A Set of Six

第1章

THEsixstoriesinthisvolumearetheresultofsomethreeorfouryearsofoccasionalwork。Thedatesoftheirwritingarefarapart，theiroriginsarevarious。

Noneofthemareconnecteddirectlywithpersonalex-

periences。Inallofthemthefactsareinherentlytrue，bywhichImeanthattheyarenotonlypossiblebutthattheyhaveactuallyhappened。Forinstance，thelaststoryinthevolume，theoneIcallPathetic，whosefirsttitleisIlConde(misspeltby-the-by)isanalmostverbatimtranscriptofthetaletoldmebyaverycharmingoldgentlemanwhomImetinItaly。Idon"tmeantosayitisonlythat。Anybodycanseethatitissomethingmorethanaverbatimreport，butwhereheleftoffandwhereIbeganmustbelefttotheacutedis-

criminationofthereaderwhomaybeinterestedintheproblem。Idon"tmeantosaythattheproblemisworththetrouble。WhatIamcertainof，however，isthatitisnottobesolved，forIamnotatallclearaboutitmyselfbythistime。AllIcansayisthatthepersonalityofthenarratorwasextremelysuggestivequiteapartfromthestoryhewastellingme。Iheardafewyearsagothathehaddiedfarawayfromhisbe-

lovedNapleswherethat"abominableadventure"didreallyhappentohim。

ThusthegenealogyofIlCondeissimple。Itisnotthecasewiththeotherstories。Variousstrainscontributedtotheircomposition，andthenatureofmanyofthoseIhaveforgotten，nothavingthehabitofmakingnoteseitherbeforeorafterthefact。Imeanthefactofwritingastory。WhatIrememberbestaboutGasparRuizisthatitwaswritten，oratanyratebegun，withinamonthoffinishingNostromo；butapartfromthelocality，andthataprettywideone(alltheSouthAmericanContinent)，thenovelandthestoryhavenothingincommon，neithermood，norin-

tentionand，certainly，notthestyle。ThemannerforthemostpartisthatofGeneralSantierra，andthatoldwarrior，Inotewithsatisfaction，isverytruetohimselfallthrough。LookingnowdispassionatelyatthevariouswaysinwhichthisstorycouldhavebeenpresentedIcan"thonestlythinktheGeneralsuper-

fluous。Itishe，anoldmantalkingofthedaysofhisyouth，whocharacterizesthewholenarrativeandgivesitanairofactualitywhichIdoubtwhetherI

couldhaveachievedwithouthishelp。Inthemerewritinghisexistenceofcoursewasofnohelpatall，becausethewholethinghadtobecarefullykeptwithintheframeofhissimplemind。Butallthisisbutalaborioussearchingofmemories。Mypresentfeelingisthatthestorycouldnothavebeentoldotherwise。

ThehintforGasparRuizthemanIfoundinabookbyCaptainBasilHall，R。N。，whowasforsometime，betweentheyears1824and1828，seniorofficerofasmallBritishSquadronontheWestCoastofSouthAmerica。HisbookpublishedinthethirtiesobtainedacertaincelebrityandIsupposeistobefoundstillinsomelibraries。Thecuriouswhomaybemistrustingmyimaginationarereferredtothatprinteddocument，Vol。II，Iforgetthepage，butitissomewherenotfarfromtheend。AnotherdocumentconnectedwiththisstoryisaletterofabitingandironickindfromafriendtheninBurma，passingcertainstricturesupon"thegentlemanwiththegunonhisback"whichIdonotintendtomakeaccessibletothepublic。Yetthegunepisodedidreallyhappen，oratleastIamboundtobelieveitbecauseIrememberit，describedinanex-

tremelymatter-of-facttone，insomebookIreadinmyboyhood；andIamnotgoingtodiscardthebeliefsofmyboyhoodforanybodyonearth。

TheBrute，whichistheonlysea-storyinthevolume，is，likeIlConde，associatedwithadirectnarrativeandbasedonasuggestiongatheredonwarmhumanlips。

IwillnotdisclosetherealnameofthecriminalshipbutthefirstIheardofherhomicidalhabitswasfromthelateCaptainBlake，commandingaLondonshipinwhichIservedin1884asSecondOfficer。CaptainBlakewas，ofallmycommanders，theoneIrememberwiththegreatestaffection。Ihavesketchedinhispersonality，withouthowevermentioninghisname，inthefirstpaperofTheMirroroftheSea。InhisyoungdayshehadhadapersonalexperienceofthebruteanditisperhapsforthatreasonthatIhaveputthestoryintothemouthofayoungmanandmadeofitwhatthereaderwillsee。Theexistenceofthebrutewasafact。Theendofthebruteasrelatedinthestoryisalsoafact，well-knownatthetimethoughitreallyhappenedtoanothership，ofgreatbeautyofformandofblamelesscharacter，whichcertainlydeservedabetterfate。IhaveunscrupulouslyadaptedittotheneedsofmystorythinkingthatIhadtheresomethinginthenatureofpoeticaljustice。Ihopethatlittlevillainywillnotcastashadowuponthegeneralhonestyofmyproceedingsasawriteroftales。

