthesightofthefort。Iprotesttoyou，senores，thatIwasmovedalmosttopitybythesightofthispowerlessstrongmansittingontheridge，indiffer-

enttosun，torain，tocold，towind；withhishandsclaspedroundhislegsandhischinrestingonhisknees，gazing——gazing——gazing。

"Andtheforthekepthiseyesfastenedonwasasstillandsilentashimself。Thegarrisongavenosignoflife。Theydidnotevenanswerthedesultoryfiredirectedattheloopholes。

"Onenight，asIstrolledpasthim，he，withoutchanginghisattitude，spoketomeunexpectedly。\'I

havesentforagun，\'hesaid。\'IshallhavetimetogetherbackandretreatbeforeyourRoblesmanagestocrawluphere。\'

"Hehadsentforaguntotheplains。

"Itwaslongincoming，butatlastitcame。Itwasaseven-pounderfieldgun。Dismountedandlashedcrosswisetotwolongpoles，ithadbeencarriedupthenarrowpathsbetweentwomuleswithease。Hiswildcryofexultationatdaybreakwhenhesawthegunescortemergefromthevalleyringsinmyearsnow。

"But，senores，Ihavenowordstodepicthisamaze-

ment，hisfury，hisdespairanddistraction，whenheheardthattheanimalloadedwiththegun-carriagehad，duringthelastnightmarch，somehoworothertumbleddownaprecipice。Hebrokeintomenacesofdeathandtortureagainsttheescort。Ikeptoutofhiswayallthatday，lyingbehindsomebushes，andwonderingwhathewoulddonow。Retreatwasleftforhim，buthecouldnotretreat。

"Isawbelowmehisartillerist，Jorge，anoldSpanishsoldier，buildingupasortofstructurewithheaped-upsaddles。Thegun，readyloaded，wasliftedontothat，butintheactoffiringthewholethingcollapsedandtheshotflewhighabovethestockade。

"Nothingmorewasattempted。Oneoftheammuni-

tionmuleshadbeenlost，too，andtheyhadnomorethansixshotstofire；ampleenoughtobatterdownthegateprovidingthegunwaswelllaid。Thiswasimpossiblewithoutitbeingproperlymounted。Therewasnotimenormeanstoconstructacarriage。AlreadyeverymomentIexpectedtohearRobles\'bugle-callsechoamongstthecrags。

"Peneleo，wanderingaboutuneasily，drapedinhisskins，satdownforamomentnearmegrowlinghisusualtale。

"\'Makeanentrada——ahole。Ifmakeahole，bueno。

Ifnotmakeahole，thenvamos——wemustgoaway。\'

"AftersunsetIobservedwithsurprisetheIndiansmakingpreparationsasifforanotherassault。Theirlinesstoodrangedintheshadowsofthemountains。

OntheplaininfrontofthefortgateIsawagroupofmenswayingaboutinthesameplace。

"Iwalkeddowntheridgedisregarded。Themoon-

lightintheclearairoftheuplandswasbrightasday，buttheintenseshadowsconfusedmysight，andIcouldnotmakeoutwhattheyweredoing。IheardthevoiceofJorge，theartillerist，sayinaqueer，doubtfultone，\'Itisloaded，senor。\'

"Thenanothervoiceinthatgrouppronouncedfirmlythewords，\'Bringtheriatahere。\'ItwasthevoiceofGasparRuiz。

"Asilencefell，inwhichthepoppingshotsofthebesiegedgarrisonrangoutsharply。They，too，hadobservedthegroup。Butthedistancewastoogreatandinthespatterofspentmusket-ballscuttinguptheground，thegroupopened，closed，swayed，givingmeaglimpseofbusystoopingfiguresinitsmidst。I

drewnearer，doubtingwhetherthiswasaweirdvision，asuggestiveandinsensatedream。

"Astrangelystifledvoicecommanded，\'Haulthehitchestighter。\'

"\'Si，senor，\'severalothervoicesansweredintonesofawedalacrity。

"Thenthestifledvoicesaid:\'Likethis。Imustbefreetobreathe。\'

"Thentherewasaconcernednoiseofmanymentogether。\'Helphimup，hombres。Steady!Undertheotherarm。\'

"Thatdeadenedvoiceordered:\'Bueno!Standawayfromme，men。\'

"Ipushedmywaythroughtherecoilingcircle，andheardoncemorethatsameoppressedvoicesayingearnestly:\'ForgetthatIamalivingman，Jorge。

Forgetmealtogether，andthinkofwhatyouhavetodo。\'

"\'Bewithoutfear，senor。Youarenothingtomebutagun-carriage，andIshallnotwasteashot。\'

"Iheardthesplutteringofaport-fire，andsmeltthesaltpetreofthematch。Isawsuddenlybeforemeanondescriptshapeonallfourslikeabeast，butwithaman\'sheaddroopingbelowatubularprojectionoverthenapeoftheneck，andthegleamofaroundedmassofbronzeonitsback。

