Aninfuriatedvoicefromwithinjeeredathim:
\"Comein，comein。Thishousebelongstoyou。Allthislandbelongstoyou。Comeandtakeit。\"
\"FortheloveofGod，\"GasparRuizmurmured。
\"Doesnotallthelandbelongtoyoupatriots?\"
thevoiceontheothersideofthedoorscreamedon。
\"Areyounotapatriot?\"
GasparRuizdidnotknow。\"Iamawoundedman，\"
hesaid，apathetically。
Allbecamestillinside。GasparRuizlostthehopeofbeingadmitted，andlaydownundertheporchjustoutsidethedoor。Hewasutterlycarelessofwhatwasgoingtohappentohim。Allhisconsciousnessseemedtobeconcentratedinhisneck，wherehefeltaseverepain。Hisindifferenceastohisfatewasgenuine。
Thedaywasbreakingwhenheawokefromafeverishdoze；thedooratwhichhehadknockedinthedarkstoodwideopennow，andagirl，steadyingherselfwithheroutspreadarms，leanedoverthethreshold。
Lyingonhisback，hestaredupather。Herfacewaspaleandhereyeswereverydark；herhairhungdownblackasebonyagainstherwhitecheeks；herlipswerefullandred。Beyondherhesawanotherheadwithlonggreyhair，andathinoldfacewithapairofanxiouslyclaspedhandsunderthechin。
VI
\"IKNEWthosepeoplebysight，\"GeneralSantierrawouldtellhisguestsatthedining-table。\"ImeanthepeoplewithwhomGasparRuizfoundshelter。
ThefatherwasanoldSpaniard，amanofpropertyruinedbytherevolution。Hisestates，hishouseintown，hismoney，everythinghehadintheworldhadbeenconfiscatedbyproclamation，forhewasabitterfoeofourindependence。FromapositionofgreatdignityandinfluenceontheViceroy\'sCouncilhebecameoflessimportancethanhisownnegroslavesmadefreebyourgloriousrevolution。Hehadnoteventhemeanstofleethecountry，asotherSpaniardshadmanagedtodo。Itmaybethat，wanderingruinedandhouseless，andburdenedwithnothingbuthislife，whichwaslefttohimbytheclemencyoftheProvisionalGovernment，hehadsimplywalkedunderthatbrokenroofofoldtiles。Itwasalonelyspot。Theredidnotseemtobeevenadogbelongingtotheplace。Butthoughtheroofhadholes，asifacannon-ballortwohaddroppedthroughit，thewoodenshutterswerethickandtight-
closedallthetime。
\"Mywaytookmefrequentlyalongthepathinfrontofthatmiserablerancho。Irodefromtheforttothetownalmosteveryevening，tosighatthewindowofaladyIwasinlovewith，then。Whenoneisyoung，youunderstand……Shewasagoodpatriot，youmaybelieve。Caballeros，creditmeornot，politicalfeelingransohighinthosedaysthatIdonotbelieveIcouldhavebeenfascinatedbythecharmsofawomanofRoyalistopinions……\"
MurmursofamusedincredulityallroundthetableinterruptedtheGeneral；andwhiletheylastedhestrokedhiswhitebeardgravely。
\"Senores，\"heprotested，\"aRoyalistwasamonstertoouroverwroughtfeelings。IamtellingyouthisinordernottobesuspectedoftheslightesttendernesstowardsthatoldRoyalist\'sdaughter。Moreover，asyouknow，myaffectionswereengagedelsewhere。ButI
couldnothelpnoticingheronrareoccasionswhenwiththefrontdooropenshestoodintheporch。
\"YoumustknowthatthisoldRoyalistwasascrazyasamancanbe。Hispoliticalmisfortunes，histotaldownfallandruin，haddisorderedhismind。Toshowhiscontemptforwhatwepatriotscoulddo，heaffectedtolaughathisimprisonment，attheconfiscationofhislands，theburningofhishouses，andatthemiserytowhichheandhiswomenfolkwerereduced。Thishabitoflaughinghadgrownuponhim，sothathewouldbegintolaughandshoutdirectlyhecaughtsightofanystranger。Thatwastheformofhismadness。
\"I，ofcourse，disregardedthenoiseofthatmadmanwiththatfeelingofsuperioritythesuccessofourcauseinspiredinusAmericans。IsupposeIreallydespisedhimbecausehewasanoldCastilian，aSpaniardborn，andaRoyalist。Thosewerecertainlynoreasonstoscornaman；butforcenturiesSpaniardsbornhadshowntheircontemptofusAmericans，menaswelldescendedasthemselves，simplybecausewewerewhattheycalledcolonists。Wehadbeenkeptinabasementandmadetofeelourinferiorityinsocialintercourse。
Andnowitwasourturn。Itwassafeforuspatriotstodisplaythesamesentiments；andIbeingayoungpatriot，sonofapatriot，despisedthatoldSpaniard，anddespisinghimInaturallydisregardedhisabuse，thoughitwasannoyingtomyfeelings。Othersperhapswouldnothavebeensoforbearing。