OfTheInformerandAnAnarchistIwillsaynexttonothing。Thepedigreeofthesetalesishopelesslycomplicatedandnotworthdisentanglingatthisdis-

tanceoftime。Ifoundthemandheretheyare。ThediscriminatingreaderwillguessthatIhavefoundthemwithinmymind；buthowtheyortheirelementscameinthereIhaveforgottenforthemostpart；andfortherestIreallydon"tseewhyIshouldgivemyselfawaymorethanIhavedonealready。

ItremainsformeonlynowtomentionTheDuel，thelongeststoryinthebook。Thatstoryattainedthedignityofpublicationallbyitselfinasmallillustratedvolume，underthetitle，"ThePointofHonour。"Thatwasmanyyearsago。Ithasbeensincereinstatedinitsproperplace，whichistheplaceitoccupiesinthisvolume，inallthesubsequenteditionsofmywork。

Itspedigreeisextremelysimple。Itspringsfromaten-lineparagraphinasmallprovincialpaperpublishedintheSouthofFrance。Thatparagraph，occasionedbyaduelwithafatalendingbetweentwowell-knownParisianpersonalities，referredforsomereasonorothertothe"well-knownfact"oftwoofficersinNapoleon"sGrandArmyhavingfoughtaseriesofduelsinthemidstofgreatwarsandonsomefutilepretext。Thepretextwasneverdisclosed。Ihadthereforetoinventit；andIthinkthat，giventhecharacterofthetwooffi-

cerswhichIhadtoinvent，too，Ihavemadeitsuffi-

cientlyconvincingbythemereforceofitsabsurdity。

Thetruthisthatinmymindthestoryisnothingbutaseriousandevenearnestattemptatabitofhistoricalfiction。IhadheardinmyboyhoodagooddealofthegreatNapoleoniclegend。IhadagenuinefeelingthatIwouldfindmyselfathomeinit，andTheDuelistheresultofthatfeeling，or，ifthereaderprefers，ofthatpresumption。PersonallyIhavenoqualmsofcon-

scienceaboutthispieceofwork。Thestorymighthavebeenbettertoldofcourse。Allone"sworkmighthavebeenbetterdone；butthisisthesortofreflectionaworkermustputasidecourageouslyifhedoesn"tmeaneveryoneofhisconceptionstoremainforeveraprivatevision，anevanescentreverie。HowmanyofthosevisionshaveIseenvanishinmytime!Thisone，however，hasremained，atestimony，ifyoulike，tomycourageoraproofofmyrashness。WhatIcaretore-

memberbestisthetestimonyofsomeFrenchreaderswhovolunteeredtheopinionthatinthosehundredpagesorsoIhadmanagedtorender"wonderfully"

thespiritofthewholeepoch。Exaggerationofkind-

nessnodoubt；butevensoIhugitstilltomybreast，becauseintruththatisexactlywhatIwastryingtocap-

tureinmysmallnet:theSpiritoftheEpoch——neverpurelymilitaristinthelongclashofarms，youthful，almostchildlikeinitsexaltationofsentiment——naivelyheroicinitsfaith。

1920。J。C。

CONTENTS

GASPARRUIZ

THEINFORMER

THEBRUTE

ANANARCHIST

THEDUEL

ILCONDE

ASETOFSIX

GASPARRUIZ

AREVOLUTIONARYwarraisesmanystrangecharac-

tersoutoftheobscuritywhichisthecommonlotofhumblelivesinanundisturbedstateofsociety。

Certainindividualitiesgrowintofamethroughtheirvicesandtheirvirtues，orsimplybytheiractions，whichmayhaveatemporaryimportance；andthentheybecomeforgotten。Thenamesofafewleadersalonesurvivetheendofarmedstrifeandarefurtherpre-

servedinhistory；sothat，vanishingfrommen"sactivememories，theystillexistinbooks。

ThenameofGeneralSantierraattainedthatcoldpaper-and-inkimmortality。HewasaSouthAmericanofgoodfamily，andthebookspublishedinhislifetimenumberedhimamongsttheliberatorsofthatcontinentfromtheoppressiveruleofSpain。

Thatlongcontest，wagedforindependenceononesideandfordominionontheother，developedinthecourseofyearsandthevicissitudesofchangingfortunethefiercenessandinhumanityofastruggleforlife。Allfeelingsofpityandcompassiondisappearedinthegrowthofpoliticalhatred。And，asisusualinwar，themassofthepeople，whohadtheleasttogainbytheissue，sufferedmostintheirobscurepersonsandtheirhumblefortunes。

GeneralSantierrabeganhisserviceaslieutenantinthepatriotarmyraisedandcommandedbythefamousSanMartin，afterwardsconquerorofLimaandliberatorofPeru。AgreatbattlehadjustbeenfoughtonthebanksoftheriverBio-Bio。AmongsttheprisonersmadeupontheroutedRoyalisttroopstherewasasoldiercalledGasparRuiz。Hispowerfulbuildandhisbigheadrenderedhimremarkableamongsthisfellow-

captives。Thepersonalityofthemanwasunmistak-

able。SomemonthsbeforehehadbeenmissedfromtheranksofRepublicantroopsafteroneofthemanyskirmisheswhichprecededthegreatbattle。Andnow，havingbeencapturedarmsinhandamongstRoyalists，hecouldexpectnootherfatebuttobeshotasadeserter。

