thoritiesinthesouth，inatowncalledLinares。GasparRuizwasentrustedwithasmallpartyonly，buttheyprovedthemselvesworthyofSanMartin'sconfidence。
Theseasonwasnotpropitious。Theyhadtoswimswollenrivers。Theyseemed，however，tohavegal-
lopednightanddayout-ridingthenewsoftheirforay，andholdingstraightforthetown，ahundredmilesintotheenemy'scountry，tillatbreakofdaytheyrodeintoitswordinhand，surprisingthelittlegarrison。
Itfledwithoutmakingastand，leavingmostofitsofficersinGasparRuiz'hands。
"Agreatexplosionofgunpowderendedthecon-
flagrationofthemagazinestheraidershadsetonfirewithoutlossoftime。Inlessthansixhourstheywereridingawayatthesamemadspeed，withoutthelossofasingleman。Goodastheywere，suchanexploitisnotperformedwithoutastillbetterleadership。
"IwasdiningattheheadquarterswhenGasparRuizhimselfbroughtthenewsofhissuccess。AnditwasagreatblowtotheRoyalisttroops。Foraproofhedisplayedtousthegarrison'sflag。Hetookitfromunderhisponchoandflungitonthetable。Themanwastransfigured；therewassomethingexultingandmenacingintheexpressionofhisface。HestoodbehindGeneralSanMartin'schairandlookedproudlyatusall。Hehadaroundbluecapedgedwithsilverbraidonhishead，andweallcouldseealargewhitescaronthenapeofhissunburntneck。
"SomebodyaskedhimwhathehaddonewiththecapturedSpanishofficers。
"Heshruggedhisshouldersscornfully。'Whataquestiontoask!Inapartisanwaryoudonotburdenyourselfwithprisoners。Iletthemgo——andherearetheirsword-knots。'
"Heflungabunchofthemonthetableupontheflag。ThenGeneralRobles，whomIwasattendingthere，spokeupinhisloud，thickvoice:'Youdid!Then，mybravefriend，youdonotknowyethowawarlikeoursoughttobeconducted。Youshouldhavedone——this。'
Andhepassedtheedgeofhishandacrosshisownthroat。
"Alas，senores!Itwasonlytootruethatonbothsidesthiscontest，initsnaturesoheroic，wasstainedbyferocity。ThemurmursthataroseatGeneralRobles'
wordswerebynomeansunanimousintone。ButthegenerousandbraveSanMartinpraisedthehumaneaction，andpointedouttoRuizaplaceonhisrighthand。Thenrisingwithafullglassheproposedatoast:'Caballerosandcomrades-in-arms，letusdrinkthehealthofCaptainGasparRuiz。'Andwhenwehademptiedourglasses:'Iintend，'theCommander-in-
Chiefcontinued，'toentrusthimwiththeguardianshipofoursouthernfrontier，whilewegoafartoliberateourbrethreninPeru。Hewhomtheenemycouldnotstopfromstrikingablowathisveryheartwillknowhowtoprotectthepeacefulpopulationsweleavebehindustopursueoursacredtask。'AndheembracedthesilentGasparRuizbyhisside。
"Lateron，whenweallrosefromtable，Iapproachedthelatestofficerofthearmywithmycongratulations。
'And，CaptainRuiz，'Iadded，'perhapsyoudonotmindtellingamanwhohasalwaysbelievedintheupright-
nessofyourcharacterwhatbecameofDonaErminiaonthatnight?'
"Atthisfriendlyquestionhisaspectchanged。Helookedatmefromunderhiseyebrowswiththeheavy，dullglanceofaguasso——ofapeasant。'Senorteniente，'
hesaid，thickly，andasifverymuchcastdown，'donotaskmeaboutthesenorita，forIprefernottothinkaboutheratallwhenIamamongstyou。"
"Helooked，withafrown，allabouttheroom，fullofsmokingandtalkingofficers。OfcourseIdidnotinsist。
"These，senores，werethelastwordsIwastohearhimutterforalong，longtime。Theverynextdayweem-
barkedforourarduousexpeditiontoPeru，andweonlyheardofGasparRuiz'doingsinthemidstofbattlesofourown。Hehadbeenappointedmilitaryguardianofoursouthernprovince。Heraisedapartida。ButhisleniencytotheconqueredfoedispleasedtheCivilGovernor，whowasaformal，uneasyman，fullofsuspicions。HeforwardedreportsagainstGasparRuiztotheSupremeGovernment；oneofthembeingthathehadmarriedpublicly，withgreatpomp，awomanofRoyalisttendencies。Quarrelsweresuretoarisebe-
tweenthesetwomenofverydifferentcharacter。AtlasttheCivilGovernorbegantocomplainofhisinactivityandtohintattreachery，which，hewrote，wouldbenotsurprisinginamanofsuchantecedents。GasparRuizheardofit。Hisrageflamedup，andthewomaneverbyhissideknewhowtofeeditwithperfidiouswords。
IdonotknowwhetherreallytheSupremeGovernmenteverdid——ashecomplainedafterwards——sendordersforhisarrest。ItseemscertainthattheCivilGovernorbegantotamperwithhisofficers，andthatGasparRuizdiscoveredthefact。