"Infrontofasilentsemicircleofmenitsquattedalone，withJorgebehinditandatrumpetermotionless，histrumpetinhishand，byitsside。

"Jorge，bentdouble，muttered，port-fireinhand:

\'Aninchtotheleft，senor。Toomuch。So。Now，ifyouletyourselfdownalittlebylettingyourelbowsbend，Iwill……\'

"Heleapedaside，loweringhisport-fire，andaburstofflamedartedoutofthemuzzleofthegunlashedontheman\'sback。

"ThenGasparRuizloweredhimselfslowly。\'Goodshot?\'heasked。

"\'Fullon，senor。\'

"\'Thenloadagain。\'

"Helaytherebeforemeonhisbreastunderthedarklyglitteringbronzeofhismonstrousburden，suchasnoloveorstrengthofmanhadeverhadtobearinthelamentablehistoryoftheworld。Hisarmswerespreadout，andheresembledaprostratepenitentonthemoonlitground。

"AgainIsawhimraisedtohishandsandkneesandthemenstandawayfromhim，andoldJorgestoopglancingalongthegun。

\'"Leftalittle。Rightaninch。PorDios，senor，stopthistrembling。Whereisyourstrength?\'

"Theoldgunner\'svoicewascrackedwithemotion。

Hesteppedaside，andquickaslightningbroughtthesparktothetouch-hole。

"\'Excellent!\'hecried，tearfully；butGasparRuizlayforalongtimesilent，flattenedontheground。

"\'Iamtired，\'hemurmuredatlast。\'Willanothershotdoit?\'

"\'Withoutdoubt，\'saidJorge，bendingdowntohisear。

"\'Then——load，\'Iheardhimutterdistinctly。

\'Trumpeter!\'

"\'Iamhere，senor，readyforyourword。\'

"\'BlowablastatthiswordthatshallbeheardfromoneendofChiletotheother，\'hesaid，inanextraordinarilystrongvoice。\'Andyouothersstandreadytocutthisaccursedriata，forthenwillbethetimeformetoleadyouinyourrush。Nowraisemeup，andyou，Jorge——bequickwithyouraim。\'

"Therattleofmusketryfromthefortnearlydrownedhisvoice。Thepalisadewaswreathedinsmokeandflame。

"\'Exertyourforceforwardagainsttherecoil，miamo，\'saidtheoldgunner，shakily。\'Digyourfingersintotheground。So。Now!\'

"Acryofexultationescapedhimaftertheshot。

Thetrumpeterraisedhistrumpetnearlytohislipsandwaited。Butnowordcamefromtheprostrateman。Ifellononeknee，andheardallhehadtosaythen。

"\'Somethingbroken，\'hewhispered，liftinghisheadalittle，andturninghiseyestowardsmeinhishope-

lesslycrushedattitude。

"\'Thegatehangsonlybythesplinters，\'yelledJorge。

"GasparRuiztriedtospeak，buthisvoicediedoutinhisthroat，andIhelpedtorollthegunoffhisbrokenback。Hewasinsensible。

"Ikeptmylipsshut，ofcourse。ThesignalfortheIndianstoattackwasnevergiven。Instead，thebugle-

callsoftherelievingforceforwhichmyearshadthirstedsolong，burstout，terrifyinglikethecalloftheLastDaytooursurprisedenemies。

"Atornado，senores，arealhurricaneofstampededmen，wildhorses，mountedIndians，sweptovermeasI

coweredonthegroundbythesideofGasparRuiz，stillstretchedoutonhisfaceintheshapeofacross。Pe-

neleo，gallopingforlife，jabbedatmewithhislongchusoinpassing——forthesakeofoldacquaintance，I

suppose。HowIescapedtheflyingleadismoredifficulttoexplain。Venturingtoriseonmykneestoosoonsomesoldiersofthe17thTaltalregiment，intheirhurrytogetatsomethingalive，nearlybayonetedmeonthespot。Theylookedverydisappointed，too，when，someofficersgallopingupdrovethemawaywiththeflatoftheirswords。

"ItwasGeneralRobleswithhisstaff。Hewantedbadlytomakesomeprisoners。He，too，seemeddis-

appointedforamoment。\'What!Isityou?\'hecried。

Buthedismountedatoncetoembraceme，forhewasanoldfriendofmyfamily。Ipointedtothebodyatourfeet，andsaidonlythesetwowords:

"\'GasparRuiz。\'

"Hethrewhisarmsupinastonishment。

"\'Aha!Yourstrongman!Alwaystothelastwithyourstrongman。Nomatter。Hesavedourliveswhentheearthtrembledenoughtomakethebravestfaintwithfear。Iwasfrightenedoutofmywits。Buthe——no!Queguape!Where\'stheherowhogotthebestofhim?ha!ha!ha!Whatkilledhim，chico?\'