GasparRuiz，however，wasnotadeserter；hismindwashardlyactiveenoughtotakeadiscriminatingviewoftheadvantagesorperilsoftreachery。Whyshouldhechangesides?Hehadreallybeenmadeaprisoner，hadsufferedill-usageandmanyprivations。Neithersideshowedtendernesstoitsadversaries。Therecameadaywhenhewasordered，togetherwithsomeothercapturedrebels，tomarchinthefrontrankoftheRoyaltroops。Amuskethadbeenthrustintohishands。

Hehadtakenit。Hehadmarched。Hedidnotwanttobekilledwithcircumstancesofpeculiaratrocityforrefusingtomarch。Hedidnotunderstandheroismbutitwashisintentiontothrowhismusketawayatthefirstopportunity。Meantimehehadgoneonload-

ingandfiring，fromfearofhavinghisbrainsblownoutatthefirstsignofunwillingness，bysomenon-

commissionedofficeroftheKingofSpain。Hetriedtosetforththeseelementaryconsiderationsbeforethesergeantoftheguardsetoverhimandsometwentyothersuchdeserters，whohadbeencondemnedsum-

marilytobeshot。

ItwasinthequadrangleofthefortatthebackofthebatterieswhichcommandtheroadsteadofVal-

paraiso。Theofficerwhohadidentifiedhimhadgoneonwithoutlisteningtohisprotestations。Hisdoomwassealed；hishandsweretiedverytightlytogetherbehindhisback；hisbodywassorealloverfromthemanyblowswithsticksandbuttsofmusketswhichhadhurriedhimalongonthepainfulroadfromtheplaceofhiscapturetothegateofthefort。Thiswastheonlykindofsystematicattentiontheprisonershadreceivedfromtheirescortduringafourdays"journeyacrossascantilywateredtractofcountry。Atthecrossingsofrarestreamstheywerepermittedtoquenchtheirthirstbylappinghurriedlylikedogs。Intheeveningafewscrapsofmeatwerethrownamongstthemastheydroppeddowndead-beatuponthestonygroundofthehalting-place。

Ashestoodinthecourtyardofthecastleintheearlymorning，afterhavingbeendrivenhardallnight，GasparRuiz"sthroatwasparched，andhistonguefeltverylargeanddryinhismouth。

AndGasparRuiz，besidesbeingverythirsty，wasstirredbyafeelingofsluggishanger，whichhecouldnotverywellexpress，asthoughthevigourofhisspiritwerebynomeansequaltothestrengthofhisbody。

Theotherprisonersinthebatchofthecondemnedhungtheirheads，lookingobstinatelyontheground。

ButGasparRuizkeptonrepeating:"WhatshouldI

desertfortotheRoyalists?WhyshouldIdesert?

Tellme，Estaban!"

Headdressedhimselftothesergeant，whohappenedtobelongtothesamepartofthecountryashimself。

Butthesergeant，aftershrugginghismeagreshouldersonce，paidnofurtherattentiontothedeepmurmuringvoiceathisback。ItwasindeedstrangethatGasparRuizshoulddesert。Hispeoplewereintoohumbleastationtofeelmuchthedisadvantagesofanyformofgovernment。TherewasnoreasonwhyGasparRuizshouldwishtoupholdinhisownpersontheruleoftheKingofSpain。Neitherhadhebeenanxioustoexerthimselfforitssubversion。HehadjoinedthesideofIndependenceinanextremelyreasonableandnaturalmanner。Abandofpatriotsappearedonemorningearly，surroundinghisfather"sranche，spearingthewatch-dogsandhamstringingafatcowallinthetwinklingofaneye，tothecriesof"VivalaLibertad!"

TheirofficerdiscoursedofLibertywithenthusiasmandeloquenceafteralongandrefreshingsleep。Whentheyleftintheevening，takingwiththemsomeofRuiz，thefather"s，besthorsestoreplacetheirownlamedanimals，GasparRuizwentawaywiththem，havingbeeninvitedpressinglytodosobytheeloquentofficer。

ShortlyafterwardsadetachmentofRoyalisttroopscomingtopacifythedistrict，burnttheranche，carriedofftheremaininghorsesandcattle，andhavingthusdeprivedtheoldpeopleofalltheirworldlypossessions，leftthemsittingunderabushintheenjoymentoftheinestimableboonoflife。

GASPARRUIZ，condemnedtodeathasadeserter，wasnotthinkingeitherofhisnativeplaceorofhisparents，towhomhehadbeenagoodsononaccountofthemildnessofhischaracterandthegreatstrengthofhislimbs。Thepracticaladvantageofthislastwasmadestillmorevaluabletohisfatherbyhisobedientdisposition。GasparRuizhadanacquiescentsoul。

Butitwasstirrednowtoasortofdimrevoltbyhisdisliketodiethedeathofatraitor。Hewasnotatraitor。Hesaidagaintothesergeant:"YouknowIdidnotdesert，Estaban。YouknowIremainedbehindamongstthetreeswiththreeotherstokeeptheenemybackwhilethedetachmentwasrunningaway!"

