第2章

Aninfuriatedvoicefromwithinjeeredathim:

"Comein，comein。Thishousebelongstoyou。Allthislandbelongstoyou。Comeandtakeit。"

"FortheloveofGod，"GasparRuizmurmured。

"Doesnotallthelandbelongtoyoupatriots?"

thevoiceontheothersideofthedoorscreamedon。

"Areyounotapatriot?"

GasparRuizdidnotknow。"Iamawoundedman，"

hesaid，apathetically。

Allbecamestillinside。GasparRuizlostthehopeofbeingadmitted，andlaydownundertheporchjustoutsidethedoor。Hewasutterlycarelessofwhatwasgoingtohappentohim。Allhisconsciousnessseemedtobeconcentratedinhisneck，wherehefeltaseverepain。Hisindifferenceastohisfatewasgenuine。

Thedaywasbreakingwhenheawokefromafeverishdoze；thedooratwhichhehadknockedinthedarkstoodwideopennow，andagirl，steadyingherselfwithheroutspreadarms，leanedoverthethreshold。

Lyingonhisback，hestaredupather。Herfacewaspaleandhereyeswereverydark；herhairhungdownblackasebonyagainstherwhitecheeks；herlipswerefullandred。Beyondherhesawanotherheadwithlonggreyhair，andathinoldfacewithapairofanxiouslyclaspedhandsunderthechin。

VI

"IKNEWthosepeoplebysight，"GeneralSantierrawouldtellhisguestsatthedining-table。"ImeanthepeoplewithwhomGasparRuizfoundshelter。

ThefatherwasanoldSpaniard，amanofpropertyruinedbytherevolution。Hisestates，hishouseintown，hismoney，everythinghehadintheworldhadbeenconfiscatedbyproclamation，forhewasabitterfoeofourindependence。FromapositionofgreatdignityandinfluenceontheViceroy"sCouncilhebecameoflessimportancethanhisownnegroslavesmadefreebyourgloriousrevolution。Hehadnoteventhemeanstofleethecountry，asotherSpaniardshadmanagedtodo。Itmaybethat，wanderingruinedandhouseless，andburdenedwithnothingbuthislife，whichwaslefttohimbytheclemencyoftheProvisionalGovernment，hehadsimplywalkedunderthatbrokenroofofoldtiles。Itwasalonelyspot。Theredidnotseemtobeevenadogbelongingtotheplace。Butthoughtheroofhadholes，asifacannon-ballortwohaddroppedthroughit，thewoodenshutterswerethickandtight-

closedallthetime。

"Mywaytookmefrequentlyalongthepathinfrontofthatmiserablerancho。Irodefromtheforttothetownalmosteveryevening，tosighatthewindowofaladyIwasinlovewith，then。Whenoneisyoung，youunderstand……Shewasagoodpatriot，youmaybelieve。Caballeros，creditmeornot，politicalfeelingransohighinthosedaysthatIdonotbelieveIcouldhavebeenfascinatedbythecharmsofawomanofRoyalistopinions……"

MurmursofamusedincredulityallroundthetableinterruptedtheGeneral；andwhiletheylastedhestrokedhiswhitebeardgravely。

"Senores，"heprotested，"aRoyalistwasamonstertoouroverwroughtfeelings。IamtellingyouthisinordernottobesuspectedoftheslightesttendernesstowardsthatoldRoyalist"sdaughter。Moreover，asyouknow，myaffectionswereengagedelsewhere。ButI

couldnothelpnoticingheronrareoccasionswhenwiththefrontdooropenshestoodintheporch。

"YoumustknowthatthisoldRoyalistwasascrazyasamancanbe。Hispoliticalmisfortunes，histotaldownfallandruin，haddisorderedhismind。Toshowhiscontemptforwhatwepatriotscoulddo，heaffectedtolaughathisimprisonment，attheconfiscationofhislands，theburningofhishouses，andatthemiserytowhichheandhiswomenfolkwerereduced。Thishabitoflaughinghadgrownuponhim，sothathewouldbegintolaughandshoutdirectlyhecaughtsightofanystranger。Thatwastheformofhismadness。

"I，ofcourse，disregardedthenoiseofthatmadmanwiththatfeelingofsuperioritythesuccessofourcauseinspiredinusAmericans。IsupposeIreallydespisedhimbecausehewasanoldCastilian，aSpaniardborn，andaRoyalist。Thosewerecertainlynoreasonstoscornaman；butforcenturiesSpaniardsbornhadshowntheircontemptofusAmericans，menaswelldescendedasthemselves，simplybecausewewerewhattheycalledcolonists。Wehadbeenkeptinabasementandmadetofeelourinferiorityinsocialintercourse。

Andnowitwasourturn。Itwassafeforuspatriotstodisplaythesamesentiments；andIbeingayoungpatriot，sonofapatriot，despisedthatoldSpaniard，anddespisinghimInaturallydisregardedhisabuse，thoughitwasannoyingtomyfeelings。Othersperhapswouldnothavebeensoforbearing。