\"Hewouldbeginwithagreatyell——\'Iseeapatriot。
Anotherofthem!\'longbeforeIcameabreastofthehouse。Thetoneofhissenselessrevilings，mingledwithburstsoflaughter，wassometimespiercinglyshrillandsometimesgrave。Itwasallverymad；butI
feltitincumbentuponmydignitytocheckmyhorsetoawalkwithoutevenglancingtowardsthehouse，asifthatman\'sabusiveclamourintheporchwerelessthanthebarkingofacur。AlwaysIrodebypreservinganexpressionofhaughtyindifferenceonmyface。
\"Itwasnodoubtverydignified；butIshouldhavedonebetterifIhadkeptmyeyesopen。Amilitarymaninwartimeshouldneverconsiderhimselfoffduty；andespeciallysoifthewarisarevolutionarywar，whentheenemyisnotatthedoor，butwithinyourveryhouse。Atsuchtimestheheatofpassionateconvictionspassingintohatred，removesthere-
straintsofhonourandhumanityfrommanymenandofdelicacyandfearfromsomewomen。Theselast，whenoncetheythrowoffthetimidityandreserveoftheirsex，becomebythevivacityoftheirintelligenceandtheviolenceoftheirmercilessresentmentmoredangerousthansomanyarmedgiants。\"
TheGeneral\'svoicerose，buthisbighandstrokedhiswhitebeardtwicewithaneffectofvenerablecalm-
ness。\"Si，Senores!Womenarereadytorisetotheheightsofdevotionunattainablebyusmen，ortosinkintothedepthsofabasementwhichamazesourmas-
culineprejudices。Iamspeakingnowofexceptionalwomen，youunderstand……\"
Hereoneoftheguestsobservedthathehadnevermetawomanyetwhowasnotcapableofturningoutquiteexceptionalundercircumstancesthatwoulden-
gageherfeelingsstrongly。\"Thatsortofsuperiorityinrecklessnesstheyhaveoverus，\"heconcluded，\"makesofthemthemoreinterestinghalfofman-
kind。\"
TheGeneral，whoboretheinterruptionwithgravity，noddedcourteousassent。\"Si。Si。Undercircum-
stances……Precisely。Theycandoaninfinitedealofmischiefsometimesinquiteunexpectedways。
Forwhocouldhaveimaginedthatayounggirl，daughterofaruinedRoyalistwhoselifewasheldonlybythecontemptofhisenemies，wouldhavehadthepowertobringdeathanddevastationupontwoflourishingprovincesandcauseseriousanxietytotheleadersoftherevolutionintheveryhourofitssuccess!\"
Hepausedtoletthewonderofitpenetrateourminds。
\"Deathanddevastation，\"somebodymurmuredinsurprise:\"howshocking!\"
TheoldGeneralgaveaglanceinthedirectionofthemurmurandwenton。\"Yes。Thatis，war——
calamity。Butthemeansbywhichsheobtainedthepowertoworkthishavoconoursouthernfrontierseemtome，whohaveseenherandspokentoher，stillmoreshocking。Thatparticularthingleftonmymindadreadfulamazementwhichthefurtherexperienceoflife，ofmorethanfiftyyears，hasdonenothingtodiminish。\"
Helookedroundasiftomakesureofourattention，and，inachangedvoice:\"Iam，asyouknow，are-
publican，sonofaLiberator，\"hedeclared。\"Myin-
comparablemother，Godresthersoul，wasaFrench-
woman，thedaughterofanardentrepublican。AsaboyIfoughtforliberty；I\'vealwaysbelievedintheequalityofmen；andastotheirbrotherhood，that，tomymind，isevenmorecertain。Lookatthefierceanimositytheydisplayintheirdifferences。Andwhatintheworlddoyouknowthatismorebitterlyfiercethanbrothers\'quarrels?\"
Allabsenceofcynicismcheckedaninclinationtosmileatthisviewofhumanbrotherhood。Onthecontrary，therewasinthetonethemelancholynaturaltoamanprofoundlyhumaneatheartwhofromduty，fromconviction，andfromnecessity，hadplayedhispartinscenesofruthlessviolence。
TheGeneralhadseenmuchoffratricidalstrife。
\"Certainly。Thereisnodoubtoftheirbrotherhood，\"
heinsisted。\"Allmenarebrothers，andassuchknowalmosttoomuchofeachother。But\"——andhereintheoldpatriarchalhead，whiteassilver，theblackeyeshumorouslytwinkled——\"ifweareallbrothers，allthewomenarenotoursisters。\"
Oneoftheyoungerguestswasheardmurmuringhissatisfactionatthefact。ButtheGeneralcontinued，withdeliberateearnestness:\"Theyaresodifferent!