LieutenantSantierra，littlemorethanaboyatthetime，andunusedasyettothesanguinaryimbecilitiesofastateofwar，hadlingerednearby，asiffascinatedbythesightofthesemenwhoweretobeshotpres-

ently——"foranexample"——astheCommandantehadsaid。

Thesergeant，withoutdeigningtolookattheprisoner，addressedhimselftotheyoungofficerwithasuperiorsmile。

"Tenmenwouldnothavebeenenoughtomakehimaprisoner，miteniente。Moreover，theotherthreerejoinedthedetachmentafterdark。Whyshouldhe，unwoundedandthestrongestofthemall，havefailedtodoso?"

"Mystrengthisasnothingagainstamountedmanwithalasso，"GasparRuizprotested，eagerly。"Hedraggedmebehindhishorseforhalfamile。"

Atthisexcellentreasonthesergeantonlylaughedcontemptuously。TheyoungofficerhurriedawayaftertheCommandante。

Presentlytheadjutantofthecastlecameby。Hewasatruculent，raw-bonedmaninaraggeduniform。

Hissplutteringvoiceissuedoutofaflatyellowface。

Thesergeantlearnedfromhimthatthecondemnedmenwouldnotbeshottillsunset。Hebeggedthentoknowwhathewastodowiththemmeantime。

Theadjutantlookedsavagelyroundthecourtyardand，pointingtothedoorofasmalldungeon-likeguardroom，receivinglightandairthroughoneheavilybarredwindow，said:"Drivethescoundrelsinthere。"

Thesergeant，tighteninghisgripuponthestickhecarriedinvirtueofhisrank，executedthisorderwithalacrityandzeal。HehitGasparRuiz，whosemove-

mentswereslow，overhisheadandshoulders。GasparRuizstoodstillforamomentundertheshowerofblows，bitinghislipthoughtfullyasifabsorbedbyaperplexingmentalprocess——thenfollowedtheotherswithouthaste。Thedoorwaslocked，andtheadjutantcarriedoffthekey。

Bynoontheheatofthatvaultedplacecrammedtosuffocationhadbecomeunbearable。Theprisonerscrowdedtowardsthewindow，beggingtheirguardsforadropofwater；butthesoldiersremainedlyinginindolentattitudeswherevertherewasalittleshadeunderawall，whilethesentrysatwithhisbackagainstthedoorsmokingacigarette，andraisinghiseyebrowsphilosophicallyfromtimetotime。GasparRuizhadpushedhiswaytothewindowwithirresistibleforce。

Hiscapaciouschestneededmoreairthantheothers；

hisbigface，restingwithitschinontheledge，pressedclosetothebars，seemedtosupporttheotherfacescrowdingupforbreath。Frommoanedentreatiestheyhadpassedtodesperatecries，andthetumultuoushowl-

ingofthosethirstymenobligedayoungofficerwhowasjustthencrossingthecourtyardtoshoutinordertomakehimselfheard。

"Whydon"tyougivesomewatertotheseprisoners?"

Thesergeant，withanairofsurprisedinnocence，excusedhimselfbytheremarkthatallthosemenwerecondemnedtodieinaveryfewhours。

LieutenantSantierrastampedhisfoot。"Theyarecondemnedtodeath，nottotorture，"heshouted。

"Givethemsomewateratonce。"

Impressedbythisappearanceofanger，thesoldiersbestirredthemselves，andthesentry，snatchinguphismusket，stoodtoattention。

Butwhenacoupleofbucketswerefoundandfilledfromthewell，itwasdiscoveredthattheycouldnotbepassedthroughthebars，whichweresettooclose。Attheprospectofquenchingtheirthirst，theshrieksofthosetrampleddowninthestruggletogetneartheopeningbecameveryheartrending。Butwhenthesoldierswhohadliftedthebucketstowardsthewindowputthemtothegroundagainhelplessly，theyellofdis-

appointmentwasstillmoreterrible。

ThesoldiersofthearmyofIndependencewerenotequippedwithcanteens。Asmalltincupwasfound，butitsapproachtotheopeningcausedsuchacom-

motion，suchyellsofrageandpaininthevaguemassoflimbsbehindthestrainingfacesatthewindow，thatLieutenantSantierracriedouthurriedly，"No，no——youmustopenthedoor，sergeant。"

Thesergeant，shrugginghisshoulders，explainedthathehadnorighttoopenthedoorevenifhehadhadthekey。Buthehadnotthekey。Theadjutantofthegarrisonkeptthekey。Thosemenweregivingmuchunnecessarytrouble，sincetheyhadtodieatsun-

setinanycase。Whytheyhadnotbeenshotatonceearlyinthemorninghecouldnotunderstand。

LieutenantSantierrakepthisbackstudiouslytothewindow。ItwasathisearnestsolicitationsthattheCommandantehaddelayedtheexecution。Thisfavourhadbeengrantedtohiminconsiderationofhisdis-

tinguishedfamilyandofhisfather"shighpositionamongstthechiefsoftheRepublicanparty。LieutenantSantierrabelievedthattheGeneralcommandingwouldvisitthefortsometimeintheafternoon，andheingenu-

ouslyhopedthathisnaiveintercessionwouldinducethatseveremantopardonsome，atleast，ofthosecrim-

inals。Intherevulsionofhisfeelinghisinterferencestoodrevealednowasguiltyandfutilemeddling。Itap-

pearedtohimobviousthatthegeneralwouldneverevenconsenttolistentohispetition。Hecouldneversavethosemen，andhehadonlymadehimselfresponsibleforthesufferingsaddedtothecrueltyoftheirfate。