"Hewouldbeginwithagreatyell——"Iseeapatriot。

Anotherofthem!"longbeforeIcameabreastofthehouse。Thetoneofhissenselessrevilings，mingledwithburstsoflaughter，wassometimespiercinglyshrillandsometimesgrave。Itwasallverymad；butI

feltitincumbentuponmydignitytocheckmyhorsetoawalkwithoutevenglancingtowardsthehouse，asifthatman"sabusiveclamourintheporchwerelessthanthebarkingofacur。AlwaysIrodebypreservinganexpressionofhaughtyindifferenceonmyface。

"Itwasnodoubtverydignified；butIshouldhavedonebetterifIhadkeptmyeyesopen。Amilitarymaninwartimeshouldneverconsiderhimselfoffduty；andespeciallysoifthewarisarevolutionarywar，whentheenemyisnotatthedoor，butwithinyourveryhouse。Atsuchtimestheheatofpassionateconvictionspassingintohatred，removesthere-

straintsofhonourandhumanityfrommanymenandofdelicacyandfearfromsomewomen。Theselast，whenoncetheythrowoffthetimidityandreserveoftheirsex，becomebythevivacityoftheirintelligenceandtheviolenceoftheirmercilessresentmentmoredangerousthansomanyarmedgiants。"

TheGeneral"svoicerose，buthisbighandstrokedhiswhitebeardtwicewithaneffectofvenerablecalm-

ness。"Si，Senores!Womenarereadytorisetotheheightsofdevotionunattainablebyusmen，ortosinkintothedepthsofabasementwhichamazesourmas-

culineprejudices。Iamspeakingnowofexceptionalwomen，youunderstand……"

Hereoneoftheguestsobservedthathehadnevermetawomanyetwhowasnotcapableofturningoutquiteexceptionalundercircumstancesthatwoulden-

gageherfeelingsstrongly。"Thatsortofsuperiorityinrecklessnesstheyhaveoverus，"heconcluded，"makesofthemthemoreinterestinghalfofman-

kind。"

TheGeneral，whoboretheinterruptionwithgravity，noddedcourteousassent。"Si。Si。Undercircum-

stances……Precisely。Theycandoaninfinitedealofmischiefsometimesinquiteunexpectedways。

Forwhocouldhaveimaginedthatayounggirl，daughterofaruinedRoyalistwhoselifewasheldonlybythecontemptofhisenemies，wouldhavehadthepowertobringdeathanddevastationupontwoflourishingprovincesandcauseseriousanxietytotheleadersoftherevolutionintheveryhourofitssuccess!"

Hepausedtoletthewonderofitpenetrateourminds。

"Deathanddevastation，"somebodymurmuredinsurprise:"howshocking!"

TheoldGeneralgaveaglanceinthedirectionofthemurmurandwenton。"Yes。Thatis，war——

calamity。Butthemeansbywhichsheobtainedthepowertoworkthishavoconoursouthernfrontierseemtome，whohaveseenherandspokentoher，stillmoreshocking。Thatparticularthingleftonmymindadreadfulamazementwhichthefurtherexperienceoflife，ofmorethanfiftyyears，hasdonenothingtodiminish。"

Helookedroundasiftomakesureofourattention，and，inachangedvoice:"Iam，asyouknow，are-

publican，sonofaLiberator，"hedeclared。"Myin-

comparablemother，Godresthersoul，wasaFrench-

woman，thedaughterofanardentrepublican。AsaboyIfoughtforliberty；I"vealwaysbelievedintheequalityofmen；andastotheirbrotherhood，that，tomymind，isevenmorecertain。Lookatthefierceanimositytheydisplayintheirdifferences。Andwhatintheworlddoyouknowthatismorebitterlyfiercethanbrothers"quarrels?"

Allabsenceofcynicismcheckedaninclinationtosmileatthisviewofhumanbrotherhood。Onthecontrary，therewasinthetonethemelancholynaturaltoamanprofoundlyhumaneatheartwhofromduty，fromconviction，andfromnecessity，hadplayedhispartinscenesofruthlessviolence。

TheGeneralhadseenmuchoffratricidalstrife。

"Certainly。Thereisnodoubtoftheirbrotherhood，"

heinsisted。"Allmenarebrothers，andassuchknowalmosttoomuchofeachother。But"——andhereintheoldpatriarchalhead，whiteassilver，theblackeyeshumorouslytwinkled——"ifweareallbrothers，allthewomenarenotoursisters。"

Oneoftheyoungerguestswasheardmurmuringhissatisfactionatthefact。ButtheGeneralcontinued，withdeliberateearnestness:"Theyaresodifferent!

Thetaleofakingwhotookabeggar-maidforapartnerofhisthronemaybeprettyenoughaswemenlookuponourselvesanduponlove。Butthatayounggirl，famousforherhaughtybeautyand，onlyashorttimebefore，theadmiredofallattheballsintheViceroy"spalace，shouldtakebythehandaguasso，acommonpeasant，isintolerabletooursentimentofwomenandtheirlove。Itismadness。Neverthelessithappened。

Butitmustbesaidthatinhercaseitwasthemadnessofhate——notoflove。"

Afterpresentingthisexcuseinaspiritofchivalrousjustice，theGeneralremainedsilentforatime。"I

rodepastthehouseeverydayalmost，"hebeganagain，"andthiswaswhatwasgoingonwithin。Buthowitwasgoingonnomindofmancanconceive。Herdesperationmusthavebeenextreme，andGasparRuizwasadocilefellow。Hehadbeenanobedientsoldier。

