THEsixstoriesinthisvolumearetheresultofsomethreeorfouryearsofoccasionalwork。Thedatesoftheirwritingarefarapart，theiroriginsarevarious。
Noneofthemareconnecteddirectlywithpersonalex-
periences。Inallofthemthefactsareinherentlytrue，bywhichImeanthattheyarenotonlypossiblebutthattheyhaveactuallyhappened。Forinstance，thelaststoryinthevolume，theoneIcallPathetic，whosefirsttitleisIlCondemisspeltby-the-byisanalmostverbatimtranscriptofthetaletoldmebyaverycharmingoldgentlemanwhomImetinItaly。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，andthataprettywideonealltheSouthAmericanContinent，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
ASETOFSIX
GASPARRUIZ
I
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。
II
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。
IV
"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。"
V
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!"