"Oneevening，whentheGovernorwasgivingatertullia，GasparRuiz，followedbysixmenhecouldtrust，appearedridingthroughthetowntothedooroftheGovernmentHouse，andenteredthesalaarmed，hishatonhishead。AstheGovernor，displeased，ad-
vancedtomeethim，heseizedthewretchedmanroundthebody，carriedhimofffromthemidstoftheappalledguests，asthoughhewereachild，andflunghimdowntheouterstepsintothestreet。AnangryhugfromGasparRuizwasenoughtocrushthelifeoutofagiant；
butinadditionGasparRuiz'horsemenfiredtheirpistolsatthebodyoftheGovernorasitlaymotionlessatthebottomofthestairs。
X
"AFTERthis——ashecalledit——actofjustice，RuizcrossedtheRioBlanco，followedbythegreaterpartofhisband，andentrenchedhimselfuponahill。A
companyofregulartroopssentoutfoolishlyagainsthimwassurrounded，anddestroyedalmosttoaman。
Otherexpeditions，thoughbetterorganized，wereequallyunsuccessful。
"Itwasduringthesesanguinaryskirmishesthathiswifefirstbegantoappearonhorsebackathisrighthand。Renderedproudandself-confidentbyhissuc-
cesses，Ruiznolongerchargedattheheadofhispartida，butpresumptuously，likeageneraldirectingthemove-
mentsofanarmy，heremainedintherear，wellmountedandmotionlessonaneminence，sendingouthisorders。
Shewasseenrepeatedlyathisside，andforalongtimewasmistakenforaman。Therewasmuchtalkthenofamysteriouswhite-facedchief，towhomthedefeatsofourtroopswereascribed。SherodelikeanIndianwoman，astride，wearingabroad-rimmedman'shatandadarkponcho。Afterwards，inthedayoftheirgreatestprosperity，thisponchowasembroideredingold，andsheworethen，also，theswordofpoorDonAntoniodeLeyva。ThisveteranChilianofficer，havingthemis-
fortunetobesurroundedwithhissmallforce，andrunningshortofammunition，foundhisdeathatthehandsoftheAraucoIndians，thealliesandauxiliariesofGasparRuiz。Thiswasthefatalaffairlongremem-
beredafterwardsasthe'MassacreoftheIsland。'TheswordoftheunhappyofficerwaspresentedtoherbyPeneleo，theAraucanianchief；fortheseIndians，struckbyheraspect，thedeathlypallorofherface，whichnoexposuretotheweatherseemedtoaffect，andhercalmindifferenceunderfire，lookeduponherasasupernat-
uralbeing，oratleastasawitch。BythissuperstitiontheprestigeandauthorityofGasparRuizamongsttheseignorantpeopleweregreatlyaugmented。ShemusthavesavouredhervengeancetothefullonthatdaywhenshebuckledontheswordofDonAntoniodeLeyva。Itneverleftherside，unlesssheputonherwoman'sclothes——notthatshewouldorcouldeveruseit，butshelovedtofeelitbeatinguponherthighasaperpetualreminderandsymbolofthedishonourtothearmsoftheRepublic。Shewasinsatiable。Moreover，onthepathshehadledGasparRuizupon，thereisnostopping。Escapedprisoners——andtheywerenotmany——usedtorelatehowwithafewwhisperedwordsshecouldchangetheexpressionofhisfaceandrevivehisflagginganimosity。Theytoldhowaftereveryskirm-
ish，aftereveryraid，aftereverysuccessfulaction，hewouldrideuptoherandlookintoherface。Itshaughtycalmwasneverrelaxed。Herembrace，senores，musthavebeenascoldastheembraceofastatue。Hetriedtomelthericyheartinastreamofwarmblood。SomeEnglishnavalofficerswhovisitedhimatthattimenoticedthestrangecharacterofhisinfatuation。"
AtthemovementofsurpriseandcuriosityinhisaudienceGeneralSantierrapausedforamoment。
"Yes——Englishnavalofficers，"herepeated。"Ruizhadconsentedtoreceivethemtoarrangeforthelibera-
tionofsomeprisonersofyournationality。Intheterritoryuponwhichheranged，fromseacoasttotheCordillera，therewasabaywheretheshipsofthattime，afterroundingCapeHorn，usedtoresortforwoodandwater。There，decoyingthecrewonshore，hecapturedfirstthewhalingbrigHersalia，andafterwardsmadehimselfmasterbysurpriseoftwomoreships，oneEnglishandoneAmerican。
"Itwasrumouredatthetimethathedreamedofsettingupanavyofhisown。Butthat，ofcourse，wasimpossible。Still，manningthebrigwithpartofherowncrew，andputtinganofficerandagoodmanymenofhisownonboard，hesentherofftotheSpanishGovernoroftheislandofChiloewithareportofhisexploits，andademandforassistanceinthewaragainsttherebels。TheGovernorcouldnotdomuchforhim；
buthesentinreturntwolightfield-pieces，aletterofcompliments，withacolonel'scommissionintheroyalforces，andagreatSpanishflag。ThisstandardwithmuchceremonywashoistedoverhishouseintheheartoftheAraucocountry。Surelyonthatdayshemayhavesmiledonherguassohusbandwithalesshaughtyreserve。