Hisstrengthwaslikeanenormousstonelyingontheground，readytobehurledthiswayorthatbythehandthatpicksitup。

"Itisclearthathewouldtellhisstorytothepeoplewhogavehimtheshelterheneeded。Andheneededassistancebadly。Hiswoundwasnotdangerous，buthislifewasforfeited。TheoldRoyalistbeingwrappedupinhislaughingmadness，thetwowomenarrangedahiding-placeforthewoundedmaninoneofthehutsamongstthefruittreesatthebackofthehouse。Thathovel，anabundanceofclearwaterwhilethefeverwasonhim，andsomewordsofpitywerealltheycouldgive。Isupposehehadashareofwhatfoodtherewas。

Anditwouldbebutlittle:ahandfulofroastedcorn，perhapsadishofbeans，orapieceofbreadwithafewfigs。Tosuchmiserywerethoseproudandoncewealthypeoplereduced。"

VII

GENERALSANTIERRAwasrightinhissurmise。SuchwastheexactnatureoftheassistancewhichGasparRuiz，peasantsonofpeasants，receivedfromtheRoyalistfamilywhosedaughterhadopenedthedooroftheirmiserablerefugetohisextremedistress。Hersombreresolutionruledthemadnessofherfatherandthetremblingbewildermentofhermother。

Shehadaskedthestrangemanonthedoorstep，"Whowoundedyou?"

"Thesoldiers，senora，"GasparRuizhadanswered，inafaintvoice。

"Patriots?"

"Si。"

"Whatfor?"

"Deserter，"hegasped，leaningagainstthewallunderthescrutinyofherblackeyes。"Iwasleftfordeadoverthere。"

Sheledhimthroughthehouseouttoasmallhutofclayandreeds，lostinthelonggrassoftheovergrownorchard。Hesankonaheapofmaizestrawinacorner，andsighedprofoundly。

"Noonewilllookforyouhere，"shesaid，lookingdownathim。"Nobodycomesnearus。We，too，havebeenleftfordead——here。"

Hestirreduneasilyonhisheapofdirtystraw，andthepaininhisneckmadehimgroandeliriously。

"IshallshowEstabansomedaythatIamaliveyet，"

hemumbled。

Heacceptedherassistanceinsilence，andthemanydaysofpainwentby。Herappearancesinthehutbroughthimreliefandbecameconnectedwiththefeverishdreamsofangelswhichvisitedhiscouch；

forGasparRuizwasinstructedinthemysteriesofhisreligion，andhadevenbeentaughttoreadandwritealittlebythepriestofhisvillage。Hewaitedforherwithimpatience，andsawherpassoutofthedarkhutanddisappearinthebrilliantsunshinewithpoignantregret。Hediscoveredthat，whilehelaytherefeelingsoveryweak，hecould，byclosinghiseyes，evokeherfacewithconsiderabledistinctness。Andthisdiscoveredfacultycharmedthelong，solitaryhoursofhisconvales-

cence。Lateron，whenhebegantoregainhisstrength，hewouldcreepatduskfromhishuttothehouseandsitonthestepofthegardendoor。

Inoneoftheroomsthemadfatherpacedtoandfro，mutteringtohimselfwithshort，abruptlaughs。Inthepassage，sittingonastool，themothersighedandmoaned。Thedaughter，inroughthreadbareclothing，andherwhitehaggardfacehalfhiddenbyacoarsemanta，stoodleaningagainstthesideofthedoor。

GasparRuiz，withhiselbowsproppedonhiskneesandhisheadrestinginhishands，talkedtothetwowomeninanundertone。

Thecommonmiseryofdestitutionwouldhavemadeabittermockeryofamarkedinsistenceonsocialdiffer-

ences。GasparRuizunderstoodthisinhissimplicity。

FromhiscaptivityamongsttheRoyalistshecouldgivethemnewsofpeopletheyknew。Hedescribedtheirappearance；andwhenherelatedthestoryofthebattleinwhichhewasrecapturedthetwowomenlamentedtheblowtotheircauseandtheruinoftheirsecrethopes。

Hehadnofeelingeitherway。Buthefeltagreatdevotionforthatyounggirl。Inhisdesiretoappearworthyofhercondescension，heboastedalittleofhisbodilystrength。Hehadnothingelsetoboastof。

Becauseofthatqualityhiscomradestreatedhimwithasgreatadeference，heexplained，asthoughhehadbeenasergeant，bothincampandinbattle。

"IcouldalwaysgetasmanyasIwantedtofollowmeanywhere，senorita。Ioughttohavebeenmadeanofficer，becauseIcanreadandwrite。"

Behindhimthesilentoldladyfetchedamoaningsighfromtimetotime；thedistractedfathermutteredtohimself，pacingthesala；andGasparRuizwouldraisehiseyesnowandthentolookatthedaughterofthesepeople。

Hewouldlookatherwithcuriositybecauseshewasalive，andalsowiththatfeelingoffamiliarityandawewithwhichhehadcontemplatedinchurchestheinanimateandpowerfulstatuesofthesaints，whoseprotectionisinvokedindangersanddifficulties。Hisdifficultywasverygreat。

