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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8736-0.txt b/8736-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6bb007b --- /dev/null +++ b/8736-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2602 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Gaspar Ruiz + +Author: Joseph Conrad + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8736] +Posting Date: June 18, 2009 +Last Updated: September 9, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + + + + +Produced by John Orford + + + + + + + + +GASPAR RUIZ + + +By Joseph Conrad + + + + +I + +A Revolutionary war raises many strange characters out of the obscurity +which is the common lot of humble lives in an undisturbed state of +society. + +Certain individualities grow into fame through their vices and their +virtues, or simply by their actions, which may have a temporary +importance; and then they become forgotten. The names of a few leaders +alone survive the end of armed strife and are further preserved in +history; so that, vanishing from men’s active memories, they still exist +in books. + +The name of General Santierra attained that cold, paper-and-ink +immortality. He was a South American of good family, and the books +published in his lifetime numbered him amongst the liberators of that +continent from the oppressive rule of Spain. + +That long contest, waged for independence on one side and for dominion +on the other, developed, in the course of years and the vicissitudes of +changing fortune, the fierceness and inhumanity of a struggle for +life. All feelings of pity and compassion disappeared in the growth of +political hatred. And, as is usual in war, the mass of the people, +who had the least to gain by the issue, suffered most in their obscure +persons and their humble fortunes. + +General Santierra began his service as lieutenant in the patriot army +raised and commanded by the famous San Martin, afterwards conqueror of +Lima and liberator of Peru. A great battle had just been fought on the +banks of the river Bio-Bio. Amongst the prisoners made upon the routed +Royalist troops there was a soldier called Gaspar Ruiz. His +powerful build and his big head rendered him remarkable amongst his +fellow-captives. The personality of the man was unmistakable. Some +months before, he had been missed from the ranks of Republican troops +after one of the many skirmishes which preceded the great battle. And +now, having been captured arms in hand amongst Royalists, he could +expect no other fate but to be shot as a deserter. + +Gaspar Ruiz, however, was not a deserter; his mind was hardly active +enough to take a discriminating view of the advantages or perils +of treachery. Why should he change sides? He had really been made a +prisoner, had suffered ill-usage and many privations. Neither side +showed tenderness to its adversaries. There came a day when he was +ordered, together with some other captured rebels, to march in the front +rank of the Royal troops. A musket, had been thrust into his hands. +He had taken it. He had marched. He did not want to be killed with +circumstances of peculiar atrocity for refusing to march. He did not +understand heroism, but it was his intention to throw his musket away at +the first opportunity. Meantime he had gone on loading and firing, from +fear of having his brains blown out, at the first sign of unwillingness, +by some non-commissioned officer of the King of Spain. He tried to set +forth these elementary considerations before the sergeant of the +guard set over him and some twenty other such deserters, who had been +condemned summarily to be shot. + +It was in the quadrangle of the fort at the back of the batteries which +command the road-stead of Valparaiso. The officer who had identified him +had gone on without listening to his protestations. His doom was sealed; +his hands were tied very tightly together behind his back; his body was +sore all over from the many blows with sticks and butts of muskets which +had hurried him along on the painful road from the place of his capture +to the gate of the fort. This was the only kind of systematic attention +the prisoners had received from their escort during a four days’ journey +across a scantily watered tract of country. At the crossings of rare +streams they were permitted to quench their thirst by lapping hurriedly +like dogs. In the evening a few scraps of meat were thrown amongst +them as they dropped down dead-beat upon the stony ground of the +halting-place. + +As he stood in the courtyard of the castle in the early morning, after +having been driven hard all night, Gaspar Ruiz’s throat was parched, and +his tongue felt very large and dry in his mouth. + +And Gaspar Ruiz, besides being very thirsty, was stirred by a feeling +of sluggish anger, which he could not very well express, as though the +vigour of his spirit were by no means equal to the strength of his body. + +The other prisoners in the batch of the condemned hung their heads, +looking obstinately on the ground. But Gaspar Ruiz kept on repeating: +“What should I desert for to the Royalists? Why should I desert? Tell +me, Estaban!” + +He addressed himself to the sergeant, who happened to belong to the same +part of the country as himself. But the sergeant, after shrugging his +meagre shoulders once, paid no further attention to the deep murmuring +voice at his back. It was indeed strange that Gaspar Ruiz should desert. +His people were in too humble a station to feel much the disadvantages +of any form of government. There was no reason why Gaspar Ruiz should +wish to uphold in his own person the rule of the King of Spain. Neither +had he been anxious to exert himself for its subversion. He had joined +the side of Independence in an extremely reasonable and natural manner. +A band of patriots appeared one morning early, surrounding his father’s +ranche, spearing the watch-dogs and hamstringing a fat cow all in the +twinkling of an eye, to the cries of “Viva La Libertad!” Their officer +discoursed of Liberty with enthusiasm and eloquence after a long and +refreshing sleep. When they left in the evening, taking with them some +of Ruiz, the father’s, best horses to replace their own lamed animals, +Gaspar Ruiz went away with them, having been invited pressingly to do so +by the eloquent officer. + +Shortly afterwards a detachment of Royalist troops, coming to pacify the +district, burnt the ranche, carried off the remaining horses and +cattle, and having thus deprived the old people of all their worldly +possessions, left them sitting under a bush in the enjoyment of the +inestimable boon of life. + + + + +II + +GASPAR Ruiz, condemned to death as a deserter, was not thinking either +of his native place or of his parents, to whom he had been a good son on +account of the mildness of his character and the great strength of his +limbs. The practical advantage of this last was made still more +valuable to his father by his obedient disposition. Gaspar Ruiz had an +acquiescent soul. + +But it was stirred now to a sort of dim revolt by his dislike to die the +death of a traitor. He was not a traitor. He said again to the sergeant: +“You know I did not desert, Estaban. You know I remained behind amongst +the trees with three others to keep the enemy back while the detachment +was running away!” + +Lieutenant Santierra, little more than a boy at the time, and unused as +yet to the sanguinary imbecilities of a state of war, had lingered +near by, as if fascinated by the sight of these men who were to be shot +presently--“for an example”--as the Commandante had said. + +The sergeant, without deigning to look at the prisoner, addressed +himself to the young officer with a superior smile. + +“Ten men would not have been enough to make him a prisoner, mi teniente. +Moreover, the other three rejoined the detachment after dark. Why should +he, unwounded and the strongest of them all, have failed to do so?” + +“My strength is as nothing against a mounted man with a lasso,” Gaspar +Ruiz protested eagerly. “He dragged me behind his horse for half a +mile.” + +At this excellent reason the sergeant only laughed contemptuously. The +young officer hurried away after the Commandante. + +Presently the adjutant of the castle came by. He was a truculent, +raw-boned man in a ragged uniform. His spluttering voice issued out of a +flat, yellow face. The sergeant learned from him that the condemned men +would not be shot till sunset. He begged then to know what he was to do +with them meantime. + +The adjutant looked savagely round the courtyard, and, pointing to the +door of a small dungeon-like guard-room, receiving light and air through +one heavily-barred window, said: “Drive the scoundrels in there.” + +The sergeant, tightening his grip upon the stick he carried in virtue +of his rank, executed this order with alacrity and zeal. He hit Gaspar +Ruiz, whose movements were slow, over his head and shoulders. Gaspar +Ruiz stood still for a moment under the shower of blows, biting his +lip thoughtfully as if absorbed by a perplexing mental process--then +followed the others without haste. The door was locked, and the adjutant +carried off the key. + +By noon the heat of that low vaulted place crammed to suffocation had +become unbearable. The prisoners crowded towards the window, begging +their guards for a drop of water; but the soldiers remained lying in +indolent attitudes wherever there was a little shade under a wall, while +the sentry sat with his back against the door smoking a cigarette, and +raising his eyebrows philosophically from time to time. Gaspar Ruiz +had pushed his way to the window with irresistible force. His capacious +chest needed more air than the others; his big face, resting with its +chin on the ledge, pressed close to the bars, seemed to support the +other faces crowding up for breath. From moaned entreaties they had +passed to desperate cries, and the tumultuous howling of those thirsty +men obliged a young officer who was just then crossing the courtyard to +shout in order to make himself heard. + +“Why don’t you give some water to these prisoners!” + +The sergeant, with an air of surprised innocence, excused himself by the +remark that all those men were condemned to die in a very few hours. + +Lieutenant Santierra stamped his foot. “They are condemned to death, not +to torture,” he shouted. “Give them some water at once.” + +Impressed by this appearance of anger, the soldiers bestirred +themselves, and the sentry, snatching up his musket, stood to attention. + +But when a couple of buckets were found and filled from the well, it was +discovered that they could not be passed through the bars, which were +set too close. At the prospect of quenching their thirst, the shrieks of +those trampled down in the struggle to get near the opening became very +heartrending. But when the soldiers who had lifted the buckets towards +the window put them to the ground again helplessly, the yell of +disappointment was still more terrible. + +The soldiers of the army of Independence were not equipped with +canteens. A small tin cup was found, but its approach to the opening +caused such a commotion, such yells of rage and’ pain in the vague +mass of limbs behind the straining faces at the window, that Lieutenant +Santierra cried out hurriedly, “No, no--you must open the door, +sergeant.” + +The sergeant, shrugging his shoulders, explained that he had no right +to open the door even if he had had the key. But he had not the key. +The adjutant of the garrison kept the key. Those men were giving much +unnecessary trouble, since they had to die at sunset in any case. +Why they had not been shot at once early in the morning he could not +understand. + +Lieutenant Santierra kept his back studiously to the window. It was +at his earnest solicitations that the Commandante had delayed the +execution. This favour had been granted to him in consideration of +his distinguished family and of his father’s high position amongst the +chiefs of the Republican party. Lieutenant Santierra believed that the +General commanding would visit the fort some time in the afternoon, +and he ingenuously hoped that his naive intercession would induce +that severe man to pardon some, at least, of those criminals. In the +revulsion of his feeling his interference stood revealed now as guilty +and futile meddling. It appeared to him obvious that the general would +never even consent to listen to his petition. He could never save those +men, and he had only made himself responsible for the sufferings added +to the cruelty of their fate. + +“Then go at once and get the key from the adjutant,” said Lieutenant +Santierra. + +The sergeant shook his head with a sort of bashful smile, while his eyes +glanced sideways at Gaspar Ruiz’s face, motionless and silent, staring +through the bars at the bottom of a heap of other haggard, distorted, +yelling faces. + +His worship the adjutant de Plaza, the sergeant murmured, was having his +siesta; and supposing that he, the sergeant, would be allowed access to +him, the only result he expected would be to have his soul flogged out +of his body for presuming to disturb his worship’s repose. He made a +deprecatory movement with his hands, and stood stock-still, looking down +modestly upon his brown toes. + +Lieutenant Santierra glared with indignation, but hesitated. His +handsome oval face, as smooth as a girl’s, flushed with the shame of +his perplexity. Its nature humiliated his spirit. His hairless upper lip +trembled; he seemed on the point of either bursting into a fit of rage +or into tears of dismay. + +Fifty years later, General Santierra, the venerable relic of +revolutionary times, was well able to remember the feelings of the +young lieutenant. Since he had given up riding altogether, and found +it difficult to walk beyond the limits of his garden, the general’s +greatest delight, was to entertain in his house the officers of the +foreign men-of-war visiting the harbour. For Englishmen he had a +preference, as for old companions in arms. English naval men of all +ranks accepted his hospitality with curiosity, because he had known Lord +Cochrane and had taken part, on board the patriot squadron commanded +by that marvellous seaman, in the cutting-out and blockading operations +before Callao--an episode of unalloyed glory in the wars of Independence +and of endless honour in the fighting tradition of Englishmen. He was a +fair linguist, this ancient survivor of the Liberating armies. A trick +of smoothing his long white beard whenever he was short of a word in +French or English imparted an air of leisurely dignity to the tone of +his reminiscences. + + + + +III + +“YES, my friends,” he used to say to his guests, “what would you have? +A youth of seventeen summers, without worldly experience, and owing +my rank only to the glorious patriotism of my father, may God rest his +soul, I suffered immense humiliation, not so much from the disobedience +of That subordinate, who, alter all, was responsible for those +prisoners; but I suffered because, like the boy I was, I myself dreaded +going to the adjutant for the key. I had felt, before, his rough and +cutting tongue. Being quite a common fellow, with no merit except his +savage valour, he made me feel his contempt and dislike from the +first day I joined my battalion in garrison at the fort. It was only +a fortnight before! I would have confronted him sword in hand, but I +shrank from the mocking brutality of his sneers. + +“I don’t remember having been so miserable in my life before or since. +The torment of my sensibility was so great that I wished the sergeant to +fall dead at my feet, and the stupid soldiers who stared at me to +turn into corpses; and even those wretches for whom my entreaties had +procured a reprieve I wished dead also, because I could not face them +without shame. A mephitic heat like a whiff of air from hell came out +of that dark place in which they were confined. Those at the window who +heard what was going on jeered at me in very desperation; one of these +fellows, gone mad no doubt, kept on urging me volubly to order the +soldiers to fire through the window. His insane loquacity made my heart +turn faint. And my feet were like lead. There was no higher officer to +whom I could appeal. I had not even the firmness of spirit to simply go +away. + +“Benumbed by my remorse, I stood with my back to the window. You must +not suppose that all this lasted a long time. How long could it have +been? A minute? If you measured by mental suffering it was like a +hundred years; a longer time than all my life has been since. No, +certainly, it was not so much as a minute. The hoarse screaming of those +miserable wretches died out in their dry throats, and then suddenly a +voice spoke, a deep voice muttering calmly. It called upon me to turn +round. + +“That voice, senores, proceeded from the head of Gaspar Ruiz. Of his +body I could see nothing. Some of his fellow-captives had clambered upon +his back. He was holding them up. His eyes blinked without looking at +me. That and the moving of his lips was all he seemed able to manage in +his overloaded state. And when I turned round, this head, that seemed +more than human size resting on its chin under a multitude of other +heads, asked me whether I really desired to quench the thirst of the +captives. + +“I said, ‘Yes, yes!’ eagerly, and came up quite close to the window. I +was like a child, and did not know what would happen. I was anxious to +be comforted in my helplessness and remorse. + +“‘Have you the authority, senor teniente, to release my wrists from +their bonds?’ Gaspar Ruiz’s head asked me. + +“His features expressed no anxiety, no hope; his heavy eyelids blinked +upon his eyes that looked past me straight into the courtyard. + +“As if in an ugly dream, I spoke, stammering: ‘What do you mean? And how +can I reach the bonds on your wrists?’ + +“‘I will try what I can do,’ he said; and then that large staring +head moved at last, and all the wild faces piled up in that window +disappeared, tumbling down. He had shaken his load off with one +movement, so strong he was. + +“And he had not only shaken it off, but he got free of the crush and +vanished from my sight. For a moment there was no one at all to be seen +at the window. He had swung about, butting and shouldering, clearing +a space for himself in the only way he could do it with his hands tied +behind his back. + +“Finally, backing to the opening, he pushed out to me between the bars +his wrists, lashed with many turns of rope. His hands, very swollen, +with knotted veins, looked enormous and unwieldy. I saw his bent back. +It was very broad. His voice was like the muttering of a bull. + +“Cut, senor teniente! Cut!’ + +“I drew my sword, my new unblunted sword that had seen no service as +yet, and severed the many turns of the hide rope. I did this without +knowing the why and the wherefore of my action, but as it were compelled +by my faith in that man. The sergeant made as if to cry out, but +astonishment deprived him of his voice, and he remained standing with +his mouth open as if overtaken by sudden imbecility. + +“I sheathed my sword and faced the soldiers. An air of awestruck +expectation had replaced their usual listless apathy. I heard the voice +of Gaspar Ruiz shouting inside, but the words I could not make out +plainly. I suppose that to see him with his arms free augmented the +influence of his strength: I mean by this, the spiritual influence that +with ignorant people attaches to an exceptional degree of bodily vigour. +In fact, he was no more to be feared than before, on account of the +numbness of his arms and hands, which lasted for some time. + +“The sergeant had recovered his power of speech. ‘By all the saints!’ +he cried, ‘we shall have to get a cavalry man with a lasso to secure him +again, if he is to be led to the place of execution. Nothing less than a +good enlazador on a good horse can subdue him. Your worship was pleased +to perform a very mad thing.’ + +“I had nothing to say. I was surprised myself, and I felt a childish +curiosity to see what would happen. But the sergeant was thinking of +the difficulty of controlling Gaspar Ruiz when the time for making an +example would come. + +“‘Or perhaps,’ the sergeant pursued vexedly, ‘we shall be obliged to +shoot him down as he dashes out when the door is opened.’ He was going +to give further vent to his anxieties as to the proper carrying out +of the sentence; but he interrupted himself with a sudden exclamation, +snatched a musket from a soldier, and stood watchful with his eyes fixed +on the window.’” + + + + +IV + +“GASPAR RUIZ had clambered up on the sill, and sat down there with his +feet against the thickness of the wall and his knees slightly bent. +The window was not quite broad enough for the length of his legs. It +appeared to my crestfallen perception that he meant to keep the window +all to himself. He seemed to be taking up a comfortable position. Nobody +inside dared to approach him now he could strike with his hands. + +“‘Por Dios!’ I heard the sergeant muttering at my elbow, ‘I shall shoot +him through the head now, and get rid of that trouble. He is a condemned +man.’ + +“At that I looked at him angrily. ‘The general has not confirmed the +sentence,’ I said--though I knew well in my heart that these were but +vain words. The sentence required no confirmation. ‘You have no right to +shoot him unless he tries to escape,’ I added firmly. + +“‘But sangre de Dios!’ the sergeant yelled out, bringing his musket up +to the shoulder, ‘he is escaping now. Look!’ + +“But I, as if that Gaspar Ruiz had cast a spell upon me, struck the +musket upward, and the bullet flew over the roofs somewhere. The +sergeant dashed his arm to the ground and stared. He might have +commanded the soldiers to fire, but he did not. And if he had he would +not have been obeyed, I think, just then. + +“With his feet against the thickness of the wall, and his hairy hands +grasping the iron bar, Gaspar sat still. It was an attitude. Nothing +happened for a time. And suddenly it dawned upon us that he was +straightening his bowed back and contracting his arms. His lips were +twisted into a snarl. Next thing we perceived was that the bar of forged +iron was being bent slowly by the mightiness of his pull. The sun +was beating full upon his cramped, unquivering figure. A shower of +sweat-drops burst out of his forehead. Watching the bar grow crooked, I +saw a little blood ooze from under his finger-nails. Then he let go. +For a moment he remained all huddled up, with a hanging head, looking +drowsily into the upturned palms of his mighty hands. Indeed he seemed +to have dozed off. Suddenly he flung himself backwards on the sill, and +setting the soles of his bare feet against the other middle bar, he bent +that one too, but in the opposite direction from the first. + +“Such was his strength, which in this case relieved my painful feelings. +And the man seemed to have done nothing. Except for the change of +position in order to use his feet, which made us all start by its +swiftness, my recollection is that of immobility. But he had bent the +bars wide apart. And now he could get out if he liked; but he dropped +his legs inwards; and looking over his shoulder beckoned to the +soldiers. ‘Hand up the water,’ he said. ‘I will give them all a drink.’ + +“He was obeyed. For a moment I expected man and bucket to disappear, +overwhelmed by the rush of eagerness; I thought they would pull him down +with their teeth. There was a rush, but holding the bucket on his lap he +repulsed the assault of those wretches by the mere swinging of his feet. +They flew backwards at every kick, yelling with pain; and the soldiers +laughed, gazing at the window. + +“They all laughed, holding their sides, except the sergeant, who was +gloomy and morose. He was afraid the prisoners would rise and break +out--which would have been a bad example. But there was no fear of +that, and I stood myself before the window with my drawn sword. When +sufficiently tamed by the strength of Gaspar Ruiz, they came up one by +one, stretching their necks and presenting their lips to the edge of the +bucket which the strong man tilted towards them from his knees with an +extraordinary air of charity, gentleness and compassion. That benevolent +appearance was of course the effect of his care in not spilling the +water and of his attitude as he sat on the sill; for, if a man lingered +with his lips glued to the rim of the bucket after Gaspar Ruiz had said +‘You have had enough,’ there would be no tenderness or mercy in the +shove of the foot which would send him groaning and doubled up far +into the interior of the prison, where he would knock down two or three +others before he fell himself. They came up to him again and again; +it looked as if they meant to drink the well dry before going to their +death; but the soldiers were so amused by Gaspar Ruiz’s systematic +proceedings that they carried the water up to the window cheerfully. + +“When the adjutant came out after his siesta there was some trouble over +this affair, I can assure you. And the worst of it, that the general +whom we expected never came to the castle that day.” + +The guests of General Santierra unanimously expressed their regret that +the man of such strength and patience had not been saved. + +“He was not saved by my interference,” said the General. “The prisoners +were led to execution half an hour before sunset. Gaspar Ruiz, contrary +to the sergeant’s apprehensions, gave no trouble. There was no necessity +to get a cavalry man with a lasso in order to subdue him, as if he were +a wild bull of the campo. I believe he marched out with his arms free +amongst the others who were bound. I did not see. I was not there. I had +been put under arrest for interfering with the prisoner’s guard. About +dusk, sitting dismally in my quarters, I heard three volleys fired, and +thought that I should never hear of Gaspar Ruiz again. He fell with the +others. But we were to hear of him nevertheless, though the sergeant +boasted that, as he lay on his face expiring or dead in the heap of the +slain, he had slashed his neck with a sword. He had done this, he said, +to make sure of ridding the world of a dangerous traitor. + +“I confess to you, senores, that I thought of that strong man with a +sort of gratitude, and with some admiration. He had used his strength +honourably. There dwelt, then, in his soul no fierceness corresponding +to the vigour of his body.” + + + + +V + +GASPAR RUIZ, who could with ease bend apart the heavy iron bars of the +prison, was led out with others to summary execution. “Every bullet has +its billet,” runs the proverb. All the merit of proverbs consists in +the concise and picturesque expression. In the surprise of our minds is +found their persuasiveness. In other words, we are struck and convinced +by the shock. + +What surprises us is the form, not the substance. Proverbs are +art--cheap art. As a general rule they are not true; unless indeed they +happen to be mere platitudes, as for instance the proverb, “Half a +loaf is better than no bread,” or “A miss is as good as a mile.” Some +proverbs are simply imbecile, others are immoral. That one evolved out +of the naive heart of the great Russian people, “Man discharges the +piece, but God carries the bullet,” is piously atrocious, and at bitter +variance with the accepted conception of a compassionate God. It would +indeed be an inconsistent occupation for the Guardian of the poor, the +innocent and the helpless, to carry the bullet, for instance, into the +heart of a father. + +Gaspar Ruiz was childless, he had no wife, he had never been in love. +He had hardly ever spoken to a woman, beyond his mother and the ancient +negress of the household, whose wrinkled skin was the colour of cinders, +and whose lean body was bent double from age. If some bullets from those +muskets fired off at fifteen paces were specifically destined for +the heart of Gaspar Ruiz, they all missed their billet. One, however, +carried away a small piece of his ear, and another a fragment of flesh +from his shoulder. + +A red and unclouded sun setting into a purple ocean looked with a fiery +stare upon the enormous wall of the Cordilleras, worthy witnesses of his +glorious extinction. But it is inconceivable that it should have seen +the ant-like men busy with their absurd and insignificant trials of +killing and dying for reasons that, apart from being generally childish, +were also imperfectly understood. It did light up, however, the backs +of the firing party and the faces of the condemned men. Some of them +had fallen on their knees, others remained standing, a few averted their +heads from the levelled barrels of muskets. Gaspar Ruiz, upright, the +burliest of them all, hung his big shock head. The low sun dazzled him a +little, and he counted himself a dead man already. + +He fell at the first discharge. He fell because he thought he was a dead +man. He struck the ground heavily. The jar of the fall surprised him. +“I am not dead apparently,” he thought to himself, when he heard the +execution platoon reloading its arms at the word of command. It was then +that the hope of escape dawned upon him for the first time. He remained +lying stretched out with rigid limbs under the weight of two bodies +collapsed crosswise upon his back. + +By the time the soldiers had fired a third volley into the slightly +stirring heaps of the slain, the sun had gone out of sight, and almost +immediately with the darkening of the ocean dusk fell upon the coasts of +the young Republic. Above the gloom of the lowlands the snowy peaks +of the Cordillera remained luminous and crimson for a long time. The +soldiers before marching back to the fort sat down to smoke. + +The sergeant with a naked sword in his hand strolled away by himself +along the heap of the dead. He was a humane man, and watched for any +stir or twitch of limb in the merciful idea of plunging the point of his +blade into any body giving the slightest sign of life. But none of the +bodies afforded him an opportunity for the display of this charitable +intention. Not a muscle twitched amongst them, not even the powerful +muscles of Gaspar Ruiz, who, deluged with the blood of his neighbours +and shamming death, strove to appear more lifeless than the others. + +He was lying face down. The sergeant recognised him by his stature, and +being himself a very small man, looked with envy and contempt at the +prostration of so much strength. He had always disliked that particular +soldier. Moved by an obscure animosity, he inflicted a long gash across +the neck of Gaspar Ruiz, with some vague notion of making sure of that +strong man’s death, as if a powerful physique were more able to resist +the bullets. For the sergeant had no doubt that Gaspar Ruiz had been +shot through in many places. Then he passed on, and shortly afterwards +marched off with, his men, leaving the bodies to the care of crows and +vultures. + +Gaspar Ruiz had restrained a cry, though it had seemed to him that his +head was cut off at a blow; and when darkness came, shaking off the +dead, whose weight had oppressed him, he crawled away over the plain on +his hands and knees. After drinking deeply, like a wounded beast, at +a shallow stream, he assumed an upright posture, and staggered on +light-headed and aimless, as if lost amongst the stars of the clear +night. A small house seemed to rise out of the ground before him. He +stumbled into the porch and struck at the door with his fist. There +was not a gleam of light. Gaspar Ruiz might have thought that the +inhabitants had fled from it, as from many others in the neighbourhood, +had it not been for the shouts of abuse that answered his thumping. In +his feverish and enfeebled state the angry screaming seemed to him +part of a hallucination belonging to the weird dreamlike feeling of his +unexpected condemnation to death, of the thirst suffered, of the volleys +fired at him within fifteen paces, of his head being cut off at a blow. +“Open the door!” he cried. “Open in the name of God!” + +An infuriated voice from within jeered at him: “Come in, come in. This +house belongs to you. All this land belongs to you. Come and take it.” + +“For the love of God,” Gaspar Ruiz murmured. + +“Does not all the land belong to you patriots?” the voice on the other +side of the door screamed on. “Are you not a patriot?” + +Gaspar Ruiz did not know. “I am a wounded man,” he said apathetically. + +All became still inside. Gaspar Ruiz lost the hope of being admitted, +and lay down under the porch just outside the door. He was utterly +careless of what was going to happen to him. All his consciousness +seemed to be concentrated in his neck, where he felt a severe pain. His +indifference as to his fate was genuine. + +The day was breaking when he awoke from a feverish doze; the door +at which he had knocked in the dark stood wide open now, and a girl, +steadying herself with her outspread arms, leaned over the threshold. +Lying on his back, he stared up at her. Her face was pale and her eyes +were very dark; her hair hung down black as ebony against her white +cheeks; her lips were full and red. Beyond her he saw another head with +long grey hair, and a thin old face with a pair of anxiously clasped +hands under the chin. + + + + +VI + +“I KNEW those people by sight,” General Santierra would tell his guests +at the dining-table. “I mean the people with whom Gaspar Ruiz found +shelter. The father was an old Spaniard, a man of property, ruined by +the revolution. His estates, his house in town, his money, everything +he had in the world had been confiscated by proclamation, for he was +a bitter foe of our independence. From a position of great dignity and +influence on the Viceroy’s Council he became of less importance than his +own negro slaves made free by our glorious revolution. He had not even +the means to flee the country, as other Spaniards had managed to do. It +may be that, wandering ruined and houseless, and burdened with nothing +but his life, which was left to him by the clemency of the Provisional +Government, he had simply walked under that broken roof of old tiles. It +was a lonely spot. There did not seem to be even a dog belonging to +the place. But though the roof had holes, as if a cannonball or two had +dropped through it, the wooden shutters were thick and tight-closed all +the time. + +“My way took me frequently along the path in front of that miserable +rancho. I rode from the fort to the town almost every evening, to sigh +at the window of a lady I was in love with, then. When one is young, +you understand.... She was a good patriot, you may be sure. Caballeros, +credit me or not, political feeling ran so high in those days that I +do not believe I could have been fascinated by the charms of a woman of +Royalist opinions....” + +Murmurs of amused incredulity all round the table interrupted the +General; and while they lasted he stroked his white beard gravely. + +“Senores,” he protested, “a Royalist was a monster to our overwrought +feelings. I am telling you this in order not to be suspected of the +slightest tenderness towards that old Royalist’s daughter. Moreover, +as you know, my affections were engaged elsewhere. But I could not help +noticing her on rare occasions when with the front door open she stood +in the porch. + +“You must know that this old Royalist was as crazy as a man can be. His +political misfortunes, his total downfall and ruin, had disordered his +mind. To show his contempt for what we patriots could do, he affected to +laugh at his imprisonment, at the confiscation of his lands, the +burning of his houses, and the misery to which he and his womenfolk were +reduced. This habit of laughing had grown upon him, so that he would +begin to laugh and shout directly he caught sight of any stranger. That +was the form of his madness. + +“I, of course, disregarded the noise of that madman with that feeling of +superiority the success of our cause inspired in us Americans. I suppose +I really despised him because he was an old Castilian, a Spaniard born, +and a Royalist. Those were certainly no reasons to scorn a man; but for +centuries Spaniards born had shown their contempt of us Americans, men +as well descended as themselves, simply because we were what they +called colonists. We had been kept in abasement and made to feel our +inferiority in social intercourse. And now it was our turn. It was sale +for us patriots to display the same sentiments; and I being a young +patriot, son of a patriot, despised that old Spaniard, and despising +him I naturally disregarded his abuse, though it was annoying to my +feelings. Others perhaps would not have been so forbearing. + +“He would begin with a great yell--‘I see a patriot. Another of them!’ +long before I came abreast of the house. The tone of his senseless +revilings, mingled with bursts of laughter, was sometimes piercingly +shrill and sometimes grave. It was all very mad; but I felt it incumbent +upon my dignity to check my horse to a walk without even glancing +towards the house, as if that man’s abusive clamour in the porch were +less than the barking of a cur. I rode by, preserving an expression of +haughty indifference on my face. + +“It was no doubt very dignified; but I should have done better if I +had kept my eyes open. A military man in war time should never consider +himself off duty; and especially so if the war is a revolutionary war, +when the enemy is not at the door, but within your very house. At such +times the heat of passionate convictions, passing into hatred, removes +the restraints of honour and humanity from many men and of delicacy and +fear from some women. These last, when once they throw off the timidity +and reserve of their sex, become by the vivacity of their intelligence +and the violence of their merciless resentment more dangerous than so +many armed giants.” + +The General’s voice rose, but his big hand stroked his white beard twice +with an effect of venerable calmness. “Si, senores! Women are ready to +rise to the heights of devotion unattainable by us men, or to sink into +the depths of abasement which amazes our masculine prejudices. I am +speaking now of exceptional women, you understand...” + +Here one of the guests observed that he had never met a woman yet who +was not capable of turning out quite exceptional under circumstances +that would engage her feelings strongly. “That sort of superiority in +recklessness they have over us,” he concluded, “makes of them the more +interesting half of mankind.” + +The General, who bore the interruption with gravity, nodded courteous +assent. “Si. Si. Under circumstances.... Precisely. They can do an +infinite deal of mischief sometimes in quite unexpected ways. For who +could have imagined that a young girl, daughter of a ruined Royalist +whose life itself was held only by the contempt of his enemies, would +have had the power to bring death and devastation upon two flourishing +provinces and cause serious anxiety to the leaders of the revolution +in the very hour of its success!” He paused to let the wonder of it +penetrate our minds. + +“Death and devastation,” somebody murmured in surprise: “how shocking!” + +The old General gave a glance in the direction of the murmur and went +on. “Yes. That is, war--calamity. But the means by which she obtained +the power to work this havoc on our southern frontier seem to me, who +have seen her and spoken to her, still more shocking. That particular +thing left on my mind a dreadful amazement which the further experience +of life, of more than fifty years, has done nothing to diminish.” He +looked round as if to make sure of our attention, and, in a changed +voice: “I am, as you know, a republican, son of a Liberator,” he +declared. “My incomparable mother, God rest her soul, was a Frenchwoman, +the daughter of an ardent republican. As a boy I fought for liberty; +I’ve always believed in the equality of men; and as to their +brotherhood, that, to my mind, is even more certain. Look at the fierce +animosity they display in their differences. And what in the world do +you know that is more bitterly fierce than brothers’ quarrels?” + +All absence of cynicism checked an inclination to smile at this view of +human brotherhood. On the contrary, there was in the tone the melancholy +natural to a man profoundly humane at heart who from duty, from +conviction and from necessity, had played his part in scenes of ruthless +violence. + +The General had seen much of fratricidal strife. “Certainly. There is no +doubt of their brotherhood,” he insisted. “All men are brothers, and +as such know almost too much of each other. But “--and here in the +old patriarchal head, white as silver, the black eyes humorously +twinkled--“if we are all brothers, all the women are not our sisters.” + +One of the younger guests was heard murmuring his satisfaction at the +fact. But the General continued, with deliberate earnestness: “They are +so different! The tale of a king who took a beggar-maid for a partner of +his throne may be pretty enough as we men look upon ourselves and upon +love. But that a young girl, famous for her haughty beauty and, only +a short time before, the admired of all at the balls in the Viceroy’s +palace, should take by the hand a guasso, a common peasant, is +intolerable to our sentiment of women and their love. It is madness. +Nevertheless it happened. But it must be said that in her case it was +the madness of hate--not of love.” + +After presenting this excuse in a spirit of chivalrous justice, the +General remained silent for a time. “I rode past the house every day +almost,” he began again, “and this was what was going on within. But how +it was going on no mind of man can conceive. Her desperation must +have been extreme, and Gaspar Ruiz was a docile fellow. He had been an +obedient soldier. His strength was like an enormous stone lying on the +ground, ready to be hurled this way that by the hand that picks it up. + +“It is clear that he would tell his story to the people who gave him +the shelter he needed. And he needed assistance badly. His wound was not +dangerous, but his life was forfeited. The old Royalist being wrapped up +in his laughing madness, the two women arranged a hiding-place for the +wounded man in one of the huts amongst the fruit trees at the back of +the house. That hovel, an abundance of clear water while the fever was +on him, and some words of pity were all they could give. I suppose +he had a share of what food there was. And it would be but little; a +handful of roasted corn, perhaps a dish of beans, or a piece of bread +with a few figs. To such misery were those proud and once wealthy people +reduced.” + + + + +VII + +GENERAL SANTIERRA was right in his surmise. Such was the exact nature of +the assistance which Gaspar Ruiz, peasant son of peasants, received +from the Royalist family whose daughter had opened the door--of their +miserable refuge to his extreme distress. Her sombre resolution ruled +the madness of her father and the trembling bewilderment of her mother. + +She had asked the strange man on the door-step, “Who wounded you?” + +“The soldiers, senora,” Gaspar Ruiz had answered, in a faint voice. + +“Patriots?” + +“Si.” + +“What for?” + +“Deserter,” he gasped, leaning against the wall under the scrutiny of +her black eyes. “I was left for dead over there.” + +She led him through the house out to a small hut of clay and reeds, lost +in the long grass of the overgrown orchard. He sank on a heap of maize +straw in a corner, and sighed profoundly. + +“No one will look for you here,” she said, looking down at him. “Nobody +comes near us. We too have been left for dead--here.” + +He stirred uneasily on his heap of dirty straw, and the pain in his neck +made him groan deliriously. + +“I shall show Estaban some day that I am alive yet,” he mumbled. + +He accepted her assistance in silence, and the many days of pain went +by. Her appearances in the hut brought him relief and became connected +with the feverish dreams of angels which visited his couch; for Gaspar +Ruiz was instructed in the mysteries of his religion, and had even +been taught to read and write a little by the priest of his village. He +waited for her with impatience, and saw her pass out of the dark hut and +disappear in the brilliant sunshine with poignant regret. He discovered +that, while he lay there feeling so very weak, he could, by closing his +eyes, evoke her face with considerable distinctness. And this discovered +faculty charmed the long solitary hours of his convalescence. Later, +when he began to regain his strength, he would creep at dusk from his +hut to the house and sit on the step of the garden door. + +In one of the rooms the mad father paced to and fro, muttering to +himself with short abrupt laughs. In the passage, sitting on a stool, +the mother sighed and moaned. The daughter, in rough threadbare +clothing, and her white haggard face half hidden by a coarse manta, +stood leaning against the lintel of the door. Gaspar Ruiz, with his +elbows propped on his knees and his head resting in his hands, talked to +the two women in an undertone. + +The common misery of destitution would have made a bitter mockery of a +marked insistence on social differences. Gaspar Ruiz understood this in +his simplicity. From his captivity amongst the Royalists he could give +them news of people they knew. He described their appearance; and when +he related the story of the battle in which he was recaptured the two +women lamented the blow to their cause and the ruin of their secret +hopes. + +He had no feeling either way. But he felt a great devotion for that +young girl. In his desire to appear worthy of her condescension, he +boasted a little of his bodily strength. He had nothing else to boast +of. Because of that quality his comrades treated him with as great a +deference, he explained, as though he had been a sergeant, both in camp +and in battle. + +“I could always get as many as I wanted to follow me anywhere, senorita. +I ought to have been made an officer, because I can read and write.” + +Behind him the silent old lady fetched a moaning sigh from time to time; +the distracted father muttered to himself, pacing the sala; and Gaspar +Ruiz would raise his eyes now and then to look at the daughter of these +people. + +He would look at her with curiosity because she was alive, and also with +that feeling of familiarity and awe with which he had contemplated +in churches the inanimate and powerful statues of the saints, whose +protection is invoked in dangers and difficulties. His difficulty was +very great. + +He could not remain hiding in an orchard for ever and ever. He knew also +very well that before he had gone half a day’s journey in any direction, +he would be picked up by one of the cavalry patrols scouring the +country, and brought into one or another of the camps where the patriot +army destined for the liberation of Peru was collected. There he +would in the end be recognised as Gaspar Ruiz--the deserter to the +Royalists--and no doubt shot very effectually this time. There did not +seem any place in the world for the innocent Gaspar Ruiz anywhere. +And at this thought his simple soul surrendered itself to gloom and +resentment as black as night. + +They had made him a soldier forcibly. He did not mind being a soldier. +And he had been a good soldier as he had been a good son, because of his +docility and his strength. But now there was no use for either. They had +taken him from his parents, and he could no longer be a soldier--not a +good soldier at any rate. Nobody would listen to his explanations. What +injustice it was! What injustice! + +And in a mournful murmur he would go over the story of his capture and +recapture for the twentieth time. Then, raising his eyes to the silent +girl in the doorway, “Si, senorita,” he would say with a deep sigh, +“injustice has made this poor breath in my body quite worthless to me +and to anybody else. And I do not care who robs me of it.” + +One evening, as he exhaled thus the plaint of his wounded soul, she +condescended to say that, if she were a man, she would consider no life +worthless which held the possibility of revenge. + +She seemed to be speaking to herself. Her voice was low. He drank in the +gentle, as if dreamy sound, with a consciousness of peculiar delight, of +something warming his breast like a draught of generous wine. + +“True, senorita,” he said, raising his face up to hers slowly: “there is +Estaban, who must be shown that I am not dead after all.” + +The mutterings of the mad father had ceased long before; the sighing +mother had withdrawn somewhere into one of the empty rooms. All was +still within as well as without, in the moonlight bright as day on the +wild orchard full of inky shadows. Gaspar Ruiz saw the dark eyes of Doña +Erminia look down at him. + +“Ala! The sergeant,” she muttered disdainfully. + +“Why! He has wounded me with his sword,” he protested, bewildered by the +contempt that seemed to shine livid on her pale face. + +She crushed him with her glance. The power of her will to be understood +was so strong that it kindled in him the intelligence of unexpressed +things. + +“What else did you expect me to do?” he cried, as if suddenly driven to +despair. “Have I the power to do more? Am I a general with an army at my +back?--miserable sinner that I am to be despised by you at last.” + + + + +VIII + +“SENORES,” related the General to his guests, “though my thoughts were +of love then, and therefore enchanting, the sight of that house always +affected me disagreeably, especially in the moonlight, when its close +shutters and its air of lonely neglect appeared sinister. Still I went +on using the bridle-path by the ravine, because it was a short cut. +The mad Royalist howled and laughed at me every evening to his complete +satisfaction; but after a time, as if wearied with my indifference, he +ceased to appear in the porch. How they persuaded him to leave off I do +not know. However, with Gaspar Ruiz in the house there would have been +no difficulty in restraining him by force. It was part of their policy +in there to avoid anything which could provoke me. At least, so I +suppose. + +“Notwithstanding my infatuation with the brightest pair of eyes in +Chile, I noticed the absence of the old man after a week or so. A few +more days passed. I began to think that perhaps these Royalists had gone +away somewhere else. But one evening, as I was hastening towards the +city, I saw again somebody in the porch. It was not the madman; it was +the girl. She stood holding on to one of the wooden columns, tall and +white-faced, her big eyes sunk deep with privation and sorrow. I looked +hard at her, and she met my stare with a strange, inquisitive look. +Then, as I turned my head after riding past, she seemed to gather +courage for the act, and absolutely beckoned me back. + +“I obeyed, senores, almost without thinking, so great was my +astonishment. It was greater still when I heard what she had to say. She +began by thanking me for my forbearance of her father’s infirmity, +so that I felt ashamed of myself. I had meant to show disdain, not +forbearance! Every word must have burnt her lips, but she never departed +from a gentle and melancholy dignity which filled me with respect +against my will. Senores, we are no match for women. But I could hardly +believe my ears when she began her tale. Providence, she concluded, +seemed to have preserved the life of that wronged soldier, who now +trusted to my honour as a caballero and to my compassion for his +sufferings. + +“‘Wronged man,’ I observed coldly. ‘Well, I think so too: and you have +been harbouring an enemy of your cause.’ + +“‘He was a poor Christian crying for help at our door in the name of +God, senor,’ she answered simply. + +“I began to admire her. ‘Where is he now?’ I asked stiffly. + +“But she would not answer that question. With extreme cunning, and an +almost fiendish delicacy, she managed to remind me of my failure in +saving the lives of the prisoners in the guard-room, without wounding +my pride. She knew, of course, the whole story. Gaspar Ruiz, she said, +entreated me to procure for him a safe-conduce from General San +Martin himself. He had an important communication to make to the +Commander-in-Chief. + +“Por Dios, senores, she made me swallow all that, pretending to be only +the mouthpiece of that poor man. Overcome by injustice, he expected to +find, she said, as much generosity in me as had been shown to him by the +Royalist family which had given him a refuge. + +“Hal It was well and nobly said to a youngster like me. I thought her +great. Alas! she was only implacable. + +“In the end I rode away very enthusiastic about the business, without +demanding even to see Gaspar Ruiz, who I was confident was in the house. + +“But on calm reflection I began to see some difficulties which I had not +confidence enough in myself to encounter. It was not easy to approach +a commander-in-chief with such a story. I feared failure. At last I +thought it better to lay the matter before my general-of-division, +Robles, a friend of my family, who had appointed me his aide-de-camp +lately. + +“He took it out of my hands at once without any ceremony. + +“‘In the house! of course he is in the house,’ he said contemptuously. +‘You ought to have gone sword in hand inside and demanded his surrender, +instead of chatting with a Royalist girl in the porch. Those people +should have been hunted out of that long ago. Who knows how many spies +they have harboured right in the very midst of our camps? A safe-conduct +from the Commander-in-Chief! The audacity of the fellow! Ha! ha! Now +we shall catch him to-night, and then we shall find out, without any +safe-conduct, what he has got to say, that is so very important. Ha! ha! +ha!’ + +“General Robles, peace to his soul, was a short, thick man, with round, +staring eyes, fierce and jovial. Seeing my distress he added: + +“‘Come, come, chico. I promise you his life if he does not resist. And +that is not likely. We are not going to break up a good soldier if it +can be helped. I tell you what! I am curious to see your strong man. +Nothing but a general will do for the picaro--well, he shall have a +general to talk to. Ha! ha! I shall go myself to the catching, and you +are coming with me, of course.’ + +“And it was done that same night. Early in the evening the house and the +orchard were surrounded quietly. Later on the general and I left a ball +we were attending in town and rode out at an easy gallop. At some little +distance from the house we pulled up. A mounted orderly held our horses. +A low whistle warned the men watching all along the ravine, and we +walked up to the porch softly. The barricaded house in the moonlight +seemed empty. + +“The general knocked at the door. After a time a woman’s voice within +asked who was there. My chief nudged me hard. I gasped. + +“’ It is I, Lieutenant Santierra,’ I stammered out, as if choked. ‘Open +the door.’ + +“It came open slowly. The girl, holding a thin taper in her hand, seeing +another man with me, began to back away before us slowly, shading the +light with her hand. Her impassive white face looked ghostly. I followed +behind General Robles. Her eyes were fixed on mine. I made a gesture of +helplessness behind my chief’s back, trying at the same time to give a +reassuring expression to my face. Neither of us three uttered a sound. + +“We found ourselves in a room with bare floor and walls. There was a +rough table and a couple of stools in it, nothing else whatever. An old +woman with her grey hair hanging loose wrung her hands when we appeared. +A peal of loud laughter resounded through the empty house, very amazing +and weird. At this the old woman tried to get past us. + +“‘Nobody to leave the room,’ said General Robles to me. + +“I swung the door to, heard the latch click, and the laughter became +faint in our ears. + +“Before another word could be spoken in that room I was amazed by +hearing the sound of distant thunder. + +“I had carried in with me into the house a vivid impression of a +beautiful, clear, moonlight night, without a speck of cloud in the sky. +I could not believe my ears. Sent early abroad for my education, I was +not familiar with the most dreaded natural phenomenon of my native land. +I saw, with inexpressible astonishment, a look of terror in my chief’s +eyes. Suddenly I felt giddy! The general staggered against me heavily; +the girl seemed to reel in the middle of the room, the taper fell out of +her hand and the light went out; a shrill cry of Misericordia! from the +old woman pierced my ears. In the pitchy darkness I heard the plaster +off the walls falling on The floor. It is a mercy there was no ceiling. +Holding on to the latch of the door, I heard the grinding of the +roof-tiles cease above my head. The shock was over. + +“‘Out of the house! The door! Fly, Santierra, fly!’ howled the general. +You know, senores, in our country the bravest are not ashamed of the +fear an earthquake strikes into all the senses of man. One never gets +used to it. + +“Repeated experience only augments the mastery of that nameless terror. + +“It was my first earthquake, and I was the calmest of them all. I +understood that the crash outside was caused by the porch, with its +wooden pillars and tiled roof projection, falling down. The next +shock would destroy the house, maybe. That rumble as of thunder was +approaching again. The general was rushing round the room, to find the +door, perhaps. He made a noise as though he were trying to climb the +walls, and I heard him distinctly invoke the names of several saints. +‘Out, out, Santierra!’ he yelled. + +“The girl’s voice was the only one I did not hear. + +“‘General,’ I cried, ‘I cannot move the door. We must be locked in.’ + +“I did not recognise his voice in the shout of malediction and despair +he let out. Senores I know many men in my country, especially in the +provinces most subject to earthquakes, who will neither eat, sleep, +pray, nor even sit down to cards with closed doors. The danger is not +in the loss of time, but in this--that the movement of the walls may +prevent a door being opened at all. This was what had happened to us. We +were trapped, and we had no help to expect from anybody. There is no man +in my country who will go into a house when the earth trembles. There +never was--except one: Gaspar Ruiz. + +“He had come out of whatever hole he had been hiding in outside, and +had clambered over the timbers of the destroyed porch. Above the awful +subterranean groan of coming destruction I heard a mighty voice shouting +the word ‘Erminia!’ with the lungs of a giant. An earthquake is a great +leveller of distinctions. I collected all my resolution against the +terror of the scene. ‘She is here,’ I shouted back. A roar as of a +furious wild beast answered me--while my head swam, my heart sank, and +the sweat of anguish streamed like rain off my brow. + +“He had the strength to pick up one of the heavy posts of the porch. +Holding it under his armpit like a lance, but with both hands, he +charged madly the rocking house with the force of a battering-ram, +bursting open the door and rushing in, headlong, over our prostrate +bodies. I and the general, picking ourselves up, bolted out together, +without looking round once till we got across the road. Then, clinging +to each other, we beheld the house change suddenly into a heap of +formless rubbish behind the back of a man, who staggered towards us +bearing the form of a woman clasped in his arms. Her long black hair +hung nearly to his feet. He laid her down reverently on the heaving +earth, and the moonlight shone on her closed eyes. + +“senores, we mounted with difficulty. Our horses, getting up, plunged +madly, held by the soldiers who had come running from all sides. Nobody +thought of catching Gaspar Ruiz then. The eyes of men and animals shone +with wild fear. My general approached Gaspar Ruiz, who stood motionless +as a statue above the girl. He let himself be shaken by the shoulder +without detaching his eyes from her face. + +“‘Que guape!’ shouted the general in his ear. ‘You are the bravest man +living. You have saved my life. I am General Robles. Come to my quarters +to-morrow, if God gives us the grace to see another day.’ + +“He never stirred--as if deaf, without feeling, insensible. + +“We rode away for the town, full of our relations, of our friends, of +whose fate we hardly dared to think. The soldiers ran by the side of +our horses. Everything was forgotten in the immensity of the catastrophe +overtaking a whole country.” + +Gaspar Ruiz saw the girl open her eyes. The raising of her eyelids +seemed to recall him from a trance. They were alone; the cries of terror +and distress from homeless people filled the plains of the coast, remote +and immense, coming like a whisper into their loneliness. + +She rose swiftly to her feet, darting fearful glances on all sides. +“What is it?” she cried out low, and peering into his face. “Where am +I?” + +He bowed his head sadly, without a word. + +“... Who are you?” + +He knelt down slowly before her, and touched the hem of her coarse black +baize skirt. “Your slave,” he said. + +She caught sight then of the heap of rubbish that had been the house, +all misty in the cloud of dust. “Ah!” she cried, pressing her hand to +her forehead. + +“I carried you out from there,” he whispered at her feet. + +“And they?” she asked in a great sob. + +He rose, and taking her by the arms, led her gently towards the +shapeless ruin half overwhelmed by a land-slide. “Come and listen,” he +said. + +The serene moon saw them clambering over that heap of stones, joists and +tiles, which was a grave. They pressed their ears to the interstices, +listening for the sound of a groan, for a sigh of pain. + +At last he said, “They died swiftly. You are alone.” + +She sat down on a piece of broken timber and put one arm across her +face. He waited--then, approaching his lips to her ear, “Let us go,” he +whispered. + +“Never--never from here,” she cried out, flinging her arms above her +head. + +He stooped over her, and her raised arms fell upon his shoulders. He +lifted her up, steadied himself and began to walk, looking straight +before him. + +“What are you doing?” she asked feebly. + +“I am escaping from my enemies,” he said, never once glancing at his +light burden. + +“With me?” she sighed helplessly. + +“Never without you,” he said. “You are my strength.” + +He pressed her close to him. His face was grave and his footsteps +steady. The conflagrations bursting out in the ruins of destroyed +villages dotted the plain with red fires; and the sounds of distant +lamentations, the cries of “Misericordia! Misericordia!” made a desolate +murmur in his ears. He walked on, solemn and collected, as if carrying +something holy, fragile and precious. + +The earth rocked at times under his feet. + + + + +IX + +WITH movements of mechanical care and an air of abstraction old General +Santierra lighted a long and thick cigar. + +“It was a good many hours before we could send a party back to the +ravine,” he said to his guests. “We had found one-third of the town laid +low, the rest shaken up; and the inhabitants, rich and poor, reduced to +the same state of distraction by the universal disaster. The affected +cheerfulness of some contrasted with the despair of others. In the +general confusion a number of reckless thieves, without fear of God or +man, became a danger to those who from the downfall of their homes had +managed to save some valuables. Crying ‘Misericordia’ louder than any at +every tremor, and beating their breasts with one hand, these scoundrels +robbed the poor victims with the other, not even stopping short of +murder. + +“General Robles’ division was occupied entirely in guarding the +destroyed quarters of the town from the depredations of these inhuman +monsters. Taken up with my duties of orderly officer, it was only in the +morning that I could assure myself of the safety of my own family. + +“My mother and my sisters had escaped with their lives from that +ball-room, where I had left them early in the evening. I remember those +two beautiful young women--God rest their souls--as if I saw them this +moment, in the garden of our destroyed house, pale but active, assisting +some of our poor neighbours, in their soiled ball-dresses and with the +dust of fallen walls on their hair. As to my mother, she had a stoical +soul in her frail body. Half-covered by a costly shawl, she was lying +on a rustic seat by the side of an ornamental basin whose fountain had +ceased to play for ever on that night. + +“I had hardly had time to embrace them all with transports of joy, when +my chief, coming along, dispatched me to the ravine with a few soldiers, +to bring in my strong man, as he called him, and that pale girl. + +“But there was no one for us to bring in. A land-slide had covered the +ruins of the house; and it was like a large mound of earth with only the +ends of some timbers visible here and there--nothing more. + +“Thus were the tribulations of the old Royalist couple ended. An +enormous and unconsecrated grave had swallowed them up alive, in their +unhappy obstinacy against the will of a people to be free. And their +daughter was gone. + +“That Gaspar Ruiz had carried her off I understood very well. But as +the case was not foreseen, I had no instructions to pursue them. And +certainly I had no desire to do so. I had grown mistrustful of my +interference. It had never been successful, and had not even appeared +creditable. He was gone. Well, let him go. And he had carried off the +Royalist girl! Nothing better. Vaya con Dios. This was not the time +to bother about a deserter who, justly or unjustly, ought to have been +dead, and a girl for whom it would have been better to have never been +born. + +“So I marched my men back to the town. + +“After a few days, order having been re-established, all the principal +families, including my own, left for Santiago. We had a fine house +there. At the same time the division of Robles was moved to new +cantonments near the capital. This change suited very well the state of +my domestic and amorous feelings. + +“One night, rather late, I was called to my chief. I found General +Robles in his quarters, at ease, with his uniform off, drinking neat +brandy out of a tumbler--as a precaution, he used to say, against the +sleeplessness induced by the bites of mosquitoes. He was a good soldier, +and he taught me the art and practice of war. + +“No doubt God has been merciful to his soul; for his motives were never +other than patriotic, if his character was irascible. As to the use +of mosquito nets, he considered it effeminate, shameful--unworthy of a +soldier. + +“I noticed at the first glance that his face, already very red, wore an +expression of high good-humour. + +“‘Aha! senor teniente,’ he cried loudly, as I saluted at the door. +‘Behold! Your strong man has turned up again.’ + +“He extended to me a folded letter, which I saw was superscribed ‘To the +Commander-in-Chief of the Republican Armies.’ + +“‘This,’ General Robles went on in his loud voice, ‘was thrust by a boy +into the hand of a sentry at the Quartel General, while the fellow stood +there thinking of his girl, no doubt--for before he could gather his +wits together, the boy had disappeared amongst the market people, and he +protests he could not recognise him to save his life.’ + +“My chief told me further that the soldier had given the letter to the +sergeant of the guard, and that ultimately it had reached the hands of +our generalissimo. His Excellency had deigned to take cognisance of it +with his own eyes. After that he had referred the matter in confidence +to General Robles. + +“The letter, senores, I cannot now recollect textually. I saw the +signature of Gaspar Ruiz. He was an audacious fellow. He had snatched a +soul for himself out of a cataclysm, remember. And now it was that +soul which had dictated the terms of his letter. Its tone was very +independent. I remember it struck me at the time as noble--dignified. It +was, no doubt, her letter. Now I shudder at the depth of its duplicity. +Gaspar Ruiz was made to complain of the injustice of which he had been +a victim. He invoked his previous record of fidelity and courage. Having +been saved from death by the miraculous interposition of Providence, he +could think of nothing but of retrieving his character. This, he wrote, +he could not hope to do in the ranks as a discredited soldier still +under suspicion. He had the means to give a striking proof of his +fidelity. And he ended by proposing to the General-in-Chief a meeting at +midnight in the middle of the Plaza before the Moneta. The signal would +be to strike fire with flint and steel three times, which was not too +conspicuous and yet distinctive enough for recognition. + +“San Martin, the great Liberator, loved men of audacity and courage. +Besides, he was just and compassionate. I told him as much of the man’s +story as I knew, and was ordered to accompany him on the appointed +night. The signals were duly exchanged. It was midnight, and the whole +town was dark and silent. Their two cloaked figures came together in +the centre of the vast Plaza, and, keeping discreetly at a distance, +I listened for an hour or more to the murmur of their voices. Then the +general motioned me to approach; and as I did so I heard San Martin, +who was courteous to gentle and simple alike, offer Gaspar Ruiz the +hospitality of the headquarters for the night. But the soldier refused, +saying that he would not be worthy of that honour till he had done +something. + +“‘You cannot have a common deserter for your guest, Excellency,’ he +protested with a low laugh, and stepping backwards, merged slowly into +the night. + +“The Commander-in-Chief observed to me, as we turned away: ‘He had +somebody with him, our friend Ruiz. I saw two figures for a moment. It +was an unobtrusive companion.’ + +“I too had observed another figure join the vanishing form of Gaspar +Ruiz. It had the appearance of a short fellow in a poncho and a big +hat. And I wondered stupidly who it could be he had dared take into +his confidence. I might have guessed it could be no one but that fatal +girl--alas! + +“Where he kept her concealed I do not know. He had--it was known +afterwards--an uncle, his mother’s brother, a small shopkeeper in +Santiago. Perhaps it was there that she found a roof and food. Whatever +she found, it was poor enough to exasperate her pride and keep up her +anger and hate. It is certain she did not accompany him on the feat +he undertook to accomplish first of all. It was nothing less than the +destruction of a store of war material collected secretly by the Spanish +authorities in the south, in a town called Linares. Gaspar Ruiz was +entrusted with a small party only, but they proved themselves worthy of +San Martin’s confidence. The season was not propitious. They had to swim +swollen rivers. They seemed, however, to have galloped night and day, +outriding the news of their foray, and holding straight for the town, a +hundred miles into the enemy’s country, till at break of day they rode +into it sword in hand, surprising the little garrison. It fled without +making a stand, leaving most of its officers in Gaspar Ruiz’ hands. + +“A great explosion of gunpowder ended the conflagration of the magazines +the raiders had set on fire without loss of time. In less than six +hours they were riding away at the same mad speed, without the loss of a +single man. Good as they were, such an exploit is not performed without +a still better leadership. + +“I was dining at the headquarters when Gas-par Ruiz himself brought the +news of his success. And it was a great blow to the Royalist troops. For +a proof he displayed to us the garrison’s flag. He took it from under +his poncho and flung it on the table. The man was transfigured; there +was something exulting and menacing in the expression of his face. He +stood behind General San Martin’s chair and looked proudly at us all. +He had a round blue cap edged with silver braid on his head, and we all +could see a large white scar on the nape of his sunburnt neck. + +“Somebody asked him what he had done with the captured Spanish officers. + +“He shrugged his shoulders scornfully. ‘What a question to ask! In +a partisan war you do not burden yourself with prisoners. I let them +go--and here are their sword-knots.’ + +“He flung a bunch of them on the table upon the flag. Then General +Robles, whom I was attending there, spoke up in his loud, thick voice: +‘You did! Then, my brave friend, you do not know yet how a war like ours +ought to be conducted. You should have done--this.’ And he passed the +edge of his hand across his own throat. + +“Alas, senores! It was only too true that on both sides this contest, in +its nature so heroic, was stained by ferocity. The murmurs that arose +at General Robles’ words were by no means unanimous in tone. But the +generous and brave San Martin praised the humane action, and pointed +out to Ruiz a place on his right hand. Then rising with a full glass +he proposed a toast: ‘Caballeros and comrades-in-arms, let us drink the +health of Captain Gaspar Ruiz.’ And when we had emptied our glasses: +‘I intend,’ the Commander-in-Chief continued, ‘to entrust him with the +guardianship of our southern frontier, while we go afar to liberate our +brethren in Peru. He whom the enemy could not stop from striking a blow +at his very heart will know how to protect the peaceful populations we +leave behind us to pursue our sacred task.’ And he embraced the silent +Gaspar Ruiz by his side. + +“Later on, when we all rose from table, I approached the latest officer +of the army with my congratulations. ‘And, Captain Ruiz,’ I added, +‘perhaps you do not mind telling a man who has always believed in the +uprightness of your character, what became of Doña Erminia on that +night?’ + +“At this friendly question his aspect changed. He looked at me from +under his eyebrows with the heavy, dull glance of a guasso--of a +peasant. + +“Senor teniente,’ he said thickly, and as if very much cast down, ‘do +not ask me about the senorita, for I prefer not to think about her at +all when I am amongst you.’ + +“He looked, with a frown, all about the room, full of smoking and +talking officers. Of course I did not insist. + +“These, senores, were the last words I was to hear him utter for a long, +long time. The very next day we embarked for our arduous expedition to +Peru, and we only heard of Gaspar Ruiz’ doings in the midst of battles +of our own. He had been appointed military guardian of our southern +province. He raised a partida. But his leniency to the conquered foe +displeased the Civil Governor, who was a formal, uneasy man, full of +suspicions. He forwarded reports against Gaspar Ruiz to the Supreme +Government; one of them being that he had married publicly, with great +pomp, a woman of Royalist tendencies. Quarrels were sure to arise +between these two men of very different character. At last the Civil +Governor began to complain of his inactivity, and to hint at treachery, +which, he wrote, would be not surprising in a man of such antecedents. +Gaspar Ruiz heard of it. His rage flamed up, and the woman ever by his +side knew how to feed it with perfidious words. I do not know +whether really the Supreme Government ever did--as he complained +afterwards--send orders for his arrest. It seems certain that the +Civil Governor began to tamper with his officers, and that Gaspar Ruiz +discovered the fact. + +“One evening, when the Governor was giving a tertullia Gaspar Ruiz, +followed by six men he could trust, appeared riding through the town to +the door of the Government House, and entered the sala armed, his hat on +his head. As the Governor, displeased, advanced to meet him, he seized +the wretched man round the body, carried him off from the midst of the +appalled guests, as though he were a child, and flung him down the outer +steps into the street. An angry hug from Gaspar Ruiz was enough to crush +the life out of a giant; but in addition Gaspar Ruiz’ horsemen fired +their pistols at the body of the Governor as it lay motionless at the +bottom of the stairs.” + + + + +X + +“AFTER this--as he called it--act of justice, Ruiz crossed the Rio +Blanco, followed by the greater part of his band, and entrenched himself +upon a hill A company of regular troops sent out foolishly against him +was surrounded, and destroyed almost to a man. Other expeditions, though +better organised, were equally unsuccessful. + +“It was during these sanguinary skirmishes that his wife first began to +appear on horseback at his right hand. Rendered proud and self-confident +by his successes, Ruiz no longer charged at the head of his partida, but +presumptuously, like a general directing the movements of an army, +he remained in the rear, well mounted and motionless on an eminence, +sending out his orders. She was seen repeatedly at his side, and for +a long time was mistaken for a man. There was much talk then of a +mysterious white-faced chief, to whom the defeats of our troops were +ascribed. She rode like an Indian woman, astride, wearing a broad-rimmed +man’s hat and a dark poncho. Afterwards, in the day of their greatest +prosperity, this poncho was embroidered in gold, and she wore then, +also, the sword of poor Don Antonio de Leyva. This veteran Chilean +officer, having the misfortune to be surrounded with his small force, +and running short of ammunition, found his death at the hands of the +Arauco Indians, the allies and auxiliaries of Gaspar Ruiz. This was the +fatal affair long remembered afterwards as the ‘Massacre of the Island.’ +The sword of the unhappy officer was presented to her by Peneleo, the +Araucanian chief; for these Indians, struck by her aspect, the deathly +pallor of her face, which no exposure to the weather seemed to affect, +and her calm indifference under fire, looked upon her as a supernatural +being, or at least as a witch. By this superstition the prestige and +authority of Gaspar Ruiz amongst these ignorant people were greatly +augmented. She must have savoured her vengeance to the full on that day +when she buckled on the sword of Don Antonio de Leyva. It never left her +side, unless she put on her woman’s clothes--not that she would or +could ever use it, but she loved to feel it beating upon her thigh as +a perpetual reminder and symbol of the dishonour to the arms of the +Republic. She was insatiable. Moreover, on the path she had led Gaspar +Ruiz upon, there is no stopping. Escaped prisoners--and they were not +many--used to relate how with a few whispered words she could change the +expression of his face and revive his flagging animosity. They told how +after every skirmish, after every raid, after every successful action, +he would ride up to her and look into her face. Its haughty-calm was +never relaxed. Her embrace, senores, must have been as cold as the +embrace of a statue. He tried to melt her icy heart in a stream of warm +blood. Some English naval officers who visited him at that time noticed +the strange character of his infatuation.” + +At the movement of surprise and curiosity in his audience General +Santierra paused for a moment. + +“Yes--English naval officers,” he repeated. “Ruiz had consented to +receive them to arrange for the liberation of some prisoners of your +nationality. In the territory upon which he ranged, from sea coast to +the Cordillera, there was a bay where the ships of that time, after +rounding Gape Horn, used to resort for wood and water. There, decoying +the crew on shore, he captured first the whaling brig Hersalia, and +afterwards made himself master by surprise of two more ships, one +English and one American. + +“It was rumoured at the time that he dreamed of setting up a navy of his +own. But that, of course, was impossible. Still, manning the brig with +part of her own crew, and putting an officer and a good many men of his +own on board, he sent her off to the Spanish Governor of the island of +Chiloe with a report of his exploits, and a demand for assistance in the +war against the rebels. The Governor could not do much for him; but he +sent in return two light field-pieces, a letter of compliments, with a +colonel’s commission in the royal forces, and a great Spanish flag. This +standard with much ceremony was hoisted over his house in the heart of +the Arauco country. Surely on that day she may have smiled on her guasso +husband with a less haughty reserve. + +“The senior officer of the English squadron on our coast made +representations to our Government as to these captures. But Gaspar Ruiz +refused to treat with us. Then an English frigate proceeded to the bay, +and her captain, doctor, and two lieutenants travelled inland under a +safe conduct. They were well received, and spent three days as guests +of the partisan chief. A sort of military, barbaric state was kept up +at the residence. It was furnished with the loot of frontier towns. When +first admitted to the principal sala, they saw his wife lying down (she +was not in good health then), with Gaspar Ruiz sitting at the foot of +the couch. His-hat was lying on the floor, and his hands reposed on the +hilt of his sword. + +“During that first conversation he never removed his big hands from +the sword-hilt, except once, to arrange the coverings about her, with +gentle, careful touches. They noticed that when ever she spoke he would +fix his eyes upon her in a kind of expectant, breathless attention, and +seemingly forget the existence of the world and his own existence +too. In the course of the farewell banquet, at which she was present +reclining on her couch, he burst forth into complaints of the treatment +he had received. After General San Martin’s departure he had been +beset by spies, slandered by civil officials, his services ignored, his +liberty and even his life threatened by the Chilian Government. He got +up from the table, thundered execrations pacing the room wildly, then +sat down on the couch at his wife’s feet, his breast heaving, his eyes +fixed on the floor. She reclined on her back, her head on the cushions, +her eyes nearly closed. + +“‘And now I am an honoured Spanish officer,’ he added in a calm voice. + +“The captain of the English frigate then took the opportunity to inform +him gently that Lima had fallen, and that by the terms of a convention +the Spaniards were withdrawing from the whole continent. + +“Gaspar Ruiz raised his head, and without hesitation, speaking with +suppressed vehemence, declared, that if not a single Spanish soldier +were left in the whole of South America he would persist in carrying on +the contest against Chile to the last drop of blood. When he finished +that mad tirade his wife’s long white hand was raised, and she just +caressed his knee with the tips of her fingers for a fraction of a +second. + +“For the rest of the officers’ stay, which did not extend for more than +half an hour after the banquet, that ferocious chieftain of a desperate +partida overflowed with amiability and kindness. He had been hospitable +before, but now it seemed as though he could not do enough for the +comfort and safety of his visitors’ journey back to their ship. + +“Nothing, I have been told, could have presented a greater contrast to +his late violence or the habitual taciturn reserve of his manner. Like a +man elated beyond measure by an unexpected happiness, he overflowed with +good-will, amiability, and attentions. He embraced the officers like +brothers, almost with tears in his eyes. The released prisoners were +presented each with a piece of gold. At the last moment, suddenly, he +declared he could do no less than restore to the masters of the merchant +vessels all their private property. This unexpected generosity caused +some delay in the departure of the party, and their first march was very +short. + +“Late in the evening Gaspar Ruiz rode up with an escort, to their camp +fires, bringing along with him a mule loaded with cases of wine. He had +come, he said, to drink a stirrup cup with his English friends, whom he +would never see again. He was mellow and joyous in his temper. He told +stories of his own exploits, laughed like a boy, borrowed a guitar +from the Englishmen’s chief muleteer, and sitting cross-legged on his +superfine poncho spread before the glow of the embers, sang a guasso +love-song in a tender voice. Then his head dropped on his breast, his +hands fell to the ground; the guitar rolled off his knees--and a great +hush fell over the camp after the love-song of the implacable partisan +who had made so many of our people weep for destroyed homes and for +loves cut short. + +“Before anybody could make a sound he sprang up from the ground and +called for his horse. ‘Adios, my friends!’ he cried, ‘Go with God. +I love you. And tell them well in Santiago that between Gaspar Ruiz, +colonel of the King of Spain, and the republican carrion-crows of Chile +there is war to the last breath--war! war! war!’ + +“With a great yell of ‘War! war! war!’ which his escort took up, they +rode away, and the sound of hoofs and of voices died out in the distance +between the slopes of the hills. + +“The two young English officers were convinced that Ruiz was mad. How +do you say that?--tile loose--eh? But the doctor, an observant Scotsman +with much shrewdness and philosophy in his character, told me that it +was a very curious case of possession. I met him many years afterwards, +but he remembered the experience very well. He told me too that in +his opinion that woman did not lead Gaspar Ruiz into the practice of +sanguinary treachery by direct persuasion, but by the subtle way of +awakening and keeping alive in his simple mind a burning sense of an +irreparable wrong. Maybe, maybe. But I would say that she poured half +of her vengeful soul into the strong clay of that man, as you may pour +intoxication, madness, poison into an empty cup. + +“If he wanted war he got it in earnest when our victorious army began to +return from Peru. Systematic operations were planned against this blot +on the honour and prosperity of our hardly-won independence. General +Robles commanded, with his well-known ruthless severity. Savage +reprisals were exercised on both sides, and no quarter was given in the +field. Having won my promotion in the Peru campaign, I was a captain on +the staff. + +“Gaspar Ruiz found himself hard pressed; at the same time we heard by +means of a fugitive priest who had been carried off from his village +presbytery, and galloped eighty miles into the hills to perform the +christening ceremony, that a daughter was born to them. To celebrate the +event, I suppose, Ruiz executed one or two brilliant forays clear away +at the rear of our forces, and defeated the detachments sent out to cut +off his retreat. General Robles nearly had a stroke of apoplexy from +rage. He found another cause of insomnia than the bites of mosquitoes; +but against this one, senores, tumblers of raw brandy had no more effect +than so much water. He took to railing and storming at me about my +strong man. And from our impatience to end this inglorious campaign, I +am afraid that we young officers became reckless and apt to take undue +risks on service. + +“Nevertheless, slowly, inch by inch as it were, our columns were closing +upon Gaspar Ruiz, though he had managed to raise all the Araucanian +nation of wild Indians against us. Then a year or more later our +Government became aware through its agents and spies that he had +actually entered into alliance with Carreras, the so-called dictator of +the so-called republic of Mendoza, on the other side of the mountains. +Whether Gaspar Ruiz had a deep political intention, or whether he wished +only to secure a safe retreat for his wife and child while he pursued +remorselessly against us his war of surprises and massacres, I cannot +tell. The alliance, however, was a fact. Defeated in his attempt to +check our advance from the sea, he retreated with his usual swiftness, +and preparing for another hard and hazardous tussle began by sending his +wife with the little girl across the Pequena range of mountains, on the +frontier of Mendoza.” + + + + +XI + +“Now Carreras, under the guise of politics and liberalism, was a +scoundrel of the deepest dye, and the unhappy state of Mendoza was the +prey of thieves, robbers, traitors and murderers, who formed his party. +He was under a noble exterior a man without heart, pity, honour, or +conscience. Tie aspired to nothing but tyranny, and though he would have +made use of Gaspar Ruiz for his nefarious designs, yet he soon became +aware that to propitiate the Chilian Government would answer his purpose +better. I blush to say that he made proposals to our Government to +deliver up on certain conditions the wife and child of the man who had +trusted to his honour, and that this offer was accepted. + +“While on her way to Mendoza over the Pequena pass she was betrayed by +her escort of Carreras’ men, and given up to the officer in command of +a Chilian fort on the upland at the foot of the main Cordillera range. +This atrocious transaction might have cost me dear, for as a matter of +fact I was a prisoner in Gaspar Ruiz’ camp when he received the news. I +had been captured during a reconnaissance, my escort of a few troopers +being speared by the Indians of his bodyguard. I was saved from the same +fate because he recognised my features just in time. No doubt my friends +thought I was dead, and I would not have given much for my life at any +time. But the strong man treated me very well, because, he said, I had +always believed in his innocence and had tried to serve him when he was +a victim of injustice. + +“‘And now,’ was his speech to me, ‘you shall see that I always speak the +truth. You are safe.’ + +“I did not think I was very safe when I was called up to go to him one +night. He paced up and down like a wild beast, exclaiming, ‘Betrayed! +Betrayed!’ + +“He walked up to me clenching his fists. ‘I could cut your throat.’ + +“‘Will that give your wife back to you?’ I said as quietly as I could. + +“‘And the child!’ he yelled out, as if mad. He fell into a chair and +laughed in a frightful, boisterous manner. ‘Oh, no, you are safe.’ + +“I assured him that his wife’s life was safe too; but I did not say what +I was convinced of--that he would never see her again. He wanted war to +the death, and the war could only end with his death. + +“He gave me a strange, inexplicable look, and sat muttering blankly. ‘In +their hands. In their hands.’ + +“I kept as still as a mouse before a cat. Suddenly he jumped up. ‘What +am I doing here?’ he cried; and opening the door, he yelled out orders +to saddle and mount. ‘What is it?’ he stammered, coming up to me. ‘The +Pequena fort; a fort of palisades! Nothing. I would get her back if she +were hidden in the very heart of the mountain.’ He amazed me by adding, +with an effort: ‘I carried her off in my two arms while the earth +trembled. And the child at least is mine. She at least is mine!’ + +“Those were bizarre words; but I had no time for wonder. + +“‘You shall go with me;’ he said violently. ‘I may want to parley, and +any other messenger from Ruiz, the outlaw, would have his throat cut.’ + +“This was true enough. Between him and the rest of incensed mankind +there could be no communication, according to the customs of honour-able +warfare. + +“In less than half an hour we were in the saddle, flying wildly through +the night. He had only an escort of twenty men at his quarters, but +would not wait for more. He sent, however, messengers to Peneleo, the +Indian chief then ranging in the foothills, directing him to bring +his warriors to the uplands and meet him at the lake called the Eye of +Water, near whose shores the frontier fort of Pequena was built. + +“We crossed the lowlands with that untired rapidity of movement which +had made Gaspar Ruiz’ raids so famous. We followed the lower valleys +up to their precipitous heads. The ride was not without its dangers. +A cornice road on a perpendicular wall of basalt wound itself around a +buttressing rock, and at last we emerged from the gloom of a deep gorge +upon the upland of Peeña. + +“It was a plain of green wiry grass and thin flowering bushes; but high +above our heads patches of snow hung in the folds and crevices of the +great walls of rock. The little lake was as round as a staring eye. The +garrison of the fort were just driving in their small herd of cattle +when we appeared. Then the great wooden gates swung to, and that +four-square enclosure of broad blackened stakes pointed at the top +and barely hiding the grass roofs of the huts inside, seemed deserted, +empty, without a single soul. + +“But when summoned to surrender, by a man who at Gaspar Ruiz’ order rode +fearlessly forward, those inside answered by a volley which rolled him +and his horse over. I heard Ruiz by my side grind his teeth. ‘It does +not matter,’ he said. ‘Now you go.’ + +“Torn and faded as its rags were, the vestiges of my uniform were +recognised, and I was allowed to approach within speaking distance; and +then I had to wait, because a voice clamouring through a loophole with +joy and astonishment would not allow me to place a word. It was the +voice of Major Pajol, an old friend. He, like my other comrades, had +thought me killed a long time ago. + +“‘Put spurs to your horse, man!’ he yelled, in the greatest excitement; +‘we will swing the gate open for you.’ + +“I let the reins fall out of my hand and shook my head. ‘I am on my +honour,’ I cried. + +“‘To him!’ he shouted, with infinite disgust.’ + +“‘He promises you your life.’ + +“‘Our life is our own. And do you, Santierra, advise us to surrender to +that rastrero?’ + +“‘No!’ I shouted. ‘But he wants his wife and child, and he can cut you +off from water.’ + +“‘Then she would be the first to suffer. You may tell him that. Look +here--this is all nonsense: we shall dash out and capture you. + +“‘You shall not catch me alive,’ I said firmly. + +“‘Imbecile!’ + +“‘For God’s sake,’ I continued hastily, ‘do not open the gate.’ And I +pointed at the multitude of Peneleo’s Indians who covered the shores of +the lake. + +“I had never seen so many of these savages together. Their lances +seemed as numerous as stalks of grass. Their hoarse voices made a vast, +inarticulate sound like the murmur of the sea. + +“My friend Pajol was swearing to himself. ‘Well, then--go to the devil!’ +he shouted, exasperated. But as I swung round he repented, for I heard +him say hurriedly, ‘Shoot the fool’s horse before he gets away. + +“He had good marksmen. Two shots rang out, and in the very act +of turning my horse staggered, fell and lay still as if struck by +lightning. I had my feet out of the stirrups and rolled clear of him; +but I did not attempt to rise. Neither dared they rush out to drag me +in. + +“The masses of Indians had begun to move upon the fort. They rode up +in squadrons, trailing their long chusos; then dismounted out of +musket-shot, and, throwing off their fur mantles, advanced naked to the +attack, stamping their feet and shouting in cadence. A sheet of flame +ran three times along the face of the fort without checking their steady +march. They crowded right up to the very stakes, flourishing their broad +knives. But this palisade was not fastened together with hide lashings +in the usual way, but with long iron nails, which they could not cut. +Dismayed at the failure of their usual method of forcing an entrance, +the heathen, who had marched so steadily against the musketry fire, +broke and fled under the volleys of the besieged. + +“Directly they had passed me on their advance I got up and rejoined +Gaspar Ruiz on a low ridge which jutted out upon the plain. The musketry +of his own men had covered the attack, but now at a sign from him a +trumpet sounded the ‘Cease fire.’ Together we looked in silence at the +hopeless rout of the savages. + +“‘It must be a siege, then,’ he muttered. And I detected him wringing +his hands stealthily. + +“But what sort of siege could it be? Without any need for me to repeat +my friend Pajol’s message, he dared not cut the water off from the +besieged. They had plenty of meat. And, indeed, if they had been short, +he would have been too anxious to send food into the stockade had he +been able. But, as a matter of fact, it was we on the plain who were +beginning to feel the pinch of hunger. + +“Peneleo, the Indian chief, sat by our fire folded in his ample mantle +of guanaco skins. He was an athletic savage, with an enormous square +shock head of hair resembling a straw beehive in shape and size, +and with grave, surly, much-lined features. In his broken Spanish he +repeated, growling like a bad-tempered wild beast, that if an opening +ever so small were made in the stockade his men would march in and get +the senora--not otherwise. + +“Gaspar Ruiz, sitting opposite him, kept his eyes fixed on the fort +night and day as it were, in awful silence and immobility. Meantime, by +runners from the lowlands that arrived nearly every day, we heard of the +defeat of one of his lieutenants in the Maipu valley. Scouts sent afar +brought news of a column of infantry advancing through distant passes to +the relief of the fort. They were slow, but we could trace their toilful +progress up the lower valleys. I wondered why Ruiz did not march to +attack and destroy this threatening force, in some wild gorge fit for an +ambuscade, in accordance with his genius for guerrilla warfare. But his +genius seemed to have abandoned him to his despair. + +“It was obvious to me that he could not tear himself away from the sight +of the fort. I protest to you, senores, that I was moved almost to +pity by the sight of this powerless strong man sitting on the ridge, +indifferent to sun, to rain, to cold, to wind; with his hands +clasped round his legs and his chin resting on his knees, +gazing--gazing--gazing. + +“And the fort he kept his eyes fastened on was as still and silent as +himself. The garrison gave no sign of life. They did not even answer the +desultory fire directed at the loopholes. + +“One night, as I strolled past him, he, without changing his attitude, +spoke to me unexpectedly ‘I have sent for a gun,’ he said. ‘I shall have +time to get her back and retreat before your Robles manages to crawl up +here.’ + +“He had sent for a gun to the plains. + +“It was long in coming, but at last it came. It was a seven-pounder +field-gun. Dismounted and lashed crosswise to two long poles, it had +been carried up the narrow paths between two mules with ease. His wild +cry of exultation at daybreak when he saw the gun escort emerge from the +valley rings in my ears now. + +“But, senores, I have no words to depict his amazement, his fury, his +despair and distraction, when he heard that the animal loaded with the +gun-carriage had, during the last night march, somehow or other tumbled +down a precipice. He broke into menaces of death and torture against the +escort. I kept out of his way all that day, lying behind some bushes, +and wondering what he would do now. Retreat was left for him; but he +could not retreat. + +“I saw below me his artillerist Jorge, an old Spanish soldier, building +up a sort of structure with heaped-up saddles. The gun, ready-loaded was +lifted on to that, but in the act of firing the whole thing collapsed +and the shot flew high above the stockade. + +“Nothing more was attempted. One of the ammunition mules had been lost +too, and they had no more than six shots to fire; amply enough to batter +down the gate, providing the gun was well laid. This was impossible +without it being properly mounted. There was no time nor means to +construct a carriage. Already every moment I expected to hear Robles’ +bugle-calls echo amongst the crags. + +“Peneleo, wandering about uneasily, draped in his skins, sat down for a +moment near me growling his usual tale. + +“‘Make an entrada--a hole. If make a hole, bueno. If not make a hole, +them vamos--we must go away.’ + +“After sunset I observed with surprise the Indians making preparations +as if for another assault. Their lines stood ranged in the shadows +mountains. On the plain in front of the fort gate I saw a group of men +swaying about in the same place. + +“I walked down the ridge disregarded. The moonlight in the clear air of +the uplands was as bright as day, but the intense shadows confused my +sight, and I could not make out what they were doing. I heard voice +Jorge, artillerist, say in a queer, doubtful tone, ‘It is loaded, +senores.’ + +“Then another voice in that group pronounced firmly the words, ‘Bring +the riata here.’ It was the voice of Gaspar Ruiz. + +“A silence fell, in which the popping shots of the besieged garrison +rang out sharply. They too had observed the group. But the distance +was too great, and in the spatter of spent musket-balls cutting up the +ground, the group opened, closed, swayed, giving me a glimpse of busy +stooping figures in its midst. I drew nearer, doubting whether this was +a weird vision, a suggestive and insensate dream. + +“A strangely stifled voice commanded, ‘Haul the hitches tighter.’ + +“‘Si, senor,’ several other voices answered in tones of awed alacrity. + +“Then the stifled voice said: ‘Like this. I must be free to breathe.’ + +“Then there was a concerned noise of many men together. ‘Help him up, +hombres. Steady! Under the other arm.’ + +“That deadened voice, ordered: ‘Bueno! Stand away from me, men.’ + +“I pushed my way through the recoiling circle, and heard once more that +same oppressed voice saying earnestly: ‘Forget that I am a living man, +Jorge. Forget me altogether, and think of what you have to do.’ + +“‘Be without fear, senor. You are nothing to me but a gun carriage, and +I shall not waste a shot.’ + +“I heard the spluttering of a port-fire, and smelt the saltpetre of the +match. I saw suddenly before me a nondescript shape on all fours like +a beast, but with a man’s head drooping below a tubular projection over +the nape of the neck, and the gleam of a rounded mass of bronze on its +back. + +“In front of a silent semicircle of men it squatted alone with Jorge +behind it and a trumpeter motionless, his trumpet in his hand, by its +side. + +“Jorge, bent double, muttered, port-fire in hand: ‘An inch to the left, +senor. Too much. So. Now, if you let yourself down a little by letting +your elbows bend, I will...’ + +“He leaped aside, lowering his port-fire, and a burst of flame darted +out of the muzzle of the gun lashed on the man’s back. + +“Then Gaspar Ruiz lowered himself slowly. ‘Good shot?’ he asked. + +“‘Full on, senor.’ + +“‘Then load again.’ + +“He lay there before me on his breast under the darkly glittering bronze +of his monstrous burden, such as no love or strength of man had ever +had to bear in the lamentable history of the world. His arms were spread +out, and he resembled a prostrate penitent on the moonlit ground. + +“Again I saw him raised to his hands and knees, and the men stand away +from him, and old Jorge stoop, glancing along the gun. + +“‘Left a little. Right an inch. Por Dios, senor, stop this trembling. +Where is your strength?’ + +“The old gunner’s voice was cracked with emotion. He stepped aside, and +quick as lightning brought the spark to the touch-hole. + +“‘Excellent!’ he cried tearfully; but Gaspar Ruiz lay for a long time +silent, flattened on the ground. + +“‘I am tired,’ he murmured at last. ‘Will another shot do it?’ + +“‘Without doubt,’ said Jorge, bending down to his ear. + +“‘Then--load,’ I heard him utter distinctly. ‘Trumpeter!’ + +“‘I am here, senor, ready for your word.’ + +“‘Blow a blast at this word that shall be heard from one end of Chile to +the other,’ he said, in an extraordinarily strong voice. ‘And you others +stand ready to cut this accursed riata, for then will be the time for +me to lead you in your rush. Now raise me up, and, you, Jorge--be quick +with your aim.’ + +“The rattle of musketry from the fort nearly drowned his voice. The +palisade was wreathed in smoke and flame. + +“‘Exert your force forward against the recoil, mi amo,’ said the old +gunner shakily. ‘Dig your fingers into the ground. So. Now!’ + +“A cry of exultation escaped him after the shot. The trumpeter raised +his trumpet nearly to his lips, and waited. But no word came from the +prostrate man. I fell on one knee, and heard all he had to say then. + +“‘Something broken,’ he whispered, lifting his head a little, and +turning his eyes towards me in his hopelessly crushed attitude. + +“‘The gate hangs only by the splinters,’ yelled Jorge. + +“Gaspar Ruiz tried to speak, but his voice died out in his throat, and I +helped to roll the gun off his broken back. He was insensible. + +“I kept my lips shut, of course. The signal for the Indians to attack +was never given. Instead, the bugle-calls of the relieving force, for +which my ears had thirsted so long, burst out, terrifying like the call +of the Last Day to our surprised enemies. + +“A tornado, senores, a real hurricane of stampeded men, wild horses, +mounted Indians, swept over me as I cowered on the ground by the side +of Gaspar Ruiz, still stretched out on his face in the shape of a +cross. Peneleo, galloping for life, jabbed at me with his long chuso in +passing--for the sake of old acquaintance, I suppose. How I escaped the +flying lead is more difficult to explain. Venturing to rise on my knees +too soon, some soldiers of the 17th Taltal regiment, in their hurry to +get at something alive, nearly bayonetted me on the spot. They looked +very disappointed too when some officers galloping up drove them away +with the flat of their swords. + +“It was General Robles with his staff. He wanted badly to make some +prisoners. He, too, seemed disappointed for a moment. ‘What? Is it you?’ +he cried. But he dismounted at once to embrace me, for he was an old +friend of my family. I pointed to the body at our feet, and said only +these two words: + +“‘Gaspar Ruiz.’ + +“He threw his arms up in astonishment. + +“‘Aha! Your strong man! Always to the last with your strong man. No +matter. He saved our lives when the earth trembled enough to make the +bravest faint with fear. I was frightened out of my wits. But he--no! +Que guape! Where’s the hero who got the best of him? Ha! ha! ha! What +killed him, chico?’ + +“‘His own strength general,’ I answered.” + + + + +XII + +“BUT Gaspar Ruiz breathed yet. I had him carried in his poncho under the +shelter of some bushes on the very ridge from which he had been gazing +so fixedly at the fort while unseen death was hovering already over his +head. + +“Our troops had bivouacked round the fort. Towards daybreak I was not +surprised to hear that I was designated to command the escort of a +prisoner who was to be sent down at once to Santiago. Of course the +prisoner was Gaspar Ruiz’ wife. + +“‘I have named you out of regard for your feelings,’ General Robles +remarked. ‘Though the woman really ought to be shot for all the harm she +has done to the Republic.’ + +“And as I made a movement of shocked protest, he continued: + +“‘Now he is as well as dead, she is of no importance. Nobody will know +what to do with her. However, the Government wants her.’ He shrugged his +shoulders. ‘I suppose he must have buried large quantities of his loot +in places that she alone knows of.’ + +“At dawn I saw her coming up the ridge, guarded by two soldiers, and +carrying her child on her arm. + +“I walked to meet her. + +“‘Is he living yet?’ she asked, confronting me with that white, +impassive face he used to look at in an adoring way. + +“I bent my head, and led her round a clump of bushes without a word. His +eyes were open. He breathed with difficulty, and uttered her name with a +great effort. + +“‘Erminia!’ + +“She knelt at his head. The little girl, unconscious of him, and with +her big eyes, looking about, began to chatter suddenly, in a joyous, +thin voice. She pointed a tiny finger at the rosy glow of sunrise +behind the black shapes of the peaks. And while that child-talk, +incomprehensible and sweet to the ear, lasted, those two, the dying man +and the kneeling woman, remained silent, looking into each other’s eyes, +listening to the frail sound. Then the prattle stopped. The child laid +its head against its mother’s breast and was still. + +“‘It was for you,’ he began. ‘Forgive.’ His voice failed him. Presently +I heard a mutter, and caught the pitiful words: ‘Not strong enough.’ + +“She looked at him with an extraordinary intensity. He tried to smile, +and in a humble tone, ‘Forgive me,’ he repeated. ‘Leaving you...’ + +“She bent down, dry-eyed, and in a steady voice: ‘On all the earth I +have loved nothing but you, Gaspar,’ she said. + +“His head made a movement. His eyes revived. ‘At last! ‘he sighed out. +Then, anxiously, ‘But is this true... is this true?’ + +“‘As true as that there is no mercy and justice in this world,’ she +answered him passionately. She stooped over his face. He tried to raise +his head, but it fell back, and when she kissed his lips he was already +dead. His glazed eyes stared at the sky, on which pink clouds floated +very high. But I noticed the eyelids of the child, pressed to its +mother’s breast, droop and close slowly. She had gone to sleep. + +“The widow of Gaspar Ruiz, the strong man, allowed me to lead her away +without shedding a tear. + +“For travelling we had arranged for her a side-saddle very much like a +chair, with a board swung beneath to rest her feet on. And the first day +she rode without uttering a word, and hardly for one moment turning her +eyes away from the little girl, whom she held on her knees. At our first +camp I saw her during the night walking about, rocking the child in +her arms and gazing down at it by the light of the moon. After we had +started on our second day’s march she asked me how soon we should come +to the first village of the inhabited country. + +“I said we should be there about noon. + +“‘And will there be women there?’ she inquired. + +“I told her that it was a large village. ‘There will be men and women +there, senora,’ I said, ‘whose hearts shall be made glad by the news +that all the unrest and war is over now.’ + +“‘Yes, it is all over now,’ she repeated. Then, after a time: ‘senor +officer, what will your Government do with me?’ + +“‘I do not know, senora,’ I said. ‘They will treat you well, no doubt. +We republicans are not savages, and take no vengeance on women.’ + +“She gave me a look at the word ‘republicans’ which I imagined full of +undying hate. But an hour or so afterwards, as we drew up to let the +baggage mules go first along a narrow path skirting a precipice, she +looked at me with such a white, troubled face that I felt a great pity +for her. + +“‘Senor officer,’ she said, ‘I am weak, I tremble. It is an insensate +fear.’ And indeed her lips did tremble, while she tried to smile +glancing at the beginning of the narrow path which was not so dangerous +after all. ‘I am afraid I shall drop the child. Gaspar saved your life, +you remember.... Take her from me.’ + +“I took the child out of her extended arms. ‘Shut your eyes, senora, and +trust to your mule,’ I recommended. + +“She did so, and with her pallor and her wasted thin face she looked +deathlike. At a turn of the path, where a great crag of purple porphyry +closes the view of the lowlands, I saw her open her eyes. I rode just +behind her holding the little girl with my right arm. ‘The child is all +right,’ I cried encouragingly. + +“‘Yes,’ she answered faintly; and then, to my intense terror, I saw her +stand up on the footrest, staring horribly, and throw herself forward +into the chasm on our right. + +“I cannot describe to you the sudden and abject fear that came over me +at that dreadful sight. It was a dread of the abyss, the dread of the +crags which seemed to nod upon me. My head swam. I pressed the child to +my side and sat my horse as still as a statue. I was speechless and cold +all over. Her mule staggered, sidling close to the rock, and then went +on. My horse only pricked up his ears with a slight snort. My heart +stood still, and from the depths of the precipice the stones rattling in +the bed of the furious stream made me almost insane with their sound. + +“Next moment we were round the turn and on a broad and grassy slope. And +then I yelled. My men came running back to me in great alarm. It seems +that at first I did nothing but shout, ‘She has given the child into my +hands! She has given the child into my hands!’ The escort thought I had +gone mad.” + +General Santierra ceased and got up from the table. “And that is all, +senores,” he concluded, with a courteous glance at his rising guests. + +“But what became of the child, General?” we asked. + +“Ah, the child, the child.” + +He walked to one of the windows opening on his beautiful garden, the +refuge of his old days. Its fame was great in the land. Keeping us back +with a raised arm, he called out, “Erminia, Erminia!” and waited. Then +his cautioning arm dropped, and we crowded to the windows. + +From a clump of trees a woman had come upon the broad walk bordered +with flowers. We could hear the rustle of her starched petticoats and +observed the ample spread of her old-fashioned black silk skirt. She +looked up, and seeing all these eyes staring at her, stopped, frowned, +smiled, shook her finger at the General, who was laughing boisterously, +and drawing the black lace on her head so as to partly conceal her +haughty profile, passed out of our sight, walking with stiff dignity. + +“You have beheld the guardian angel of the old man--and her to whom +you owe all that is seemly and comfortable in my hospitality. Somehow, +senores, though the flame of love has been kindled early in my breast, I +have never married. And because of that perhaps the sparks of the sacred +fire are not yet extinct here.” He struck his broad chest. “Still alive, +still alive,” he said, with serio-comic emphasis. “But I shall not marry +now. She is General Santierra’s adopted daughter and heiress.” + +One of our fellow-guests, a young naval officer, described her +afterwards as a “short, stout, old girl of forty or thereabouts.” We had +all noticed that her hair was turning grey, and that she had very fine +black eyes. + +“And,” General Santierra continued, “neither would she ever hear of +marrying any one. A real calamity! Good, patient, devoted to the old +man. A simple soul. But I would not advise any of you to ask for her +hand, for if she took yours into hers it would be only to crush your +bones. Ah! she does not jest on that subject. And she is the own +daughter of her father, the strong man who perished through his own +strength: the strength of his body, of his simplicity--of his love!” + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + +***** This file should be named 8736-8.txt or 8736-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/3/8736/ + +Produced by John Orford + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/8736-0.zip b/8736-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..39d9337 --- /dev/null +++ b/8736-0.zip diff --git a/8736-8.txt b/8736-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b9b9e3a --- /dev/null +++ b/8736-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2602 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Gaspar Ruiz + +Author: Joseph Conrad + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8736] +Posting Date: June 18, 2009 +Last Updated: September 9, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + + + + +Produced by John Orford + + + + + + + + +GASPAR RUIZ + + +By Joseph Conrad + + + + +I + +A Revolutionary war raises many strange characters out of the obscurity +which is the common lot of humble lives in an undisturbed state of +society. + +Certain individualities grow into fame through their vices and their +virtues, or simply by their actions, which may have a temporary +importance; and then they become forgotten. The names of a few leaders +alone survive the end of armed strife and are further preserved in +history; so that, vanishing from mens active memories, they still exist +in books. + +The name of General Santierra attained that cold, paper-and-ink +immortality. He was a South American of good family, and the books +published in his lifetime numbered him amongst the liberators of that +continent from the oppressive rule of Spain. + +That long contest, waged for independence on one side and for dominion +on the other, developed, in the course of years and the vicissitudes of +changing fortune, the fierceness and inhumanity of a struggle for +life. All feelings of pity and compassion disappeared in the growth of +political hatred. And, as is usual in war, the mass of the people, +who had the least to gain by the issue, suffered most in their obscure +persons and their humble fortunes. + +General Santierra began his service as lieutenant in the patriot army +raised and commanded by the famous San Martin, afterwards conqueror of +Lima and liberator of Peru. A great battle had just been fought on the +banks of the river Bio-Bio. Amongst the prisoners made upon the routed +Royalist troops there was a soldier called Gaspar Ruiz. His +powerful build and his big head rendered him remarkable amongst his +fellow-captives. The personality of the man was unmistakable. Some +months before, he had been missed from the ranks of Republican troops +after one of the many skirmishes which preceded the great battle. And +now, having been captured arms in hand amongst Royalists, he could +expect no other fate but to be shot as a deserter. + +Gaspar Ruiz, however, was not a deserter; his mind was hardly active +enough to take a discriminating view of the advantages or perils +of treachery. Why should he change sides? He had really been made a +prisoner, had suffered ill-usage and many privations. Neither side +showed tenderness to its adversaries. There came a day when he was +ordered, together with some other captured rebels, to march in the front +rank of the Royal troops. A musket, had been thrust into his hands. +He had taken it. He had marched. He did not want to be killed with +circumstances of peculiar atrocity for refusing to march. He did not +understand heroism, but it was his intention to throw his musket away at +the first opportunity. Meantime he had gone on loading and firing, from +fear of having his brains blown out, at the first sign of unwillingness, +by some non-commissioned officer of the King of Spain. He tried to set +forth these elementary considerations before the sergeant of the +guard set over him and some twenty other such deserters, who had been +condemned summarily to be shot. + +It was in the quadrangle of the fort at the back of the batteries which +command the road-stead of Valparaiso. The officer who had identified him +had gone on without listening to his protestations. His doom was sealed; +his hands were tied very tightly together behind his back; his body was +sore all over from the many blows with sticks and butts of muskets which +had hurried him along on the painful road from the place of his capture +to the gate of the fort. This was the only kind of systematic attention +the prisoners had received from their escort during a four days journey +across a scantily watered tract of country. At the crossings of rare +streams they were permitted to quench their thirst by lapping hurriedly +like dogs. In the evening a few scraps of meat were thrown amongst +them as they dropped down dead-beat upon the stony ground of the +halting-place. + +As he stood in the courtyard of the castle in the early morning, after +having been driven hard all night, Gaspar Ruizs throat was parched, and +his tongue felt very large and dry in his mouth. + +And Gaspar Ruiz, besides being very thirsty, was stirred by a feeling +of sluggish anger, which he could not very well express, as though the +vigour of his spirit were by no means equal to the strength of his body. + +The other prisoners in the batch of the condemned hung their heads, +looking obstinately on the ground. But Gaspar Ruiz kept on repeating: +What should I desert for to the Royalists? Why should I desert? Tell +me, Estaban! + +He addressed himself to the sergeant, who happened to belong to the same +part of the country as himself. But the sergeant, after shrugging his +meagre shoulders once, paid no further attention to the deep murmuring +voice at his back. It was indeed strange that Gaspar Ruiz should desert. +His people were in too humble a station to feel much the disadvantages +of any form of government. There was no reason why Gaspar Ruiz should +wish to uphold in his own person the rule of the King of Spain. Neither +had he been anxious to exert himself for its subversion. He had joined +the side of Independence in an extremely reasonable and natural manner. +A band of patriots appeared one morning early, surrounding his fathers +ranche, spearing the watch-dogs and hamstringing a fat cow all in the +twinkling of an eye, to the cries of Viva La Libertad! Their officer +discoursed of Liberty with enthusiasm and eloquence after a long and +refreshing sleep. When they left in the evening, taking with them some +of Ruiz, the fathers, best horses to replace their own lamed animals, +Gaspar Ruiz went away with them, having been invited pressingly to do so +by the eloquent officer. + +Shortly afterwards a detachment of Royalist troops, coming to pacify the +district, burnt the ranche, carried off the remaining horses and +cattle, and having thus deprived the old people of all their worldly +possessions, left them sitting under a bush in the enjoyment of the +inestimable boon of life. + + + + +II + +GASPAR Ruiz, condemned to death as a deserter, was not thinking either +of his native place or of his parents, to whom he had been a good son on +account of the mildness of his character and the great strength of his +limbs. The practical advantage of this last was made still more +valuable to his father by his obedient disposition. Gaspar Ruiz had an +acquiescent soul. + +But it was stirred now to a sort of dim revolt by his dislike to die the +death of a traitor. He was not a traitor. He said again to the sergeant: +You know I did not desert, Estaban. You know I remained behind amongst +the trees with three others to keep the enemy back while the detachment +was running away! + +Lieutenant Santierra, little more than a boy at the time, and unused as +yet to the sanguinary imbecilities of a state of war, had lingered +near by, as if fascinated by the sight of these men who were to be shot +presently--for an example--as the Commandante had said. + +The sergeant, without deigning to look at the prisoner, addressed +himself to the young officer with a superior smile. + +Ten men would not have been enough to make him a prisoner, mi teniente. +Moreover, the other three rejoined the detachment after dark. Why should +he, unwounded and the strongest of them all, have failed to do so? + +My strength is as nothing against a mounted man with a lasso, Gaspar +Ruiz protested eagerly. He dragged me behind his horse for half a +mile. + +At this excellent reason the sergeant only laughed contemptuously. The +young officer hurried away after the Commandante. + +Presently the adjutant of the castle came by. He was a truculent, +raw-boned man in a ragged uniform. His spluttering voice issued out of a +flat, yellow face. The sergeant learned from him that the condemned men +would not be shot till sunset. He begged then to know what he was to do +with them meantime. + +The adjutant looked savagely round the courtyard, and, pointing to the +door of a small dungeon-like guard-room, receiving light and air through +one heavily-barred window, said: Drive the scoundrels in there. + +The sergeant, tightening his grip upon the stick he carried in virtue +of his rank, executed this order with alacrity and zeal. He hit Gaspar +Ruiz, whose movements were slow, over his head and shoulders. Gaspar +Ruiz stood still for a moment under the shower of blows, biting his +lip thoughtfully as if absorbed by a perplexing mental process--then +followed the others without haste. The door was locked, and the adjutant +carried off the key. + +By noon the heat of that low vaulted place crammed to suffocation had +become unbearable. The prisoners crowded towards the window, begging +their guards for a drop of water; but the soldiers remained lying in +indolent attitudes wherever there was a little shade under a wall, while +the sentry sat with his back against the door smoking a cigarette, and +raising his eyebrows philosophically from time to time. Gaspar Ruiz +had pushed his way to the window with irresistible force. His capacious +chest needed more air than the others; his big face, resting with its +chin on the ledge, pressed close to the bars, seemed to support the +other faces crowding up for breath. From moaned entreaties they had +passed to desperate cries, and the tumultuous howling of those thirsty +men obliged a young officer who was just then crossing the courtyard to +shout in order to make himself heard. + +Why dont you give some water to these prisoners! + +The sergeant, with an air of surprised innocence, excused himself by the +remark that all those men were condemned to die in a very few hours. + +Lieutenant Santierra stamped his foot. They are condemned to death, not +to torture, he shouted. Give them some water at once. + +Impressed by this appearance of anger, the soldiers bestirred +themselves, and the sentry, snatching up his musket, stood to attention. + +But when a couple of buckets were found and filled from the well, it was +discovered that they could not be passed through the bars, which were +set too close. At the prospect of quenching their thirst, the shrieks of +those trampled down in the struggle to get near the opening became very +heartrending. But when the soldiers who had lifted the buckets towards +the window put them to the ground again helplessly, the yell of +disappointment was still more terrible. + +The soldiers of the army of Independence were not equipped with +canteens. A small tin cup was found, but its approach to the opening +caused such a commotion, such yells of rage and pain in the vague +mass of limbs behind the straining faces at the window, that Lieutenant +Santierra cried out hurriedly, No, no--you must open the door, +sergeant. + +The sergeant, shrugging his shoulders, explained that he had no right +to open the door even if he had had the key. But he had not the key. +The adjutant of the garrison kept the key. Those men were giving much +unnecessary trouble, since they had to die at sunset in any case. +Why they had not been shot at once early in the morning he could not +understand. + +Lieutenant Santierra kept his back studiously to the window. It was +at his earnest solicitations that the Commandante had delayed the +execution. This favour had been granted to him in consideration of +his distinguished family and of his fathers high position amongst the +chiefs of the Republican party. Lieutenant Santierra believed that the +General commanding would visit the fort some time in the afternoon, +and he ingenuously hoped that his naive intercession would induce +that severe man to pardon some, at least, of those criminals. In the +revulsion of his feeling his interference stood revealed now as guilty +and futile meddling. It appeared to him obvious that the general would +never even consent to listen to his petition. He could never save those +men, and he had only made himself responsible for the sufferings added +to the cruelty of their fate. + +Then go at once and get the key from the adjutant, said Lieutenant +Santierra. + +The sergeant shook his head with a sort of bashful smile, while his eyes +glanced sideways at Gaspar Ruizs face, motionless and silent, staring +through the bars at the bottom of a heap of other haggard, distorted, +yelling faces. + +His worship the adjutant de Plaza, the sergeant murmured, was having his +siesta; and supposing that he, the sergeant, would be allowed access to +him, the only result he expected would be to have his soul flogged out +of his body for presuming to disturb his worships repose. He made a +deprecatory movement with his hands, and stood stock-still, looking down +modestly upon his brown toes. + +Lieutenant Santierra glared with indignation, but hesitated. His +handsome oval face, as smooth as a girls, flushed with the shame of +his perplexity. Its nature humiliated his spirit. His hairless upper lip +trembled; he seemed on the point of either bursting into a fit of rage +or into tears of dismay. + +Fifty years later, General Santierra, the venerable relic of +revolutionary times, was well able to remember the feelings of the +young lieutenant. Since he had given up riding altogether, and found +it difficult to walk beyond the limits of his garden, the generals +greatest delight, was to entertain in his house the officers of the +foreign men-of-war visiting the harbour. For Englishmen he had a +preference, as for old companions in arms. English naval men of all +ranks accepted his hospitality with curiosity, because he had known Lord +Cochrane and had taken part, on board the patriot squadron commanded +by that marvellous seaman, in the cutting-out and blockading operations +before Callao--an episode of unalloyed glory in the wars of Independence +and of endless honour in the fighting tradition of Englishmen. He was a +fair linguist, this ancient survivor of the Liberating armies. A trick +of smoothing his long white beard whenever he was short of a word in +French or English imparted an air of leisurely dignity to the tone of +his reminiscences. + + + + +III + +YES, my friends, he used to say to his guests, what would you have? +A youth of seventeen summers, without worldly experience, and owing +my rank only to the glorious patriotism of my father, may God rest his +soul, I suffered immense humiliation, not so much from the disobedience +of That subordinate, who, alter all, was responsible for those +prisoners; but I suffered because, like the boy I was, I myself dreaded +going to the adjutant for the key. I had felt, before, his rough and +cutting tongue. Being quite a common fellow, with no merit except his +savage valour, he made me feel his contempt and dislike from the +first day I joined my battalion in garrison at the fort. It was only +a fortnight before! I would have confronted him sword in hand, but I +shrank from the mocking brutality of his sneers. + +I dont remember having been so miserable in my life before or since. +The torment of my sensibility was so great that I wished the sergeant to +fall dead at my feet, and the stupid soldiers who stared at me to +turn into corpses; and even those wretches for whom my entreaties had +procured a reprieve I wished dead also, because I could not face them +without shame. A mephitic heat like a whiff of air from hell came out +of that dark place in which they were confined. Those at the window who +heard what was going on jeered at me in very desperation; one of these +fellows, gone mad no doubt, kept on urging me volubly to order the +soldiers to fire through the window. His insane loquacity made my heart +turn faint. And my feet were like lead. There was no higher officer to +whom I could appeal. I had not even the firmness of spirit to simply go +away. + +Benumbed by my remorse, I stood with my back to the window. You must +not suppose that all this lasted a long time. How long could it have +been? A minute? If you measured by mental suffering it was like a +hundred years; a longer time than all my life has been since. No, +certainly, it was not so much as a minute. The hoarse screaming of those +miserable wretches died out in their dry throats, and then suddenly a +voice spoke, a deep voice muttering calmly. It called upon me to turn +round. + +That voice, senores, proceeded from the head of Gaspar Ruiz. Of his +body I could see nothing. Some of his fellow-captives had clambered upon +his back. He was holding them up. His eyes blinked without looking at +me. That and the moving of his lips was all he seemed able to manage in +his overloaded state. And when I turned round, this head, that seemed +more than human size resting on its chin under a multitude of other +heads, asked me whether I really desired to quench the thirst of the +captives. + +I said, Yes, yes! eagerly, and came up quite close to the window. I +was like a child, and did not know what would happen. I was anxious to +be comforted in my helplessness and remorse. + +Have you the authority, senor teniente, to release my wrists from +their bonds? Gaspar Ruizs head asked me. + +His features expressed no anxiety, no hope; his heavy eyelids blinked +upon his eyes that looked past me straight into the courtyard. + +As if in an ugly dream, I spoke, stammering: What do you mean? And how +can I reach the bonds on your wrists? + +I will try what I can do, he said; and then that large staring +head moved at last, and all the wild faces piled up in that window +disappeared, tumbling down. He had shaken his load off with one +movement, so strong he was. + +And he had not only shaken it off, but he got free of the crush and +vanished from my sight. For a moment there was no one at all to be seen +at the window. He had swung about, butting and shouldering, clearing +a space for himself in the only way he could do it with his hands tied +behind his back. + +Finally, backing to the opening, he pushed out to me between the bars +his wrists, lashed with many turns of rope. His hands, very swollen, +with knotted veins, looked enormous and unwieldy. I saw his bent back. +It was very broad. His voice was like the muttering of a bull. + +Cut, senor teniente! Cut! + +I drew my sword, my new unblunted sword that had seen no service as +yet, and severed the many turns of the hide rope. I did this without +knowing the why and the wherefore of my action, but as it were compelled +by my faith in that man. The sergeant made as if to cry out, but +astonishment deprived him of his voice, and he remained standing with +his mouth open as if overtaken by sudden imbecility. + +I sheathed my sword and faced the soldiers. An air of awestruck +expectation had replaced their usual listless apathy. I heard the voice +of Gaspar Ruiz shouting inside, but the words I could not make out +plainly. I suppose that to see him with his arms free augmented the +influence of his strength: I mean by this, the spiritual influence that +with ignorant people attaches to an exceptional degree of bodily vigour. +In fact, he was no more to be feared than before, on account of the +numbness of his arms and hands, which lasted for some time. + +The sergeant had recovered his power of speech. By all the saints! +he cried, we shall have to get a cavalry man with a lasso to secure him +again, if he is to be led to the place of execution. Nothing less than a +good enlazador on a good horse can subdue him. Your worship was pleased +to perform a very mad thing. + +I had nothing to say. I was surprised myself, and I felt a childish +curiosity to see what would happen. But the sergeant was thinking of +the difficulty of controlling Gaspar Ruiz when the time for making an +example would come. + +Or perhaps, the sergeant pursued vexedly, we shall be obliged to +shoot him down as he dashes out when the door is opened. He was going +to give further vent to his anxieties as to the proper carrying out +of the sentence; but he interrupted himself with a sudden exclamation, +snatched a musket from a soldier, and stood watchful with his eyes fixed +on the window. + + + + +IV + +GASPAR RUIZ had clambered up on the sill, and sat down there with his +feet against the thickness of the wall and his knees slightly bent. +The window was not quite broad enough for the length of his legs. It +appeared to my crestfallen perception that he meant to keep the window +all to himself. He seemed to be taking up a comfortable position. Nobody +inside dared to approach him now he could strike with his hands. + +Por Dios! I heard the sergeant muttering at my elbow, I shall shoot +him through the head now, and get rid of that trouble. He is a condemned +man. + +At that I looked at him angrily. The general has not confirmed the +sentence, I said--though I knew well in my heart that these were but +vain words. The sentence required no confirmation. You have no right to +shoot him unless he tries to escape, I added firmly. + +But sangre de Dios! the sergeant yelled out, bringing his musket up +to the shoulder, he is escaping now. Look! + +But I, as if that Gaspar Ruiz had cast a spell upon me, struck the +musket upward, and the bullet flew over the roofs somewhere. The +sergeant dashed his arm to the ground and stared. He might have +commanded the soldiers to fire, but he did not. And if he had he would +not have been obeyed, I think, just then. + +With his feet against the thickness of the wall, and his hairy hands +grasping the iron bar, Gaspar sat still. It was an attitude. Nothing +happened for a time. And suddenly it dawned upon us that he was +straightening his bowed back and contracting his arms. His lips were +twisted into a snarl. Next thing we perceived was that the bar of forged +iron was being bent slowly by the mightiness of his pull. The sun +was beating full upon his cramped, unquivering figure. A shower of +sweat-drops burst out of his forehead. Watching the bar grow crooked, I +saw a little blood ooze from under his finger-nails. Then he let go. +For a moment he remained all huddled up, with a hanging head, looking +drowsily into the upturned palms of his mighty hands. Indeed he seemed +to have dozed off. Suddenly he flung himself backwards on the sill, and +setting the soles of his bare feet against the other middle bar, he bent +that one too, but in the opposite direction from the first. + +Such was his strength, which in this case relieved my painful feelings. +And the man seemed to have done nothing. Except for the change of +position in order to use his feet, which made us all start by its +swiftness, my recollection is that of immobility. But he had bent the +bars wide apart. And now he could get out if he liked; but he dropped +his legs inwards; and looking over his shoulder beckoned to the +soldiers. Hand up the water, he said. I will give them all a drink. + +He was obeyed. For a moment I expected man and bucket to disappear, +overwhelmed by the rush of eagerness; I thought they would pull him down +with their teeth. There was a rush, but holding the bucket on his lap he +repulsed the assault of those wretches by the mere swinging of his feet. +They flew backwards at every kick, yelling with pain; and the soldiers +laughed, gazing at the window. + +They all laughed, holding their sides, except the sergeant, who was +gloomy and morose. He was afraid the prisoners would rise and break +out--which would have been a bad example. But there was no fear of +that, and I stood myself before the window with my drawn sword. When +sufficiently tamed by the strength of Gaspar Ruiz, they came up one by +one, stretching their necks and presenting their lips to the edge of the +bucket which the strong man tilted towards them from his knees with an +extraordinary air of charity, gentleness and compassion. That benevolent +appearance was of course the effect of his care in not spilling the +water and of his attitude as he sat on the sill; for, if a man lingered +with his lips glued to the rim of the bucket after Gaspar Ruiz had said +You have had enough, there would be no tenderness or mercy in the +shove of the foot which would send him groaning and doubled up far +into the interior of the prison, where he would knock down two or three +others before he fell himself. They came up to him again and again; +it looked as if they meant to drink the well dry before going to their +death; but the soldiers were so amused by Gaspar Ruizs systematic +proceedings that they carried the water up to the window cheerfully. + +When the adjutant came out after his siesta there was some trouble over +this affair, I can assure you. And the worst of it, that the general +whom we expected never came to the castle that day. + +The guests of General Santierra unanimously expressed their regret that +the man of such strength and patience had not been saved. + +He was not saved by my interference, said the General. The prisoners +were led to execution half an hour before sunset. Gaspar Ruiz, contrary +to the sergeants apprehensions, gave no trouble. There was no necessity +to get a cavalry man with a lasso in order to subdue him, as if he were +a wild bull of the campo. I believe he marched out with his arms free +amongst the others who were bound. I did not see. I was not there. I had +been put under arrest for interfering with the prisoners guard. About +dusk, sitting dismally in my quarters, I heard three volleys fired, and +thought that I should never hear of Gaspar Ruiz again. He fell with the +others. But we were to hear of him nevertheless, though the sergeant +boasted that, as he lay on his face expiring or dead in the heap of the +slain, he had slashed his neck with a sword. He had done this, he said, +to make sure of ridding the world of a dangerous traitor. + +I confess to you, senores, that I thought of that strong man with a +sort of gratitude, and with some admiration. He had used his strength +honourably. There dwelt, then, in his soul no fierceness corresponding +to the vigour of his body. + + + + +V + +GASPAR RUIZ, who could with ease bend apart the heavy iron bars of the +prison, was led out with others to summary execution. Every bullet has +its billet, runs the proverb. All the merit of proverbs consists in +the concise and picturesque expression. In the surprise of our minds is +found their persuasiveness. In other words, we are struck and convinced +by the shock. + +What surprises us is the form, not the substance. Proverbs are +art--cheap art. As a general rule they are not true; unless indeed they +happen to be mere platitudes, as for instance the proverb, Half a +loaf is better than no bread, or A miss is as good as a mile. Some +proverbs are simply imbecile, others are immoral. That one evolved out +of the naive heart of the great Russian people, Man discharges the +piece, but God carries the bullet, is piously atrocious, and at bitter +variance with the accepted conception of a compassionate God. It would +indeed be an inconsistent occupation for the Guardian of the poor, the +innocent and the helpless, to carry the bullet, for instance, into the +heart of a father. + +Gaspar Ruiz was childless, he had no wife, he had never been in love. +He had hardly ever spoken to a woman, beyond his mother and the ancient +negress of the household, whose wrinkled skin was the colour of cinders, +and whose lean body was bent double from age. If some bullets from those +muskets fired off at fifteen paces were specifically destined for +the heart of Gaspar Ruiz, they all missed their billet. One, however, +carried away a small piece of his ear, and another a fragment of flesh +from his shoulder. + +A red and unclouded sun setting into a purple ocean looked with a fiery +stare upon the enormous wall of the Cordilleras, worthy witnesses of his +glorious extinction. But it is inconceivable that it should have seen +the ant-like men busy with their absurd and insignificant trials of +killing and dying for reasons that, apart from being generally childish, +were also imperfectly understood. It did light up, however, the backs +of the firing party and the faces of the condemned men. Some of them +had fallen on their knees, others remained standing, a few averted their +heads from the levelled barrels of muskets. Gaspar Ruiz, upright, the +burliest of them all, hung his big shock head. The low sun dazzled him a +little, and he counted himself a dead man already. + +He fell at the first discharge. He fell because he thought he was a dead +man. He struck the ground heavily. The jar of the fall surprised him. +I am not dead apparently, he thought to himself, when he heard the +execution platoon reloading its arms at the word of command. It was then +that the hope of escape dawned upon him for the first time. He remained +lying stretched out with rigid limbs under the weight of two bodies +collapsed crosswise upon his back. + +By the time the soldiers had fired a third volley into the slightly +stirring heaps of the slain, the sun had gone out of sight, and almost +immediately with the darkening of the ocean dusk fell upon the coasts of +the young Republic. Above the gloom of the lowlands the snowy peaks +of the Cordillera remained luminous and crimson for a long time. The +soldiers before marching back to the fort sat down to smoke. + +The sergeant with a naked sword in his hand strolled away by himself +along the heap of the dead. He was a humane man, and watched for any +stir or twitch of limb in the merciful idea of plunging the point of his +blade into any body giving the slightest sign of life. But none of the +bodies afforded him an opportunity for the display of this charitable +intention. Not a muscle twitched amongst them, not even the powerful +muscles of Gaspar Ruiz, who, deluged with the blood of his neighbours +and shamming death, strove to appear more lifeless than the others. + +He was lying face down. The sergeant recognised him by his stature, and +being himself a very small man, looked with envy and contempt at the +prostration of so much strength. He had always disliked that particular +soldier. Moved by an obscure animosity, he inflicted a long gash across +the neck of Gaspar Ruiz, with some vague notion of making sure of that +strong mans death, as if a powerful physique were more able to resist +the bullets. For the sergeant had no doubt that Gaspar Ruiz had been +shot through in many places. Then he passed on, and shortly afterwards +marched off with, his men, leaving the bodies to the care of crows and +vultures. + +Gaspar Ruiz had restrained a cry, though it had seemed to him that his +head was cut off at a blow; and when darkness came, shaking off the +dead, whose weight had oppressed him, he crawled away over the plain on +his hands and knees. After drinking deeply, like a wounded beast, at +a shallow stream, he assumed an upright posture, and staggered on +light-headed and aimless, as if lost amongst the stars of the clear +night. A small house seemed to rise out of the ground before him. He +stumbled into the porch and struck at the door with his fist. There +was not a gleam of light. Gaspar Ruiz might have thought that the +inhabitants had fled from it, as from many others in the neighbourhood, +had it not been for the shouts of abuse that answered his thumping. In +his feverish and enfeebled state the angry screaming seemed to him +part of a hallucination belonging to the weird dreamlike feeling of his +unexpected condemnation to death, of the thirst suffered, of the volleys +fired at him within fifteen paces, of his head being cut off at a blow. +Open the door! he cried. Open in the name of God! + +An infuriated voice from within jeered at him: Come in, come in. This +house belongs to you. All this land belongs to you. Come and take it. + +For the love of God, Gaspar Ruiz murmured. + +Does not all the land belong to you patriots? the voice on the other +side of the door screamed on. Are you not a patriot? + +Gaspar Ruiz did not know. I am a wounded man, he said apathetically. + +All became still inside. Gaspar Ruiz lost the hope of being admitted, +and lay down under the porch just outside the door. He was utterly +careless of what was going to happen to him. All his consciousness +seemed to be concentrated in his neck, where he felt a severe pain. His +indifference as to his fate was genuine. + +The day was breaking when he awoke from a feverish doze; the door +at which he had knocked in the dark stood wide open now, and a girl, +steadying herself with her outspread arms, leaned over the threshold. +Lying on his back, he stared up at her. Her face was pale and her eyes +were very dark; her hair hung down black as ebony against her white +cheeks; her lips were full and red. Beyond her he saw another head with +long grey hair, and a thin old face with a pair of anxiously clasped +hands under the chin. + + + + +VI + +I KNEW those people by sight, General Santierra would tell his guests +at the dining-table. I mean the people with whom Gaspar Ruiz found +shelter. The father was an old Spaniard, a man of property, ruined by +the revolution. His estates, his house in town, his money, everything +he had in the world had been confiscated by proclamation, for he was +a bitter foe of our independence. From a position of great dignity and +influence on the Viceroys Council he became of less importance than his +own negro slaves made free by our glorious revolution. He had not even +the means to flee the country, as other Spaniards had managed to do. It +may be that, wandering ruined and houseless, and burdened with nothing +but his life, which was left to him by the clemency of the Provisional +Government, he had simply walked under that broken roof of old tiles. It +was a lonely spot. There did not seem to be even a dog belonging to +the place. But though the roof had holes, as if a cannonball or two had +dropped through it, the wooden shutters were thick and tight-closed all +the time. + +My way took me frequently along the path in front of that miserable +rancho. I rode from the fort to the town almost every evening, to sigh +at the window of a lady I was in love with, then. When one is young, +you understand.... She was a good patriot, you may be sure. Caballeros, +credit me or not, political feeling ran so high in those days that I +do not believe I could have been fascinated by the charms of a woman of +Royalist opinions.... + +Murmurs of amused incredulity all round the table interrupted the +General; and while they lasted he stroked his white beard gravely. + +Senores, he protested, a Royalist was a monster to our overwrought +feelings. I am telling you this in order not to be suspected of the +slightest tenderness towards that old Royalists daughter. Moreover, +as you know, my affections were engaged elsewhere. But I could not help +noticing her on rare occasions when with the front door open she stood +in the porch. + +You must know that this old Royalist was as crazy as a man can be. His +political misfortunes, his total downfall and ruin, had disordered his +mind. To show his contempt for what we patriots could do, he affected to +laugh at his imprisonment, at the confiscation of his lands, the +burning of his houses, and the misery to which he and his womenfolk were +reduced. This habit of laughing had grown upon him, so that he would +begin to laugh and shout directly he caught sight of any stranger. That +was the form of his madness. + +I, of course, disregarded the noise of that madman with that feeling of +superiority the success of our cause inspired in us Americans. I suppose +I really despised him because he was an old Castilian, a Spaniard born, +and a Royalist. Those were certainly no reasons to scorn a man; but for +centuries Spaniards born had shown their contempt of us Americans, men +as well descended as themselves, simply because we were what they +called colonists. We had been kept in abasement and made to feel our +inferiority in social intercourse. And now it was our turn. It was sale +for us patriots to display the same sentiments; and I being a young +patriot, son of a patriot, despised that old Spaniard, and despising +him I naturally disregarded his abuse, though it was annoying to my +feelings. Others perhaps would not have been so forbearing. + +He would begin with a great yell--I see a patriot. Another of them! +long before I came abreast of the house. The tone of his senseless +revilings, mingled with bursts of laughter, was sometimes piercingly +shrill and sometimes grave. It was all very mad; but I felt it incumbent +upon my dignity to check my horse to a walk without even glancing +towards the house, as if that mans abusive clamour in the porch were +less than the barking of a cur. I rode by, preserving an expression of +haughty indifference on my face. + +It was no doubt very dignified; but I should have done better if I +had kept my eyes open. A military man in war time should never consider +himself off duty; and especially so if the war is a revolutionary war, +when the enemy is not at the door, but within your very house. At such +times the heat of passionate convictions, passing into hatred, removes +the restraints of honour and humanity from many men and of delicacy and +fear from some women. These last, when once they throw off the timidity +and reserve of their sex, become by the vivacity of their intelligence +and the violence of their merciless resentment more dangerous than so +many armed giants. + +The Generals voice rose, but his big hand stroked his white beard twice +with an effect of venerable calmness. Si, senores! Women are ready to +rise to the heights of devotion unattainable by us men, or to sink into +the depths of abasement which amazes our masculine prejudices. I am +speaking now of exceptional women, you understand... + +Here one of the guests observed that he had never met a woman yet who +was not capable of turning out quite exceptional under circumstances +that would engage her feelings strongly. That sort of superiority in +recklessness they have over us, he concluded, makes of them the more +interesting half of mankind. + +The General, who bore the interruption with gravity, nodded courteous +assent. Si. Si. Under circumstances.... Precisely. They can do an +infinite deal of mischief sometimes in quite unexpected ways. For who +could have imagined that a young girl, daughter of a ruined Royalist +whose life itself was held only by the contempt of his enemies, would +have had the power to bring death and devastation upon two flourishing +provinces and cause serious anxiety to the leaders of the revolution +in the very hour of its success! He paused to let the wonder of it +penetrate our minds. + +Death and devastation, somebody murmured in surprise: how shocking! + +The old General gave a glance in the direction of the murmur and went +on. Yes. That is, war--calamity. But the means by which she obtained +the power to work this havoc on our southern frontier seem to me, who +have seen her and spoken to her, still more shocking. That particular +thing left on my mind a dreadful amazement which the further experience +of life, of more than fifty years, has done nothing to diminish. He +looked round as if to make sure of our attention, and, in a changed +voice: I am, as you know, a republican, son of a Liberator, he +declared. My incomparable mother, God rest her soul, was a Frenchwoman, +the daughter of an ardent republican. As a boy I fought for liberty; +Ive always believed in the equality of men; and as to their +brotherhood, that, to my mind, is even more certain. Look at the fierce +animosity they display in their differences. And what in the world do +you know that is more bitterly fierce than brothers quarrels? + +All absence of cynicism checked an inclination to smile at this view of +human brotherhood. On the contrary, there was in the tone the melancholy +natural to a man profoundly humane at heart who from duty, from +conviction and from necessity, had played his part in scenes of ruthless +violence. + +The General had seen much of fratricidal strife. Certainly. There is no +doubt of their brotherhood, he insisted. All men are brothers, and +as such know almost too much of each other. But --and here in the +old patriarchal head, white as silver, the black eyes humorously +twinkled--if we are all brothers, all the women are not our sisters. + +One of the younger guests was heard murmuring his satisfaction at the +fact. But the General continued, with deliberate earnestness: They are +so different! The tale of a king who took a beggar-maid for a partner of +his throne may be pretty enough as we men look upon ourselves and upon +love. But that a young girl, famous for her haughty beauty and, only +a short time before, the admired of all at the balls in the Viceroys +palace, should take by the hand a guasso, a common peasant, is +intolerable to our sentiment of women and their love. It is madness. +Nevertheless it happened. But it must be said that in her case it was +the madness of hate--not of love. + +After presenting this excuse in a spirit of chivalrous justice, the +General remained silent for a time. I rode past the house every day +almost, he began again, and this was what was going on within. But how +it was going on no mind of man can conceive. Her desperation must +have been extreme, and Gaspar Ruiz was a docile fellow. He had been an +obedient soldier. His strength was like an enormous stone lying on the +ground, ready to be hurled this way that by the hand that picks it up. + +It is clear that he would tell his story to the people who gave him +the shelter he needed. And he needed assistance badly. His wound was not +dangerous, but his life was forfeited. The