"TheseniorofficeroftheEnglishsquadrononourcoastmaderepresentationstoourGovernmentastothesecaptures。ButGasparRuizrefusedtotreatwithus。ThenanEnglishfrigateproceededtothebay，andhercaptain，doctor，andtwolieutenantstravelledinlandunderasafe-conduct。Theywerewellreceived，andspentthreedaysasguestsofthepartisanchief。Asortofmilitarybarbaricstatewaskeptupattheresidence。
Itwasfurnishedwiththelootoffrontiertowns。Whenfirstadmittedtotheprincipalsala，theysawhiswifelyingdownshewasnotingoodhealththen，withGasparRuizsittingatthefootofthecouch。Hishatwaslyingonthefloor，andhishandsreposedonthehiltofhissword。
"Duringthatfirstconversationheneverremovedhisbighandsfromthesword-hilt，exceptonce，toarrangethecoveringsabouther，withgentle，carefultouches。
Theynoticedthatwhenevershespokehewouldfixhiseyesuponherinakindofexpectant，breathlessatten-
tion，andseeminglyforgettheexistenceoftheworldandhisownexistence，too。Inthecourseofthefarewellbanquet，atwhichshewaspresentrecliningonhercouch，heburstforthintocomplaintsofthetreatmenthehadreceived。AfterGeneralSanMartin'sdeparturehehadbeenbesetbyspies，slanderedbycivilofficials，hisservicesignored，hislibertyandevenhislifethreatenedbytheChilianGovernment。Hegotupfromthetable，thunderedexecrationspacingtheroomwildly，thensatdownonthecouchathiswife'sfeet，hisbreastheaving，hiseyesfixedonthefloor。Shereclinedonherback，herheadonthecushions，hereyesnearlyclosed。
"'AndnowIamanhonouredSpanishofficer，'headdedinacalmvoice。
"ThecaptainoftheEnglishfrigatethentooktheopportunitytoinformhimgentlythatLimahadfallen，andthatbythetermsofaconventiontheSpaniardswerewithdrawingfromthewholecontinent。
"GasparRuizraisedhishead，andwithouthesitation，speakingwithsuppressedvehemence，declaredthatifnotasingleSpanishsoldierwereleftinthewholeofSouthAmericahewouldpersistincarryingonthecon-
testagainstChiletothelastdropofblood。Whenhefinishedthatmadtiradehiswife'slongwhitehandwasraised，andshejustcaressedhiskneewiththetipsofherfingersforafractionofasecond。
"Fortherestoftheofficers'stay，whichdidnotextendformorethanhalfanhourafterthebanquet，thatferociouschieftainofadesperatepartidaover-
flowedwithamiabilityandkindness。Hehadbeenhospitablebefore，butnowitseemedasthoughhecouldnotdoenoughforthecomfortandsafetyofhisvisitors'
journeybacktotheirship。
"Nothing，Ihavebeentold，couldhavepresentedagreatercontrasttohislateviolenceorthehabitualtaciturnreserveofhismanner。Likeamanelatedbeyondmeasurebyanunexpectedhappiness，heover-
flowedwithgood-will，amiability，andattentions。Heembracedtheofficerslikebrothers，almostwithtearsinhiseyes。Thereleasedprisonerswerepresentedeachwithapieceofgold。Atthelastmoment，suddenly，hedeclaredhecoulddonolessthanrestoretothemastersofthemerchantvesselsalltheirprivateproperty。Thisunexpectedgenerositycausedsomedelayinthedepar-
tureoftheparty，andtheirfirstmarchwasveryshort。
"LateintheeveningGasparRuizrodeupwithanescort，totheircampfires，bringingalongwithhimamuleloadedwithcasesofwine。Hehadcome，hesaid，todrinkastirrupcupwithhisEnglishfriends，whomhewouldneverseeagain。Hewasmellowandjoyousinhistemper。Hetoldstoriesofhisownexploits，laughedlikeaboy，borrowedaguitarfromtheEnglishmen'schiefmuleteer，andsittingcross-leggedonhissuperfinepon-
chospreadbeforetheglowoftheembers，sangaguassolove-songinatendervoice。Thenhisheaddroppedonhisbreast，hishandsfelltotheground；theguitarrolledoffhisknees——andagreathushfelloverthecampafterthelove-songoftheimplacablepartisanwhohadmadesomanyofourpeopleweepfordestroyedhomesandforlovescutshort。
"Beforeanybodycouldmakeasoundhesprangupfromthegroundandcalledforhishorse。
"'Adios，myfriends!'hecried。'GowithGod。I
loveyou。AndtellthemwellinSantiagothatbetweenGasparRuiz，coloneloftheKingofSpain，andtherepublicancarrion-crowsofChilethereiswartothelastbreath——war!war!war!'
"Withagreatyellof'War!war!war!'whichhisescorttookup，theyrodeaway，andthesoundofhoofsandofvoicesdiedoutinthedistancebetweentheslopesofthehills。
"ThetwoyoungEnglishofficerswereconvincedthatRuizwasmad。Howdoyousaythat?——tileloose——eh?