Thetaleofakingwhotookabeggar-maidforapartnerofhisthronemaybeprettyenoughaswemenlookuponourselvesanduponlove。Butthatayounggirl，famousforherhaughtybeautyand，onlyashorttimebefore，theadmiredofallattheballsintheViceroy\'spalace，shouldtakebythehandaguasso，acommonpeasant，isintolerabletooursentimentofwomenandtheirlove。Itismadness。Neverthelessithappened。
Butitmustbesaidthatinhercaseitwasthemadnessofhate——notoflove。\"
Afterpresentingthisexcuseinaspiritofchivalrousjustice，theGeneralremainedsilentforatime。\"I
rodepastthehouseeverydayalmost，\"hebeganagain，\"andthiswaswhatwasgoingonwithin。Buthowitwasgoingonnomindofmancanconceive。Herdesperationmusthavebeenextreme，andGasparRuizwasadocilefellow。Hehadbeenanobedientsoldier。
Hisstrengthwaslikeanenormousstonelyingontheground，readytobehurledthiswayorthatbythehandthatpicksitup。
\"Itisclearthathewouldtellhisstorytothepeoplewhogavehimtheshelterheneeded。Andheneededassistancebadly。Hiswoundwasnotdangerous，buthislifewasforfeited。TheoldRoyalistbeingwrappedupinhislaughingmadness，thetwowomenarrangedahiding-placeforthewoundedmaninoneofthehutsamongstthefruittreesatthebackofthehouse。Thathovel，anabundanceofclearwaterwhilethefeverwasonhim，andsomewordsofpitywerealltheycouldgive。Isupposehehadashareofwhatfoodtherewas。
Anditwouldbebutlittle:ahandfulofroastedcorn，perhapsadishofbeans，orapieceofbreadwithafewfigs。Tosuchmiserywerethoseproudandoncewealthypeoplereduced。\"
VII
GENERALSANTIERRAwasrightinhissurmise。SuchwastheexactnatureoftheassistancewhichGasparRuiz，peasantsonofpeasants，receivedfromtheRoyalistfamilywhosedaughterhadopenedthedooroftheirmiserablerefugetohisextremedistress。Hersombreresolutionruledthemadnessofherfatherandthetremblingbewildermentofhermother。
Shehadaskedthestrangemanonthedoorstep，\"Whowoundedyou?\"
\"Thesoldiers，senora，\"GasparRuizhadanswered，inafaintvoice。
\"Patriots?\"
\"Si。\"
\"Whatfor?\"
\"Deserter，\"hegasped，leaningagainstthewallunderthescrutinyofherblackeyes。\"Iwasleftfordeadoverthere。\"
Sheledhimthroughthehouseouttoasmallhutofclayandreeds，lostinthelonggrassoftheovergrownorchard。Hesankonaheapofmaizestrawinacorner，andsighedprofoundly。
\"Noonewilllookforyouhere，\"shesaid，lookingdownathim。\"Nobodycomesnearus。We，too，havebeenleftfordead——here。\"
Hestirreduneasilyonhisheapofdirtystraw，andthepaininhisneckmadehimgroandeliriously。
\"IshallshowEstabansomedaythatIamaliveyet，\"
hemumbled。
Heacceptedherassistanceinsilence，andthemanydaysofpainwentby。Herappearancesinthehutbroughthimreliefandbecameconnectedwiththefeverishdreamsofangelswhichvisitedhiscouch；
forGasparRuizwasinstructedinthemysteriesofhisreligion，andhadevenbeentaughttoreadandwritealittlebythepriestofhisvillage。Hewaitedforherwithimpatience，andsawherpassoutofthedarkhutanddisappearinthebrilliantsunshinewithpoignantregret。Hediscoveredthat，whilehelaytherefeelingsoveryweak，hecould，byclosinghiseyes，evokeherfacewithconsiderabledistinctness。Andthisdiscoveredfacultycharmedthelong，solitaryhoursofhisconvales-
cence。Lateron，whenhebegantoregainhisstrength，hewouldcreepatduskfromhishuttothehouseandsitonthestepofthegardendoor。
Inoneoftheroomsthemadfatherpacedtoandfro，mutteringtohimselfwithshort，abruptlaughs。Inthepassage，sittingonastool，themothersighedandmoaned。Thedaughter，inroughthreadbareclothing，andherwhitehaggardfacehalfhiddenbyacoarsemanta，stoodleaningagainstthesideofthedoor。
GasparRuiz，withhiselbowsproppedonhiskneesandhisheadrestinginhishands，talkedtothetwowomeninanundertone。
Thecommonmiseryofdestitutionwouldhavemadeabittermockeryofamarkedinsistenceonsocialdiffer-
ences。GasparRuizunderstoodthisinhissimplicity。
FromhiscaptivityamongsttheRoyalistshecouldgivethemnewsofpeopletheyknew。Hedescribedtheirappearance；andwhenherelatedthestoryofthebattleinwhichhewasrecapturedthetwowomenlamentedtheblowtotheircauseandtheruinoftheirsecrethopes。
Hehadnofeelingeitherway。Buthefeltagreatdevotionforthatyounggirl。Inhisdesiretoappearworthyofhercondescension，heboastedalittleofhisbodilystrength。Hehadnothingelsetoboastof。
Becauseofthatqualityhiscomradestreatedhimwithasgreatadeference，heexplained，asthoughhehadbeenasergeant，bothincampandinbattle。
\"IcouldalwaysgetasmanyasIwantedtofollowmeanywhere，senorita。Ioughttohavebeenmadeanofficer，becauseIcanreadandwrite。\"
Behindhimthesilentoldladyfetchedamoaningsighfromtimetotime；thedistractedfathermutteredtohimself，pacingthesala；andGasparRuizwouldraisehiseyesnowandthentolookatthedaughterofthesepeople。
Hewouldlookatherwithcuriositybecauseshewasalive，andalsowiththatfeelingoffamiliarityandawewithwhichhehadcontemplatedinchurchestheinanimateandpowerfulstatuesofthesaints，whoseprotectionisinvokedindangersanddifficulties。Hisdifficultywasverygreat。
Hecouldnotremainhidinginanorchardforeverandever。Heknewalsoverywellthatbeforehehadgonehalfaday\'sjourneyinanydirection，hewouldbepickedupbyoneofthecavalrypatrolsscouringthecountry，andbroughtintooneoranotherofthecampswherethepatriotarmydestinedfortheliberationofPeruwascollected。TherehewouldintheendberecognizedasGasparRuiz——thedesertertotheRoyal-
ists——andnodoubtshotveryeffectuallythistime。
TheredidnotseemanyplaceintheworldfortheinnocentGasparRuizanywhere。Andatthisthoughthissimplesoulsurrendereditselftogloomandre-
sentmentasblackasnight。
Theyhadmadehimasoldierforcibly。Hedidnotmindbeingasoldier。Andhehadbeenagoodsoldierashehadbeenagoodson，becauseofhisdocilityandhisstrength。Butnowtherewasnouseforeither。
Theyhadtakenhimfromhisparents，andhecouldnolongerbeasoldier——notagoodsoldieratanyrate。
Nobodywouldlistentohisexplanations。Whatin-
justiceitwas!Whatinjustice!