old Royalist being wrapped up +in his laughing madness, the two women arranged a hiding-place for the +wounded man in one of the huts amongst the fruit trees at the back of +the house. That hovel, an abundance of clear water while the fever was +on him, and some words of pity were all they could give. I suppose +he had a share of what food there was. And it would be but little; a +handful of roasted corn, perhaps a dish of beans, or a piece of bread +with a few figs. To such misery were those proud and once wealthy people +reduced. + + + + +VII + +GENERAL SANTIERRA was right in his surmise. Such was the exact nature of +the assistance which Gaspar Ruiz, peasant son of peasants, received +from the Royalist family whose daughter had opened the door--of their +miserable refuge to his extreme distress. Her sombre resolution ruled +the madness of her father and the trembling bewilderment of her mother. + +She had asked the strange man on the door-step, Who wounded you? + +The soldiers, senora, Gaspar Ruiz had answered, in a faint voice. + +Patriots? + +Si. + +What for? + +Deserter, he gasped, leaning against the wall under the scrutiny of +her black eyes. I was left for dead over there. + +She led him through the house out to a small hut of clay and reeds, lost +in the long grass of the overgrown orchard. He sank on a heap of maize +straw in a corner, and sighed profoundly. + +No one will look for you here, she said, looking down at him. Nobody +comes near us. We too have been left for dead--here. + +He stirred uneasily on his heap of dirty straw, and the pain in his neck +made him groan deliriously. + +I shall show Estaban some day that I am alive yet, he mumbled. + +He accepted her assistance in silence, and the many days of pain went +by. Her appearances in the hut brought him relief and became connected +with the feverish dreams of angels which visited his couch; for Gaspar +Ruiz was instructed in the mysteries of his religion, and had even +been taught to read and write a little by the priest of his village. He +waited for her with impatience, and saw her pass out of the dark hut and +disappear in the brilliant sunshine with poignant regret. He discovered +that, while he lay there feeling so very weak, he could, by closing his +eyes, evoke her face with considerable distinctness. And this discovered +faculty charmed the long solitary hours of his convalescence. Later, +when he began to regain his strength, he would creep at dusk from his +hut to the house and sit on the step of the garden door. + +In one of the rooms the mad father paced to and fro, muttering to +himself with short abrupt laughs. In the passage, sitting on a stool, +the mother sighed and moaned. The daughter, in rough threadbare +clothing, and her white haggard face half hidden by a coarse manta, +stood leaning against the lintel of the door. Gaspar Ruiz, with his +elbows propped on his knees and his head resting in his hands, talked to +the two women in an undertone. + +The common misery of destitution would have made a bitter mockery of a +marked insistence on social differences. Gaspar Ruiz understood this in +his simplicity. From his captivity amongst the Royalists he could give +them news of people they knew. He described their appearance; and when +he related the story of the battle in which he was recaptured the two +women lamented the blow to their cause and the ruin of their secret +hopes. + +He had no feeling either way. But he felt a great devotion for that +young girl. In his desire to appear worthy of her condescension, he +boasted a little of his bodily strength. He had nothing else to boast +of. Because of that quality his comrades treated him with as great a +deference, he explained, as though he had been a sergeant, both in camp +and in battle. + +I could always get as many as I wanted to follow me anywhere, senorita. +I ought to have been made an officer, because I can read and write. + +Behind him the silent old lady fetched a moaning sigh from time to time; +the distracted father muttered to himself, pacing the sala; and Gaspar +Ruiz would raise his eyes now and then to look at the daughter of these +people. + +He would look at her with curiosity because she was alive, and also with +that feeling of familiarity and awe with which he had contemplated +in churches the inanimate and powerful statues of the saints, whose +protection is invoked in dangers and difficulties. His difficulty was +very great. + +He could not remain hiding in an orchard for ever and ever. He knew also +very well that before he had gone half a days journey in any direction, +he would be picked up by one of the cavalry patrols scouring the +country, and brought into one or another of the camps where the patriot +army destined for the liberation of Peru was collected. There he +would in the end be recognised as Gaspar Ruiz--the deserter to the +Royalists--and no doubt shot very effectually this time. There did not +seem any place in the world for the innocent Gaspar Ruiz anywhere. +And at this thought his simple soul surrendered itself to gloom and +resentment as black as night. + +They had made him a soldier forcibly. He did not mind being a soldier. +And he had been a good soldier as he had been a good son, because of his +docility and his strength. But now there was no use for either. They had +taken him from his parents, and he could no longer be a soldier--not a +good soldier at any rate. Nobody would listen to his explanations. What +injustice it was! What injustice! + +And in a mournful murmur he would go over the story of his capture and +recapture for the twentieth time. Then, raising his eyes to the silent +girl in the doorway, Si, senorita, he would say with a deep sigh, +injustice has made this poor breath in my body quite worthless to me +and to anybody else. And I do not care who robs me of it. + +One evening, as he exhaled thus the plaint of his wounded soul, she +condescended to say that, if she were a man, she would consider no life +worthless which held the possibility of revenge. + +She seemed to be speaking to herself. Her voice was low. He drank in the +gentle, as if dreamy sound, with a consciousness of peculiar delight, of +something warming his breast like a draught of generous wine. + +True, senorita, he said, raising his face up to hers slowly: there is +Estaban, who must be shown that I am not dead after all. + +The mutterings of the mad father had ceased long before; the sighing +mother had withdrawn somewhere into one of the empty rooms. All was +still within as well as without, in the moonlight bright as day on the +wild orchard full of inky shadows. Gaspar Ruiz saw the dark eyes of Doa +Erminia look down at him. + +Ala! The sergeant, she muttered disdainfully. + +Why! He has wounded me with his sword, he protested, bewildered by the +contempt that seemed to shine livid on her pale face. + +She crushed him with her glance. The power of her will to be understood +was so strong that it kindled in him the intelligence of unexpressed +things. + +What else did you expect me to do? he cried, as if suddenly driven to +despair. Have I the power to do more? Am I a general with an army at my +back?--miserable sinner that I am to be despised by you at last. + + + + +VIII + +SENORES, related the General to his guests, though my thoughts were +of love then, and therefore enchanting, the sight of that house always +affected me disagreeably, especially in the moonlight, when its close +shutters and its air of lonely neglect appeared sinister. Still I went +on using the bridle-path by the ravine, because it was a short cut. +The mad Royalist howled and laughed at me every evening to his complete +satisfaction; but after a time, as if wearied with my indifference, he +ceased to appear in the porch. How they persuaded him to leave off I do +not know. However, with Gaspar Ruiz in the house there would have been +no difficulty in restraining him by force. It was part of their policy +in there to avoid anything which could provoke me. At least, so I +suppose. + +Notwithstanding my infatuation with the brightest pair of eyes in +Chile, I noticed the absence of the old man after a week or so. A few +more days passed. I began to think that perhaps these Royalists had gone +away somewhere else. But one evening, as I was hastening towards the +city, I saw again somebody in the porch. It was not the madman; it was +the girl. She stood holding on to one of the wooden columns, tall and +white-faced, her big eyes sunk deep with privation and sorrow. I looked +hard at her, and she met my stare with a strange, inquisitive look. +Then, as I turned my head after riding past, she seemed to gather +courage for the act, and absolutely beckoned me back. + +I obeyed, senores, almost without thinking, so great was my +astonishment. It was greater still when I heard what she had to say. She +began by thanking me for my forbearance of her fathers infirmity, +so that I felt ashamed of myself. I had meant to show disdain, not +forbearance! Every word must have burnt her lips, but she never departed +from a gentle and melancholy dignity which filled me with respect +against my will. Senores, we are no match for women. But I could hardly +believe my ears when she began her tale. Providence, she concluded, +seemed to have preserved the life of that wronged soldier, who now +trusted to my honour as a caballero and to my compassion for his +sufferings. + +Wronged man, I observed coldly. Well, I think so too: and you have +been harbouring an enemy of your cause. + +He was a poor Christian crying for help at our door in the name of +God, senor, she answered simply. + +I began to admire her. Where is he now? I asked stiffly. + +But she would not answer that question. With extreme cunning, and an +almost fiendish delicacy, she managed to remind me of my failure in +saving the lives of the prisoners in the guard-room, without wounding +my pride. She knew, of course, the whole story. Gaspar Ruiz, she said, +entreated me to procure for him a safe-conduce from General San +Martin himself. He had an important communication to make to the +Commander-in-Chief. + +Por Dios, senores, she made me swallow all that, pretending to be only +the mouthpiece of that poor man. Overcome by injustice, he expected to +find, she said, as much generosity in me as had been shown to him by the +Royalist family which had given him a refuge. + +Hal It was well and nobly said to a youngster like me. I thought her +great. Alas! she was only implacable. + +In the end I rode away very enthusiastic about the business, without +demanding even to see Gaspar Ruiz, who I was confident was in the house. + +But on calm reflection I began to see some difficulties which I had not +confidence enough in myself to encounter. It was not easy to approach +a commander-in-chief with such a story. I feared failure. At last I +thought it better to lay the matter before my general-of-division, +Robles, a friend of my family, who had appointed me his aide-de-camp +lately. + +He took it out of my hands at once without any ceremony. + +In the house! of course he is in the house, he said contemptuously. +You ought to have gone sword in hand inside and demanded his surrender, +instead of chatting with a Royalist girl in the porch. Those people +should have been hunted out of that long ago. Who knows how many spies +they have harboured right in the very midst of our camps? A safe-conduct +from the Commander-in-Chief! The audacity of the fellow! Ha! ha! Now +we shall catch him to-night, and then we shall find out, without any +safe-conduct, what he has got to say, that is so very important. Ha! ha! +ha! + +General Robles, peace to his soul, was a short, thick man, with round, +staring eyes, fierce and jovial. Seeing my distress he added: + +Come, come, chico. I promise you his life if he does not resist. And +that is not likely. We are not going to break up a good soldier if it +can be helped. I tell you what! I am curious to see your strong man. +Nothing but a general will do for the picaro--well, he shall have a +general to talk to. Ha! ha! I shall go myself to the catching, and you +are coming with me, of course. + +And it was done that same night. Early in the evening the house and the +orchard were surrounded quietly. Later on the general and I left a ball +we were attending in town and rode out at an easy gallop. At some little +distance from the house we pulled up. A mounted orderly held our horses. +A low whistle warned the men watching all along the ravine, and we +walked up to the porch softly. The barricaded house in the moonlight +seemed empty. + +The general knocked at the door. After a time a womans voice within +asked who was there. My chief nudged me hard. I gasped. + + It is I, Lieutenant Santierra, I stammered out, as if choked. Open +the door. + +It came open slowly. The girl, holding a thin taper in her hand, seeing +another man with me, began to back away before us slowly, shading the +light with her hand. Her impassive white face looked ghostly. I followed +behind General Robles. Her eyes were fixed on mine. I made a gesture of +helplessness behind my chiefs back, trying at the same time to give a +reassuring expression to my face. Neither of us three uttered a sound. + +We found ourselves in a room with bare floor and walls. There was a +rough table and a couple of stools in it, nothing else whatever. An old +woman with her grey hair hanging loose wrung her hands when we appeared. +A peal of loud laughter resounded through the empty house, very amazing +and weird. At this the old woman tried to get past us. + +Nobody to leave the room, said General Robles to me. + +I swung the door to, heard the latch click, and the laughter became +faint in our ears. + +Before another word could be spoken in that room I was amazed by +hearing the sound of distant thunder. + +I had carried in with me into the house a vivid impression of a +beautiful, clear, moonlight night, without a speck of cloud in the sky. +I could not believe my ears. Sent early abroad for my education, I was +not familiar with the most dreaded natural phenomenon of my native land. +I saw, with inexpressible astonishment, a look of terror in my chiefs +eyes. Suddenly I felt giddy! The general staggered against me heavily; +the girl seemed to reel in the middle of the room, the taper fell out of +her hand and the light went out; a shrill cry of Misericordia! from the +old woman pierced my ears. In the pitchy darkness I heard the plaster +off the walls falling on The floor. It is a mercy there was no ceiling. +Holding on to the latch of the door, I heard the grinding of the +roof-tiles cease above my head. The shock was over. + +Out of the house! The door! Fly, Santierra, fly! howled the general. +You know, senores, in our country the bravest are not ashamed of the +fear an earthquake strikes into all the senses of man. One never gets +used to it. + +Repeated experience only augments the mastery of that nameless terror. + +It was my first earthquake, and I was the calmest of them all. I +understood that the crash outside was caused by the porch, with its +wooden pillars and tiled roof projection, falling down. The next +shock would destroy the house, maybe. That rumble as of thunder was +approaching again. The general was rushing round the room, to find the +door, perhaps. He made a noise as though he were trying to climb the +walls, and I heard him distinctly invoke the names of several saints. +Out, out, Santierra! he yelled. + +The girls voice was the only one I did not hear. + +General, I cried, I cannot move the door. We must be locked in. + +I did not recognise his voice in the shout of malediction and despair +he let out. Senores I know many men in my country, especially in the +provinces most subject to earthquakes, who will neither eat, sleep, +pray, nor even sit down to cards with closed doors. The danger is not +in the loss of time, but in this--that the movement of the walls may +prevent a door being opened at all. This was what had happened to us. We +were trapped, and we had no help to expect from anybody. There is no man +in my country who will go into a house when the earth trembles. There +never was--except one: Gaspar Ruiz. + +He had come out of whatever hole he had been hiding in outside, and +had clambered over the timbers of the destroyed porch. Above the awful +subterranean groan of coming destruction I heard a mighty voice shouting +the word Erminia! with the lungs of a giant. An earthquake is a great +leveller of distinctions. I collected all my resolution against the +terror of the scene. She is here, I shouted back. A roar as of a +furious wild beast answered me--while my head swam, my heart sank, and +the sweat of anguish streamed like rain off my brow. + +He had the strength to pick up one of the heavy posts of the porch. +Holding it under his armpit like a lance, but with both hands, he +charged madly the rocking house with the force of a battering-ram, +bursting open the door and rushing in, headlong, over our prostrate +bodies. I and the general, picking ourselves up, bolted out together, +without looking round once till we got across the road. Then, clinging +to each other, we beheld the house change suddenly into a heap of +formless rubbish behind the back of a man, who staggered towards us +bearing the form of a woman clasped in his arms. Her long black hair +hung nearly to his feet. He laid her down reverently on the heaving +earth, and the moonlight shone on her closed eyes. + +senores, we mounted with difficulty. Our horses, getting up, plunged +madly, held by the soldiers who had come running from all sides. Nobody +thought of catching Gaspar Ruiz then. The eyes of men and animals shone +with wild fear. My general approached Gaspar Ruiz, who stood motionless +as a statue above the girl. He let himself be shaken by the shoulder +without detaching his eyes from her face. + +Que guape! shouted the general in his ear. You are the bravest man +living. You have saved my life. I am General Robles. Come to my quarters +to-morrow, if God gives us the grace to see another day. + +He never stirred--as if deaf, without feeling, insensible. + +We rode away for the town, full of our relations, of our friends, of +whose fate we hardly dared to think. The soldiers ran by the side of +our horses. Everything was forgotten in the immensity of the catastrophe +overtaking a whole country. + +Gaspar Ruiz saw the girl open her eyes. The raising of her eyelids +seemed to recall him from a trance. They were alone; the cries of terror +and distress from homeless people filled the plains of the coast, remote +and immense, coming like a whisper into their loneliness. + +She rose swiftly to her feet, darting fearful glances on all sides. +What is it? she cried out low, and peering into his face. Where am +I? + +He bowed his head sadly, without a word. + +... Who are you? + +He knelt down slowly before her, and touched the hem of her coarse black +baize skirt. Your slave, he said. + +She caught sight then of the heap of rubbish that had been the house, +all misty in the cloud of dust. Ah! she cried, pressing her hand to +her forehead. + +I carried you out from there, he whispered at her feet. + +And they? she asked in a great sob. + +He rose, and taking her by the arms, led her gently towards the +shapeless ruin half overwhelmed by a land-slide. Come and listen, he +said. + +The serene moon saw them clambering over that heap of stones, joists and +tiles, which was a grave. They pressed their ears to the interstices, +listening for the sound of a groan, for a sigh of pain. + +At last he said, They died swiftly. You are alone. + +She sat down on a piece of broken timber and put one arm across her +face. He waited--then, approaching his lips to her ear, Let us go, he +whispered. + +Never--never from here, she cried out, flinging her arms above her +head. + +He stooped over her, and her raised arms fell upon his shoulders. He +lifted her up, steadied himself and began to walk, looking straight +before him. + +What are you doing? she asked feebly. + +I am escaping from my enemies, he said, never once glancing at his +light burden. + +With me? she sighed helplessly. + +Never without you, he said. You are my strength. + +He pressed her close to him. His face was grave and his footsteps +steady. The conflagrations bursting out in the ruins of destroyed +villages dotted the plain with red fires; and the sounds of distant +lamentations, the cries of Misericordia! Misericordia! made a desolate +murmur in his ears. He walked on, solemn and collected, as if carrying +something holy, fragile and precious. + +The earth rocked at times under his feet. + + + + +IX + +WITH movements of mechanical care and an air of abstraction old General +Santierra lighted a long and thick cigar. + +It was a good many hours before we could send a party back to the +ravine, he said to his guests. We had found one-third of the town laid +low, the rest shaken up; and the inhabitants, rich and poor, reduced to +the same state of distraction by the universal disaster. The affected +cheerfulness of some contrasted with the despair of others. In the +general confusion a number of reckless thieves, without fear of God or +man, became a danger to those who from the downfall of their homes had +managed to save some valuables. Crying Misericordia louder than any at +every tremor, and beating their breasts with one hand, these scoundrels +robbed the poor victims with the other, not even stopping short of +murder. + +General Robles division was occupied entirely in guarding the +destroyed quarters of the town from the depredations of these inhuman +monsters. Taken up with my duties of orderly officer, it was only in the +morning that I could assure myself of the safety of my own family. + +My mother and my sisters had escaped with their lives from that +ball-room, where I had left them early in the evening. I remember those +two beautiful young women--God rest their souls--as if I saw them this +moment, in the garden of our destroyed house, pale but active, assisting +some of our poor neighbours, in their soiled ball-dresses and with the +dust of fallen walls on their hair. As to my mother, she had a stoical +soul in her frail body. Half-covered by a costly shawl, she was lying +on a rustic seat by the side of an ornamental basin whose fountain had +ceased to play for ever on that night. + +I had hardly had time to embrace them all with transports of joy, when +my chief, coming along, dispatched me to the ravine with a few soldiers, +to bring in my strong man, as he called him, and that pale girl. + +But there was no one for us to bring in. A land-slide had covered the +ruins of the house; and it was like a large mound of earth with only the +ends of some timbers visible here and there--nothing more. + +Thus were the tribulations of the old Royalist couple ended. An +enormous and unconsecrated grave had swallowed them up alive, in their +unhappy obstinacy against the will of a people to be free. And their +daughter was gone. + +That Gaspar Ruiz had carried her off I understood very well. But as +the case was not foreseen, I had no instructions to pursue them. And +certainly I had no desire to do so. I had grown mistrustful of my +interference. It had never been successful, and had not even appeared +creditable. He was gone. Well, let him go. And he had carried off the +Royalist girl! Nothing better. Vaya con Dios. This was not the time +to bother about a deserter who, justly or unjustly, ought to have been +dead, and a girl for whom it would have been better to have never been +born. + +So I marched my men back to the town. + +After a few days, order having been re-established, all the principal +families, including my own, left for Santiago. We had a fine house +there. At the same time the division of Robles was moved to new +cantonments near the capital. This change suited very well the state of +my domestic and amorous feelings. + +One night, rather late, I was called to my chief. I found General +Robles in his quarters, at ease, with his uniform off, drinking neat +brandy out of a tumbler--as a precaution, he used to say, against the +sleeplessness induced by the bites of mosquitoes. He was a good soldier, +and he taught me the art and practice of war. + +No doubt God has been merciful to his soul; for his motives were never +other than patriotic, if his character was irascible. As to the use +of mosquito nets, he considered it effeminate, shameful--unworthy of a +soldier. + +I noticed at the first glance that his face, already very red, wore an +expression of high good-humour. + +Aha! senor teniente, he cried loudly, as I saluted at the door. +Behold! Your strong man has turned up again. + +He extended to me a folded letter, which I saw was superscribed To the +Commander-in-Chief of the Republican Armies. + +This, General Robles went on in his loud voice, was thrust by a boy +into the hand of a sentry at the Quartel General, while the fellow stood +there thinking of his girl, no doubt--for before he could gather his +wits together, the boy had disappeared amongst the market people, and he +protests he could not recognise him to save his life. + +My chief told me further that the soldier had given the letter to the +sergeant of the guard, and that ultimately it had reached the hands of +our generalissimo. His Excellency had deigned to take cognisance of it +with his own eyes. After that he had referred the matter in confidence +to General Robles. + +The letter, senores, I cannot now recollect textually. I saw the +signature of Gaspar Ruiz. He was an audacious fellow. He had snatched a +soul for himself out of a cataclysm, remember. And now it was that +soul which had dictated the terms of his letter. Its tone was very +independent. I remember it struck me at the time as noble--dignified. It +was, no doubt, her letter. Now I shudder at the depth of its duplicity. +Gaspar Ruiz was made to complain of the injustice of which he had been +a victim. He invoked his previous record of fidelity and courage. Having +been saved from death by the miraculous interposition of Providence, he +could think of nothing but of retrieving his character. This, he wrote, +he could not hope to do in the ranks as a discredited soldier still +under suspicion. He had the means to give a striking proof of his +fidelity. And he ended by proposing to the General-in-Chief a meeting at +midnight in the middle of the Plaza before the Moneta. The signal would +be to strike fire with flint and steel three times, which was not too +conspicuous and yet distinctive enough for recognition. + +San Martin, the great Liberator, loved men of audacity and courage. +Besides, he was just and compassionate. I told him as much of the mans +story as I knew, and was ordered to accompany him on the appointed +night. The signals were duly exchanged. It was midnight, and the whole +town was dark and silent. Their two cloaked figures came together in +the centre of the vast Plaza, and, keeping discreetly at a distance, +I listened for an hour or more to the murmur of their voices. Then the +general motioned me to approach; and as I did so I heard San Martin, +who was courteous to gentle and simple alike, offer Gaspar Ruiz the +hospitality of the headquarters for the night. But the soldier refused, +saying that he would not be worthy of that honour till he had done +something. + +You cannot have a common deserter for your guest, Excellency, he +protested with a low laugh, and stepping backwards, merged slowly into +the night. + +The Commander-in-Chief observed to me, as we turned away: He had +somebody with him, our friend Ruiz. I saw two figures for a moment. It +was an unobtrusive companion. + +I too had observed another figure join the vanishing form of Gaspar +Ruiz. It had the appearance of a short fellow in a poncho and a big +hat. And I wondered stupidly who it could be he had dared take into +his confidence. I might have guessed it could be no one but that fatal +girl--alas! + +Where he kept her concealed I do not know. He had--it was known +afterwards--an uncle, his mothers brother, a small shopkeeper in +Santiago. Perhaps it was there that she found a roof and food. Whatever +she found, it was poor enough to exasperate her pride and keep up her +anger and hate. It is certain she did not accompany him on the feat +he undertook to accomplish first of all. It was nothing less than the +destruction of a store of war material collected secretly by the Spanish +authorities in the south, in a town called Linares. Gaspar Ruiz was +entrusted with a small party only, but they proved themselves worthy of +San Martins confidence. The season was not propitious. They had to swim +swollen rivers. They seemed, however, to have galloped night and day, +outriding the news of their foray, and holding straight for the town, a +hundred miles into the enemys country, till at break of day they rode +into it sword in hand, surprising the little garrison. It fled without +making a stand, leaving most of its officers in Gaspar Ruiz hands. + +A great explosion of gunpowder ended the conflagration of the magazines +the raiders had set on fire without loss of time. In less than six +hours they were riding away at the same mad speed, without the loss of a +single man. Good as they were, such an exploit is not performed without +a still better leadership. + +I was dining at the headquarters when Gas-par Ruiz himself brought the +news of his success. And it was a great blow to the Royalist troops. For +a proof he displayed to us the garrisons flag. He took it from under +his poncho and flung it on the table. The man was transfigured; there +was something exulting and menacing in the expression of his face. He +stood behind General San Martins chair and looked proudly at us all. +He had a round blue cap edged with silver braid on his head, and we all +could see a large white scar on the nape of his sunburnt neck. + +Somebody asked him what he had done with the captured Spanish officers. + +He shrugged his shoulders scornfully. What a question to ask! In +a partisan war you do not burden yourself with prisoners. I let them +go--and here are their sword-knots. + +He flung a bunch of them on the table upon the flag. Then General +Robles, whom I was attending there, spoke up in his loud, thick voice: +You did! Then, my brave friend, you do not know yet how a war like ours +ought to be conducted. You should have done--this. And he passed the +edge of his hand across his own throat. + +Alas, senores! It was only too true that on both sides this contest, in +its nature so heroic, was stained by ferocity. The murmurs that arose +at General Robles words were by no means unanimous in tone. But the +generous and brave San Martin praised the humane action, and pointed +out to Ruiz a place on his right hand. Then rising with a full glass +he proposed a toast: Caballeros and comrades-in-arms, let us drink the +health of Captain Gaspar Ruiz. And when we had emptied our glasses: +I intend, the Commander-in-Chief continued, to entrust him with the +guardianship of our southern frontier, while we go afar to liberate our +brethren in Peru. He whom the enemy could not stop from striking a blow +at his very heart will know how to protect the peaceful populations we +leave behind us to pursue our sacred task. And he embraced the silent +Gaspar Ruiz by his side. + +Later on, when we all rose from table, I approached the latest officer +of the army with my congratulations. And, Captain Ruiz, I added, +perhaps you do not mind telling a man who has always believed in the +uprightness of your character, what became of Doa Erminia on that +night? + +At this friendly question his aspect changed. He looked at me from +under his eyebrows with the heavy, dull glance of a guasso--of a +peasant. + +Senor teniente, he said thickly, and as if very much cast down, do +not ask me about the senorita, for I prefer not to think about her at +all when I am amongst you. + +He looked, with a frown, all about the room, full of smoking and +talking officers. Of course I did not insist. + +These, senores, were the last words I was to hear him utter for a long, +long time. The very next day we embarked for our arduous expedition to +Peru, and we only heard of Gaspar Ruiz doings in the midst of battles +of our own. He had been appointed military guardian of our southern +province. He raised a partida. But his leniency to the conquered foe +displeased the Civil Governor, who was a formal, uneasy man, full of +suspicions. He forwarded reports against Gaspar Ruiz to the Supreme +Government; one of them being that he had married publicly, with great +pomp, a woman of Royalist tendencies. Quarrels were sure to arise +between these two men of very different character. At last the Civil +Governor began to complain of his inactivity, and to hint at treachery, +which, he wrote, would be not surprising in a man of such antecedents. +Gaspar Ruiz heard of it. His rage flamed up, and the woman ever by his +side knew how to feed it with perfidious words. I do not know +whether really the Supreme Government ever did--as he complained +afterwards--send orders for his arrest. It seems certain that the +Civil Governor began to tamper with his officers, and that Gaspar Ruiz +discovered the fact. + +One evening, when the Governor was giving a tertullia Gaspar Ruiz, +followed by six men he could trust, appeared riding through the town to +the door of the Government House, and entered the sala armed, his hat on +his head. As the Governor, displeased, advanced to meet him, he seized +the wretched man round the body, carried him off from the midst of the +appalled guests, as though he were a child, and flung him down the outer +steps into the street. An angry hug from Gaspar Ruiz was enough to crush +the life out of a giant; but in addition Gaspar Ruiz horsemen fired +their pistols at the body of the Governor as it lay motionless at the +bottom of the stairs. + + + + +X + +AFTER this--as he called it--act of justice, Ruiz crossed the Rio +Blanco, followed by the greater part of his band, and entrenched himself +upon a hill A company of regular troops sent out foolishly against him +was surrounded, and destroyed almost to a man. Other expeditions, though +better organised, were equally unsuccessful. + +It was during these sanguinary skirmishes that his wife first began to +appear on horseback at his right hand. Rendered proud and self-confident +by his successes, Ruiz no longer charged at the head of his partida, but +presumptuously, like a general directing the movements of an army, +he remained in the rear, well mounted and motionless on an eminence, +sending out his orders. She was seen repeatedly at his side, and for +a long time was mistaken for a man. There was much talk then of a +mysterious white-faced chief, to whom the defeats of our troops were +ascribed. She rode like an Indian woman, astride, wearing a broad-rimmed +mans hat and a dark poncho. Afterwards, in the day of their greatest +prosperity, this poncho was embroidered in gold, and she wore then, +also, the sword of poor Don Antonio de Leyva. This veteran Chilean +officer, having the misfortune to be surrounded with his small force, +and running short of ammunition, found his death at the hands of the +Arauco Indians, the allies and auxiliaries of Gaspar Ruiz. This was the +fatal affair long remembered afterwards as the Massacre of the Island. +The sword of the unhappy officer was presented to her by Peneleo, the +Araucanian chief; for these Indians, struck by her aspect, the deathly +pallor of her face, which no exposure to the weather seemed to affect, +and her calm indifference under fire, looked upon her as a supernatural +being, or at least as a witch. By this superstition the prestige and +authority of Gaspar Ruiz amongst these ignorant people were greatly +augmented. She must have savoured her vengeance to the full on that day +when she buckled on the sword of Don Antonio de Leyva. It never left her +side, unless she put on her womans clothes--not that she would or +could ever use it, but she loved to feel it beating upon her thigh as +a perpetual reminder and symbol of the dishonour to the arms of the +Republic. She was insatiable. Moreover, on the path she had led Gaspar +Ruiz upon, there is no stopping. Escaped prisoners--and they were not +many--used to relate how with a few whispered words she could change the +expression of his face and revive his flagging animosity. They told how +after every skirmish, after every raid, after every successful action, +he would ride up to her and look into her face. Its haughty-calm was +never relaxed. Her embrace, senores, must have been as cold as the +embrace of a statue. He tried to melt her icy heart in a stream of warm +blood. Some English naval officers who visited him at that time noticed +the strange character of his infatuation. + +At the movement of surprise and curiosity in his audience General +Santierra paused for a moment. + +Yes--English naval officers, he repeated. Ruiz had consented to +receive them to arrange for the liberation of some prisoners of your +nationality. In the territory upon which he ranged, from sea coast to +the Cordillera, there was a bay where the ships of that time, after +rounding Gape Horn, used to resort for wood and water. There, decoying +the crew on shore, he captured first the whaling brig Hersalia, and +afterwards made himself master by surprise of two more ships, one +English and one American. + +It was rumoured at the time that he dreamed of setting up a navy of his +own. But that, of course, was impossible. Still, manning the brig with +part of her own crew, and putting an officer and a good many men of his +own on board, he sent her off to the Spanish Governor of the island of +Chiloe with a report of his exploits, and a demand for assistance in the +war against the rebels. The Governor could not do much for him; but he +sent in return two light field-pieces, a letter of compliments, with a +colonels commission in the royal forces, and a great Spanish flag. This +standard with much ceremony was hoisted over his house in the heart of +the Arauco country. Surely on that day she may have smiled on her guasso +husband with a less haughty reserve. + +The senior officer of the English squadron on our coast made +representations to our Government as to these captures. But Gaspar Ruiz +refused to treat with us. Then an English frigate proceeded to the bay, +and her captain, doctor, and two lieutenants travelled inland under a +safe conduct. They were well received, and spent three days as guests +of the partisan chief. A sort of military, barbaric state was kept up +at the residence. It was furnished with the loot of frontier towns. When +first admitted to the principal sala, they saw his wife lying down (she +was not in good health then), with Gaspar Ruiz sitting at the foot of +the couch. His-hat was lying on the floor, and his hands reposed on the +hilt of his sword. + +During that first conversation he never removed his big hands from +the sword-hilt, except once, to arrange the coverings about her, with +gentle, careful touches. They noticed that when ever she spoke he would +fix his eyes upon her in a kind of expectant, breathless attention, and +seemingly forget the existence of the world and his own existence +too. In the course of the farewell banquet, at which she was present +reclining on her couch, he burst forth into complaints of the treatment +he had received. After General San Martins departure he had been +beset by spies, slandered by civil officials, his services ignored, his +liberty and even his life threatened by the Chilian Government. He got +up from the table, thundered execrations pacing the room wildly, then +sat down on the couch at his wifes feet, his breast heaving, his eyes +fixed on the floor. She reclined on her back, her head on the cushions, +her eyes nearly closed. + +And now I am an honoured Spanish officer, he added in a calm voice. + +The captain of the English frigate then took the opportunity to inform +him gently that Lima had fallen, and that by the terms of a convention +the Spaniards were withdrawing from the whole continent. + +Gaspar Ruiz raised his head, and without hesitation, speaking with +suppressed vehemence, declared, that if not a single Spanish soldier +were left in the whole of South America he would persist in carrying on +the contest against Chile to the last drop of blood. When he finished +that mad tirade his wifes long white hand was raised, and she just +caressed his knee with the tips of her fingers for a fraction of a +second. + +For the rest of the officers stay, which did not extend for more than +half an hour after the banquet, that ferocious chieftain of a desperate +partida overflowed with amiability and kindness. He had been hospitable +before, but now it seemed as though he could not do enough for the +comfort and safety of his visitors journey back to their ship. + +Nothing, I have been told, could have presented a greater contrast to +his late violence or the habitual taciturn reserve of his manner. Like a +man elated beyond measure by an unexpected happiness, he overflowed with +good-will, amiability, and attentions. He embraced the officers like +brothers, almost with tears in his eyes. The released prisoners were +presented each with a piece of gold. At the last moment, suddenly, he +declared he could do no less than restore to the masters of the merchant +vessels all their private property. This unexpected generosity caused +some delay in the departure of the party, and their first march was very +short. + +Late in the evening Gaspar Ruiz rode up with an escort, to their camp +fires, bringing along with him a mule loaded with cases of wine. He had +come, he said, to drink a stirrup cup with his English friends, whom he +would never see again. He was mellow and joyous in his temper. He told +stories of his own exploits, laughed like a boy, borrowed a guitar +from the Englishmens chief muleteer, and sitting cross-legged on his +superfine poncho spread before the glow of the embers, sang a guasso +love-song in a tender voice. Then his head dropped on his breast, his +hands fell to the ground; the guitar rolled off his knees--and a great +hush fell over the camp after the love-song of the implacable partisan +who had made so many of our people weep for destroyed homes and for +loves cut short. + +Before anybody could make a sound he sprang up from the ground and +called for his horse. Adios, my friends! he cried, Go with God. +I love you. And tell them well in Santiago that between Gaspar Ruiz, +colonel of the King of Spain, and the republican carrion-crows of Chile +there is war to the last breath--war! war! war! + +With a great yell of War! war! war! which his escort took up, they +rode away, and the sound of hoofs and of voices died out in the distance +between the slopes of the hills. + +The two young English officers were convinced that Ruiz was mad. How +do you say that?