Hecouldnotremainhidinginanorchardforeverandever。Heknewalsoverywellthatbeforehehadgonehalfaday"sjourneyinanydirection，hewouldbepickedupbyoneofthecavalrypatrolsscouringthecountry，andbroughtintooneoranotherofthecampswherethepatriotarmydestinedfortheliberationofPeruwascollected。TherehewouldintheendberecognizedasGasparRuiz——thedesertertotheRoyal-

ists——andnodoubtshotveryeffectuallythistime。

TheredidnotseemanyplaceintheworldfortheinnocentGasparRuizanywhere。Andatthisthoughthissimplesoulsurrendereditselftogloomandre-

sentmentasblackasnight。

Theyhadmadehimasoldierforcibly。Hedidnotmindbeingasoldier。Andhehadbeenagoodsoldierashehadbeenagoodson，becauseofhisdocilityandhisstrength。Butnowtherewasnouseforeither。

Theyhadtakenhimfromhisparents，andhecouldnolongerbeasoldier——notagoodsoldieratanyrate。

Nobodywouldlistentohisexplanations。Whatin-

justiceitwas!Whatinjustice!

Andinamournfulmurmurhewouldgooverthestoryofhiscaptureandrecaptureforthetwentiethtime。Then，raisinghiseyestothesilentgirlinthedoorway，"Si，senorita，"hewouldsaywithadeepsigh，"injusticehasmadethispoorbreathinmybodyquiteworthlesstomeandtoanybodyelse。AndIdonotcarewhorobsmeofit。"

Oneevening，asheexhaledthustheplaintofhiswoundedsoul，shecondescendedtosaythat，ifshewereaman，shewouldconsidernolifeworthlesswhichheldthepossibilityofrevenge。

Sheseemedtobespeakingtoherself。Hervoicewaslow。Hedrankinthegentle，asifdreamysoundwithaconsciousnessofpeculiardelightofsomethingwarminghisbreastlikeadraughtofgenerouswine。

"True，Senorita，"hesaid，raisinghisfaceuptohersslowly:"thereisEstaban，whomustbeshownthatI

amnotdeadafterall。"

Themutteringsofthemadfatherhadceasedlongbefore；thesighingmotherhadwithdrawnsomewhereintooneoftheemptyrooms。Allwasstillwithinaswellaswithout，inthemoonlightbrightasdayonthewildorchardfullofinkyshadows。GasparRuizsawthedarkeyesofDonaErminialookdownathim。

"Ah!Thesergeant，"shemuttered，disdainfully。

"Why!Hehaswoundedmewithhissword，"heprotested，bewilderedbythecontemptthatseemedtoshinelividonherpaleface。

Shecrushedhimwithherglance。Thepowerofherwilltobeunderstoodwassostrongthatitkindledinhimtheintelligenceofunexpressedthings。

"Whatelsedidyouexpectmetodo?"hecried，asifsuddenlydriventodespair。"HaveIthepowertodomore?AmIageneralwithanarmyatmyback?——

miserablesinnerthatIamtobedespisedbyyouatlast。"

VIII

"SEnORES，"relatedtheGeneraltohisguests，"thoughmythoughtswereoflovethen，andthereforeenchanting，thesightofthathousealwaysaffectedmedisagreeably，especiallyinthemoonlight，whenitscloseshuttersanditsairoflonelyneglectappearedsinister。StillIwentonusingthebridle-pathbytheravine，becauseitwasashortcut。ThemadRoyalisthowledandlaughedatmeeveryeveningtohiscompletesatisfaction；butafteratime，asifweariedwithmyindifference，heceasedtoappearintheporch。HowtheypersuadedhimtoleaveoffIdonotknow。How-

ever，withGasparRuizinthehousetherewouldhavebeennodifficultyinrestraininghimbyforce。Itwasnowpartoftheirpolicyintheretoavoidanythingwhichcouldprovokeme。Atleast，soIsuppose。

"NotwithstandingmyinfatuationwiththebrightestpairofeyesinChile，Inoticedtheabsenceoftheoldmanafteraweekorso。Afewmoredayspassed。I

begantothinkthatperhapstheseRoyalistshadgoneawaysomewhereelse。Butoneevening，asIwashasteningtowardsthecity，Isawagainsomebodyintheporch。Itwasnotthemadman；itwasthegirl。Shestoodholdingontooneofthewoodencolumns，tallandwhite-faced，herbigeyessunkdeepwithprivationandsorrow。Ilookedhardather，andshemetmystarewithastrange，inquisitivelook。Then，asIturnedmyheadafterridingpast，sheseemedtogathercouragefortheact，andabsolutelybeckonedmeback。

"Iobeyed，senores，almostwithoutthinking，sogreatwasmyastonishment。ItwasgreaterstillwhenIheardwhatshehadtosay。Shebeganbythankingmeformyforbearanceofherfather"sinfirmity，sothatIfeltashamedofmyself。Ihadmeanttoshowdisdain，notforbearance!Everywordmusthaveburntherlips，butsheneverdepartedfromagentleandmelancholydignitywhichfilledmewithrespectagainstmywill。

Senores，wearenomatchforwomen。ButIcouldhardlybelievemyearswhenshebeganhertale。Provi-

dence，sheconcluded，seemedtohavepreservedthelifeofthatwrongedsoldier，whonowtrustedtomyhonourasacaballeroandtomycompassionforhissufferings。