"Thengoatonceandgetthekeyfromtheadjutant，"

saidLieutenantSantierra。

Thesergeantshookhisheadwithasortofbashfulsmile，whilehiseyesglancedsidewaysatGasparRuiz"sface，motionlessandsilent，staringthroughthebarsatthebottomofaheapofotherhaggard，distorted，yellingfaces。

HisworshiptheadjutantdePlaza，thesergeantmurmured，washavinghissiesta；andsupposingthathe，thesergeant，wouldbeallowedaccesstohim，theonlyresultheexpectedwouldbetohavehissoulfloggedoutofhisbodyforpresumingtodisturbhisworship"srepose。Hemadeadeprecatorymovementwithhishands，andstoodstock-still，lookingdownmodestlyuponhisbrowntoes。

LieutenantSantierraglaredwithindignation，buthesitated。Hishandsomeovalface，assmoothasagirl"s，flushedwiththeshameofhisperplexity。Itsnaturehumiliatedhisspirit。Hishairlessupperliptrembled；heseemedonthepointofeitherburstingintoafitofrageorintotearsofdismay。

Fiftyyearslater，GeneralSantierra，thevenerablerelicofrevolutionarytimes，waswellabletoremem-

berthefeelingsoftheyounglieutenant。Sincehehadgivenupridingaltogether，andfounditdifficulttowalkbeyondthelimitsofhisgarden，thegeneral"sgreatestdelightwastoentertaininhishousetheofficersoftheforeignmen-of-warvisitingtheharbour。

ForEnglishmenhehadapreference，asforoldcom-

panionsinarms。Englishnavalmenofallranksacceptedhishospitalitywithcuriosity，becausehehadknownLordCochraneandhadtakenpart，onboardthepatriotsquadroncommandedbythatmarvelloussea-

man，inthecuttingoutandblockadingoperationsbe-

foreCallao——anepisodeofunalloyedgloryinthewarsofIndependenceandofendlesshonourinthefightingtraditionofEnglishmen。Hewasafairlinguist，thisancientsurvivoroftheLiberatingarmies。AtrickofsmoothinghislongwhitebeardwheneverhewasshortofawordinFrenchorEnglishimpartedanairofleisurelydignitytothetoneofhisreminiscences。

III

"YES，myfriends，"heusedtosaytohisguests，"whatwouldyouhave?Ayouthofseventeensum-

mers，withoutworldlyexperience，andowingmyrankonlytothegloriouspatriotismofmyfather，mayGodresthissoul。Isufferedimmensehumiliation，notsomuchfromthedisobedienceofthatsubordinate，who，afterall，wasresponsibleforthoseprisoners；butIsufferedbecause，liketheboyIwas，Imyselfdreadedgoingtotheadjutantforthekey。Ihadfelt，before，hisroughandcuttingtongue。Beingquiteacommonfellow，withnomeritexcepthissavagevalour，hemademefeelhiscontemptanddislikefromthefirstdayI

joinedmybattalioningarrisonatthefort。Itwasonlyafortnightbefore!Iwouldhaveconfrontedhimswordinhand，butIshrankfromthemockingbrutalityofhissneers。

"Idon"trememberhavingbeensomiserableinmylifebeforeorsince。ThetormentofmysensibilitywassogreatthatIwishedthesergeanttofalldeadatmyfeet，andthestupidsoldierswhostaredatmetoturnintocorpses；andeventhosewretchesforwhommyentreatieshadprocuredareprieveIwisheddeadalso，becauseIcouldnotfacethemwithoutshame。A

mephiticheatlikeawhiffofairfromhellcameoutofthatdarkplaceinwhichtheywereconfined。Thoseatthewindowwhohadheardwhatwasgoingonjeeredatmeinverydesperation:oneofthesefellows，gonemadnodoubt，keptonurgingmevolublytoorderthesoldierstofirethroughthewindow。Hisinsaneloquacitymademyheartturnfaint。Andmyfeetwerelikelead。TherewasnohigherofficertowhomIcouldappeal。Ihadnoteventhefirmnessofspirittosimplygoaway。

"Benumbedbymyremorse，Istoodwithmybacktothewindow。Youmustnotsupposethatallthislastedalongtime。Howlongcouldithavebeen?A

minute?Ifyoumeasuredbymentalsufferingitwaslikeahundredyears；alongertimethanallmylifehasbeensince。No，certainly，itwasnotsomuchasaminute。Thehoarsescreamingofthosemiserablewretchesdiedoutintheirdrythroats，andthensud-

denlyavoicespoke，adeepvoicemutteringcalmly。

Itcalleduponmetoturnround。

"Thatvoice，senores，proceededfromtheheadofGasparRuiz。OfhisbodyIcouldseenothing。Someofhisfellow-captiveshadclambereduponhisback。

Hewasholdingthemup。Hiseyesblinkedwithoutlookingatme。Thatandthemovingofhislipswasallheseemedabletomanageinhisoverloadedstate。

AndwhenIturnedround，thishead，thatseemedmorethanhumansizerestingonitschinunderamultitudeofotherheads，askedmewhetherIreallydesiredtoquenchthethirstofthecaptives。

"Isaid，"Yes，yes!"eagerly，andcameupquiteclosetothewindow。Iwaslikeachild，anddidnotknowwhatwouldhappen。Iwasanxioustobecom-

fortedinmyhelplessnessandremorse。

""Haveyoutheauthority，Senorteniente，tore-

leasemywristsfromtheirbonds?"GasparRuiz"sheadaskedme。

"Hisfeaturesexpressednoanxiety，nohope；hisheavyeyelidsblinkeduponhiseyesthatlookedpastmestraightintothecourtyard。

"Asifinanuglydream，Ispoke，stammering:

"Whatdoyoumean?AndhowcanIreachthebondsonyourwrists?"

