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-