""Wrongedman，"Iobserved，coldly。"Well，Ithinkso，too:andyouhavebeenharbouringanenemyofyourcause。"

""HewasapoorChristiancryingforhelpatourdoorinthenameofGod，senor，"sheanswered，simply。

"Ibegantoadmireher。"Whereishenow?"I

asked，stiffly。

"Butshewouldnotanswerthatquestion。Withextremecunning，andanalmostfiendishdelicacy，shemanagedtoremindmeofmyfailureinsavingthelivesoftheprisonersintheguardroom，withoutwoundingmypride。Sheknew，ofcourse，thewholestory。

GasparRuiz，shesaid，entreatedmetoprocureforhimasafe-conductfromGeneralSanMartinhimself。Hehadanimportantcommunicationtomaketothecom-

mander-in-chief。

"PorDios，senores，shemademeswallowallthat，pretendingtobeonlythemouthpieceofthatpoorman。

Overcomebyinjustice，heexpectedtofind，shesaid，asmuchgenerosityinmeashadbeenshowntohimbytheRoyalistfamilywhichhadgivenhimarefuge。

"Ha!Itwaswellandnoblysaidtoayoungsterlikeme。Ithoughthergreat。Alas!shewasonlyimplacable。

"IntheendIrodeawayveryenthusiasticaboutthebusiness，withoutdemandingeventoseeGasparRuiz，whoIwasconfidentwasinthehouse。

"ButoncalmreflectionIbegantoseesomedif-

ficultieswhichIhadnotconfidenceenoughinmyselftoencounter。Itwasnoteasytoapproachacommander-

in-chiefwithsuchastory。Ifearedfailure。AtlastI

thoughtitbettertolaythematterbeforemygeneral-

of-division，Robles，afriendofmyfamily，whohadappointedmehisaide-de-camplately。

"Hetookitoutofmyhandsatoncewithoutanyceremony。

""Inthehouse!ofcourseheisinthehouse，"hesaidcontemptuously。"Yououghttohavegoneswordinhandinsideanddemandedhissurrender，insteadofchattingwithaRoyalistgirlintheporch。Thosepeopleshouldhavebeenhuntedoutofthatlongago。

Whoknowshowmanyspiestheyhaveharbouredrightintheverymidstofourcamps?Asafe-conductfromtheCommander-in-Chief!Theaudacityofthefellow!

Ha!ha!Nowweshallcatchhimto-night，andthenweshallfindout，withoutanysafe-conduct，whathehasgottosay，thatissoveryimportant。Ha!

ha!ha!"

"GeneralRobles，peacetohissoul，wasashort，thickman，withround，staringeyes，fierceandjovial。Seeingmydistressheadded:

""Come，come，chico。Ipromiseyouhislifeifhedoesnotresist。Andthatisnotlikely。Wearenotgoingtobreakupagoodsoldierifitcanbehelped。I

tellyouwhat!Iamcurioustoseeyourstrongman。

Nothingbutageneralwilldoforthepicaro——well，heshallhaveageneraltotalkto。Ha!ha!Ishallgomyselftothecatching，andyouarecomingwithme，ofcourse。"

"Anditwasdonethatsamenight。Earlyintheeveningthehouseandtheorchardweresurroundedquietly。LaterontheGeneralandIleftaballwewereattendingintownandrodeoutataneasygallop。Atsomelittledistancefromthehousewepulledup。A

mountedorderlyheldourhorses。Alowwhistlewarnedthemenwatchingallalongtheravine，andwewalkeduptotheporchsoftly。Thebarricadedhouseinthemoonlightseemedempty。

"TheGeneralknockedatthedoor。Afteratimeawoman"svoicewithinaskedwhowasthere。Mychiefnudgedmehard。Igasped。

""ItisI，LieutenantSantierra，"Istammeredout，asifchoked。"Openthedoor。"

"Itcameopenslowly。Thegirl，holdingathintaperinherhand，seeinganothermanwithme，begantobackawaybeforeusslowly，shadingthelightwithherhand。Herimpassivewhitefacelookedghostly。I

followedbehindGeneralRobles。Hereyeswerefixedonmine。Imadeagestureofhelplessnessbehindmychief"sback，tryingatthesametimetogiveareassur-

ingexpressiontomyface。Noneofusthreeutteredasound。

"Wefoundourselvesinaroomwithbarefloorandwalls。Therewasaroughtableandacoupleofstoolsinit，nothingelsewhatever。Anoldwomanwithhergreyhairhangingloosewrungherhandswhenweappeared。Apealofloudlaughterresoundedthroughtheemptyhouse，veryamazingandweird。Atthistheoldwomantriedtogetpastus。

""Nobodytoleavetheroom，"saidGeneralRoblestome。

"Iswungthedoorto，heardthelatchclick，andthelaughterbecamefaintinourears。

"BeforeanotherwordcouldbespokeninthatroomIwasamazedbyhearingthesoundofdistantthunder。

"Ihadcarriedinwithmeintothehouseavividim-

pressionofabeautifulclearmoonlightnight，withoutaspeckofcloudinthesky。Icouldnotbelievemyears。