""IwilltrywhatIcando，"hesaid；andthenthatlargestaringheadmovedatlast，andallthewildfacespiledupinthatwindowdisappeared，tumblingdown。

Hehadshakenhisloadoffwithonemovement，sostronghewas。

"Andhehadnotonlyshakenitoff，buthegotfreeofthecrushandvanishedfrommysight。Foramomenttherewasnooneatalltobeseenatthewindow。Hehadswungabout，buttingandshoulder-

ing，clearingaspaceforhimselfintheonlywayhecoulddoitwithhishandstiedbehindhisback。

"Finally，backingtotheopening，hepushedouttomebetweenthebarshiswrists，lashedwithmanyturnsofrope。Hishands，veryswollen，withknottedveins，lookedenormousandunwieldy。Isawhisbentback。

Itwasverybroad。Hisvoicewaslikethemutteringofabull。

""Cut，Senorteniente。Cut!"

"Idrewmysword，mynewunbluntedswordthathadseennoserviceasyet，andseveredthemanyturnsofthehiderope。Ididthiswithoutknowingthewhyandthewhereforeofmyaction，butasitwerecom-

pelledbymyfaithinthatman。Thesergeantmadeasiftocryout，butastonishmentdeprivedhimofhisvoice，andheremainedstandingwithhismouthopenasifovertakenbysuddenimbecility。

"Isheathedmyswordandfacedthesoldiers。Anairofawestruckexpectationhadreplacedtheirusuallist-

lessapathy。IheardthevoiceofGasparRuizshoutinginside，butthewordsIcouldnotmakeoutplainly。I

supposethattoseehimwithhisarmsfreeaugmentedtheinfluenceofhisstrength:Imeanbythis，thespiritualinfluencethatwithignorantpeopleattachestoanexcep-

tionaldegreeofbodilyvigour。Infact，hewasnomoretobefearedthanbefore，onaccountofthenumbnessofhisarmsandhands，whichlastedforsometime。

"Thesergeanthadrecoveredhispowerofspeech。

"Byallthesaints!"hecried，"weshallhavetogetacavalrymanwithalassotosecurehimagain，ifheistobeledtotheplaceofexecution。Nothinglessthanagoodenlazadoronagoodhorsecansubduehim。

Yourworshipwaspleasedtoperformaverymadthing。"

"Ihadnothingtosay。Iwassurprisedmyself，andIfeltachildishcuriositytoseewhatwouldhap-

pennext。Butthesergeantwasthinkingofthediffi-

cultyofcontrollingGasparRuizwhenthetimeformakinganexamplewouldcome。

""Orperhaps，"thesergeantpursued，vexedly，"weshallbeobligedtoshoothimdownashedashesoutwhenthedoorisopened。"Hewasgoingtogivefurtherventtohisanxietiesastothepropercarryingoutofthesentence；butheinterruptedhimselfwithasuddenexclamation，snatchedamusketfromasoldier，andstoodwatchfulwithhiseyesfixedonthewindow。

"GASPARRUIZhadclambereduponthesill，andsatdowntherewithhisfeetagainstthethicknessofthewallandhiskneesslightlybent。Thewindowwasnotquitebroadenoughforthelengthofhislegs。

Itappearedtomycrestfallenperceptionthathemeanttokeepthewindowalltohimself。Heseemedtobetakingupacomfortableposition。Nobodyinsidedaredtoapproachhimnowhecouldstrikewithhishands。

""PorDios!"Iheardthesergeantmutteringatmyelbow，"Ishallshoothimthroughtheheadnow，andgetridofthattrouble。Heisacondemnedman。"

"AtthatIlookedathimangrily。"Thegeneralhasnotconfirmedthesentence，"Isaid——thoughIknewwellinmyheartthatthesewerebutvainwords。Thesentencerequirednoconfirmation。"Youhavenorighttoshoothimunlesshetriestoescape，"Iadded，firmly。

""ButsangredeDios!"thesergeantyelledout，bringinghismusketuptotheshoulder，"heisescapingnow。Look!"