--tile loose--eh? But the doctor, an observant Scotsman +with much shrewdness and philosophy in his character, told me that it +was a very curious case of possession. I met him many years afterwards, +but he remembered the experience very well. He told me too that in +his opinion that woman did not lead Gaspar Ruiz into the practice of +sanguinary treachery by direct persuasion, but by the subtle way of +awakening and keeping alive in his simple mind a burning sense of an +irreparable wrong. Maybe, maybe. But I would say that she poured half +of her vengeful soul into the strong clay of that man, as you may pour +intoxication, madness, poison into an empty cup. + +If he wanted war he got it in earnest when our victorious army began to +return from Peru. Systematic operations were planned against this blot +on the honour and prosperity of our hardly-won independence. General +Robles commanded, with his well-known ruthless severity. Savage +reprisals were exercised on both sides, and no quarter was given in the +field. Having won my promotion in the Peru campaign, I was a captain on +the staff. + +Gaspar Ruiz found himself hard pressed; at the same time we heard by +means of a fugitive priest who had been carried off from his village +presbytery, and galloped eighty miles into the hills to perform the +christening ceremony, that a daughter was born to them. To celebrate the +event, I suppose, Ruiz executed one or two brilliant forays clear away +at the rear of our forces, and defeated the detachments sent out to cut +off his retreat. General Robles nearly had a stroke of apoplexy from +rage. He found another cause of insomnia than the bites of mosquitoes; +but against this one, senores, tumblers of raw brandy had no more effect +than so much water. He took to railing and storming at me about my +strong man. And from our impatience to end this inglorious campaign, I +am afraid that we young officers became reckless and apt to take undue +risks on service. + +Nevertheless, slowly, inch by inch as it were, our columns were closing +upon Gaspar Ruiz, though he had managed to raise all the Araucanian +nation of wild Indians against us. Then a year or more later our +Government became aware through its agents and spies that he had +actually entered into alliance with Carreras, the so-called dictator of +the so-called republic of Mendoza, on the other side of the mountains. +Whether Gaspar Ruiz had a deep political intention, or whether he wished +only to secure a safe retreat for his wife and child while he pursued +remorselessly against us his war of surprises and massacres, I cannot +tell. The alliance, however, was a fact. Defeated in his attempt to +check our advance from the sea, he retreated with his usual swiftness, +and preparing for another hard and hazardous tussle began by sending his +wife with the little girl across the Pequena range of mountains, on the +frontier of Mendoza. + + + + +XI + +Now Carreras, under the guise of politics and liberalism, was a +scoundrel of the deepest dye, and the unhappy state of Mendoza was the +prey of thieves, robbers, traitors and murderers, who formed his party. +He was under a noble exterior a man without heart, pity, honour, or +conscience. Tie aspired to nothing but tyranny, and though he would have +made use of Gaspar Ruiz for his nefarious designs, yet he soon became +aware that to propitiate the Chilian Government would answer his purpose +better. I blush to say that he made proposals to our Government to +deliver up on certain conditions the wife and child of the man who had +trusted to his honour, and that this offer was accepted. + +While on her way to Mendoza over the Pequena pass she was betrayed by +her escort of Carreras men, and given up to the officer in command of +a Chilian fort on the upland at the foot of the main Cordillera range. +This atrocious transaction might have cost me dear, for as a matter of +fact I was a prisoner in Gaspar Ruiz camp when he received the news. I +had been captured during a reconnaissance, my escort of a few troopers +being speared by the Indians of his bodyguard. I was saved from the same +fate because he recognised my features just in time. No doubt my friends +thought I was dead, and I would not have given much for my life at any +time. But the strong man treated me very well, because, he said, I had +always believed in his innocence and had tried to serve him when he was +a victim of injustice. + +And now, was his speech to me, you shall see that I always speak the +truth. You are safe. + +I did not think I was very safe when I was called up to go to him one +night. He paced up and down like a wild beast, exclaiming, Betrayed! +Betrayed! + +He walked up to me clenching his fists. I could cut your throat. + +Will that give your wife back to you? I said as quietly as I could. + +And the child! he yelled out, as if mad. He fell into a chair and +laughed in a frightful, boisterous manner. Oh, no, you are safe. + +I assured him that his wifes life was safe too; but I did not say what +I was convinced of--that he would never see her again. He wanted war to +the death, and the war could only end with his death. + +He gave me a strange, inexplicable look, and sat muttering blankly. In +their hands. In their hands. + +I kept as still as a mouse before a cat. Suddenly he jumped up. What +am I doing here? he cried; and opening the door, he yelled out orders +to saddle and mount. What is it? he stammered, coming up to me. The +Pequena fort; a fort of palisades! Nothing. I would get her back if she +were hidden in the very heart of the mountain. He amazed me by adding, +with an effort: I carried her off in my two arms while the earth +trembled. And the child at least is mine. She at least is mine! + +Those were bizarre words; but I had no time for wonder. + +You shall go with me; he said violently. I may want to parley, and +any other messenger from Ruiz, the outlaw, would have his throat cut. + +This was true enough. Between him and the rest of incensed mankind +there could be no communication, according to the customs of honour-able +warfare. + +In less than half an hour we were in the saddle, flying wildly through +the night. He had only an escort of twenty men at his quarters, but +would not wait for more. He sent, however, messengers to Peneleo, the +Indian chief then ranging in the foothills, directing him to bring +his warriors to the uplands and meet him at the lake called the Eye of +Water, near whose shores the frontier fort of Pequena was built. + +We crossed the lowlands with that untired rapidity of movement which +had made Gaspar Ruiz raids so famous. We followed the lower valleys +up to their precipitous heads. The ride was not without its dangers. +A cornice road on a perpendicular wall of basalt wound itself around a +buttressing rock, and at last we emerged from the gloom of a deep gorge +upon the upland of Peea. + +It was a plain of green wiry grass and thin flowering bushes; but high +above our heads patches of snow hung in the folds and crevices of the +great walls of rock. The little lake was as round as a staring eye. The +garrison of the fort were just driving in their small herd of cattle +when we appeared. Then the great wooden gates swung to, and that +four-square enclosure of broad blackened stakes pointed at the top +and barely hiding the grass roofs of the huts inside, seemed deserted, +empty, without a single soul. + +But when summoned to surrender, by a man who at Gaspar Ruiz order rode +fearlessly forward, those inside answered by a volley which rolled him +and his horse over. I heard Ruiz by my side grind his teeth. It does +not matter, he said. Now you go. + +Torn and faded as its rags were, the vestiges of my uniform were +recognised, and I was allowed to approach within speaking distance; and +then I had to wait, because a voice clamouring through a loophole with +joy and astonishment would not allow me to place a word. It was the +voice of Major Pajol, an old friend. He, like my other comrades, had +thought me killed a long time ago. + +Put spurs to your horse, man! he yelled, in the greatest excitement; +we will swing the gate open for you. + +I let the reins fall out of my hand and shook my head. I am on my +honour, I cried. + +To him! he shouted, with infinite disgust. + +He promises you your life. + +Our life is our own. And do you, Santierra, advise us to surrender to +that rastrero? + +No! I shouted. But he wants his wife and child, and he can cut you +off from water. + +Then she would be the first to suffer. You may tell him that. Look +here--this is all nonsense: we shall dash out and capture you. + +You shall not catch me alive, I said firmly. + +Imbecile! + +For Gods sake, I continued hastily, do not open the gate. And I +pointed at the multitude of Peneleos Indians who covered the shores of +the lake. + +I had never seen so many of these savages together. Their lances +seemed as numerous as stalks of grass. Their hoarse voices made a vast, +inarticulate sound like the murmur of the sea. + +My friend Pajol was swearing to himself. Well, then--go to the devil! +he shouted, exasperated. But as I swung round he repented, for I heard +him say hurriedly, Shoot the fools horse before he gets away. + +He had good marksmen. Two shots rang out, and in the very act +of turning my horse staggered, fell and lay still as if struck by +lightning. I had my feet out of the stirrups and rolled clear of him; +but I did not attempt to rise. Neither dared they rush out to drag me +in. + +The masses of Indians had begun to move upon the fort. They rode up +in squadrons, trailing their long chusos; then dismounted out of +musket-shot, and, throwing off their fur mantles, advanced naked to the +attack, stamping their feet and shouting in cadence. A sheet of flame +ran three times along the face of the fort without checking their steady +march. They crowded right up to the very stakes, flourishing their broad +knives. But this palisade was not fastened together with hide lashings +in the usual way, but with long iron nails, which they could not cut. +Dismayed at the failure of their usual method of forcing an entrance, +the heathen, who had marched so steadily against the musketry fire, +broke and fled under the volleys of the besieged. + +Directly they had passed me on their advance I got up and rejoined +Gaspar Ruiz on a low ridge which jutted out upon the plain. The musketry +of his own men had covered the attack, but now at a sign from him a +trumpet sounded the Cease fire. Together we looked in silence at the +hopeless rout of the savages. + +It must be a siege, then, he muttered. And I detected him wringing +his hands stealthily. + +But what sort of siege could it be? Without any need for me to repeat +my friend Pajols message, he dared not cut the water off from the +besieged. They had plenty of meat. And, indeed, if they had been short, +he would have been too anxious to send food into the stockade had he +been able. But, as a matter of fact, it was we on the plain who were +beginning to feel the pinch of hunger. + +Peneleo, the Indian chief, sat by our fire folded in his ample mantle +of guanaco skins. He was an athletic savage, with an enormous square +shock head of hair resembling a straw beehive in shape and size, +and with grave, surly, much-lined features. In his broken Spanish he +repeated, growling like a bad-tempered wild beast, that if an opening +ever so small were made in the stockade his men would march in and get +the senora--not otherwise. + +Gaspar Ruiz, sitting opposite him, kept his eyes fixed on the fort +night and day as it were, in awful silence and immobility. Meantime, by +runners from the lowlands that arrived nearly every day, we heard of the +defeat of one of his lieutenants in the Maipu valley. Scouts sent afar +brought news of a column of infantry advancing through distant passes to +the relief of the fort. They were slow, but we could trace their toilful +progress up the lower valleys. I wondered why Ruiz did not march to +attack and destroy this threatening force, in some wild gorge fit for an +ambuscade, in accordance with his genius for guerrilla warfare. But his +genius seemed to have abandoned him to his despair. + +It was obvious to me that he could not tear himself away from the sight +of the fort. I protest to you, senores, that I was moved almost to +pity by the sight of this powerless strong man sitting on the ridge, +indifferent to sun, to rain, to cold, to wind; with his hands +clasped round his legs and his chin resting on his knees, +gazing--gazing--gazing. + +And the fort he kept his eyes fastened on was as still and silent as +himself. The garrison gave no sign of life. They did not even answer the +desultory fire directed at the loopholes. + +One night, as I strolled past him, he, without changing his attitude, +spoke to me unexpectedly I have sent for a gun, he said. I shall have +time to get her back and retreat before your Robles manages to crawl up +here. + +He had sent for a gun to the plains. + +It was long in coming, but at last it came. It was a seven-pounder +field-gun. Dismounted and lashed crosswise to two long poles, it had +been carried up the narrow paths between two mules with ease. His wild +cry of exultation at daybreak when he saw the gun escort emerge from the +valley rings in my ears now. + +But, senores, I have no words to depict his amazement, his fury, his +despair and distraction, when he heard that the animal loaded with the +gun-carriage had, during the last night march, somehow or other tumbled +down a precipice. He broke into menaces of death and torture against the +escort. I kept out of his way all that day, lying behind some bushes, +and wondering what he would do now. Retreat was left for him; but he +could not retreat. + +I saw below me his artillerist Jorge, an old Spanish soldier, building +up a sort of structure with heaped-up saddles. The gun, ready-loaded was +lifted on to that, but in the act of firing the whole thing collapsed +and the shot flew high above the stockade. + +Nothing more was attempted. One of the ammunition mules had been lost +too, and they had no more than six shots to fire; amply enough to batter +down the gate, providing the gun was well laid. This was impossible +without it being properly mounted. There was no time nor means to +construct a carriage. Already every moment I expected to hear Robles +bugle-calls echo amongst the crags. + +Peneleo, wandering about uneasily, draped in his skins, sat down for a +moment near me growling his usual tale. + +Make an entrada--a hole. If make a hole, bueno. If not make a hole, +them vamos--we must go away. + +After sunset I observed with surprise the Indians making preparations +as if for another assault. Their lines stood ranged in the shadows +mountains. On the plain in front of the fort gate I saw a group of men +swaying about in the same place. + +I walked down the ridge disregarded. The moonlight in the clear air of +the uplands was as bright as day, but the intense shadows confused my +sight, and I could not make out what they were doing. I heard voice +Jorge, artillerist, say in a queer, doubtful tone, It is loaded, +senores. + +Then another voice in that group pronounced firmly the words, Bring +the riata here. It was the voice of Gaspar Ruiz. + +A silence fell, in which the popping shots of the besieged garrison +rang out sharply. They too had observed the group. But the distance +was too great, and in the spatter of spent musket-balls cutting up the +ground, the group opened, closed, swayed, giving me a glimpse of busy +stooping figures in its midst. I drew nearer, doubting whether this was +a weird vision, a suggestive and insensate dream. + +A strangely stifled voice commanded, Haul the hitches tighter. + +Si, senor, several other voices answered in tones of awed alacrity. + +Then the stifled voice said: Like this. I must be free to breathe. + +Then there was a concerned noise of many men together. Help him up, +hombres. Steady! Under the other arm. + +That deadened voice, ordered: Bueno! Stand away from me, men. + +I pushed my way through the recoiling circle, and heard once more that +same oppressed voice saying earnestly: Forget that I am a living man, +Jorge. Forget me altogether, and think of what you have to do. + +Be without fear, senor. You are nothing to me but a gun carriage, and +I shall not waste a shot. + +I heard the spluttering of a port-fire, and smelt the saltpetre of the +match. I saw suddenly before me a nondescript shape on all fours like +a beast, but with a mans head drooping below a tubular projection over +the nape of the neck, and the gleam of a rounded mass of bronze on its +back. + +In front of a silent semicircle of men it squatted alone with Jorge +behind it and a trumpeter motionless, his trumpet in his hand, by its +side. + +Jorge, bent double, muttered, port-fire in hand: An inch to the left, +senor. Too much. So. Now, if you let yourself down a little by letting +your elbows bend, I will... + +He leaped aside, lowering his port-fire, and a burst of flame darted +out of the muzzle of the gun lashed on the mans back. + +Then Gaspar Ruiz lowered himself slowly. Good shot? he asked. + +Full on, senor. + +Then load again. + +He lay there before me on his breast under the darkly glittering bronze +of his monstrous burden, such as no love or strength of man had ever +had to bear in the lamentable history of the world. His arms were spread +out, and he resembled a prostrate penitent on the moonlit ground. + +Again I saw him raised to his hands and knees, and the men stand away +from him, and old Jorge stoop, glancing along the gun. + +Left a little. Right an inch. Por Dios, senor, stop this trembling. +Where is your strength? + +The old gunners voice was cracked with emotion. He stepped aside, and +quick as lightning brought the spark to the touch-hole. + +Excellent! he cried tearfully; but Gaspar Ruiz lay for a long time +silent, flattened on the ground. + +I am tired, he murmured at last. Will another shot do it? + +Without doubt, said Jorge, bending down to his ear. + +Then--load, I heard him utter distinctly. Trumpeter! + +I am here, senor, ready for your word. + +Blow a blast at this word that shall be heard from one end of Chile to +the other, he said, in an extraordinarily strong voice. And you others +stand ready to cut this accursed riata, for then will be the time for +me to lead you in your rush. Now raise me up, and, you, Jorge--be quick +with your aim. + +The rattle of musketry from the fort nearly drowned his voice. The +palisade was wreathed in smoke and flame. + +Exert your force forward against the recoil, mi amo, said the old +gunner shakily. Dig your fingers into the ground. So. Now! + +A cry of exultation escaped him after the shot. The trumpeter raised +his trumpet nearly to his lips, and waited. But no word came from the +prostrate man. I fell on one knee, and heard all he had to say then. + +Something broken, he whispered, lifting his head a little, and +turning his eyes towards me in his hopelessly crushed attitude. + +The gate hangs only by the splinters, yelled Jorge. + +Gaspar Ruiz tried to speak, but his voice died out in his throat, and I +helped to roll the gun off his broken back. He was insensible. + +I kept my lips shut, of course. The signal for the Indians to attack +was never given. Instead, the bugle-calls of the relieving force, for +which my ears had thirsted so long, burst out, terrifying like the call +of the Last Day to our surprised enemies. + +A tornado, senores, a real hurricane of stampeded men, wild horses, +mounted Indians, swept over me as I cowered on the ground by the side +of Gaspar Ruiz, still stretched out on his face in the shape of a +cross. Peneleo, galloping for life, jabbed at me with his long chuso in +passing--for the sake of old acquaintance, I suppose. How I escaped the +flying lead is more difficult to explain. Venturing to rise on my knees +too soon, some soldiers of the 17th Taltal regiment, in their hurry to +get at something alive, nearly bayonetted me on the spot. They looked +very disappointed too when some officers galloping up drove them away +with the flat of their swords. + +It was General Robles with his staff. He wanted badly to make some +prisoners. He, too, seemed disappointed for a moment. What? Is it you? +he cried. But he dismounted at once to embrace me, for he was an old +friend of my family. I pointed to the body at our feet, and said only +these two words: + +Gaspar Ruiz. + +He threw his arms up in astonishment. + +Aha! Your strong man! Always to the last with your strong man. No +matter. He saved our lives when the earth trembled enough to make the +bravest faint with fear. I was frightened out of my wits. But he--no! +Que guape! Wheres the hero who got the best of him? Ha! ha! ha! What +killed him, chico? + +His own strength general, I answered. + + + + +XII + +BUT Gaspar Ruiz breathed yet. I had him carried in his poncho under the +shelter of some bushes on the very ridge from which he had been gazing +so fixedly at the fort while unseen death was hovering already over his +head. + +Our troops had bivouacked round the fort. Towards daybreak I was not +surprised to hear that I was designated to command the escort of a +prisoner who was to be sent down at once to Santiago. Of course the +prisoner was Gaspar Ruiz wife. + +I have named you out of regard for your feelings, General Robles +remarked. Though the woman really ought to be shot for all the harm she +has done to the Republic. + +And as I made a movement of shocked protest, he continued: + +Now he is as well as dead, she is of no importance. Nobody will know +what to do with her. However, the Government wants her. He shrugged his +shoulders. I suppose he must have buried large quantities of his loot +in places that she alone knows of. + +At dawn I saw her coming up the ridge, guarded by two soldiers, and +carrying her child on her arm. + +I walked to meet her. + +Is he living yet? she asked, confronting me with that white, +impassive face he used to look at in an adoring way. + +I bent my head, and led her round a clump of bushes without a word. His +eyes were open. He breathed with difficulty, and uttered her name with a +great effort. + +Erminia! + +She knelt at his head. The little girl, unconscious of him, and with +her big eyes, looking about, began to chatter suddenly, in a joyous, +thin voice. She pointed a tiny finger at the rosy glow of sunrise +behind the black shapes of the peaks. And while that child-talk, +incomprehensible and sweet to the ear, lasted, those two, the dying man +and the kneeling woman, remained silent, looking into each others eyes, +listening to the frail sound. Then the prattle stopped. The child laid +its head against its mothers breast and was still. + +It was for you, he began. Forgive. His voice failed him. Presently +I heard a mutter, and caught the pitiful words: Not strong enough. + +She looked at him with an extraordinary intensity. He tried to smile, +and in a humble tone, Forgive me, he repeated. Leaving you... + +She bent down, dry-eyed, and in a steady voice: On all the earth I +have loved nothing but you, Gaspar, she said. + +His head made a movement. His eyes revived. At last! he sighed out. +Then, anxiously, But is this true... is this true? + +As true as that there is no mercy and justice in this world, she +answered him passionately. She stooped over his face. He tried to raise +his head, but it fell back, and when she kissed his lips he was already +dead. His glazed eyes stared at the sky, on which pink clouds floated +very high. But I noticed the eyelids of the child, pressed to its +mothers breast, droop and close slowly. She had gone to sleep. + +The widow of Gaspar Ruiz, the strong man, allowed me to lead her away +without shedding a tear. + +For travelling we had arranged for her a side-saddle very much like a +chair, with a board swung beneath to rest her feet on. And the first day +she rode without uttering a word, and hardly for one moment turning her +eyes away from the little girl, whom she held on her knees. At our first +camp I saw her during the night walking about, rocking the child in +her arms and gazing down at it by the light of the moon. After we had +started on our second days march she asked me how soon we should come +to the first village of the inhabited country. + +I said we should be there about noon. + +And will there be women there? she inquired. + +I told her that it was a large village. There will be men and women +there, senora, I said, whose hearts shall be made glad by the news +that all the unrest and war is over now. + +Yes, it is all over now, she repeated. Then, after a time: senor +officer, what will your Government do with me? + +I do not know, senora, I said. They will treat you well, no doubt. +We republicans are not savages, and take no vengeance on women. + +She gave me a look at the word republicans which I imagined full of +undying hate. But an hour or so afterwards, as we drew up to let the +baggage mules go first along a narrow path skirting a precipice, she +looked at me with such a white, troubled face that I felt a great pity +for her. + +Senor officer, she said, I am weak, I tremble. It is an insensate +fear. And indeed her lips did tremble, while she tried to smile +glancing at the beginning of the narrow path which was not so dangerous +after all. I am afraid I shall drop the child. Gaspar saved your life, +you remember.... Take her from me. + +I took the child out of her extended arms. Shut your eyes, senora, and +trust to your mule, I recommended. + +She did so, and with her pallor and her wasted thin face she looked +deathlike. At a turn of the path, where a great crag of purple porphyry +closes the view of the lowlands, I saw her open her eyes. I rode just +behind her holding the little girl with my right arm. The child is all +right, I cried encouragingly. + +Yes, she answered faintly; and then, to my intense terror, I saw her +stand up on the footrest, staring horribly, and throw herself forward +into the chasm on our right. + +I cannot describe to you the sudden and abject fear that came over me +at that dreadful sight. It was a dread of the abyss, the dread of the +crags which seemed to nod upon me. My head swam. I pressed the child to +my side and sat my horse as still as a statue. I was speechless and cold +all over. Her mule staggered, sidling close to the rock, and then went +on. My horse only pricked up his ears with a slight snort. My heart +stood still, and from the depths of the precipice the stones rattling in +the bed of the furious stream made me almost insane with their sound. + +Next moment we were round the turn and on a broad and grassy slope. And +then I yelled. My men came running back to me in great alarm. It seems +that at first I did nothing but shout, She has given the child into my +hands! She has given the child into my hands! The escort thought I had +gone mad. + +General Santierra ceased and got up from the table. And that is all, +senores, he concluded, with a courteous glance at his rising guests. + +But what became of the child, General? we asked. + +Ah, the child, the child. + +He walked to one of the windows opening on his beautiful garden, the +refuge of his old days. Its fame was great in the land. Keeping us back +with a raised arm, he called out, Erminia, Erminia! and waited. Then +his cautioning arm dropped, and we crowded to the windows. + +From a clump of trees a woman had come upon the broad walk bordered +with flowers. We could hear the rustle of her starched petticoats and +observed the ample spread of her old-fashioned black silk skirt. She +looked up, and seeing all these eyes staring at her, stopped, frowned, +smiled, shook her finger at the General, who was laughing boisterously, +and drawing the black lace on her head so as to partly conceal her +haughty profile, passed out of our sight, walking with stiff dignity. + +You have beheld the guardian angel of the old man--and her to whom +you owe all that is seemly and comfortable in my hospitality. Somehow, +senores, though the flame of love has been kindled early in my breast, I +have never married. And because of that perhaps the sparks of the sacred +fire are not yet extinct here. He struck his broad chest. Still alive, +still alive, he said, with serio-comic emphasis. But I shall not marry +now. She is General Santierras adopted daughter and heiress. + +One of our fellow-guests, a young naval officer, described her +afterwards as a short, stout, old girl of forty or thereabouts. We had +all noticed that her hair was turning grey, and that she had very fine +black eyes. + +And, General Santierra continued, neither would she ever hear of +marrying any one. A real calamity! Good, patient, devoted to the old +man. A simple soul. But I would not advise any of you to ask for her +hand, for if she took yours into hers it would be only to crush your +bones. Ah! she does not jest on that subject. And she is the own +daughter of her father, the strong man who perished through his own +strength: the strength of his body, of his simplicity--of his love! + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + +***** This file should be named 8736-8.txt or 8736-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/3/8736/ + +Produced by John Orford + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Gaspar Ruiz + +Author: Joseph Conrad + +Release Date: June 18, 2009 [EBook #8736] +Last Updated: September 9, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + + + + +Produced by John Orford, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + GASPAR RUIZ + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Joseph Conrad + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Contents + </h3> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III </a> + </p> + </td> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> VI </a> + </p> + </td> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> IX </a> + </p> + </td> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> XI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> XII </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + I + </h2> + <p> + A Revolutionary war raises many strange characters out of the obscurity + which is the common lot of humble lives in an undisturbed state of + society. + </p> + <p> + Certain individualities grow into fame through their vices and their + virtues, or simply by their actions, which may have a temporary + importance; and then they become forgotten. The names of a few leaders + alone survive the end of armed strife and are further preserved in + history; so that, vanishing from men’s active memories, they still exist + in books. + </p> + <p> + The name of General Santierra attained that cold, paper-and-ink + immortality. He was a South American of good family, and the books + published in his lifetime numbered him amongst the liberators of that + continent from the oppressive rule of Spain. + </p> + <p> + That long contest, waged for independence on one side and for dominion on + the other, developed, in the course of years and the vicissitudes of + changing fortune, the fierceness and inhumanity of a struggle for life. + All feelings of pity and compassion disappeared in the growth of political + hatred. And, as is usual in war, the mass of the people, who had the least + to gain by the issue, suffered most in their obscure persons and their + humble fortunes. + </p> + <p> + General Santierra began his service as lieutenant in the patriot army + raised and commanded by the famous San Martin, afterwards conqueror of + Lima and liberator of Peru. A great battle had just been fought on the + banks of the river Bio-Bio. Amongst the prisoners made upon the routed + Royalist troops there was a soldier called Gaspar Ruiz. His powerful build + and his big head rendered him remarkable amongst his fellow-captives. The + personality of the man was unmistakable. Some months before, he had been + missed from the ranks of Republican troops after one of the many + skirmishes which preceded the great battle. And now, having been captured + arms in hand amongst Royalists, he could expect no other fate but to be + shot as a deserter. + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz, however, was not a deserter; his mind was hardly active + enough to take a discriminating view of the advantages or perils of + treachery. Why should he change sides? He had really been made a prisoner, + had suffered ill-usage and many privations. Neither side showed tenderness + to its adversaries. There came a day when he was ordered, together with + some other captured rebels, to march in the front rank of the Royal + troops. A musket, had been thrust into his hands. He had taken it. He had + marched. He did not want to be killed with circumstances of peculiar + atrocity for refusing to march. He did not understand heroism, but it was + his intention to throw his musket away at the first opportunity. Meantime + he had gone on loading and firing, from fear of having his brains blown + out, at the first sign of unwillingness, by some non-commissioned officer + of the King of Spain. He tried to set forth these elementary + considerations before the sergeant of the guard set over him and some + twenty other such deserters, who had been condemned summarily to be shot. + </p> + <p> + It was in the quadrangle of the fort at the back of the batteries which + command the road-stead of Valparaiso. The officer who had identified him + had gone on without listening to his protestations. His doom was sealed; + his hands were tied very tightly together behind his back; his body was + sore all over from the many blows with sticks and butts of muskets which + had hurried him along on the painful road from the place of his capture to + the gate of the fort. This was the only kind of systematic attention the + prisoners had received from their escort during a four days’ journey + across a scantily watered tract of country. At the crossings of rare + streams they were permitted to quench their thirst by lapping hurriedly + like dogs. In the evening a few scraps of meat were thrown amongst them as + they dropped down dead-beat upon the stony ground of the halting-place. + </p> + <p> + As he stood in the courtyard of the castle in the early morning, after + having been driven hard all night, Gaspar Ruiz’s throat was parched, and + his tongue felt very large and dry in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + And Gaspar Ruiz, besides being very thirsty, was stirred by a feeling of + sluggish anger, which he could not very well express, as though the vigour + of his spirit were by no means equal to the strength of his body. + </p> + <p> + The other prisoners in the batch of the condemned hung their heads, + looking obstinately on the ground. But Gaspar Ruiz kept on repeating: + “What should I desert for to the Royalists? Why should I desert? Tell me, + Estaban!” + </p> + <p> + He addressed himself to the sergeant, who happened to belong to the same + part of the country as himself. But the sergeant, after shrugging his + meagre shoulders once, paid no further attention to the deep murmuring + voice at his back. It was indeed strange that Gaspar Ruiz should desert. + His people were in too humble a station to feel much the disadvantages of + any form of government. There was no reason why Gaspar Ruiz should wish to + uphold in his own person the rule of the King of Spain. Neither had he + been anxious to exert himself for its subversion. He had joined the side + of Independence in an extremely reasonable and natural manner. A band of + patriots appeared one morning early, surrounding his father’s ranche, + spearing the watch-dogs and hamstringing a fat cow all in the twinkling of + an eye, to the cries of “Viva La Libertad!” Their officer discoursed of + Liberty with enthusiasm and eloquence after a long and refreshing sleep. + When they left in the evening, taking with them some of Ruiz, the + father’s, best horses to replace their own lamed animals, Gaspar Ruiz went + away with them, having been invited pressingly to do so by the eloquent + officer. + </p> + <p> + Shortly afterwards a detachment of Royalist troops, coming to pacify the + district, burnt the ranche, carried off the remaining horses and cattle, + and having thus deprived the old people of all their worldly possessions, + left them sitting under a bush in the enjoyment of the inestimable boon of + life. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II + </h2> + <p> + GASPAR Ruiz, condemned to death as a deserter, was not thinking either of + his native place or of his parents, to whom he had been a good son on + account of the mildness of his character and the great strength of his + limbs. The practical advantage of this last was made still more valuable + to his father by his obedient disposition. Gaspar Ruiz had an acquiescent + soul. + </p> + <p> + But it was stirred now to a sort of dim revolt by his dislike to die the + death of a traitor. He was not a traitor. He said again to the sergeant: + “You know I did not desert, Estaban. You know I remained behind amongst + the trees with three others to keep the enemy back while the detachment + was running away!” + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra, little more than a boy at the time, and unused as + yet to the sanguinary imbecilities of a state of war, had lingered near + by, as if fascinated by the sight of these men who were to be shot + presently—“for an example”—as the Commandante had said. + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, without deigning to look at the prisoner, addressed himself + to the young officer with a superior smile. + </p> + <p> + “Ten men would not have been enough to make him a prisoner, mi teniente. + Moreover, the other three rejoined the detachment after dark. Why should + he, unwounded and the strongest of them all, have failed to do so?” + </p> + <p> + “My strength is as nothing against a mounted man with a lasso,” Gaspar + Ruiz protested eagerly. “He dragged me behind his horse for half a mile.” + </p> + <p> + At this excellent reason the sergeant only laughed contemptuously. The + young officer hurried away after the Commandante. + </p> + <p> + Presently the adjutant of the castle came by. He was a truculent, + raw-boned man in a ragged uniform. His spluttering voice issued out of a + flat, yellow face. The sergeant learned from him that the condemned men + would not be shot till sunset. He begged then to know what he was to do + with them meantime. + </p> + <p> + The adjutant looked savagely round the courtyard, and, pointing to the + door of a small dungeon-like guard-room, receiving light and air through + one heavily-barred window, said: “Drive the scoundrels in there.” + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, tightening his grip upon the stick he carried in virtue of + his rank, executed this order with alacrity and zeal. He hit Gaspar Ruiz, + whose movements were slow, over his head and shoulders. Gaspar Ruiz stood + still for a moment under the shower of blows, biting his lip thoughtfully + as if absorbed by a perplexing mental process—then followed the + others without haste. The door was locked, and the adjutant carried off + the key. + </p> + <p> + By noon the heat of that low vaulted place crammed to suffocation had + become unbearable. The prisoners crowded towards the window, begging their + guards for a drop of water; but the soldiers remained lying in indolent + attitudes wherever there was a little shade under a wall, while the sentry + sat with his back against the door smoking a cigarette, and raising his + eyebrows philosophically from time to time. Gaspar Ruiz had pushed his way + to the window with irresistible force. His capacious chest needed more air + than the others; his big face, resting with its chin on the ledge, pressed + close to the bars, seemed to support the other faces crowding up for + breath. From moaned entreaties they had passed to desperate cries, and the + tumultuous howling of those thirsty men obliged a young officer who was + just then crossing the courtyard to shout in order to make himself heard. + </p> + <p> + “Why don’t you give some water to these prisoners!” + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, with an air of surprised innocence, excused himself by the + remark that all those men were condemned to die in a very few hours. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra stamped his foot. “They are condemned to death, not + to torture,” he shouted. “Give them some water at once.” + </p> + <p> + Impressed by this appearance of anger, the soldiers bestirred themselves, + and the sentry, snatching up his musket, stood to attention. + </p> + <p> + But when a couple of buckets were found and filled from the well, it was + discovered that they could not be passed through the bars, which were set + too close. At the prospect of quenching their thirst, the shrieks of those + trampled down in the struggle to get near the opening became very + heartrending. But when the soldiers who had lifted the buckets towards the + window put them to the ground again helplessly, the yell of disappointment + was still more terrible. + </p> + <p> + The soldiers of the army of Independence were not equipped with canteens. + A small tin cup was found, but its approach to the opening caused such a + commotion, such yells of rage and’ pain in the vague mass of limbs behind + the straining faces at the window, that Lieutenant Santierra cried out + hurriedly, “No, no—you must open the door, sergeant.” + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, shrugging his shoulders, explained that he had no right to + open the door even if he had had the key. But he had not the key. The + adjutant of the garrison kept the key. Those men were giving much + unnecessary trouble, since they had to die at sunset in any case. Why they + had not been shot at once early in the morning he could not understand. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra kept his back studiously to the window. It was at his + earnest solicitations that the Commandante had delayed the execution. This + favour had been granted to him in consideration of his distinguished + family and of his father’s high position amongst the chiefs of the + Republican party. Lieutenant Santierra believed that the General + commanding would visit the fort some time in the afternoon, and he + ingenuously hoped that his naive intercession would induce that severe man + to pardon some, at least, of those criminals. In the revulsion of his + feeling his interference stood revealed now as guilty and futile meddling. + It appeared to him obvious that the general would never even consent to + listen to his petition. He could never save those men, and he had only + made himself responsible for the sufferings added to the cruelty of their + fate. + </p> + <p> + “Then go at once and get the key from the adjutant,” said Lieutenant + Santierra. + </p> + <p> + The sergeant shook his head with a sort of bashful smile, while his eyes + glanced sideways at Gaspar Ruiz’s face, motionless and silent, staring + through the bars at the bottom of a heap of other haggard, distorted, + yelling faces. + </p> + <p> + His worship the adjutant de Plaza, the sergeant murmured, was having his + siesta; and supposing that he, the sergeant, would be allowed access to + him, the only result he expected would be to have his soul flogged out of + his body for presuming to disturb his worship’s repose. He made a + deprecatory movement with his hands, and stood stock-still, looking down + modestly upon his brown toes. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra glared with indignation, but hesitated. His handsome + oval face, as smooth as a girl’s, flushed with the shame of his + perplexity. Its nature humiliated his spirit. His hairless upper lip + trembled; he seemed on the point of either bursting into a fit of rage or + into tears of dismay. + </p> + <p> + Fifty years later, General Santierra, the venerable relic of revolutionary + times, was well able to remember the feelings of the young lieutenant. + Since he had given up riding altogether, and found it difficult to walk + beyond the limits of his garden, the general’s greatest delight, was to + entertain in his house the officers of the foreign men-of-war visiting the + harbour. For Englishmen he had a preference, as for old companions in + arms. English naval men of all ranks accepted his hospitality with + curiosity, because he had known Lord Cochrane and had taken part, on board + the patriot squadron commanded by that marvellous seaman, in the + cutting-out and blockading operations before Callao—an episode of + unalloyed glory in the wars of Independence and of endless honour in the + fighting tradition of Englishmen. He was a fair linguist, this ancient + survivor of the Liberating armies. A trick of smoothing his long white + beard whenever he was short of a word in French or English imparted an air + of leisurely dignity to the tone of his reminiscences. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III + </h2> + <p> + “YES, my friends,” he used to say to his guests, “what would you have? A + youth of seventeen summers, without worldly experience, and owing my rank + only to the glorious patriotism of my father, may God rest his soul, I + suffered immense humiliation, not so much from the disobedience of That + subordinate, who, alter all, was responsible for those prisoners; but I + suffered because, like the boy I was, I myself dreaded going to the + adjutant for the key. I had felt, before, his rough and cutting tongue. + Being quite a common fellow, with no merit except his savage valour, he + made me feel his contempt and dislike from the first day I joined my + battalion in garrison at the fort. It was only a fortnight before! I would + have confronted him sword in hand, but I shrank from the mocking brutality + of his sneers. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t remember having been so miserable in my life before or since. The + torment of my sensibility was so great that I wished the sergeant to fall + dead at my feet, and the stupid soldiers who stared at me to turn into + corpses; and even those wretches for whom my entreaties had procured a + reprieve I wished dead also, because I could not face them without shame. + A mephitic heat like a whiff of air from hell came out of that dark place + in which they were confined. Those at the window who heard what was going + on jeered at me in very desperation; one of these fellows, gone mad no + doubt, kept on urging me volubly to order the soldiers to fire through the + window. His insane loquacity made my heart turn faint. And my feet were + like lead. There was no higher officer to whom I could appeal. I had not + even the firmness of spirit to simply go away. + </p> + <p> + “Benumbed by my remorse, I stood with my back to the window. You must not + suppose that all this lasted a long time. How long could it have been? A + minute? If you measured by mental suffering it was like a hundred years; a + longer time than all my life has been since. No, certainly, it was not so + much as a minute. The hoarse screaming of those miserable wretches died + out in their dry throats, and then suddenly a voice spoke, a deep voice + muttering calmly. It called upon me to turn round. + </p> + <p> + “That voice, senores, proceeded from the head of Gaspar Ruiz. Of his body + I could see nothing. Some of his fellow-captives had clambered upon his + back. He was holding them up. His eyes blinked without looking at me. That + and the moving of his lips was all he seemed able to manage in his + overloaded state. And when I turned round, this head, that seemed more + than human size resting on its chin under a multitude of other heads, + asked me whether I really desired to quench the thirst of the captives. + </p> + <p> + “I said, ‘Yes, yes!’ eagerly, and came up quite close to the window. I was + like a child, and did not know what would happen. I was anxious to be + comforted in my helplessness and remorse. + </p> + <p> + “‘Have you the authority, senor teniente, to release my wrists from their + bonds?’ Gaspar Ruiz’s head asked me. + </p> + <p> + “His features expressed no anxiety, no hope; his heavy eyelids blinked + upon his eyes that looked past me straight into the courtyard. + </p> + <p> + “As if in an ugly dream, I spoke, stammering: ‘What do you mean? And how + can I reach the bonds on your wrists?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I will try what I can do,’ he said; and then that large staring head + moved at last, and all the wild faces piled up in that window disappeared, + tumbling down. He had shaken his load off with one movement, so strong he + was. + </p> + <p> + “And he had not only shaken it off, but he got free of the crush and + vanished from my sight. For a moment there was no one at all to be seen at + the window. He had swung about, butting and shouldering, clearing a space + for himself in the only way he could do it with his hands tied behind his + back. + </p> + <p> + “Finally, backing to the opening, he pushed out to me between the bars his + wrists, lashed with many turns of rope. His hands, very swollen, with + knotted veins, looked enormous and unwieldy. I saw his bent back. It was + very broad. His voice was like the muttering of a bull. + </p> + <p> + “Cut, senor teniente! Cut!’ + </p> + <p> + “I drew my sword, my new unblunted sword that had seen no service as yet, + and severed the many turns of the hide rope. I did this without knowing + the why and the wherefore of my action, but as it were compelled by my + faith in that man. The sergeant made as if to cry out, but astonishment + deprived him of his voice, and he remained standing with his mouth open as + if overtaken by sudden imbecility. + </p> + <p> + “I sheathed my sword and faced the soldiers. An air of awestruck + expectation had replaced their usual listless apathy. I heard the voice of + Gaspar Ruiz shouting inside, but the words I could not make out plainly. I + suppose that to see him with his arms free augmented the influence of his + strength: I mean by this, the spiritual influence that with ignorant + people attaches to an exceptional degree of bodily vigour. In fact, he was + no more to be feared than before, on account of the numbness of his arms + and hands, which lasted for some time. + </p> + <p> + “The sergeant had recovered his power of speech. ‘By all the saints!’ he + cried, ‘we shall have to get a cavalry man with a lasso to secure him + again, if he is to be led to the place of execution. Nothing less than a + good enlazador on a good horse can subdue him. Your worship was pleased to + perform a very mad thing.’ + </p> + <p> + “I had nothing to say. I was surprised myself, and I felt a childish + curiosity to see what would happen. But the sergeant was thinking of the + difficulty of controlling Gaspar Ruiz when the time for making an example + would come. + </p> + <p> + “‘Or perhaps,’ the sergeant pursued vexedly, ‘we shall be obliged to shoot + him down as he dashes out when the door is opened.’ He was going to give + further vent to his anxieties as to the proper carrying out of the + sentence; but he interrupted himself with a sudden exclamation, snatched a + musket from a soldier, and stood watchful with his eyes fixed on the + window.’” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV + </h2> + <p> + “GASPAR RUIZ had clambered up on the sill, and sat down there with his + feet against the thickness of the wall and his knees slightly bent. The + window was not quite broad enough for the length of his legs. It appeared + to my crestfallen perception that he meant to keep the window all to + himself. He seemed to be taking up a comfortable position. Nobody inside + dared to approach him now he could strike with his hands. + </p> + <p> + “‘Por Dios!’ I heard the sergeant muttering at my elbow, ‘I shall shoot + him through the head now, and get rid of that trouble. He is a condemned + man.’ + </p> + <p> + “At that I looked at him angrily. ‘The general has not confirmed the + sentence,’ I said—though I knew well in my heart that these were but + vain words. The sentence required no confirmation. ‘You have no right to + shoot him unless he tries to escape,’ I added firmly. + </p> + <p> + “‘But sangre de Dios!’ the sergeant yelled out, bringing his musket up to + the shoulder, ‘he is escaping now. Look!’ + </p> + <p> + “But I, as if that Gaspar Ruiz had cast a spell upon me, struck the musket + upward, and the bullet flew over the roofs somewhere. The sergeant dashed + his arm to the ground and stared. He might have commanded the soldiers to + fire, but he did not. And if he had he would not have been obeyed, I + think, just then. + </p> + <p> + “With his feet against the thickness of the wall, and his hairy hands + grasping the iron bar, Gaspar sat still. It was an attitude. Nothing + happened for a time. And suddenly it dawned upon us that he was + straightening his bowed back and contracting his arms. His lips were + twisted into a snarl. Next thing we perceived was that the bar of forged + iron was being bent slowly by the mightiness of his pull. The sun was + beating full upon his cramped, unquivering figure. A shower of sweat-drops + burst out of his forehead. Watching the bar grow crooked, I saw a little + blood ooze from under his finger-nails. Then he let go. For a moment he + remained all huddled up, with a hanging head, looking drowsily into the + upturned palms of his mighty hands. Indeed he seemed to have dozed off. + Suddenly he flung himself backwards on the sill, and setting the soles of + his bare feet against the other middle bar, he bent that one too, but in + the opposite direction from the first. + </p> + <p> + “Such was his strength, which in this case relieved my painful feelings. + And the man seemed to have done nothing. Except for the change of position + in order to use his feet, which made us all start by its swiftness, my + recollection is that of immobility. But he had bent the bars wide apart. + And now he could get out if he liked; but he dropped his legs inwards; and + looking over his shoulder beckoned to the soldiers. ‘Hand up the water,’ + he said. ‘I will give them all a drink.’ + </p> + <p> + “He was obeyed. For a moment I expected man and bucket to disappear, + overwhelmed by the rush of eagerness; I thought they would pull him down + with their teeth. There was a rush, but holding the bucket on his lap he + repulsed the assault of those wretches by the mere swinging of his feet. + They flew backwards at every kick, yelling with pain; and the soldiers + laughed, gazing at the window. + </p> + <p> + “They all laughed, holding their sides, except the sergeant, who was + gloomy and morose. He was afraid the prisoners would rise and break out—which + would have been a bad example. But there was no fear of that, and I stood + myself before the window with my drawn sword. When sufficiently tamed by + the strength of Gaspar Ruiz, they came up one by one, stretching their + necks and presenting their lips to the edge of the bucket which the strong + man tilted towards them from his knees with an extraordinary air of + charity, gentleness and compassion. That benevolent appearance was of + course the effect of his care in not spilling the water and of his + attitude as he sat on the sill; for, if a man lingered with his lips glued + to the rim of the bucket after Gaspar Ruiz had said ‘You have had enough,’ + there would be no tenderness or mercy in the shove of the foot which would + send him groaning and doubled up far into the interior of the prison, + where he would knock down two or three others before he fell himself. They + came up to him again and again; it looked as if they meant to drink the + well dry before going to their death; but the soldiers were so amused by + Gaspar Ruiz’s systematic proceedings that they carried the water up to the + window cheerfully. + </p> + <p> + “When the adjutant came out after his siesta there was some trouble over + this affair, I can assure you. And the worst of it, that the general whom + we expected never came to the castle that day.” + </p> + <p> + The guests of General Santierra unanimously expressed their regret that + the man of such strength and patience had not been saved. + </p> + <p> + “He was not saved by my interference,” said the General. “The prisoners + were led to execution half an hour before sunset. Gaspar Ruiz, contrary to + the sergeant’s apprehensions, gave no trouble. There was no necessity to + get a cavalry man with a lasso in order to subdue him, as if he were a + wild bull of the campo. I believe he marched out with his arms free + amongst the others who were bound. I did not see. I was not there. I had + been put under arrest for interfering with the prisoner’s guard. About + dusk, sitting dismally in my quarters, I heard three volleys fired, and + thought that I should never hear of Gaspar Ruiz again. He fell with the + others. But we were to hear of him nevertheless, though the sergeant + boasted that, as he lay on his face expiring or dead in the heap of the + slain, he had slashed his neck with a sword. He had done this, he said, to + make sure of ridding the world of a dangerous traitor. + </p> + <p> + “I confess to you, senores, that I thought of that strong man with a sort + of gratitude, and with some admiration. He had used his strength + honourably. There dwelt, then, in his soul no fierceness corresponding to + the vigour of his body.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V + </h2> + <p> + GASPAR RUIZ, who could with ease bend apart the heavy iron bars of the + prison, was led out with others to summary execution. “Every bullet has + its billet,” runs the proverb. All the merit of proverbs consists in the + concise and picturesque expression. In the surprise of our minds is found + their persuasiveness. In other words, we are struck and convinced by the + shock. + </p> + <p> + What surprises us is the form, not the substance. Proverbs are art—cheap + art. As a general rule they are not true; unless indeed they happen to be + mere platitudes, as for instance the proverb, “Half a loaf is better than + no bread,” or “A miss is as good as a mile.” Some proverbs are simply + imbecile, others are immoral. That one evolved out of the naive heart of + the great Russian people, “Man discharges the piece, but God carries the + bullet,” is piously atrocious, and at bitter variance with the accepted + conception of a compassionate God. It would indeed be an inconsistent + occupation for the Guardian of the poor, the innocent and the helpless, to + carry the bullet, for instance, into the heart of a father. + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz was childless, he had no wife, he had never been in love. He + had hardly ever spoken to a woman, beyond his mother and the ancient + negress of the household, whose wrinkled skin was the colour of cinders, + and whose lean body was bent double from age. If some bullets from those + muskets fired off at fifteen paces were specifically destined for the + heart of Gaspar Ruiz, they all missed their billet. One, however, carried + away a small piece of his ear, and another a fragment of flesh from his + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + A red and unclouded sun setting into a purple ocean looked with a fiery + stare upon the enormous wall of the Cordilleras, worthy witnesses of his + glorious extinction. But it is inconceivable that it should have seen the + ant-like men busy with their absurd and insignificant trials of killing + and dying for reasons that, apart from being generally childish, were also + imperfectly understood. It did light up, however, the backs of the firing + party and the faces of the condemned men. Some of them had fallen on their + knees, others remained standing, a few averted their heads from the + levelled barrels of muskets. Gaspar Ruiz, upright, the burliest of them + all, hung his big shock head. The low sun dazzled him a little, and he + counted himself a dead man already. + </p> + <p> + He fell at the first discharge. He fell because he thought he was a dead + man. He struck the ground heavily. The jar of the fall surprised him. “I + am not dead apparently,” he thought to himself, when he heard the + execution platoon reloading its arms at the word of command. It was then + that the hope of escape dawned upon him for the first time. He remained + lying stretched out with rigid limbs under the weight of two bodies + collapsed crosswise upon his back. + </p> + <p> + By the time the soldiers had fired a third volley into the slightly + stirring heaps of the slain, the sun had gone out of sight, and almost + immediately with the darkening of the ocean dusk fell upon the coasts of + the young Republic. Above the gloom of the lowlands the snowy peaks of the + Cordillera remained luminous and crimson for a long time. The soldiers + before marching back to the fort sat down to smoke. + </p> + <p> + The sergeant with a naked sword in his hand strolled away by himself along + the heap of the dead. He was a humane man, and watched for any stir or + twitch of limb in the merciful idea of plunging the point of his blade + into any body giving the slightest sign of life. But none of the bodies + afforded him an opportunity for the display of this charitable intention. + Not a muscle twitched amongst them, not even the powerful muscles of + Gaspar Ruiz, who, deluged with the blood of his neighbours and shamming + death, strove to appear more lifeless than the others. + </p> + <p> + He was lying face down. The sergeant recognised him by his stature, and + being himself a very small man, looked with envy and contempt at the + prostration of so much strength. He had always disliked that particular + soldier. Moved by an obscure animosity, he inflicted a long gash across + the neck of Gaspar Ruiz, with some vague notion of making sure of that + strong man’s death, as if a powerful physique were more able to resist the + bullets. For the sergeant had no doubt that Gaspar Ruiz had been shot + through in many places. Then he passed on, and shortly afterwards marched + off with, his men, leaving the bodies to the care of crows and vultures. + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz had restrained a cry, though it had seemed to him that his + head was cut off at a blow; and when darkness came, shaking off the dead, + whose weight had oppressed him, he crawled away over the plain on his + hands and knees. After drinking deeply, like a wounded beast, at a shallow + stream, he assumed an upright posture, and staggered on light-headed and + aimless, as if lost amongst the stars of the clear night. A small house + seemed to rise out of the ground before him. He stumbled into the porch + and struck at the door with his fist. There was not a gleam of light. + Gaspar Ruiz might have thought that the inhabitants had fled from it, as + from many others in the neighbourhood, had it not been for the shouts of + abuse that answered his thumping. In his feverish and enfeebled state the + angry screaming seemed to him part of a hallucination belonging to the + weird dreamlike feeling of his unexpected condemnation to death, of the + thirst suffered, of the volleys fired at him within fifteen paces, of his + head being cut off at a blow. “Open the door!” he cried. “Open in the name + of God!” + </p> + <p> + An infuriated voice from within jeered at him: “Come in, come in. This + house belongs to you. All this land belongs to you. Come and take it.” + </p> + <p> + “For the love of God,” Gaspar Ruiz murmured. + </p> + <p> + “Does not all the land belong to you patriots?” the voice on the other + side of the door screamed on. “Are you not a patriot?” + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz did not know. “I am a wounded man,” he said apathetically. + </p> + <p> + All became still inside. Gaspar Ruiz lost the hope of being admitted, and + lay down under the porch just outside the door. He was utterly careless of + what was going to happen to him. All his consciousness seemed to be + concentrated in his neck, where he felt a severe pain. His indifference as + to his fate was genuine. + </p> + <p> + The day was breaking when he awoke from a feverish doze; the door at which + he had knocked in the dark stood wide open now, and a girl, steadying + herself with her outspread arms, leaned over the threshold. Lying on his + back, he stared up at her. Her face was pale and her eyes were very dark; + her hair hung down black as ebony against her white cheeks; her lips were + full and red. Beyond her he saw another head with long grey hair, and a + thin old face with a pair of anxiously clasped hands under the chin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI + </h2> + <p> + “I KNEW those people by sight,” General Santierra would tell his guests at + the dining-table. “I mean the people with whom Gaspar Ruiz found shelter. + The father was an old Spaniard, a man of property, ruined by the + revolution. His estates, his house in town, his money, everything he had + in the world had been confiscated by proclamation, for he was a bitter foe + of our independence. From a position of great dignity and influence on the + Viceroy’s Council he became of less importance than his own negro slaves + made free by our glorious revolution. He had not even the means to flee + the country, as other Spaniards had managed to do. It may be that, + wandering ruined and houseless, and burdened with nothing but his life, + which was left to him by the clemency of the Provisional Government, he + had simply walked under that broken roof of old tiles. It was a lonely + spot. There did not seem to be even a dog belonging to the place. But + though the roof had holes, as if a cannonball or two had dropped through + it, the wooden shutters were thick and tight-closed all the time. + </p> + <p> + “My way took me frequently along the path in front of that miserable + rancho. I rode from the fort to the town almost every evening, to sigh at + the window of a lady I was in love with, then. When one is young, you + understand.... She was a good patriot, you may be sure. Caballeros, credit + me or not, political feeling ran so high in those days that I do not + believe I could have been fascinated by the charms of a woman of Royalist + opinions....” + </p> + <p> + Murmurs of amused incredulity all round the table interrupted the General; + and while they lasted he stroked his white beard gravely. + </p> + <p> + “Senores,” he protested, “a Royalist was a monster to our overwrought + feelings. I am telling you this in order not to be suspected of the + slightest tenderness towards that old Royalist’s daughter. Moreover, as + you know, my affections were engaged elsewhere. But I could not help + noticing her on rare occasions when with the front door open she stood in + the porch. + </p> + <p> + “You must know that this old Royalist was as crazy as a man can be. His + political misfortunes, his total downfall and ruin, had disordered his + mind. To show his contempt for what we patriots could do, he affected to + laugh at his imprisonment, at the confiscation of his lands, the burning + of his houses, and the misery to which he and his womenfolk were reduced. + This habit of laughing had grown upon him, so that he would begin to laugh + and shout directly he caught sight of any stranger. That was the form of + his madness. + </p> + <p> + “I, of course, disregarded the noise of that madman with that feeling of + superiority the success of our cause inspired in us Americans. I suppose I + really despised him because he was an old Castilian, a Spaniard born, and + a Royalist. Those were certainly no reasons to scorn a man; but for + centuries Spaniards born had shown their contempt of us Americans, men as + well descended as themselves, simply because we were what they called + colonists. We had been kept in abasement and made to feel our inferiority + in social intercourse. And now it was our turn. It was sale for us + patriots to display the same sentiments; and I being a young patriot, son + of a patriot, despised that old Spaniard, and despising him I naturally + disregarded his abuse, though it was annoying to my feelings. Others + perhaps would not have been so forbearing. + </p> + <p> + “He would begin with a great yell—‘I see a patriot. Another of + them!’ long before I came abreast of the house. The tone of his senseless + revilings, mingled with bursts of laughter, was sometimes piercingly + shrill and sometimes grave. It was all very mad; but I felt it incumbent + upon my dignity to check my horse to a walk without even glancing towards + the house, as if that man’s abusive clamour in the porch were less than + the barking of a cur. I rode by, preserving an expression of haughty + indifference on my face. + </p> + <p> + “It was no doubt very dignified; but I should have done better if I had + kept my eyes open. A military man in war time should never consider + himself off duty; and especially so if the war is a revolutionary war, + when the enemy is not at the door, but within your very house. At such + times the heat of passionate convictions, passing into hatred, removes the + restraints of honour and humanity from many men and of delicacy and fear + from some women. These last, when once they throw off the timidity and + reserve of their sex, become by the vivacity of their intelligence and the + violence of their merciless resentment more dangerous than so many armed + giants.” + </p> + <p> + The General’s voice rose, but his big hand stroked his white beard twice + with an effect of venerable calmness. “Si, senores! Women are ready to + rise to the heights of devotion unattainable by us men, or to sink into + the depths of abasement which amazes our masculine prejudices. I am + speaking now of exceptional women, you understand...” + </p> + <p> + Here one of the guests observed that he had never met a woman yet who was + not capable of turning out quite exceptional under circumstances that + would engage her feelings strongly. “That sort of superiority in + recklessness they have over us,” he concluded, “makes of them the more + interesting half of mankind.” + </p> + <p> + The General, who bore the interruption with gravity, nodded courteous + assent. “Si. Si. Under circumstances.... Precisely. They can do an + infinite deal of mischief sometimes in quite unexpected ways. For who + could have imagined that a young girl, daughter of a ruined Royalist whose + life itself was held only by the contempt of his enemies, would have had + the power to bring death and devastation upon two flourishing provinces + and cause serious anxiety to the leaders of the revolution in the very + hour of its success!” He paused to let the wonder of it penetrate our + minds. + </p> + <p> + “Death and devastation,” somebody murmured in surprise: “how shocking!” + </p> + <p> + The old General gave a glance in the direction of the murmur and went on. + “Yes. That is, war—calamity. But the means by which she obtained the + power to work this havoc on our southern frontier seem to me, who have + seen her and spoken to her, still more shocking. That particular thing + left on my mind a dreadful amazement which the further experience of life, + of more than fifty years, has done nothing to diminish.” He looked round + as if to make sure of our attention, and, in a changed voice: “I am, as + you know, a republican, son of a Liberator,” he declared. “My incomparable + mother, God rest her soul, was a Frenchwoman, the daughter of an ardent + republican. As a boy I fought for liberty; I’ve always believed in the + equality of men; and as to their brotherhood, that, to my mind, is even + more certain. Look at the fierce animosity they display in their + differences. And what in the world do you know that is more bitterly + fierce than brothers’ quarrels?” + </p> + <p> + All absence of cynicism checked an inclination to smile at this view of + human brotherhood. On the contrary, there was in the tone the melancholy + natural to a man profoundly humane at heart who from duty, from conviction + and from necessity, had played his part in scenes of ruthless violence. + </p> + <p> + The General had seen much of fratricidal strife. “Certainly. There is no + doubt of their brotherhood,” he insisted. “All men are brothers, and as + such know almost too much of each other. But “—and here in the old + patriarchal head, white as silver, the black eyes humorously twinkled—“if + we are all brothers, all the women are not our sisters.” + </p> + <p> + One of the younger guests was heard murmuring his satisfaction at the + fact. But the General continued, with deliberate earnestness: “They are so + different! The tale of a king who took a beggar-maid for a partner of his + throne may be pretty enough as we men look upon ourselves and upon love. + But that a young girl, famous for her haughty beauty and, only a short + time before, the admired of all at the balls in the Viceroy’s palace, + should take by the hand a guasso, a common peasant, is intolerable to our + sentiment of women and their love. It is madness. Nevertheless it + happened. But it must be said that in her case it was the madness of hate—not + of love.” + </p> + <p> + After presenting this excuse in a spirit of chivalrous justice, the + General remained silent for a time. “I rode past the house every day + almost,” he began again, “and this was what was going on within. But how + it was going on no mind of man can conceive. Her desperation must have + been extreme, and Gaspar Ruiz was a docile fellow. He had been an obedient + soldier. His strength was like an enormous stone lying on the ground, + ready to be hurled this way that by the hand that picks it up. + </p> + <p> + “It is clear that he would tell his story to the people who gave him the + shelter he needed. And he needed assistance badly. His wound was not + dangerous, but his life was forfeited. The old Royalist being wrapped up + in his laughing madness, the two women arranged a hiding-place for the + wounded man in one of the huts amongst the fruit trees at the back of the + house. That hovel, an abundance of clear water while the fever was on him, + and some words of pity were all they could give. I suppose he had a share + of what food there was. And it would be but little; a handful of roasted + corn, perhaps a dish of beans, or a piece of bread with a few figs. To + such misery were those proud and once wealthy people reduced.