Sentearlyabroadformyeducation，Iwasnotfamiliarwiththemostdreadednaturalphenomenonofmynativeland。Isaw，withinexpressibleastonishment，alookofterrorinmychief"seyes。SuddenlyIfeltgiddy。

TheGeneralstaggeredagainstmeheavily；thegirlseemedtoreelinthemiddleoftheroom，thetaperfelloutofherhandandthelightwentout；ashrillcryof"Misericordia!"fromtheoldwomanpiercedmyears。

InthepitchydarknessIheardtheplasteroffthewallsfallingonthefloor。Itisamercytherewasnoceiling。

Holdingontothelatchofthedoor，Iheardthegrindingoftheroof-tilesceaseabovemyhead。Theshockwasover。

""Outofthehouse!Thedoor!Fly，Santierra，fly!"

howledtheGeneral。Youknow，senores，inourcountrythebravestarenotashamedofthefearanearthquakestrikesintoallthesensesofman。Onenevergetsusedtoit。Repeatedexperienceonlyaugmentsthemasteryofthatnamelessterror。

"Itwasmyfirstearthquake，andIwasthecalmestofthemall。Iunderstoodthatthecrashoutsidewascausedbytheporch，withitswoodenpillarsandtiledroofprojection，fallingdown。Thenextshockwoulddestroythehouse，maybe。Thatrumbleasofthunderwasapproachingagain。TheGeneralwasrushingroundtheroom，tofindthedoorperhaps。Hemadeanoiseasthoughheweretryingtoclimbthewalls，andI

heardhimdistinctlyinvokethenamesofseveralsaints。

"Out，out，Santierra!"heyelled。

"Thegirl"svoicewastheonlyoneIdidnothear。

""General，"Icried，Icannotmovethedoor。Wemustbelockedin。"

"Ididnotrecognizehisvoiceintheshoutofmale-

dictionanddespairheletout。Senores，Iknowmanymeninmycountry，especiallyintheprovincesmostsubjecttoearthquakes，whowillneithereat，sleep，pray，norevensitdowntocardswithcloseddoors。Thedan-

gerisnotinthelossoftime，butinthis——thatthemovementofthewallsmaypreventadoorbeingopenedatall。Thiswaswhathadhappenedtous。Weweretrapped，andwehadnohelptoexpectfromanybody。

Thereisnomaninmycountrywhowillgointoahousewhentheearthtrembles。Thereneverwas——exceptone:GasparRuiz。

"Hehadcomeoutofwhateverholehehadbeenhidinginoutside，andhadclamberedoverthetimbersofthedestroyedporch。AbovetheawfulsubterraneangroanofcomingdestructionIheardamightyvoiceshoutingtheword"Erminia!"withthelungsofagiant。

Anearthquakeisagreatlevellerofdistinctions。I

collectedallmyresolutionagainsttheterrorofthescene。"Sheishere，"Ishoutedback。Aroarasofafuriouswildbeastansweredme——whilemyheadswam，myheartsank，andthesweatofanguishstreamedlikerainoffmybrow。

"Hehadthestrengthtopickuponeoftheheavypostsoftheporch。Holdingitunderhisarmpitlikealance，butwithbothhands，hechargedmadlytherock-

inghousewiththeforceofabattering-ram，burstingopenthedoorandrushingin，headlong，overourpros-

tratebodies。IandtheGeneralpickingourselvesup，boltedouttogether，withoutlookingroundoncetillwegotacrosstheroad。Then，clingingtoeachother，webeheldthehousechangesuddenlyintoaheapofform-

lessrubbishbehindthebackofaman，whostaggeredtowardsusbearingtheformofawomanclaspedinhisarms。Herlongblackhairhungnearlytohisfeet。Helaidherdownreverentlyontheheavingearth，andthemoonlightshoneonherclosedeyes。

"Senores，wemountedwithdifficulty。Ourhorsesgettingupplungedmadly，heldbythesoldierswhohadcomerunningfromallsides。Nobodythoughtofcatch-

ingGasparRuizthen。Theeyesofmenandanimalsshonewithwildfear。MygeneralapproachedGasparRuiz，whostoodmotionlessasastatueabovethegirl。

Helethimselfbeshakenbytheshoulderwithoutdetachinghiseyesfromherface。

""Queguape!"shoutedtheGeneralinhisear。"Youarethebravestmanliving。Youhavesavedmylife。

IamGeneralRobles。Cometomyquartersto-morrowifGodgivesusthegracetoseeanotherday。"

"Heneverstirred——asifdeaf，withoutfeeling，in-

sensible。

"Werodeawayforthetown，fullofourrelations，ofourfriends，ofwhosefatewehardlydaredtothink。

Thesoldiersranbythesideofourhorses。Everythingwasforgottenintheimmensityofthecatastropheover-

takingawholecountry。"……

GasparRuizsawthegirlopenhereyes。Theraisingofhereyelidsseemedtorecallhimfromatrance。Theywerealone；thecriesofterroranddistressfromhomelesspeoplefilledtheplainsofthecoastremoteandimmense，cominglikeawhisperintotheirloneliness。

Sheroseswiftlytoherfeet，dartingfearfulglancesonallsides。"Whatisit?"shecriedoutlow，andpeer-

ingintohisface。"WhereamI?"

Hebowedhisheadsadly，withoutaword。

"……Whoareyou?"