Butthedoctor，anobservantScotsmanwithmuchshrewdnessandphilosophyinhischaracter，toldmethatitwasaverycuriouscaseofpossession。Imethimmanyyearsafterwards，butherememberedtheexperi-
enceverywell。Hetoldme，too，thatinhisopinionthatwomandidnotleadGasparRuizintothepracticeofsanguinarytreacherybydirectpersuasion，butbythesubtlewayofawakeningandkeepingaliveinhissimplemindaburningsenseofanirreparablewrong。Maybe，maybe。ButIwouldsaythatshepouredhalfofhervengefulsoulintothestrongclayofthatman，asyoumaypourintoxication，madness，poisonintoanemptycup。
"IfhewantedwarhegotitinearnestwhenourvictoriousarmybegantoreturnfromPeru。Systematicoperationswereplannedagainstthisblotonthehonourandprosperityofourhardlywonindependence。Gen-
eralRoblescommanded，withhiswell-knownruthlessseverity。Savagereprisalswereexercisedonbothsidesandnoquarterwasgiveninthefield。HavingwonmypromotioninthePerucampaign，Iwasacaptainonthestaff。GasparRuizfoundhimselfhardpressed；atthesametimeweheardbymeansofafugitivepriestwhohadbeencarriedofffromhisvillagepresbyteryandgallopedeightymilesintothehillstoperformthechristeningceremony，thatadaughterwasborntothem。
Tocelebratetheevent，Isuppose，Ruizexecutedoneortwobrilliantforaysclearawayattherearofourforces，anddefeatedthedetachmentssentouttocutoffhisretreat。GeneralRoblesnearlyhadastrokeofapoplexyfromrage。Hefoundanothercauseofinsomniathanthebitesofmosquitoes；butagainstthisone，senores，tumblersofrawbrandyhadnomoreeffectthansomuchwater。Hetooktorailingandstormingatmeaboutmystrongman。AndfromourimpatiencetoendthisingloriouscampaignIamafraidthatallweyoungofficersbecamerecklessandapttotakeunduerisksonservice。
"Nevertheless，slowly，inchbyinchasitwere，ourcolumnswereclosinguponGasparRuiz，thoughhehadmanagedtoraisealltheAraucaniannationofwildIndiansagainstus。ThenayearormorelaterourGovernmentbecameawarethroughitsagentsandspiesthathehadactuallyenteredintoalliancewithCar-
reras，theso-calleddictatoroftheso-calledrepublicofMendoza，ontheothersideofthemountains。WhetherGasparRuizhadadeeppoliticalintention，orwhetherhewishedonlytosecureasaferetreatforhiswifeandchildwhilehepursuedremorselesslyagainstushiswarofsurprisesandmassacres，Icannottell。Thealliance，however，wasafact。Defeatedinhisattempttocheckouradvancefromthesea，heretreatedwithhisusualswiftness，andpreparingforanotherhardandhazardoustussle，beganbysendinghiswifewiththelittlegirlacrossthePequenarangeofmountains，onthefrontierofMendoza。
XI
"NowCarreras，undertheguiseofpoliticsandliberalism，wasascoundrelofthedeepestdye，andtheunhappystateofMendozawasthepreyofthieves，robbers，traitors，andmurderers，whoformedhisparty。
Hewasunderanobleexterioramanwithoutheart，pity，honour，orconscience。Heaspiredtonothingbuttyranny，andthoughhewouldhavemadeuseofGasparRuizforhisnefariousdesigns，yethesoonbecameawarethattopropitiatetheChilianGovern-
mentwouldanswerhispurposebetter。IblushtosaythathemadeproposalstoourGovernmenttodeliveruponcertainconditionsthewifeandchildofthemanwhohadtrustedtohishonour，andthatthisofferwasaccepted。
"WhileonherwaytoMendozaoverthePequenaPassshewasbetrayedbyherescortofCarreras'men，andgivenuptotheofficerincommandofaChilianfortontheuplandatthefootofthemainCordillerarange。
Thisatrocioustransactionmighthavecostmedear，forasamatteroffactIwasaprisonerinGasparRuiz'
campwhenhereceivedthenews。Ihadbeencapturedduringareconnaissance，myescortofafewtroopersbeingspearedbytheIndiansofhisbodyguard。Iwassavedfromthesamefatebecauseherecognizedmyfeaturesjustintime。NodoubtmyfriendsthoughtI
wasdead，andIwouldnothavegivenmuchformylifeatanytime。Butthestrongmantreatedmeverywell，because，hesaid，Ihadalwaysbelievedinhisinnocenceandhadtriedtoservehimwhenhewasavictimofinjustice。
"'Andnow，'washisspeechtome，'youshallseethatIalwaysspeakthetruth。Youaresafe。'
"IdidnotthinkIwasverysafewhenIwascalleduptogotohimonenight。Hepacedupanddownlikeawildbeast，exclaiming，'Betrayed!Betrayed!'
"Hewalkeduptomeclenchinghisfists。'Icouldcutyourthroat。'
"'Willthatgiveyourwifebacktoyou?'IsaidasquietlyasIcould。
"'Andthechild!'heyelledout，asifmad。Hefellintoachairandlaughedinafrightful，boisterousmanner。'Oh，no，youaresafe。'
"Iassuredhimthathiswife'slifewassafe，too；butIdidnotsaywhatIwasconvincedof——thathewouldneverseeheragain。Hewantedwartothedeath，andthewarcouldonlyendwithhisdeath。
"Hegavemeastrange，inexplicablelook，andsatmutteringblankly，'Intheirhands。Intheirhands。'
"Ikeptasstillasamousebeforeacat。
"Suddenlyhejumpedup。'WhatamIdoinghere?'hecried；andopeningthedoor，heyelledoutorderstosaddleandmount。'Whatisit?'hestam-
mered，cominguptome。'ThePequenafort；afortofpalisades!Nothing。Iwouldgetherbackifshewerehiddenintheveryheartofthemoun-
tain。'Heamazedmebyadding，withaneffort:"I
carriedheroffinmytwoarmswhiletheearthtrembled。Andthechildatleastismine。Sheatleastismine!'
