A Set of Six

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。

"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。

"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。"