Andinamournfulmurmurhewouldgooverthestoryofhiscaptureandrecaptureforthetwentiethtime。Then，raisinghiseyestothesilentgirlinthedoorway，\"Si，senorita，\"hewouldsaywithadeepsigh，\"injusticehasmadethispoorbreathinmybodyquiteworthlesstomeandtoanybodyelse。AndIdonotcarewhorobsmeofit。\"
Oneevening，asheexhaledthustheplaintofhiswoundedsoul，shecondescendedtosaythat，ifshewereaman，shewouldconsidernolifeworthlesswhichheldthepossibilityofrevenge。
Sheseemedtobespeakingtoherself。Hervoicewaslow。Hedrankinthegentle，asifdreamysoundwithaconsciousnessofpeculiardelightofsomethingwarminghisbreastlikeadraughtofgenerouswine。
\"True，Senorita，\"hesaid，raisinghisfaceuptohersslowly:\"thereisEstaban，whomustbeshownthatI
amnotdeadafterall。\"
Themutteringsofthemadfatherhadceasedlongbefore；thesighingmotherhadwithdrawnsomewhereintooneoftheemptyrooms。Allwasstillwithinaswellaswithout，inthemoonlightbrightasdayonthewildorchardfullofinkyshadows。GasparRuizsawthedarkeyesofDonaErminialookdownathim。
\"Ah!Thesergeant，\"shemuttered，disdainfully。
\"Why!Hehaswoundedmewithhissword，\"heprotested，bewilderedbythecontemptthatseemedtoshinelividonherpaleface。
Shecrushedhimwithherglance。Thepowerofherwilltobeunderstoodwassostrongthatitkindledinhimtheintelligenceofunexpressedthings。
\"Whatelsedidyouexpectmetodo?\"hecried，asifsuddenlydriventodespair。\"HaveIthepowertodomore?AmIageneralwithanarmyatmyback?——
miserablesinnerthatIamtobedespisedbyyouatlast。\"
VIII
\"SEnORES，\"relatedtheGeneraltohisguests，\"thoughmythoughtswereoflovethen，andthereforeenchanting，thesightofthathousealwaysaffectedmedisagreeably，especiallyinthemoonlight，whenitscloseshuttersanditsairoflonelyneglectappearedsinister。StillIwentonusingthebridle-pathbytheravine，becauseitwasashortcut。ThemadRoyalisthowledandlaughedatmeeveryeveningtohiscompletesatisfaction；butafteratime，asifweariedwithmyindifference，heceasedtoappearintheporch。HowtheypersuadedhimtoleaveoffIdonotknow。How-
ever，withGasparRuizinthehousetherewouldhavebeennodifficultyinrestraininghimbyforce。Itwasnowpartoftheirpolicyintheretoavoidanythingwhichcouldprovokeme。Atleast，soIsuppose。
\"NotwithstandingmyinfatuationwiththebrightestpairofeyesinChile，Inoticedtheabsenceoftheoldmanafteraweekorso。Afewmoredayspassed。I
begantothinkthatperhapstheseRoyalistshadgoneawaysomewhereelse。Butoneevening，asIwashasteningtowardsthecity，Isawagainsomebodyintheporch。Itwasnotthemadman；itwasthegirl。Shestoodholdingontooneofthewoodencolumns，tallandwhite-faced，herbigeyessunkdeepwithprivationandsorrow。Ilookedhardather，andshemetmystarewithastrange，inquisitivelook。Then，asIturnedmyheadafterridingpast，sheseemedtogathercouragefortheact，andabsolutelybeckonedmeback。
\"Iobeyed，senores，almostwithoutthinking，sogreatwasmyastonishment。ItwasgreaterstillwhenIheardwhatshehadtosay。Shebeganbythankingmeformyforbearanceofherfather\'sinfirmity，sothatIfeltashamedofmyself。Ihadmeanttoshowdisdain，notforbearance!Everywordmusthaveburntherlips，butsheneverdepartedfromagentleandmelancholydignitywhichfilledmewithrespectagainstmywill。
Senores，wearenomatchforwomen。ButIcouldhardlybelievemyearswhenshebeganhertale。Provi-
dence，sheconcluded，seemedtohavepreservedthelifeofthatwrongedsoldier，whonowtrustedtomyhonourasacaballeroandtomycompassionforhissufferings。
\"\'Wrongedman，\'Iobserved，coldly。\'Well，Ithinkso，too:andyouhavebeenharbouringanenemyofyourcause。\'
\"\'HewasapoorChristiancryingforhelpatourdoorinthenameofGod，senor，\'sheanswered，simply。
\"Ibegantoadmireher。\'Whereishenow?\'I
asked，stiffly。
\"Butshewouldnotanswerthatquestion。Withextremecunning，andanalmostfiendishdelicacy，shemanagedtoremindmeofmyfailureinsavingthelivesoftheprisonersintheguardroom，withoutwoundingmypride。Sheknew，ofcourse，thewholestory。
GasparRuiz，shesaid，entreatedmetoprocureforhimasafe-conductfromGeneralSanMartinhimself。Hehadanimportantcommunicationtomaketothecom-
mander-in-chief。