Hekneltdownslowlybeforeher，andtouchedthehemofhercoarseblackbaizeskirt。"Yourslave，"hesaid。

Shecaughtsightthenoftheheapofrubbishthathadbeenthehouse，allmistyinthecloudofdust。

"Ah!"shecried，pressingherhandtoherforehead。

"Icarriedyououtfromthere，"hewhisperedatherfeet。

"Andthey?"sheaskedinagreatsob。

Herose，andtakingherbythearms，ledhergentlytowardstheshapelessruinhalfoverwhelmedbyaland-

slide。"Comeandlisten，"hesaid。

Theserenemoonsawthemclamberingoverthatheapofstones，joistsandtiles，whichwasagrave。

Theypressedtheirearstotheinterstices，listeningforthesoundofagroan，forasighofpain。

Atlasthesaid，"Theydiedswiftly。Youarealone。"

Shesatdownonapieceofbrokentimberandputonearmacrossherface。Hewaited——thenapproachinghislipstoherear:"Letusgo，"hewhispered。

"Never——neverfromhere，"shecriedout，flingingherarmsaboveherhead。

Hestoopedoverher，andherraisedarmsfelluponhisshoulders。Heliftedherup，steadiedhimselfandbegantowalk，lookingstraightbeforehim。

"Whatareyoudoing?"sheasked，feebly。

"Iamescapingfrommyenemies，"hesaid，neveronceglancingathislightburden。

"Withme?"shesighed，helplessly。

"Neverwithoutyou，"hesaid。"Youaremystrength。"

Hepressedherclosetohim。Hisfacewasgraveandhisfootstepssteady。Theconflagrationsburstingoutintheruinsofdestroyedvillagesdottedtheplainwithredfires；andthesoundsofdistantlamentations，thecriesofMisericordia!Misericordia!madeadesolatemurmurinhisears。Hewalkedon，solemnandcol-

lected，asifcarryingsomethingholy，fragile，andprecious。

Theearthrockedattimesunderhisfeet。

IX

WITHmovementsofmechanicalcareandanairofabstractionoldGeneralSantierralightedalongandthickcigar。

"Itwasagoodmanyhoursbeforewecouldsendapartybacktotheravine，"hesaidtohisguests。"Wehadfoundone-thirdofthetownlaidlow，therestshakenup；andtheinhabitants，richandpoor，reducedtothesamestateofdistractionbytheuniversaldisaster。

Theaffectedcheerfulnessofsomecontrastedwiththedespairofothers。Inthegeneralconfusionanumberofrecklessthieves，withoutfearofGodorman，becameadangertothosewhofromthedownfalloftheirhomeshadmanagedtosavesomevaluables。Crying"Miseri-

cordia"louderthananyateverytremor，andbeatingtheirbreastwithonehand，thesescoundrelsrobbedthepoorvictimswiththeother，notevenstoppingshortofmurder。

"GeneralRobles"divisionwasoccupiedentirelyinguardingthedestroyedquartersofthetownfromthedepredationsoftheseinhumanmonsters。Takenupwithmydutiesoforderlyofficer，itwasonlyinthemorningthatIcouldassuremyselfofthesafetyofmyownfamily。Mymotherandmysistershadescapedwiththeirlivesfromthatballroom，whereIhadleftthemearlyintheevening。Irememberthosetwobeautifulyoungwomen——Godresttheirsouls——asifI

sawthemthismoment，inthegardenofourdestroyedhouse，palebutactive，assistingsomeofourpoorneigh-

bours，intheirsoiledball-dressesandwiththedustoffallenwallsontheirhair。Astomymother，shehadastoicalsoulinherfrailbody。Half-coveredbyacostlyshawl，shewaslyingonarusticseatbythesideofanornamentalbasinwhosefountainhadceasedtoplayforeveronthatnight。

"Ihadhardlyhadtimetoembracethemallwithtransportsofjoywhenmychief，comingalong，dis-

patchedmetotheravinewithafewsoldiers，tobringinmystrongman，ashecalledhim，andthatpalegirl。

"Buttherewasnooneforustobringin。Aland-

slidehadcoveredtheruinsofthehouse；anditwaslikealargemoundofearthwithonlytheendsofsometimbersvisiblehereandthere——nothingmore。

"ThuswerethetribulationsoftheoldRoyalistcoupleended。Anenormousandunconsecratedgravehadswallowedthemupalive，intheirunhappyobstinacyagainstthewillofapeopletobefree。Andtheirdaughterwasgone。

"ThatGasparRuizhadcarriedheroffIunderstoodverywell。Butasthecasewasnotforeseen，Ihadnoinstructionstopursuethem。AndcertainlyIhadnodesiretodoso。Ihadgrownmistrustfulofmyinter-

ference。Ithadneverbeensuccessful，andhadnotevenappearedcreditable。Hewasgone。Well，lethimgo。

AndhehadcarriedofftheRoyalistgirl!Nothingbetter。VayaconDios。Thiswasnotthetimetobotheraboutadeserterwho，justlyorunjustly，oughttohavebeendead，andagirlforwhomitwouldhavebeenbettertohaveneverbeenborn。