"Thosewerebizarrewords；butIhadnotimeforwonder。
"'Youshallgowithme，'hesaid，violently。'Imaywanttoparley，andanyothermessengerfromRuiz，theoutlaw，wouldhavehisthroatcut。'
"Thiswastrueenough。Betweenhimandtherestofincensedmankindtherecouldbenocommunication，accordingtothecustomsofhonourablewarfare。
"Inlessthanhalfanhourwewereinthesaddle，flyingwildlythroughthenight。Hehadonlyanescortoftwentymenathisquarters，butwouldnotwaitformore。Hesent，however，messengerstoPeneleo，theIndianchiefthenranginginthefoothills，directinghimtobringhiswarriorstotheuplandsandmeethimatthelakecalledtheEyeofWater，nearwhoseshoresthefrontierfortofPequenawasbuilt。
"WecrossedthelowlandswiththatuntiredrapidityofmovementwhichhadmadeGasparRuiz'raidssofamous。Wefollowedthelowervalleysuptotheirprecipitousheads。Theridewasnotwithoutitsdan-
gers。Acorniceroadonaperpendicularwallofbasaltwounditselfaroundabuttressingrock，andatlastweemergedfromthegloomofadeepgorgeupontheuplandofPequena。
"Itwasaplainofgreenwirygrassandthinflower-
ingbushes；buthighaboveourheadspatchesofsnowhunginthefoldsandcrevicesofthegreatwallsofrock。
Thelittlelakewasasroundasastaringeye。Thegarri-
sonofthefortwerejustdrivingintheirsmallherdofcattlewhenweappeared。Thenthegreatwoodengatesswungto，andthatfour-squareenclosureofbroadblackenedstakespointedatthetopandbarelyhidingthegrassroofsofthehutsinsideseemeddeserted，empty，withoutasinglesoul。
"Butwhensummonedtosurrender，byamanwhoatGasparRuiz'orderrodefearlesslyforwardthoseinsideansweredbyavolleywhichrolledhimandhishorseover。IheardRuizbymysidegrindhisteeth。'Itdoesnotmatter，'hesaid。'Nowyougo。'
"Tornandfadedasitsragswere，thevestigesofmyuniformwererecognized，andIwasallowedtoapproachwithinspeakingdistance；andthenIhadtowait，becauseavoiceclamouringthroughaloopholewithjoyandastonishmentwouldnotallowmetoplaceaword。
ItwasthevoiceofMajorPajol，anoldfriend。He，likemyothercomrades，hadthoughtmekilledalongtimeago。
"'Putspurstoyourhorse，man!'heyelled，inthegreatestexcitement；'wewillswingthegateopenforyou。'
"Iletthereinsfalloutofmyhandandshookmyhead。'Iamonmyhonour，'Icried。
"'Tohim!'heshouted，withinfinitedisgust。
"'Hepromisesyouyourlife。'
"'Ourlifeisourown。Anddoyou，Santierra，adviseustosurrendertothatrastrero?'
"'No!'Ishouted。'Buthewantshiswifeandchild，andhecancutyouofffromwater。'
"'Thenshewouldbethefirsttosuffer。Youmaytellhimthat。Lookhere——thisisallnonsense:weshalldashoutandcaptureyou。'
"'Youshallnotcatchmealive，'Isaid，firmly。
"'Imbecile!'
"'ForGod'ssake，'Icontinued，hastily，'donotopenthegate。'AndIpointedatthemultitudeofPeneleo'sIndianswhocoveredtheshoresofthelake。
"Ihadneverseensomanyofthesesavagesto-
gether。Theirlancesseemedasnumerousasstalksofgrass。Theirhoarsevoicesmadeavast，inarticulatesoundlikethemurmurofthesea。
"MyfriendPajolwasswearingtohimself。'Well，then——gotothedevil!'heshouted，exasperated。ButasIswungroundherepented，forIheardhimsayhurriedly，'Shootthefool'shorsebeforehegetsaway。'
"Hehadgoodmarksmen。Twoshotsrangout，andintheveryactofturningmyhorsestaggered，fellandlaystillasifstruckbylightning。Ihadmyfeetoutofthestirrupsandrolledclearofhim；butIdidnotattempttorise。Neitherdaredtheyrushouttodragmein。
"ThemassesofIndianshadbeguntomoveuponthefort。Theyrodeupinsquadrons，trailingtheirlongchusos；thendismountedoutofmusket-shot，and，throw-
ingofftheirfurmantles，advancednakedtotheattack，stampingtheirfeetandshoutingincadence。Asheetofflameranthreetimesalongthefaceofthefortwithoutcheckingtheirsteadymarch。Theycrowdedrightuptotheverystakes，flourishingtheirbroadknives。
Butthispalisadewasnotfastenedtogetherwithhidelashingsintheusualway，butwithlongironnails，whichtheycouldnotcut。Dismayedatthefailureoftheirusualmethodofforcinganentrance，theheathen，whohadmarchedsosteadilyagainstthemusketryfire，brokeandfledunderthevolleysofthebesieged。
"DirectlytheyhadpassedmeontheiradvanceI
gotupandrejoinedGasparRuizonalowridgewhichjuttedoutupontheplain。Themusketryofhisownmenhadcoveredtheattack，butnowatasignfromhimatrumpetsoundedthe'Ceasefire。'Togetherwelookedinsilenceatthehopelessroutofthesavages。
"'Itmustbeasiege，then，'hemuttered。AndI
detectedhimwringinghishandsstealthily。