"ButI，asifthatGasparRuizhadcastaspelluponme，struckthemusketupward，andthebulletflewovertheroofssomewhere。Thesergeantdashedhisarmtothegroundandstared。Hemighthavecommandedthesoldierstofire，buthedidnot。Andifhehadhewouldnothavebeenobeyed，Ithink，justthen。

"Withhisfeetagainstthethicknessofthewallandhishairyhandsgraspingtheironbar，Gasparsatstill。Itwasanattitude。Nothinghappenedforatime。Andsuddenlyitdawneduponusthathewasstraighteninghisbowedbackandcontractinghisarms。

Hislipsweretwistedintoasnarl。Nextthingweper-

ceivedwasthatthebarofforgedironwasbeingbentslowlybythemightinessofhispull。Thesunwasbeatingfulluponhiscramped，unquiveringfigure。A

showerofsweat-dropsburstoutofhisforehead。

Watchingthebargrowcrooked，Isawalittlebloodoozefromunderhisfinger-nails。Thenheletgo。Foramomentheremainedallhuddledup，withahanginghead，lookingdrowsilyintotheupturnedpalmsofhismightyhands。Indeedheseemedtohavedozedoff。

Suddenlyheflunghimselfbackwardsonthesill，andsettingthesolesofhisbarefeetagainsttheothermiddlebar，hebentthatone，too，butintheoppositedirectionfromthefirst。

"Suchwashisstrength，whichinthiscaserelievedmypainfulfeelings。Andthemanseemedtohavedonenothing。Exceptforthechangeofpositioninordertousehisfeet，whichmadeusallstartbyitsswiftness，myrecollectionisthatofimmobility。Buthehadbentthebarswideapart。Andnowhecouldgetoutifheliked；buthedroppedhislegsinwards，andlookingoverhisshoulderbeckonedtothesoldiers。

"Handupthewater，"hesaid。"Iwillgivethemalladrink。"

"Hewasobeyed。ForamomentIexpectedmanandbuckettodisappear，overwhelmedbytherushofeagerness；Ithoughttheywouldpullhimdownwiththeirteeth。Therewasarush，butholdingthebucketonhislapherepulsedtheassaultofthosewretchesbythemereswingingofhisfeet。Theyflewbackwardsateverykick，yellingwithpain；andthesoldierslaughed，gazingatthewindow。

"Theyalllaughed，holdingtheirsides，exceptthesergeant，whowasgloomyandmorose。Hewasafraidtheprisonerswouldriseandbreakout——whichwouldhavebeenabadexample。Buttherewasnofearofthat，andIstoodmyselfbeforethewindowwithmydrawnsword。WhensufficientlytamedbythestrengthofGasparRuiztheycameuponebyone，stretchingtheirnecksandpresentingtheirlipstotheedgeofthebucketwhichthestrongmantiltedtowardsthemfromhiskneeswithanextraordinaryairofcharity，gentleness，andcompassion。Thatbenevolentappearancewasofcoursetheeffectofhiscareinnotspillingthewaterandofhisattitudeashesatonthesill；for，ifamanlingeredwithhislipsgluedtotherimofthebucketafterGasparRuizhadsaid"Youhavehadenough，"

therewouldbenotendernessormercyintheshoveofthefootwhichwouldsendhimgroaninganddoubledupfarintotheinterioroftheprison，wherehewouldknockdowntwoorthreeothersbeforehefellhimself。

Theycameuptohimagainandagain；itlookedasiftheymeanttodrinkthewelldrybeforegoingtotheirdeath；butthesoldiersweresoamusedbyGasparRuiz"ssystematicproceedingsthattheycarriedthewateruptothewindowcheerfully。

"Whentheadjutantcameoutafterhissiestatherewassometroubleoverthisaffair，Icanassureyou。

Andtheworstofitwasthatthegeneralwhomweexpectednevercametothecastlethatday。"

TheguestsofGeneralSantierraunanimouslyex-

pressedtheirregretthatthemanofsuchstrengthandpatiencehadnotbeensaved。

"Hewasnotsavedbymyinterference，"saidtheGeneral。"Theprisonerswereledtoexecutionhalfanhourbeforesunset。GasparRuiz，contrarytothesergeant"sapprehensions，gavenotrouble。Therewasnonecessitytogetacavalrymanwithalassoinordertosubduehim，asifhewereawildbullofthecampo。I

believehemarchedoutwithhisarmsfreeamongsttheotherswhowerebound。Ididnotsee。Iwasnotthere。

Ihadbeenputunderarrestforinterferingwiththeprisoner"sguard。Aboutdusk，sittingdismallyinmyquarters，Iheardthreevolleysfired，andthoughtthatI

shouldneverhearofGasparRuizagain。Hefellwiththeothers。Butweweretohearofhimnevertheless，thoughthesergeantboastedthatashelayonhisfaceexpiringordeadintheheapoftheslain，hehadslashedhisneckwithasword。Hehaddonethis，hesaid，tomakesureofriddingtheworldofadangeroustraitor。

"Iconfesstoyou，senores，thatIthoughtofthatstrongmanwithasortofgratitude，andwithsomeadmiration。Hehadusedhisstrengthhonourably。

Theredwelt，then，inhissoulnofiercenesscorrespond-

ingtothevigourofhisbody。"

GASPARRUIZ，whocouldwitheasebendaparttheheavyironbarsoftheprison，wasledoutwithotherstosummaryexecution。"Everybullethasitsbillet，"

runstheproverb。Allthemeritofproverbsconsistsintheconciseandpicturesqueexpression。Inthesurpriseofourmindsisfoundtheirpersuasiveness。Inotherwords，wearestruckandconvincedbytheshock。

Whatsurprisesusistheform，notthesubstance。

Proverbsareart——cheapart。Asageneralruletheyarenottrue；unlessindeedtheyhappentobemereplatitudes，asforinstancetheproverb，"Halfaloafisbetterthannobread，"or"Amissisasgoodasamile。"