"SoImarchedmymenbacktothetown。

"Afterafewdays，orderhavingbeenre-established，alltheprincipalfamilies，includingmyown，leftforSantiago。Wehadafinehousethere。AtthesametimethedivisionofRobleswasmovedtonewcanton-

mentsnearthecapital。Thischangesuitedverywellthestateofmydomesticandamorousfeelings。

"Onenight，ratherlate，Iwascalledtomychief。I

foundGeneralRoblesinhisquarters，atease，withhisuniformoff，drinkingneatbrandyoutofatumbler——

asaprecaution，heusedtosay，againstthesleepless-

nessinducedbythebitesofmosquitoes。Hewasagoodsoldier，andhetaughtmetheartandpracticeofwar。

NodoubtGodhasbeenmercifultohissoul；forhismo-

tiveswereneverotherthanpatriotic，ifhischaracterwasirascible。Astotheuseofmosquitonets，heconsid-

erediteffeminate，shameful——unworthyofasoldier。

"Inoticedatthefirstglancethathisface，alreadyveryred，woreanexpressionofhighgood-humour。

""Aha!Senorteniente，"hecried，loudly，asIsalutedatthedoor。"Behold!Yourstrongmanhasturnedupagain。"

"Heextendedtomeafoldedletter，whichIsawwassuperscribed"TotheCommander-in-ChiefoftheRe-

publicanArmies。"

""This，"GeneralRobleswentoninhisloudvoice，"wasthrustbyaboyintothehandofasentryattheQuartelGeneral，whilethefellowstoodtherethinkingofhisgirl，nodoubt——forbeforehecouldgatherhiswitstogethertheboyhaddisappearedamongstthemarketpeople，andheprotestshecouldnotrecognizehimtosavehislife。"

""Mychieftoldmefurtherthatthesoldierhadgiventhelettertothesergeantoftheguard，andthatulti-

matelyithadreachedthehandsofourgeneralissimo。

HisExcellencyhaddeignedtotakecognizanceofitwithhisowneyes。AfterthathehadreferredthematterinconfidencetoGeneralRobles。

"Theletter，senores，Icannotnowrecollecttextually。

IsawthesignatureofGasparRuiz。Hewasanauda-

ciousfellow。Hehadsnatchedasoulforhimselfoutofacataclysm，remember。Andnowitwasthatsoulwhichhaddictatedthetermsofhisletter。Itstonewasveryindependent。Irememberitstruckmeatthetimeasnoble——dignified。Itwas，nodoubt，herletter。NowIshudderatthedepthofitsduplicity。

GasparRuizwasmadetocomplainoftheinjusticeofwhichhehadbeenavictim。Heinvokedhisprevi-

ousrecordoffidelityandcourage。HavingbeensavedfromdeathbythemiraculousinterpositionofProvi-

dence，hecouldthinkofnothingbutofretrievinghischaracter。This，hewrote，hecouldnothopetodointheranksasadiscreditedsoldierstillundersuspicion。

Hehadthemeanstogiveastrikingproofofhisfidelity。

HehadendedbyproposingtotheGeneral-in-ChiefameetingatmidnightinthemiddleofthePlazabe-

foretheMoneta。Thesignalwouldbetostrikefirewithflintandsteelthreetimes，whichwasnottoocon-

spicuousandyetdistinctiveenoughforrecognition。

"SanMartin，thegreatLiberator，lovedmenofaudacityandcourage。Besides，hewasjustandcom-

passionate。Itoldhimasmuchoftheman"sstoryasI

knew，andwasorderedtoaccompanyhimontheap-

pointednight。Thesignalsweredulyexchanged。Itwasmidnight，andthewholetownwasdarkandsilent。

TheirtwocloakedfigurescametogetherinthecentreofthevastPlaza，and，keepingdiscreetlyatadistance，I

listenedforanhourormoretothemurmuroftheirvoices。ThentheGeneralmotionedmetoapproach；

andasIdidsoIheardSanMartin，whowascourteoustogentleandsimplealike，offerGasparRuizthehospi-

talityoftheheadquartersforthenight。Butthesol-

dierrefused，sayingthathewouldbenotworthyofthathonourtillhehaddonesomething。

""Youcannothaveacommondeserterforyourguest，Excellency，"heprotestedwithalowlaugh，andsteppingbackwardsmergedslowlyintothenight。

"TheCommander-in-Chiefobservedtome，asweturnedaway:"Hehadsomebodywithhim，ourfriendRuiz。Isawtwofiguresforamoment。Itwasanun-

obtrusivecompanion。"

"I，too，hadobservedanotherfigurejointhevanishingformofGasparRuiz。Ithadtheappearanceofashortfellowinaponchoandabighat。AndIwonderedstupidlywhoitcouldbehehaddaredtakeintohiscon-

fidence。Imighthaveguesseditcouldbenoonebutthatfatalgirl——alas!

"WherehekeptherconcealedIdonotknow。Hehad——itwasknownafterwards——anuncle，hismother"sbrother，asmallshopkeeperinSantiago。Perhapsitwastherethatshefoundaroofandfood。Whatevershefound，itwaspoorenoughtoexasperateherprideandkeepupherangerandhate。Itiscertainshedidnotaccompanyhimonthefeatheundertooktoaccomplishfirstofall。ItwasnothinglessthanthedestructionofastoreofwarmaterialcollectedsecretlybytheSpanishau-