"Butwhatsortofsiegecoulditbe?WithoutanyneedformetorepeatmyfriendPajol'smessage，hedarednotcutthewaterofffromthebesieged。Theyhadplentyofmeat。And，indeed，iftheyhadbeenshorthewouldhavebeentooanxioustosendfoodintothestockadehadhebeenable。But，asamatteroffact，itwasweontheplainwhowerebeginningtofeelthepinchofhunger。
"Peneleo，theIndianchief，satbyourfirefoldedinhisamplemantleofguanacoskins。Hewasanathleticsavage，withanenormoussquareshockheadofhairresemblingastrawbeehiveinshapeandsize，andwithgrave，surly，much-linedfeatures。InhisbrokenSpan-
ishherepeated，growlinglikeabad-temperedwildbeast，thatifanopeningeversosmallweremadeinthestockadehismenwouldmarchinandgetthesenora——
nototherwise。
"GasparRuiz，sittingoppositehim，kepthiseyesfixedonthefortnightanddayasitwere，inawfulsi-
lenceandimmobility。Meantime，byrunnersfromthelowlandsthatarrivednearlyeveryday，weheardofthedefeatofoneofhislieutenantsintheMaipuvalley。
Scoutssentafarbroughtnewsofacolumnofinfantryadvancingthroughdistantpassestothereliefofthefort。Theywereslow，butwecouldtracetheirtoilfulprogressupthelowervalleys。IwonderedwhyRuizdidnotmarchtoattackanddestroythisthreat-
eningforce，insomewildgorgefitforanambuscade，inaccordancewithhisgeniusforguerillawarfare。
Buthisgeniusseemedtohaveabandonedhimtohisdespair。
"Itwasobvioustomethathecouldnottearhimselfawayfromthesightofthefort。Iprotesttoyou，senores，thatIwasmovedalmosttopitybythesightofthispowerlessstrongmansittingontheridge，indiffer-
enttosun，torain，tocold，towind；withhishandsclaspedroundhislegsandhischinrestingonhisknees，gazing——gazing——gazing。
"Andtheforthekepthiseyesfastenedonwasasstillandsilentashimself。Thegarrisongavenosignoflife。Theydidnotevenanswerthedesultoryfiredirectedattheloopholes。
"Onenight，asIstrolledpasthim，he，withoutchanginghisattitude，spoketomeunexpectedly。'I
havesentforagun，'hesaid。'IshallhavetimetogetherbackandretreatbeforeyourRoblesmanagestocrawluphere。'
"Hehadsentforaguntotheplains。
"Itwaslongincoming，butatlastitcame。Itwasaseven-pounderfieldgun。Dismountedandlashedcrosswisetotwolongpoles，ithadbeencarriedupthenarrowpathsbetweentwomuleswithease。Hiswildcryofexultationatdaybreakwhenhesawthegunescortemergefromthevalleyringsinmyearsnow。
"But，senores，Ihavenowordstodepicthisamaze-
ment，hisfury，hisdespairanddistraction，whenheheardthattheanimalloadedwiththegun-carriagehad，duringthelastnightmarch，somehoworothertumbleddownaprecipice。Hebrokeintomenacesofdeathandtortureagainsttheescort。Ikeptoutofhiswayallthatday，lyingbehindsomebushes，andwonderingwhathewoulddonow。Retreatwasleftforhim，buthecouldnotretreat。
"Isawbelowmehisartillerist，Jorge，anoldSpanishsoldier，buildingupasortofstructurewithheaped-upsaddles。Thegun，readyloaded，wasliftedontothat，butintheactoffiringthewholethingcollapsedandtheshotflewhighabovethestockade。
"Nothingmorewasattempted。Oneoftheammuni-
tionmuleshadbeenlost，too，andtheyhadnomorethansixshotstofire；ampleenoughtobatterdownthegateprovidingthegunwaswelllaid。Thiswasimpossiblewithoutitbeingproperlymounted。Therewasnotimenormeanstoconstructacarriage。AlreadyeverymomentIexpectedtohearRobles'bugle-callsechoamongstthecrags。
"Peneleo，wanderingaboutuneasily，drapedinhisskins，satdownforamomentnearmegrowlinghisusualtale。
"'Makeanentrada——ahole。Ifmakeahole，bueno。
Ifnotmakeahole，thenvamos——wemustgoaway。'
"AftersunsetIobservedwithsurprisetheIndiansmakingpreparationsasifforanotherassault。Theirlinesstoodrangedintheshadowsofthemountains。
OntheplaininfrontofthefortgateIsawagroupofmenswayingaboutinthesameplace。
"Iwalkeddowntheridgedisregarded。Themoon-
lightintheclearairoftheuplandswasbrightasday，buttheintenseshadowsconfusedmysight，andIcouldnotmakeoutwhattheyweredoing。IheardthevoiceofJorge，theartillerist，sayinaqueer，doubtfultone，'Itisloaded，senor。'
"Thenanothervoiceinthatgrouppronouncedfirmlythewords，'Bringtheriatahere。'ItwasthevoiceofGasparRuiz。
"Asilencefell，inwhichthepoppingshotsofthebesiegedgarrisonrangoutsharply。They，too，hadobservedthegroup。Butthedistancewastoogreatandinthespatterofspentmusket-ballscuttinguptheground，thegroupopened，closed，swayed，givingmeaglimpseofbusystoopingfiguresinitsmidst。I
drewnearer，doubtingwhetherthiswasaweirdvision，asuggestiveandinsensatedream。
"Astrangelystifledvoicecommanded，'Haulthehitchestighter。'
"'Si，senor，'severalothervoicesansweredintonesofawedalacrity。