\"PorDios，senores，shemademeswallowallthat，pretendingtobeonlythemouthpieceofthatpoorman。
Overcomebyinjustice，heexpectedtofind，shesaid，asmuchgenerosityinmeashadbeenshowntohimbytheRoyalistfamilywhichhadgivenhimarefuge。
\"Ha!Itwaswellandnoblysaidtoayoungsterlikeme。Ithoughthergreat。Alas!shewasonlyimplacable。
\"IntheendIrodeawayveryenthusiasticaboutthebusiness，withoutdemandingeventoseeGasparRuiz，whoIwasconfidentwasinthehouse。
\"ButoncalmreflectionIbegantoseesomedif-
ficultieswhichIhadnotconfidenceenoughinmyselftoencounter。Itwasnoteasytoapproachacommander-
in-chiefwithsuchastory。Ifearedfailure。AtlastI
thoughtitbettertolaythematterbeforemygeneral-
of-division，Robles，afriendofmyfamily，whohadappointedmehisaide-de-camplately。
\"Hetookitoutofmyhandsatoncewithoutanyceremony。
\"\'Inthehouse!ofcourseheisinthehouse，\'hesaidcontemptuously。\'Yououghttohavegoneswordinhandinsideanddemandedhissurrender，insteadofchattingwithaRoyalistgirlintheporch。Thosepeopleshouldhavebeenhuntedoutofthatlongago。
Whoknowshowmanyspiestheyhaveharbouredrightintheverymidstofourcamps?Asafe-conductfromtheCommander-in-Chief!Theaudacityofthefellow!
Ha!ha!Nowweshallcatchhimto-night，andthenweshallfindout，withoutanysafe-conduct，whathehasgottosay，thatissoveryimportant。Ha!
ha!ha!\'
\"GeneralRobles，peacetohissoul，wasashort，thickman，withround，staringeyes，fierceandjovial。Seeingmydistressheadded:
\"\'Come，come，chico。Ipromiseyouhislifeifhedoesnotresist。Andthatisnotlikely。Wearenotgoingtobreakupagoodsoldierifitcanbehelped。I
tellyouwhat!Iamcurioustoseeyourstrongman。
Nothingbutageneralwilldoforthepicaro——well，heshallhaveageneraltotalkto。Ha!ha!Ishallgomyselftothecatching，andyouarecomingwithme，ofcourse。\'
\"Anditwasdonethatsamenight。Earlyintheeveningthehouseandtheorchardweresurroundedquietly。LaterontheGeneralandIleftaballwewereattendingintownandrodeoutataneasygallop。Atsomelittledistancefromthehousewepulledup。A
mountedorderlyheldourhorses。Alowwhistlewarnedthemenwatchingallalongtheravine，andwewalkeduptotheporchsoftly。Thebarricadedhouseinthemoonlightseemedempty。
\"TheGeneralknockedatthedoor。Afteratimeawoman\'svoicewithinaskedwhowasthere。Mychiefnudgedmehard。Igasped。
\"\'ItisI，LieutenantSantierra，\'Istammeredout，asifchoked。\'Openthedoor。\'
\"Itcameopenslowly。Thegirl，holdingathintaperinherhand，seeinganothermanwithme，begantobackawaybeforeusslowly，shadingthelightwithherhand。Herimpassivewhitefacelookedghostly。I
followedbehindGeneralRobles。Hereyeswerefixedonmine。Imadeagestureofhelplessnessbehindmychief\'sback，tryingatthesametimetogiveareassur-
ingexpressiontomyface。Noneofusthreeutteredasound。
\"Wefoundourselvesinaroomwithbarefloorandwalls。Therewasaroughtableandacoupleofstoolsinit，nothingelsewhatever。Anoldwomanwithhergreyhairhangingloosewrungherhandswhenweappeared。Apealofloudlaughterresoundedthroughtheemptyhouse，veryamazingandweird。Atthistheoldwomantriedtogetpastus。
\"\'Nobodytoleavetheroom，\'saidGeneralRoblestome。
\"Iswungthedoorto，heardthelatchclick，andthelaughterbecamefaintinourears。
\"BeforeanotherwordcouldbespokeninthatroomIwasamazedbyhearingthesoundofdistantthunder。
\"Ihadcarriedinwithmeintothehouseavividim-
pressionofabeautifulclearmoonlightnight，withoutaspeckofcloudinthesky。Icouldnotbelievemyears。
Sentearlyabroadformyeducation，Iwasnotfamiliarwiththemostdreadednaturalphenomenonofmynativeland。Isaw，withinexpressibleastonishment，alookofterrorinmychief\'seyes。SuddenlyIfeltgiddy。
TheGeneralstaggeredagainstmeheavily；thegirlseemedtoreelinthemiddleoftheroom，thetaperfelloutofherhandandthelightwentout；ashrillcryof\'Misericordia!\'fromtheoldwomanpiercedmyears。
InthepitchydarknessIheardtheplasteroffthewallsfallingonthefloor。Itisamercytherewasnoceiling。
Holdingontothelatchofthedoor，Iheardthegrindingoftheroof-tilesceaseabovemyhead。Theshockwasover。
\"\'Outofthehouse!Thedoor!Fly，Santierra，fly!\'