"\'Hisownstrength，General，\'Ianswered。

XII

"BUTGasparRuizbreathedyet。Ihadhimcarriedinhisponchoundertheshelterofsomebushesontheveryridgefromwhichhehadbeengazingsofixedlyatthefortwhileunseendeathwashoveringalreadyoverhishead。

"Ourtroopshadbivouackedroundthefort。TowardsdaybreakIwasnotsurprisedtohearthatIwasdesig-

natedtocommandtheescortofaprisonerwhowastobesentdownatoncetoSantiago。OfcoursetheprisonerwasGasparRuiz\'wife。

"\'Ihavenamedyououtofregardforyourfeelings，\'

GeneralRoblesremarked。\'ThoughthewomanreallyoughttobeshotforalltheharmshehasdonetotheRepublic。\'

"AndasImadeamovementofshockedprotest，hecontinued:

"\'Nowheisaswellasdead，sheisofnoimportance。

Nobodywillknowwhattodowithher。However，theGovernmentwantsher。\'Heshruggedhisshoulders。

\'Isupposehemusthaveburiedlargequantitiesofhislootinplacesthatshealoneknowsof。\'

"AtdawnIsawhercominguptheridge，guardedbytwosoldiers，andcarryingherchildonherarm。

"Iwalkedtomeether。

"\'Ishelivingyet?\'sheasked，confrontingmewiththatwhite，impassivefaceheusedtolookatinanador-

ingway。

"Ibentmyhead，andledherroundaclumpofbusheswithoutaword。Hiseyeswereopen。Hebreathedwithdifficulty，andutteredhernamewithagreateffort。

"\'Erminia!\'

"Shekneltathishead。Thelittlegirl，unconsciousofhim，andwithherbigeyeslookingabout，begantochattersuddenly，inajoyous，thinvoice。Shepointedatinyfingerattherosyglowofsunrisebehindtheblackshapesofthepeaks。Andwhilethatchild-talk，incom-

prehensibleandsweettotheear，lasted，thosetwo，thedyingmanandthekneelingwoman，remainedsilent，lookingintoeachother\'seyes，listeningtothefrailsound。Thentheprattlestopped。Thechildlaiditsheadagainstitsmother\'sbreastandwasstill。

"\'Itwasforyou，\'hebegan。\'Forgive。\'Hisvoicefailedhim。PresentlyIheardamutterandcaughtthepitifulwords:\'Notstrongenough。\'

"Shelookedathimwithanextraordinaryintensity。

Hetriedtosmile，andinahumbletone，\'Forgiveme，\'

herepeated。\'Leavingyou……\'

"Shebentdown，dry-eyedandinasteadyvoice:

\'OnalltheearthIhavelovednothingbutyou，Gaspar，\'

shesaid。

"Hisheadmadeamovement。Hiseyesrevived。

\'Atlast!\'hesighedout。Then，anxiously，\'Butisthistrue……isthistrue?\'

\'"Astrueasthatthereisnomercyandjusticeinthisworld，\'sheansweredhim，passionately。Shestoopedoverhisface。Hetriedtoraisehishead，butitfellback，andwhenshekissedhislipshewasalreadydead。

Hisglazedeyesstaredatthesky，onwhichpinkcloudsfloatedveryhigh。ButInoticedtheeyelidsofthechild，pressedtoitsmother\'sbreast，droopandcloseslowly。

Shehadgonetosleep。

"ThewidowofGasparRuiz，thestrongman，allowedmetoleadherawaywithoutsheddingatear。

"Fortravellingwehadarrangedforheraside-

saddleverymuchlikeachair，withaboardswungbeneathtorestherfeeton。Andthefirstdaysherodewithoututteringaword，andhardlyforonemomentturninghereyesawayfromthelittlegirl，whomsheheldonherknees。AtourfirstcampIsawherduringthenightwalkingabout，rockingthechildinherarmsandgazingdownatitbythelightofthemoon。Afterwehadstartedonoursecondday\'smarchsheaskedmehowsoonweshouldcometothefirstvillageoftheinhabitedcountry。

"Isaidweshouldbethereaboutnoon。

"\'Andwilltherebewomenthere?\'sheinquired。

"Itoldherthatitwasalargevillage。\'Therewillbemenandwomenthere，senora，\'Isaid，\'whoseheartsshallbemadegladbythenewsthatalltheunrestandwarisovernow。\'

"\'Yes，itisallovernow，\'sherepeated。Then，afteratime:\'Senorofficer，whatwillyourGovernmentdowithme?\'

"\'Idonotknow，senora，\'Isaid。\'Theywilltreatyouwell，nodoubt。Werepublicansarenotsavagesandtakenovengeanceonwomen。\'