"Thenthestifledvoicesaid:'Likethis。Imustbefreetobreathe。'
"Thentherewasaconcernednoiseofmanymentogether。'Helphimup，hombres。Steady!Undertheotherarm。'
"Thatdeadenedvoiceordered:'Bueno!Standawayfromme，men。'
"Ipushedmywaythroughtherecoilingcircle，andheardoncemorethatsameoppressedvoicesayingearnestly:'ForgetthatIamalivingman，Jorge。
Forgetmealtogether，andthinkofwhatyouhavetodo。'
"'Bewithoutfear，senor。Youarenothingtomebutagun-carriage，andIshallnotwasteashot。'
"Iheardthesplutteringofaport-fire，andsmeltthesaltpetreofthematch。Isawsuddenlybeforemeanondescriptshapeonallfourslikeabeast，butwithaman'sheaddroopingbelowatubularprojectionoverthenapeoftheneck，andthegleamofaroundedmassofbronzeonitsback。
"Infrontofasilentsemicircleofmenitsquattedalone，withJorgebehinditandatrumpetermotionless，histrumpetinhishand，byitsside。
"Jorge，bentdouble，muttered，port-fireinhand:
'Aninchtotheleft，senor。Toomuch。So。Now，ifyouletyourselfdownalittlebylettingyourelbowsbend，Iwill……'
"Heleapedaside，loweringhisport-fire，andaburstofflamedartedoutofthemuzzleofthegunlashedontheman'sback。
"ThenGasparRuizloweredhimselfslowly。'Goodshot?'heasked。
"'Fullon，senor。'
"'Thenloadagain。'
"Helaytherebeforemeonhisbreastunderthedarklyglitteringbronzeofhismonstrousburden，suchasnoloveorstrengthofmanhadeverhadtobearinthelamentablehistoryoftheworld。Hisarmswerespreadout，andheresembledaprostratepenitentonthemoonlitground。
"AgainIsawhimraisedtohishandsandkneesandthemenstandawayfromhim，andoldJorgestoopglancingalongthegun。
'"Leftalittle。Rightaninch。PorDios，senor，stopthistrembling。Whereisyourstrength?'
"Theoldgunner'svoicewascrackedwithemotion。
Hesteppedaside，andquickaslightningbroughtthesparktothetouch-hole。
"'Excellent!'hecried，tearfully；butGasparRuizlayforalongtimesilent，flattenedontheground。
"'Iamtired，'hemurmuredatlast。'Willanothershotdoit?'
"'Withoutdoubt，'saidJorge，bendingdowntohisear。
"'Then——load，'Iheardhimutterdistinctly。
'Trumpeter!'
"'Iamhere，senor，readyforyourword。'
"'BlowablastatthiswordthatshallbeheardfromoneendofChiletotheother，'hesaid，inanextraordinarilystrongvoice。'Andyouothersstandreadytocutthisaccursedriata，forthenwillbethetimeformetoleadyouinyourrush。Nowraisemeup，andyou，Jorge——bequickwithyouraim。'
"Therattleofmusketryfromthefortnearlydrownedhisvoice。Thepalisadewaswreathedinsmokeandflame。
"'Exertyourforceforwardagainsttherecoil，miamo，'saidtheoldgunner，shakily。'Digyourfingersintotheground。So。Now!'
"Acryofexultationescapedhimaftertheshot。
Thetrumpeterraisedhistrumpetnearlytohislipsandwaited。Butnowordcamefromtheprostrateman。Ifellononeknee，andheardallhehadtosaythen。
"'Somethingbroken，'hewhispered，liftinghisheadalittle，andturninghiseyestowardsmeinhishope-
lesslycrushedattitude。
"'Thegatehangsonlybythesplinters，'yelledJorge。
"GasparRuiztriedtospeak，buthisvoicediedoutinhisthroat，andIhelpedtorollthegunoffhisbrokenback。Hewasinsensible。
"Ikeptmylipsshut，ofcourse。ThesignalfortheIndianstoattackwasnevergiven。Instead，thebugle-
callsoftherelievingforceforwhichmyearshadthirstedsolong，burstout，terrifyinglikethecalloftheLastDaytooursurprisedenemies。
"Atornado，senores，arealhurricaneofstampededmen，wildhorses，mountedIndians，sweptovermeasI
coweredonthegroundbythesideofGasparRuiz，stillstretchedoutonhisfaceintheshapeofacross。Pe-
neleo，gallopingforlife，jabbedatmewithhislongchusoinpassing——forthesakeofoldacquaintance，I
suppose。HowIescapedtheflyingleadismoredifficulttoexplain。Venturingtoriseonmykneestoosoonsomesoldiersofthe17thTaltalregiment，intheirhurrytogetatsomethingalive，nearlybayonetedmeonthespot。Theylookedverydisappointed，too，when，someofficersgallopingupdrovethemawaywiththeflatoftheirswords。
"ItwasGeneralRobleswithhisstaff。Hewantedbadlytomakesomeprisoners。He，too，seemeddis-
appointedforamoment。'What!Isityou?'hecried。
Buthedismountedatoncetoembraceme，forhewasanoldfriendofmyfamily。Ipointedtothebodyatourfeet，andsaidonlythesetwowords:
"'GasparRuiz。'
"Hethrewhisarmsupinastonishment。
"'Aha!Yourstrongman!Alwaystothelastwithyourstrongman。Nomatter。Hesavedourliveswhentheearthtrembledenoughtomakethebravestfaintwithfear。Iwasfrightenedoutofmywits。Buthe——no!Queguape!Where'stheherowhogotthebestofhim?ha!ha!ha!Whatkilledhim，chico?'