Someproverbsaresimplyimbecile，othersareimmoral。

ThatoneevolvedoutofthenaiveheartofthegreatRussianpeople，"Mandischargesthepiece，butGodcarriesthebullet，"ispiouslyatrocious，andatbittervariancewiththeacceptedconceptionofacompassion-

ateGod。Itwouldindeedbeaninconsistentoccupa-

tionfortheGuardianofthepoor，theinnocent，andthehelpless，tocarrythebullet，forinstance，intotheheartofafather。

GasparRuizwaschildless，hehadnowife，hehadneverbeeninlove。Hehadhardlyeverspokentoawoman，beyondhismotherandtheancientnegressofthehousehold，whosewrinkledskinwasthecolourofcinders，andwhoseleanbodywasbentdoublefromage。

IfsomebulletsfromthosemusketsfiredoffatfifteenpaceswerespecificallydestinedfortheheartofGasparRuiz，theyallmissedtheirbillet。One，however，carriedawayasmallpieceofhisear，andanotherafragmentoffleshfromhisshoulder。

AredanduncloudedsunsettingintoapurpleoceanlookedwithafierystareupontheenormouswalloftheCordilleras，worthywitnessesofhisgloriousextinction。Butitisinconceivablethatitshouldhaveseentheant-likemenbusywiththeirabsurdandinsignificanttrialsofkillinganddyingforreasonsthat，apartfrombeinggenerallychildish，werealsoim-

perfectlyunderstood。Itdidlightup，however，thebacksofthefiringpartyandthefacesofthecondemnedmen。Someofthemhadfallenontheirknees，othersremainedstanding，afewavertedtheirheadsfromthelevelledbarrelsofmuskets。GasparRuiz，upright，theburliestofthemall，hunghisbigshockhead。Thelowsundazzledhimalittle，andhecountedhimselfadeadmanalready。

Hefellatthefirstdischarge。Hefellbecausehethoughthewasadeadman。Hestruckthegroundheavily。Thejarofthefallsurprisedhim。"Iamnotdeadapparently，"hethoughttohimself，whenheheardtheexecutionplatoonreloadingitsarmsatthewordofcommand。Itwasthenthatthehopeofescapedawneduponhimforthefirsttime。Heremainedlyingstretchedoutwithrigidlimbsundertheweightoftwobodiescollapsedcrosswiseuponhisback。

Bythetimethesoldiershadfiredathirdvolleyintotheslightlystirringheapsoftheslain，thesunhadgoneoutofsight，andalmostimmediatelywiththedarkeningoftheoceanduskfelluponthecoastsoftheyoungRepublic。AbovethegloomofthelowlandsthesnowypeaksoftheCordillerasremainedluminousandcrimsonforalongtime。Thesoldiersbeforemarchingbacktothefortsatdowntosmoke。

Thesergeantwithanakedswordinhishandstrolledawaybyhimselfalongtheheapofthedead。Hewasahumaneman，andwatchedforanystirortwitchoflimbinthemercifulideaofplungingthepointofhisbladeintoanybodygivingtheslightestsignoflife。

Butnoneofthebodiesaffordedhimanopportunityforthedisplayofthischaritableintention。Notamuscletwitchedamongstthem，noteventhepowerfulmusclesofGasparRuiz，who，delugedwiththebloodofhisneighboursandshammingdeath，strovetoappearmorelifelessthantheothers。

Hewaslyingfacedown。Thesergeantrecognizedhimbyhisstature，andbeinghimselfaverysmallman，lookedwithenvyandcontemptattheprostrationofsomuchstrength。Hehadalwaysdislikedthatparticularsoldier。Movedbyanobscureanimosity，heinflictedalonggashacrosstheneckofGasparRuiz，withsomevaguenotionofmakingsureofthatstrongman"sdeath，asifapowerfulphysiqueweremoreabletoresistthebullets。ForthesergeanthadnodoubtthatGasparRuizhadbeenshotthroughinmanyplaces。Thenhepassedon，andshortlyafterwardsmarchedoffwithhismen，leavingthebodiestothecareofcrowsandvultures。

GasparRuizhadrestrainedacry，thoughithadseemedtohimthathisheadwascutoffatablow；andwhendarknesscame，shakingoffthedead，whoseweighthadoppressedhim，hecrawledawayovertheplainonhishandsandknees。Afterdrinkingdeeply，likeawoundedbeast，atashallowstream，heassumedanuprightposture，andstaggeredonlight-headedandaimless，asiflostamongstthestarsoftheclearnight。

Asmallhouseseemedtoriseoutofthegroundbeforehim。Hestumbledintotheporchandstruckatthedoorwithhisfist。Therewasnotagleamoflight。

GasparRuizmighthavethoughtthattheinhabitantshadfledfromit，asfrommanyothersintheneigh-

bourhood，haditnotbeenfortheshoutsofabusethatansweredhisthumping。Inhisfeverishandenfeebledstatetheangryscreamingseemedtohimpartofahallucinationbelongingtotheweird，dreamlikefeelingofhisunexpectedcondemnationtodeath，ofthethirstsuffered，ofthevolleysfiredathimwithinfifteenpaces，ofhisheadbeingcutoffatablow。"Openthedoor!"

hecried。"OpeninthenameofGod!"