howledtheGeneral。Youknow，senores，inourcountrythebravestarenotashamedofthefearanearthquakestrikesintoallthesensesofman。Onenevergetsusedtoit。Repeatedexperienceonlyaugmentsthemasteryofthatnamelessterror。
\"Itwasmyfirstearthquake，andIwasthecalmestofthemall。Iunderstoodthatthecrashoutsidewascausedbytheporch，withitswoodenpillarsandtiledroofprojection，fallingdown。Thenextshockwoulddestroythehouse，maybe。Thatrumbleasofthunderwasapproachingagain。TheGeneralwasrushingroundtheroom，tofindthedoorperhaps。Hemadeanoiseasthoughheweretryingtoclimbthewalls，andI
heardhimdistinctlyinvokethenamesofseveralsaints。
\'Out，out，Santierra!\'heyelled。
\"Thegirl\'svoicewastheonlyoneIdidnothear。
\"\'General，\'Icried，Icannotmovethedoor。Wemustbelockedin。\'
\"Ididnotrecognizehisvoiceintheshoutofmale-
dictionanddespairheletout。Senores，Iknowmanymeninmycountry，especiallyintheprovincesmostsubjecttoearthquakes，whowillneithereat，sleep，pray，norevensitdowntocardswithcloseddoors。Thedan-
gerisnotinthelossoftime，butinthis——thatthemovementofthewallsmaypreventadoorbeingopenedatall。Thiswaswhathadhappenedtous。Weweretrapped，andwehadnohelptoexpectfromanybody。
Thereisnomaninmycountrywhowillgointoahousewhentheearthtrembles。Thereneverwas——exceptone:GasparRuiz。
\"Hehadcomeoutofwhateverholehehadbeenhidinginoutside，andhadclamberedoverthetimbersofthedestroyedporch。AbovetheawfulsubterraneangroanofcomingdestructionIheardamightyvoiceshoutingtheword\'Erminia!\'withthelungsofagiant。
Anearthquakeisagreatlevellerofdistinctions。I
collectedallmyresolutionagainsttheterrorofthescene。\'Sheishere，\'Ishoutedback。Aroarasofafuriouswildbeastansweredme——whilemyheadswam，myheartsank，andthesweatofanguishstreamedlikerainoffmybrow。
\"Hehadthestrengthtopickuponeoftheheavypostsoftheporch。Holdingitunderhisarmpitlikealance，butwithbothhands，hechargedmadlytherock-
inghousewiththeforceofabattering-ram，burstingopenthedoorandrushingin，headlong，overourpros-
tratebodies。IandtheGeneralpickingourselvesup，boltedouttogether，withoutlookingroundoncetillwegotacrosstheroad。Then，clingingtoeachother，webeheldthehousechangesuddenlyintoaheapofform-
lessrubbishbehindthebackofaman，whostaggeredtowardsusbearingtheformofawomanclaspedinhisarms。Herlongblackhairhungnearlytohisfeet。Helaidherdownreverentlyontheheavingearth，andthemoonlightshoneonherclosedeyes。
\"Senores，wemountedwithdifficulty。Ourhorsesgettingupplungedmadly，heldbythesoldierswhohadcomerunningfromallsides。Nobodythoughtofcatch-
ingGasparRuizthen。Theeyesofmenandanimalsshonewithwildfear。MygeneralapproachedGasparRuiz，whostoodmotionlessasastatueabovethegirl。
Helethimselfbeshakenbytheshoulderwithoutdetachinghiseyesfromherface。
\"\'Queguape!\'shoutedtheGeneralinhisear。\'Youarethebravestmanliving。Youhavesavedmylife。
IamGeneralRobles。Cometomyquartersto-morrowifGodgivesusthegracetoseeanotherday。\'
\"Heneverstirred——asifdeaf，withoutfeeling，in-
sensible。
\"Werodeawayforthetown，fullofourrelations，ofourfriends，ofwhosefatewehardlydaredtothink。
Thesoldiersranbythesideofourhorses。Everythingwasforgottenintheimmensityofthecatastropheover-
takingawholecountry。\"……
GasparRuizsawthegirlopenhereyes。Theraisingofhereyelidsseemedtorecallhimfromatrance。Theywerealone；thecriesofterroranddistressfromhomelesspeoplefilledtheplainsofthecoastremoteandimmense，cominglikeawhisperintotheirloneliness。
Sheroseswiftlytoherfeet，dartingfearfulglancesonallsides。\"Whatisit?\"shecriedoutlow，andpeer-
ingintohisface。\"WhereamI?\"
Hebowedhisheadsadly，withoutaword。
\"……Whoareyou?\"
Hekneltdownslowlybeforeher，andtouchedthehemofhercoarseblackbaizeskirt。\"Yourslave，\"hesaid。
Shecaughtsightthenoftheheapofrubbishthathadbeenthehouse，allmistyinthecloudofdust。
\"Ah!\"shecried，pressingherhandtoherforehead。
\"Icarriedyououtfromthere，\"hewhisperedatherfeet。
\"Andthey?\"sheaskedinagreatsob。
Herose，andtakingherbythearms，ledhergentlytowardstheshapelessruinhalfoverwhelmedbyaland-