"'Hisownstrength，General，'Ianswered。
XII
"BUTGasparRuizbreathedyet。Ihadhimcarriedinhisponchoundertheshelterofsomebushesontheveryridgefromwhichhehadbeengazingsofixedlyatthefortwhileunseendeathwashoveringalreadyoverhishead。
"Ourtroopshadbivouackedroundthefort。TowardsdaybreakIwasnotsurprisedtohearthatIwasdesig-
natedtocommandtheescortofaprisonerwhowastobesentdownatoncetoSantiago。OfcoursetheprisonerwasGasparRuiz'wife。
"'Ihavenamedyououtofregardforyourfeelings，'
GeneralRoblesremarked。'ThoughthewomanreallyoughttobeshotforalltheharmshehasdonetotheRepublic。'
"AndasImadeamovementofshockedprotest，hecontinued:
"'Nowheisaswellasdead，sheisofnoimportance。
Nobodywillknowwhattodowithher。However，theGovernmentwantsher。'Heshruggedhisshoulders。
'Isupposehemusthaveburiedlargequantitiesofhislootinplacesthatshealoneknowsof。'
"AtdawnIsawhercominguptheridge，guardedbytwosoldiers，andcarryingherchildonherarm。
"Iwalkedtomeether。
"'Ishelivingyet?'sheasked，confrontingmewiththatwhite，impassivefaceheusedtolookatinanador-
ingway。
"Ibentmyhead，andledherroundaclumpofbusheswithoutaword。Hiseyeswereopen。Hebreathedwithdifficulty，andutteredhernamewithagreateffort。
"'Erminia!'
"Shekneltathishead。Thelittlegirl，unconsciousofhim，andwithherbigeyeslookingabout，begantochattersuddenly，inajoyous，thinvoice。Shepointedatinyfingerattherosyglowofsunrisebehindtheblackshapesofthepeaks。Andwhilethatchild-talk，incom-
prehensibleandsweettotheear，lasted，thosetwo，thedyingmanandthekneelingwoman，remainedsilent，lookingintoeachother'seyes，listeningtothefrailsound。Thentheprattlestopped。Thechildlaiditsheadagainstitsmother'sbreastandwasstill。
"'Itwasforyou，'hebegan。'Forgive。'Hisvoicefailedhim。PresentlyIheardamutterandcaughtthepitifulwords:'Notstrongenough。'
"Shelookedathimwithanextraordinaryintensity。
Hetriedtosmile，andinahumbletone，'Forgiveme，'
herepeated。'Leavingyou……'
"Shebentdown，dry-eyedandinasteadyvoice:
'OnalltheearthIhavelovednothingbutyou，Gaspar，'
shesaid。
"Hisheadmadeamovement。Hiseyesrevived。
'Atlast!'hesighedout。Then，anxiously，'Butisthistrue……isthistrue?'
'"Astrueasthatthereisnomercyandjusticeinthisworld，'sheansweredhim，passionately。Shestoopedoverhisface。Hetriedtoraisehishead，butitfellback，andwhenshekissedhislipshewasalreadydead。
Hisglazedeyesstaredatthesky，onwhichpinkcloudsfloatedveryhigh。ButInoticedtheeyelidsofthechild，pressedtoitsmother'sbreast，droopandcloseslowly。
Shehadgonetosleep。
"ThewidowofGasparRuiz，thestrongman，allowedmetoleadherawaywithoutsheddingatear。
"Fortravellingwehadarrangedforheraside-
saddleverymuchlikeachair，withaboardswungbeneathtorestherfeeton。Andthefirstdaysherodewithoututteringaword，andhardlyforonemomentturninghereyesawayfromthelittlegirl，whomsheheldonherknees。AtourfirstcampIsawherduringthenightwalkingabout，rockingthechildinherarmsandgazingdownatitbythelightofthemoon。Afterwehadstartedonoursecondday'smarchsheaskedmehowsoonweshouldcometothefirstvillageoftheinhabitedcountry。
"Isaidweshouldbethereaboutnoon。
"'Andwilltherebewomenthere?'sheinquired。
"Itoldherthatitwasalargevillage。'Therewillbemenandwomenthere，senora，'Isaid，'whoseheartsshallbemadegladbythenewsthatalltheunrestandwarisovernow。'
"'Yes，itisallovernow，'sherepeated。Then，afteratime:'Senorofficer，whatwillyourGovernmentdowithme?'
"'Idonotknow，senora，'Isaid。'Theywilltreatyouwell，nodoubt。Werepublicansarenotsavagesandtakenovengeanceonwomen。'