slide。\"Comeandlisten，\"hesaid。
Theserenemoonsawthemclamberingoverthatheapofstones，joistsandtiles，whichwasagrave。
Theypressedtheirearstotheinterstices，listeningforthesoundofagroan，forasighofpain。
Atlasthesaid，\"Theydiedswiftly。Youarealone。\"
Shesatdownonapieceofbrokentimberandputonearmacrossherface。Hewaited——thenapproachinghislipstoherear:\"Letusgo，\"hewhispered。
\"Never——neverfromhere，\"shecriedout，flingingherarmsaboveherhead。
Hestoopedoverher，andherraisedarmsfelluponhisshoulders。Heliftedherup，steadiedhimselfandbegantowalk，lookingstraightbeforehim。
\"Whatareyoudoing?\"sheasked，feebly。
\"Iamescapingfrommyenemies，\"hesaid，neveronceglancingathislightburden。
\"Withme?\"shesighed，helplessly。
\"Neverwithoutyou，\"hesaid。\"Youaremystrength。\"
Hepressedherclosetohim。Hisfacewasgraveandhisfootstepssteady。Theconflagrationsburstingoutintheruinsofdestroyedvillagesdottedtheplainwithredfires；andthesoundsofdistantlamentations，thecriesofMisericordia!Misericordia!madeadesolatemurmurinhisears。Hewalkedon，solemnandcol-
lected，asifcarryingsomethingholy，fragile，andprecious。
Theearthrockedattimesunderhisfeet。
IX
WITHmovementsofmechanicalcareandanairofabstractionoldGeneralSantierralightedalongandthickcigar。
\"Itwasagoodmanyhoursbeforewecouldsendapartybacktotheravine，\"hesaidtohisguests。\"Wehadfoundone-thirdofthetownlaidlow，therestshakenup；andtheinhabitants，richandpoor，reducedtothesamestateofdistractionbytheuniversaldisaster。
Theaffectedcheerfulnessofsomecontrastedwiththedespairofothers。Inthegeneralconfusionanumberofrecklessthieves，withoutfearofGodorman，becameadangertothosewhofromthedownfalloftheirhomeshadmanagedtosavesomevaluables。Crying\'Miseri-
cordia\'louderthananyateverytremor，andbeatingtheirbreastwithonehand，thesescoundrelsrobbedthepoorvictimswiththeother，notevenstoppingshortofmurder。
\"GeneralRobles\'divisionwasoccupiedentirelyinguardingthedestroyedquartersofthetownfromthedepredationsoftheseinhumanmonsters。Takenupwithmydutiesoforderlyofficer，itwasonlyinthemorningthatIcouldassuremyselfofthesafetyofmyownfamily。Mymotherandmysistershadescapedwiththeirlivesfromthatballroom，whereIhadleftthemearlyintheevening。Irememberthosetwobeautifulyoungwomen——Godresttheirsouls——asifI
sawthemthismoment，inthegardenofourdestroyedhouse，palebutactive，assistingsomeofourpoorneigh-
bours，intheirsoiledball-dressesandwiththedustoffallenwallsontheirhair。Astomymother，shehadastoicalsoulinherfrailbody。Half-coveredbyacostlyshawl，shewaslyingonarusticseatbythesideofanornamentalbasinwhosefountainhadceasedtoplayforeveronthatnight。
\"Ihadhardlyhadtimetoembracethemallwithtransportsofjoywhenmychief，comingalong，dis-
patchedmetotheravinewithafewsoldiers，tobringinmystrongman，ashecalledhim，andthatpalegirl。
\"Buttherewasnooneforustobringin。Aland-
slidehadcoveredtheruinsofthehouse；anditwaslikealargemoundofearthwithonlytheendsofsometimbersvisiblehereandthere——nothingmore。
\"ThuswerethetribulationsoftheoldRoyalistcoupleended。Anenormousandunconsecratedgravehadswallowedthemupalive，intheirunhappyobstinacyagainstthewillofapeopletobefree。Andtheirdaughterwasgone。
\"ThatGasparRuizhadcarriedheroffIunderstoodverywell。Butasthecasewasnotforeseen，Ihadnoinstructionstopursuethem。AndcertainlyIhadnodesiretodoso。Ihadgrownmistrustfulofmyinter-
ference。Ithadneverbeensuccessful，andhadnotevenappearedcreditable。Hewasgone。Well，lethimgo。
AndhehadcarriedofftheRoyalistgirl!Nothingbetter。VayaconDios。Thiswasnotthetimetobotheraboutadeserterwho，justlyorunjustly，oughttohavebeendead，andagirlforwhomitwouldhavebeenbettertohaveneverbeenborn。
\"SoImarchedmymenbacktothetown。
\"Afterafewdays，orderhavingbeenre-established，alltheprincipalfamilies，includingmyown，leftforSantiago。Wehadafinehousethere。AtthesametimethedivisionofRobleswasmovedtonewcanton-
mentsnearthecapital。Thischangesuitedverywellthestateofmydomesticandamorousfeelings。
\"Onenight，ratherlate，Iwascalledtomychief。I
foundGeneralRoblesinhisquarters，atease，withhisuniformoff，drinkingneatbrandyoutofatumbler——
asaprecaution，heusedtosay，againstthesleepless-
nessinducedbythebitesofmosquitoes。Hewasagoodsoldier，andhetaughtmetheartandpracticeofwar。
NodoubtGodhasbeenmercifultohissoul；forhismo-
tiveswereneverotherthanpatriotic，ifhischaracterwasirascible。Astotheuseofmosquitonets，heconsid-
erediteffeminate，shameful——unworthyofasoldier。
\"Inoticedatthefirstglancethathisface，alreadyveryred，woreanexpressionofhighgood-humour。
\"\'Aha!Senorteniente，\'hecried，loudly，asIsalutedatthedoor。\'Behold!Yourstrongmanhasturnedupagain。\'
\"Heextendedtomeafoldedletter，whichIsawwassuperscribed\'TotheCommander-in-ChiefoftheRe-
publicanArmies。\'
\"\'This，\'GeneralRobleswentoninhisloudvoice，\'wasthrustbyaboyintothehandofasentryattheQuartelGeneral，whilethefellowstoodtherethinkingofhisgirl，nodoubt——forbeforehecouldgatherhiswitstogethertheboyhaddisappearedamongstthemarketpeople，andheprotestshecouldnotrecognizehimtosavehislife。\'
\"\'Mychieftoldmefurtherthatthesoldierhadgiventhelettertothesergeantoftheguard，andthatulti-
matelyithadreachedthehandsofourgeneralissimo。
HisExcellencyhaddeignedtotakecognizanceofitwithhisowneyes。AfterthathehadreferredthematterinconfidencetoGeneralRobles。
\"Theletter，senores，Icannotnowrecollecttextually。
IsawthesignatureofGasparRuiz。Hewasanauda-
ciousfellow。Hehadsnatchedasoulforhimselfoutofacataclysm，remember。Andnowitwasthatsoulwhichhaddictatedthetermsofhisletter。Itstonewasveryindependent。Irememberitstruckmeatthetimeasnoble——dignified。Itwas，nodoubt，herletter。NowIshudderatthedepthofitsduplicity。
GasparRuizwasmadetocomplainoftheinjusticeofwhichhehadbeenavictim。Heinvokedhisprevi-
ousrecordoffidelityandcourage。HavingbeensavedfromdeathbythemiraculousinterpositionofProvi-
dence，hecouldthinkofnothingbutofretrievinghischaracter。This，hewrote，hecouldnothopetodointheranksasadiscreditedsoldierstillundersuspicion。
Hehadthemeanstogiveastrikingproofofhisfidelity。
HehadendedbyproposingtotheGeneral-in-ChiefameetingatmidnightinthemiddleofthePlazabe-
foretheMoneta。Thesignalwouldbetostrikefirewithflintandsteelthreetimes，whichwasnottoocon-
spicuousandyetdistinctiveenoughforrecognition。
\"SanMartin，thegreatLiberator，lovedmenofaudacityandcourage。Besides，hewasjustandcom-
passionate。Itoldhimasmuchoftheman\'sstoryasI
knew，andwasorderedtoaccompanyhimontheap-
pointednight。Thesignalsweredulyexchanged。Itwasmidnight，andthewholetownwasdarkandsilent。
TheirtwocloakedfigurescametogetherinthecentreofthevastPlaza，and，keepingdiscreetlyatadistance，I
listenedforanhourormoretothemurmuroftheirvoices。ThentheGeneralmotionedmetoapproach；
andasIdidsoIheardSanMartin，whowascourteoustogentleandsimplealike，offerGasparRuizthehospi-
talityoftheheadquartersforthenight。Butthesol-
dierrefused，sayingthathewouldbenotworthyofthathonourtillhehaddonesomething。
\"\'Youcannothaveacommondeserterforyourguest，Excellency，\'heprotestedwithalowlaugh，andsteppingbackwardsmergedslowlyintothenight。
\"TheCommander-in-Chiefobservedtome，asweturnedaway:\'Hehadsomebodywithhim，ourfriendRuiz。Isawtwofiguresforamoment。Itwasanun-
obtrusivecompanion。\'
\"I，too，hadobservedanotherfigurejointhevanishingformofGasparRuiz。Ithadtheappearanceofashortfellowinaponchoandabighat。AndIwonderedstupidlywhoitcouldbehehaddaredtakeintohiscon-
fidence。Imighthaveguesseditcouldbenoonebutthatfatalgirl——alas!
\"WherehekeptherconcealedIdonotknow。Hehad——itwasknownafterwards——anuncle，hismother\'sbrother，asmallshopkeeperinSantiago。Perhapsitwastherethatshefoundaroofandfood。Whatevershefound，itwaspoorenoughtoexasperateherprideandkeepupherangerandhate。Itiscertainshedidnotaccompanyhimonthefeatheundertooktoaccomplishfirstofall。ItwasnothinglessthanthedestructionofastoreofwarmaterialcollectedsecretlybytheSpanishau-