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII + </h2> + <p> + GENERAL SANTIERRA was right in his surmise. Such was the exact nature of + the assistance which Gaspar Ruiz, peasant son of peasants, received from + the Royalist family whose daughter had opened the door—of their + miserable refuge to his extreme distress. Her sombre resolution ruled the + madness of her father and the trembling bewilderment of her mother. + </p> + <p> + She had asked the strange man on the door-step, “Who wounded you?” + </p> + <p> + “The soldiers, senora,” Gaspar Ruiz had answered, in a faint voice. + </p> + <p> + “Patriots?” + </p> + <p> + “Si.” + </p> + <p> + “What for?” + </p> + <p> + “Deserter,” he gasped, leaning against the wall under the scrutiny of her + black eyes. “I was left for dead over there.” + </p> + <p> + She led him through the house out to a small hut of clay and reeds, lost + in the long grass of the overgrown orchard. He sank on a heap of maize + straw in a corner, and sighed profoundly. + </p> + <p> + “No one will look for you here,” she said, looking down at him. “Nobody + comes near us. We too have been left for dead—here.” + </p> + <p> + He stirred uneasily on his heap of dirty straw, and the pain in his neck + made him groan deliriously. + </p> + <p> + “I shall show Estaban some day that I am alive yet,” he mumbled. + </p> + <p> + He accepted her assistance in silence, and the many days of pain went by. + Her appearances in the hut brought him relief and became connected with + the feverish dreams of angels which visited his couch; for Gaspar Ruiz was + instructed in the mysteries of his religion, and had even been taught to + read and write a little by the priest of his village. He waited for her + with impatience, and saw her pass out of the dark hut and disappear in the + brilliant sunshine with poignant regret. He discovered that, while he lay + there feeling so very weak, he could, by closing his eyes, evoke her face + with considerable distinctness. And this discovered faculty charmed the + long solitary hours of his convalescence. Later, when he began to regain + his strength, he would creep at dusk from his hut to the house and sit on + the step of the garden door. + </p> + <p> + In one of the rooms the mad father paced to and fro, muttering to himself + with short abrupt laughs. In the passage, sitting on a stool, the mother + sighed and moaned. The daughter, in rough threadbare clothing, and her + white haggard face half hidden by a coarse manta, stood leaning against + the lintel of the door. Gaspar Ruiz, with his elbows propped on his knees + and his head resting in his hands, talked to the two women in an + undertone. + </p> + <p> + The common misery of destitution would have made a bitter mockery of a + marked insistence on social differences. Gaspar Ruiz understood this in + his simplicity. From his captivity amongst the Royalists he could give + them news of people they knew. He described their appearance; and when he + related the story of the battle in which he was recaptured the two women + lamented the blow to their cause and the ruin of their secret hopes. + </p> + <p> + He had no feeling either way. But he felt a great devotion for that young + girl. In his desire to appear worthy of her condescension, he boasted a + little of his bodily strength. He had nothing else to boast of. Because of + that quality his comrades treated him with as great a deference, he + explained, as though he had been a sergeant, both in camp and in battle. + </p> + <p> + “I could always get as many as I wanted to follow me anywhere, senorita. I + ought to have been made an officer, because I can read and write.” + </p> + <p> + Behind him the silent old lady fetched a moaning sigh from time to time; + the distracted father muttered to himself, pacing the sala; and Gaspar + Ruiz would raise his eyes now and then to look at the daughter of these + people. + </p> + <p> + He would look at her with curiosity because she was alive, and also with + that feeling of familiarity and awe with which he had contemplated in + churches the inanimate and powerful statues of the saints, whose + protection is invoked in dangers and difficulties. His difficulty was very + great. + </p> + <p> + He could not remain hiding in an orchard for ever and ever. He knew also + very well that before he had gone half a day’s journey in any direction, + he would be picked up by one of the cavalry patrols scouring the country, + and brought into one or another of the camps where the patriot army + destined for the liberation of Peru was collected. There he would in the + end be recognised as Gaspar Ruiz—the deserter to the Royalists—and + no doubt shot very effectually this time. There did not seem any place in + the world for the innocent Gaspar Ruiz anywhere. And at this thought his + simple soul surrendered itself to gloom and resentment as black as night. + </p> + <p> + They had made him a soldier forcibly. He did not mind being a soldier. And + he had been a good soldier as he had been a good son, because of his + docility and his strength. But now there was no use for either. They had + taken him from his parents, and he could no longer be a soldier—not + a good soldier at any rate. Nobody would listen to his explanations. What + injustice it was! What injustice! + </p> + <p> + And in a mournful murmur he would go over the story of his capture and + recapture for the twentieth time. Then, raising his eyes to the silent + girl in the doorway, “Si, senorita,” he would say with a deep sigh, + “injustice has made this poor breath in my body quite worthless to me and + to anybody else. And I do not care who robs me of it.” + </p> + <p> + One evening, as he exhaled thus the plaint of his wounded soul, she + condescended to say that, if she were a man, she would consider no life + worthless which held the possibility of revenge. + </p> + <p> + She seemed to be speaking to herself. Her voice was low. He drank in the + gentle, as if dreamy sound, with a consciousness of peculiar delight, of + something warming his breast like a draught of generous wine. + </p> + <p> + “True, senorita,” he said, raising his face up to hers slowly: “there is + Estaban, who must be shown that I am not dead after all.” + </p> + <p> + The mutterings of the mad father had ceased long before; the sighing + mother had withdrawn somewhere into one of the empty rooms. All was still + within as well as without, in the moonlight bright as day on the wild + orchard full of inky shadows. Gaspar Ruiz saw the dark eyes of Doña + Erminia look down at him. + </p> + <p> + “Ala! The sergeant,” she muttered disdainfully. + </p> + <p> + “Why! He has wounded me with his sword,” he protested, bewildered by the + contempt that seemed to shine livid on her pale face. + </p> + <p> + She crushed him with her glance. The power of her will to be understood + was so strong that it kindled in him the intelligence of unexpressed + things. + </p> + <p> + “What else did you expect me to do?” he cried, as if suddenly driven to + despair. “Have I the power to do more? Am I a general with an army at my + back?—miserable sinner that I am to be despised by you at last.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII + </h2> + <p> + “SENORES,” related the General to his guests, “though my thoughts were of + love then, and therefore enchanting, the sight of that house always + affected me disagreeably, especially in the moonlight, when its close + shutters and its air of lonely neglect appeared sinister. Still I went on + using the bridle-path by the ravine, because it was a short cut. The mad + Royalist howled and laughed at me every evening to his complete + satisfaction; but after a time, as if wearied with my indifference, he + ceased to appear in the porch. How they persuaded him to leave off I do + not know. However, with Gaspar Ruiz in the house there would have been no + difficulty in restraining him by force. It was part of their policy in + there to avoid anything which could provoke me. At least, so I suppose. + </p> + <p> + “Notwithstanding my infatuation with the brightest pair of eyes in Chile, + I noticed the absence of the old man after a week or so. A few more days + passed. I began to think that perhaps these Royalists had gone away + somewhere else. But one evening, as I was hastening towards the city, I + saw again somebody in the porch. It was not the madman; it was the girl. + She stood holding on to one of the wooden columns, tall and white-faced, + her big eyes sunk deep with privation and sorrow. I looked hard at her, + and she met my stare with a strange, inquisitive look. Then, as I turned + my head after riding past, she seemed to gather courage for the act, and + absolutely beckoned me back. + </p> + <p> + “I obeyed, senores, almost without thinking, so great was my astonishment. + It was greater still when I heard what she had to say. She began by + thanking me for my forbearance of her father’s infirmity, so that I felt + ashamed of myself. I had meant to show disdain, not forbearance! Every + word must have burnt her lips, but she never departed from a gentle and + melancholy dignity which filled me with respect against my will. Senores, + we are no match for women. But I could hardly believe my ears when she + began her tale. Providence, she concluded, seemed to have preserved the + life of that wronged soldier, who now trusted to my honour as a caballero + and to my compassion for his sufferings. + </p> + <p> + “‘Wronged man,’ I observed coldly. ‘Well, I think so too: and you have + been harbouring an enemy of your cause.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘He was a poor Christian crying for help at our door in the name of God, + senor,’ she answered simply. + </p> + <p> + “I began to admire her. ‘Where is he now?’ I asked stiffly. + </p> + <p> + “But she would not answer that question. With extreme cunning, and an + almost fiendish delicacy, she managed to remind me of my failure in saving + the lives of the prisoners in the guard-room, without wounding my pride. + She knew, of course, the whole story. Gaspar Ruiz, she said, entreated me + to procure for him a safe-conduce from General San Martin himself. He had + an important communication to make to the Commander-in-Chief. + </p> + <p> + “Por Dios, senores, she made me swallow all that, pretending to be only + the mouthpiece of that poor man. Overcome by injustice, he expected to + find, she said, as much generosity in me as had been shown to him by the + Royalist family which had given him a refuge. + </p> + <p> + “Hal It was well and nobly said to a youngster like me. I thought her + great. Alas! she was only implacable. + </p> + <p> + “In the end I rode away very enthusiastic about the business, without + demanding even to see Gaspar Ruiz, who I was confident was in the house. + </p> + <p> + “But on calm reflection I began to see some difficulties which I had not + confidence enough in myself to encounter. It was not easy to approach a + commander-in-chief with such a story. I feared failure. At last I thought + it better to lay the matter before my general-of-division, Robles, a + friend of my family, who had appointed me his aide-de-camp lately. + </p> + <p> + “He took it out of my hands at once without any ceremony. + </p> + <p> + “‘In the house! of course he is in the house,’ he said contemptuously. + ‘You ought to have gone sword in hand inside and demanded his surrender, + instead of chatting with a Royalist girl in the porch. Those people should + have been hunted out of that long ago. Who knows how many spies they have + harboured right in the very midst of our camps? A safe-conduct from the + Commander-in-Chief! The audacity of the fellow! Ha! ha! Now we shall catch + him to-night, and then we shall find out, without any safe-conduct, what + he has got to say, that is so very important. Ha! ha! ha!’ + </p> + <p> + “General Robles, peace to his soul, was a short, thick man, with round, + staring eyes, fierce and jovial. Seeing my distress he added: + </p> + <p> + “‘Come, come, chico. I promise you his life if he does not resist. And + that is not likely. We are not going to break up a good soldier if it can + be helped. I tell you what! I am curious to see your strong man. Nothing + but a general will do for the picaro—well, he shall have a general + to talk to. Ha! ha! I shall go myself to the catching, and you are coming + with me, of course.’ + </p> + <p> + “And it was done that same night. Early in the evening the house and the + orchard were surrounded quietly. Later on the general and I left a ball we + were attending in town and rode out at an easy gallop. At some little + distance from the house we pulled up. A mounted orderly held our horses. A + low whistle warned the men watching all along the ravine, and we walked up + to the porch softly. The barricaded house in the moonlight seemed empty. + </p> + <p> + “The general knocked at the door. After a time a woman’s voice within + asked who was there. My chief nudged me hard. I gasped. + </p> + <p> + “’ It is I, Lieutenant Santierra,’ I stammered out, as if choked. ‘Open + the door.’ + </p> + <p> + “It came open slowly. The girl, holding a thin taper in her hand, seeing + another man with me, began to back away before us slowly, shading the + light with her hand. Her impassive white face looked ghostly. I followed + behind General Robles. Her eyes were fixed on mine. I made a gesture of + helplessness behind my chief’s back, trying at the same time to give a + reassuring expression to my face. Neither of us three uttered a sound. + </p> + <p> + “We found ourselves in a room with bare floor and walls. There was a rough + table and a couple of stools in it, nothing else whatever. An old woman + with her grey hair hanging loose wrung her hands when we appeared. A peal + of loud laughter resounded through the empty house, very amazing and + weird. At this the old woman tried to get past us. + </p> + <p> + “‘Nobody to leave the room,’ said General Robles to me. + </p> + <p> + “I swung the door to, heard the latch click, and the laughter became faint + in our ears. + </p> + <p> + “Before another word could be spoken in that room I was amazed by hearing + the sound of distant thunder. + </p> + <p> + “I had carried in with me into the house a vivid impression of a + beautiful, clear, moonlight night, without a speck of cloud in the sky. I + could not believe my ears. Sent early abroad for my education, I was not + familiar with the most dreaded natural phenomenon of my native land. I + saw, with inexpressible astonishment, a look of terror in my chief’s eyes. + Suddenly I felt giddy! The general staggered against me heavily; the girl + seemed to reel in the middle of the room, the taper fell out of her hand + and the light went out; a shrill cry of Misericordia! from the old woman + pierced my ears. In the pitchy darkness I heard the plaster off the walls + falling on The floor. It is a mercy there was no ceiling. Holding on to + the latch of the door, I heard the grinding of the roof-tiles cease above + my head. The shock was over. + </p> + <p> + “‘Out of the house! The door! Fly, Santierra, fly!’ howled the general. + You know, senores, in our country the bravest are not ashamed of the fear + an earthquake strikes into all the senses of man. One never gets used to + it. + </p> + <p> + “Repeated experience only augments the mastery of that nameless terror. + </p> + <p> + “It was my first earthquake, and I was the calmest of them all. I + understood that the crash outside was caused by the porch, with its wooden + pillars and tiled roof projection, falling down. The next shock would + destroy the house, maybe. That rumble as of thunder was approaching again. + The general was rushing round the room, to find the door, perhaps. He made + a noise as though he were trying to climb the walls, and I heard him + distinctly invoke the names of several saints. ‘Out, out, Santierra!’ he + yelled. + </p> + <p> + “The girl’s voice was the only one I did not hear. + </p> + <p> + “‘General,’ I cried, ‘I cannot move the door. We must be locked in.’ + </p> + <p> + “I did not recognise his voice in the shout of malediction and despair he + let out. Senores I know many men in my country, especially in the + provinces most subject to earthquakes, who will neither eat, sleep, pray, + nor even sit down to cards with closed doors. The danger is not in the + loss of time, but in this—that the movement of the walls may prevent + a door being opened at all. This was what had happened to us. We were + trapped, and we had no help to expect from anybody. There is no man in my + country who will go into a house when the earth trembles. There never was—except + one: Gaspar Ruiz. + </p> + <p> + “He had come out of whatever hole he had been hiding in outside, and had + clambered over the timbers of the destroyed porch. Above the awful + subterranean groan of coming destruction I heard a mighty voice shouting + the word ‘Erminia!’ with the lungs of a giant. An earthquake is a great + leveller of distinctions. I collected all my resolution against the terror + of the scene. ‘She is here,’ I shouted back. A roar as of a furious wild + beast answered me—while my head swam, my heart sank, and the sweat + of anguish streamed like rain off my brow. + </p> + <p> + “He had the strength to pick up one of the heavy posts of the porch. + Holding it under his armpit like a lance, but with both hands, he charged + madly the rocking house with the force of a battering-ram, bursting open + the door and rushing in, headlong, over our prostrate bodies. I and the + general, picking ourselves up, bolted out together, without looking round + once till we got across the road. Then, clinging to each other, we beheld + the house change suddenly into a heap of formless rubbish behind the back + of a man, who staggered towards us bearing the form of a woman clasped in + his arms. Her long black hair hung nearly to his feet. He laid her down + reverently on the heaving earth, and the moonlight shone on her closed + eyes. + </p> + <p> + “senores, we mounted with difficulty. Our horses, getting up, plunged + madly, held by the soldiers who had come running from all sides. Nobody + thought of catching Gaspar Ruiz then. The eyes of men and animals shone + with wild fear. My general approached Gaspar Ruiz, who stood motionless as + a statue above the girl. He let himself be shaken by the shoulder without + detaching his eyes from her face. + </p> + <p> + “‘Que guape!’ shouted the general in his ear. ‘You are the bravest man + living. You have saved my life. I am General Robles. Come to my quarters + to-morrow, if God gives us the grace to see another day.’ + </p> + <p> + “He never stirred—as if deaf, without feeling, insensible. + </p> + <p> + “We rode away for the town, full of our relations, of our friends, of + whose fate we hardly dared to think. The soldiers ran by the side of our + horses. Everything was forgotten in the immensity of the catastrophe + overtaking a whole country.” + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz saw the girl open her eyes. The raising of her eyelids seemed + to recall him from a trance. They were alone; the cries of terror and + distress from homeless people filled the plains of the coast, remote and + immense, coming like a whisper into their loneliness. + </p> + <p> + She rose swiftly to her feet, darting fearful glances on all sides. “What + is it?” she cried out low, and peering into his face. “Where am I?” + </p> + <p> + He bowed his head sadly, without a word. + </p> + <p> + “... Who are you?” + </p> + <p> + He knelt down slowly before her, and touched the hem of her coarse black + baize skirt. “Your slave,” he said. + </p> + <p> + She caught sight then of the heap of rubbish that had been the house, all + misty in the cloud of dust. “Ah!” she cried, pressing her hand to her + forehead. + </p> + <p> + “I carried you out from there,” he whispered at her feet. + </p> + <p> + “And they?” she asked in a great sob. + </p> + <p> + He rose, and taking her by the arms, led her gently towards the shapeless + ruin half overwhelmed by a land-slide. “Come and listen,” he said. + </p> + <p> + The serene moon saw them clambering over that heap of stones, joists and + tiles, which was a grave. They pressed their ears to the interstices, + listening for the sound of a groan, for a sigh of pain. + </p> + <p> + At last he said, “They died swiftly. You are alone.” + </p> + <p> + She sat down on a piece of broken timber and put one arm across her face. + He waited—then, approaching his lips to her ear, “Let us go,” he + whispered. + </p> + <p> + “Never—never from here,” she cried out, flinging her arms above her + head. + </p> + <p> + He stooped over her, and her raised arms fell upon his shoulders. He + lifted her up, steadied himself and began to walk, looking straight before + him. + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing?” she asked feebly. + </p> + <p> + “I am escaping from my enemies,” he said, never once glancing at his light + burden. + </p> + <p> + “With me?” she sighed helplessly. + </p> + <p> + “Never without you,” he said. “You are my strength.” + </p> + <p> + He pressed her close to him. His face was grave and his footsteps steady. + The conflagrations bursting out in the ruins of destroyed villages dotted + the plain with red fires; and the sounds of distant lamentations, the + cries of “Misericordia! Misericordia!” made a desolate murmur in his ears. + He walked on, solemn and collected, as if carrying something holy, fragile + and precious. + </p> + <p> + The earth rocked at times under his feet. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX + </h2> + <p> + WITH movements of mechanical care and an air of abstraction old General + Santierra lighted a long and thick cigar. + </p> + <p> + “It was a good many hours before we could send a party back to the + ravine,” he said to his guests. “We had found one-third of the town laid + low, the rest shaken up; and the inhabitants, rich and poor, reduced to + the same state of distraction by the universal disaster. The affected + cheerfulness of some contrasted with the despair of others. In the general + confusion a number of reckless thieves, without fear of God or man, became + a danger to those who from the downfall of their homes had managed to save + some valuables. Crying ‘Misericordia’ louder than any at every tremor, and + beating their breasts with one hand, these scoundrels robbed the poor + victims with the other, not even stopping short of murder. + </p> + <p> + “General Robles’ division was occupied entirely in guarding the destroyed + quarters of the town from the depredations of these inhuman monsters. + Taken up with my duties of orderly officer, it was only in the morning + that I could assure myself of the safety of my own family. + </p> + <p> + “My mother and my sisters had escaped with their lives from that + ball-room, where I had left them early in the evening. I remember those + two beautiful young women—God rest their souls—as if I saw + them this moment, in the garden of our destroyed house, pale but active, + assisting some of our poor neighbours, in their soiled ball-dresses and + with the dust of fallen walls on their hair. As to my mother, she had a + stoical soul in her frail body. Half-covered by a costly shawl, she was + lying on a rustic seat by the side of an ornamental basin whose fountain + had ceased to play for ever on that night. + </p> + <p> + “I had hardly had time to embrace them all with transports of joy, when my + chief, coming along, dispatched me to the ravine with a few soldiers, to + bring in my strong man, as he called him, and that pale girl. + </p> + <p> + “But there was no one for us to bring in. A land-slide had covered the + ruins of the house; and it was like a large mound of earth with only the + ends of some timbers visible here and there—nothing more. + </p> + <p> + “Thus were the tribulations of the old Royalist couple ended. An enormous + and unconsecrated grave had swallowed them up alive, in their unhappy + obstinacy against the will of a people to be free. And their daughter was + gone. + </p> + <p> + “That Gaspar Ruiz had carried her off I understood very well. But as the + case was not foreseen, I had no instructions to pursue them. And certainly + I had no desire to do so. I had grown mistrustful of my interference. It + had never been successful, and had not even appeared creditable. He was + gone. Well, let him go. And he had carried off the Royalist girl! Nothing + better. Vaya con Dios. This was not the time to bother about a deserter + who, justly or unjustly, ought to have been dead, and a girl for whom it + would have been better to have never been born. + </p> + <p> + “So I marched my men back to the town. + </p> + <p> + “After a few days, order having been re-established, all the principal + families, including my own, left for Santiago. We had a fine house there. + At the same time the division of Robles was moved to new cantonments near + the capital. This change suited very well the state of my domestic and + amorous feelings. + </p> + <p> + “One night, rather late, I was called to my chief. I found General Robles + in his quarters, at ease, with his uniform off, drinking neat brandy out + of a tumbler—as a precaution, he used to say, against the + sleeplessness induced by the bites of mosquitoes. He was a good soldier, + and he taught me the art and practice of war. + </p> + <p> + “No doubt God has been merciful to his soul; for his motives were never + other than patriotic, if his character was irascible. As to the use of + mosquito nets, he considered it effeminate, shameful—unworthy of a + soldier. + </p> + <p> + “I noticed at the first glance that his face, already very red, wore an + expression of high good-humour. + </p> + <p> + “‘Aha! senor teniente,’ he cried loudly, as I saluted at the door. + ‘Behold! Your strong man has turned up again.’ + </p> + <p> + “He extended to me a folded letter, which I saw was superscribed ‘To the + Commander-in-Chief of the Republican Armies.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘This,’ General Robles went on in his loud voice, ‘was thrust by a boy + into the hand of a sentry at the Quartel General, while the fellow stood + there thinking of his girl, no doubt—for before he could gather his + wits together, the boy had disappeared amongst the market people, and he + protests he could not recognise him to save his life.’ + </p> + <p> + “My chief told me further that the soldier had given the letter to the + sergeant of the guard, and that ultimately it had reached the hands of our + generalissimo. His Excellency had deigned to take cognisance of it with + his own eyes. After that he had referred the matter in confidence to + General Robles. + </p> + <p> + “The letter, senores, I cannot now recollect textually. I saw the + signature of Gaspar Ruiz. He was an audacious fellow. He had snatched a + soul for himself out of a cataclysm, remember. And now it was that soul + which had dictated the terms of his letter. Its tone was very independent. + I remember it struck me at the time as noble—dignified. It was, no + doubt, her letter. Now I shudder at the depth of its duplicity. Gaspar + Ruiz was made to complain of the injustice of which he had been a victim. + He invoked his previous record of fidelity and courage. Having been saved + from death by the miraculous interposition of Providence, he could think + of nothing but of retrieving his character. This, he wrote, he could not + hope to do in the ranks as a discredited soldier still under suspicion. He + had the means to give a striking proof of his fidelity. And he ended by + proposing to the General-in-Chief a meeting at midnight in the middle of + the Plaza before the Moneta. The signal would be to strike fire with flint + and steel three times, which was not too conspicuous and yet distinctive + enough for recognition. + </p> + <p> + “San Martin, the great Liberator, loved men of audacity and courage. + Besides, he was just and compassionate. I told him as much of the man’s + story as I knew, and was ordered to accompany him on the appointed night. + The signals were duly exchanged. It was midnight, and the whole town was + dark and silent. Their two cloaked figures came together in the centre of + the vast Plaza, and, keeping discreetly at a distance, I listened for an + hour or more to the murmur of their voices. Then the general motioned me + to approach; and as I did so I heard San Martin, who was courteous to + gentle and simple alike, offer Gaspar Ruiz the hospitality of the + headquarters for the night. But the soldier refused, saying that he would + not be worthy of that honour till he had done something. + </p> + <p> + “‘You cannot have a common deserter for your guest, Excellency,’ he + protested with a low laugh, and stepping backwards, merged slowly into the + night. + </p> + <p> + “The Commander-in-Chief observed to me, as we turned away: ‘He had + somebody with him, our friend Ruiz. I saw two figures for a moment. It was + an unobtrusive companion.’ + </p> + <p> + “I too had observed another figure join the vanishing form of Gaspar Ruiz. + It had the appearance of a short fellow in a poncho and a big hat. And I + wondered stupidly who it could be he had dared take into his confidence. I + might have guessed it could be no one but that fatal girl—alas! + </p> + <p> + “Where he kept her concealed I do not know. He had—it was known + afterwards—an uncle, his mother’s brother, a small shopkeeper in + Santiago. Perhaps it was there that she found a roof and food. Whatever + she found, it was poor enough to exasperate her pride and keep up her + anger and hate. It is certain she did not accompany him on the feat he + undertook to accomplish first of all. It was nothing less than the + destruction of a store of war material collected secretly by the Spanish + authorities in the south, in a town called Linares. Gaspar Ruiz was + entrusted with a small party only, but they proved themselves worthy of + San Martin’s confidence. The season was not propitious. They had to swim + swollen rivers. They seemed, however, to have galloped night and day, + outriding the news of their foray, and holding straight for the town, a + hundred miles into the enemy’s country, till at break of day they rode + into it sword in hand, surprising the little garrison. It fled without + making a stand, leaving most of its officers in Gaspar Ruiz’ hands. + </p> + <p> + “A great explosion of gunpowder ended the conflagration of the magazines + the raiders had set on fire without loss of time. In less than six hours + they were riding away at the same mad speed, without the loss of a single + man. Good as they were, such an exploit is not performed without a still + better leadership. + </p> + <p> + “I was dining at the headquarters when Gas-par Ruiz himself brought the + news of his success. And it was a great blow to the Royalist troops. For a + proof he displayed to us the garrison’s flag. He took it from under his + poncho and flung it on the table. The man was transfigured; there was + something exulting and menacing in the expression of his face. He stood + behind General San Martin’s chair and looked proudly at us all. He had a + round blue cap edged with silver braid on his head, and we all could see a + large white scar on the nape of his sunburnt neck. + </p> + <p> + “Somebody asked him what he had done with the captured Spanish officers. + </p> + <p> + “He shrugged his shoulders scornfully. ‘What a question to ask! In a + partisan war you do not burden yourself with prisoners. I let them go—and + here are their sword-knots.’ + </p> + <p> + “He flung a bunch of them on the table upon the flag. Then General Robles, + whom I was attending there, spoke up in his loud, thick voice: ‘You did! + Then, my brave friend, you do not know yet how a war like ours ought to be + conducted. You should have done—this.’ And he passed the edge of his + hand across his own throat. + </p> + <p> + “Alas, senores! It was only too true that on both sides this contest, in + its nature so heroic, was stained by ferocity. The murmurs that arose at + General Robles’ words were by no means unanimous in tone. But the generous + and brave San Martin praised the humane action, and pointed out to Ruiz a + place on his right hand. Then rising with a full glass he proposed a + toast: ‘Caballeros and comrades-in-arms, let us drink the health of + Captain Gaspar Ruiz.’ And when we had emptied our glasses: ‘I intend,’ the + Commander-in-Chief continued, ‘to entrust him with the guardianship of our + southern frontier, while we go afar to liberate our brethren in Peru. He + whom the enemy could not stop from striking a blow at his very heart will + know how to protect the peaceful populations we leave behind us to pursue + our sacred task.’ And he embraced the silent Gaspar Ruiz by his side. + </p> + <p> + “Later on, when we all rose from table, I approached the latest officer of + the army with my congratulations. ‘And, Captain Ruiz,’ I added, ‘perhaps + you do not mind telling a man who has always believed in the uprightness + of your character, what became of Doña Erminia on that night?’ + </p> + <p> + “At this friendly question his aspect changed. He looked at me from under + his eyebrows with the heavy, dull glance of a guasso—of a peasant. + </p> + <p> + “Senor teniente,’ he said thickly, and as if very much cast down, ‘do not + ask me about the senorita, for I prefer not to think about her at all when + I am amongst you.’ + </p> + <p> + “He looked, with a frown, all about the room, full of smoking and talking + officers. Of course I did not insist. + </p> + <p> + “These, senores, were the last words I was to hear him utter for a long, + long time. The very next day we embarked for our arduous expedition to + Peru, and we only heard of Gaspar Ruiz’ doings in the midst of battles of + our own. He had been appointed military guardian of our southern province. + He raised a partida. But his leniency to the conquered foe displeased the + Civil Governor, who was a formal, uneasy man, full of suspicions. He + forwarded reports against Gaspar Ruiz to the Supreme Government; one of + them being that he had married publicly, with great pomp, a woman of + Royalist tendencies. Quarrels were sure to arise between these two men of + very different character. At last the Civil Governor began to complain of + his inactivity, and to hint at treachery, which, he wrote, would be not + surprising in a man of such antecedents. Gaspar Ruiz heard of it. His rage + flamed up, and the woman ever by his side knew how to feed it with + perfidious words. I do not know whether really the Supreme Government ever + did—as he complained afterwards—send orders for his arrest. It + seems certain that the Civil Governor began to tamper with his officers, + and that Gaspar Ruiz discovered the fact. + </p> + <p> + “One evening, when the Governor was giving a tertullia Gaspar Ruiz, + followed by six men he could trust, appeared riding through the town to + the door of the Government House, and entered the sala armed, his hat on + his head. As the Governor, displeased, advanced to meet him, he seized the + wretched man round the body, carried him off from the midst of the + appalled guests, as though he were a child, and flung him down the outer + steps into the street. An angry hug from Gaspar Ruiz was enough to crush + the life out of a giant; but in addition Gaspar Ruiz’ horsemen fired their + pistols at the body of the Governor as it lay motionless at the bottom of + the stairs.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X + </h2> + <p> + “AFTER this—as he called it—act of justice, Ruiz crossed the + Rio Blanco, followed by the greater part of his band, and entrenched + himself upon a hill A company of regular troops sent out foolishly against + him was surrounded, and destroyed almost to a man. Other expeditions, + though better organised, were equally unsuccessful. + </p> + <p> + “It was during these sanguinary skirmishes that his wife first began to + appear on horseback at his right hand. Rendered proud and self-confident + by his successes, Ruiz no longer charged at the head of his partida, but + presumptuously, like a general directing the movements of an army, he + remained in the rear, well mounted and motionless on an eminence, sending + out his orders. She was seen repeatedly at his side, and for a long time + was mistaken for a man. There was much talk then of a mysterious + white-faced chief, to whom the defeats of our troops were ascribed. She + rode like an Indian woman, astride, wearing a broad-rimmed man’s hat and a + dark poncho. Afterwards, in the day of their greatest prosperity, this + poncho was embroidered in gold, and she wore then, also, the sword of poor + Don Antonio de Leyva. This veteran Chilean officer, having the misfortune + to be surrounded with his small force, and running short of ammunition, + found his death at the hands of the Arauco Indians, the allies and + auxiliaries of Gaspar Ruiz. This was the fatal affair long remembered + afterwards as the ‘Massacre of the Island.’ The sword of the unhappy + officer was presented to her by Peneleo, the Araucanian chief; for these + Indians, struck by her aspect, the deathly pallor of her face, which no + exposure to the weather seemed to affect, and her calm indifference under + fire, looked upon her as a supernatural being, or at least as a witch. By + this superstition the prestige and authority of Gaspar Ruiz amongst these + ignorant people were greatly augmented. She must have savoured her + vengeance to the full on that day when she buckled on the sword of Don + Antonio de Leyva. It never left her side, unless she put on her woman’s + clothes—not that she would or could ever use it, but she loved to + feel it beating upon her thigh as a perpetual reminder and symbol of the + dishonour to the arms of the Republic. She was insatiable. Moreover, on + the path she had led Gaspar Ruiz upon, there is no stopping. Escaped + prisoners—and they were not many—used to relate how with a few + whispered words she could change the expression of his face and revive his + flagging animosity. They told how after every skirmish, after every raid, + after every successful action, he would ride up to her and look into her + face. Its haughty-calm was never relaxed. Her embrace, senores, must have + been as cold as the embrace of a statue. He tried to melt her icy heart in + a stream of warm blood. Some English naval officers who visited him at + that time noticed the strange character of his infatuation.” + </p> + <p> + At the movement of surprise and curiosity in his audience General + Santierra paused for a moment. + </p> + <p> + “Yes—English naval officers,” he repeated. “Ruiz had consented to + receive them to arrange for the liberation of some prisoners of your + nationality. In the territory upon which he ranged, from sea coast to the + Cordillera, there was a bay where the ships of that time, after rounding + Gape Horn, used to resort for wood and water. There, decoying the crew on + shore, he captured first the whaling brig Hersalia, and afterwards made + himself master by surprise of two more ships, one English and one + American. + </p> + <p> + “It was rumoured at the time that he dreamed of setting up a navy of his + own. But that, of course, was impossible. Still, manning the brig with + part of her own crew, and putting an officer and a good many men of his + own on board, he sent her off to the Spanish Governor of the island of + Chiloe with a report of his exploits, and a demand for assistance in the + war against the rebels. The Governor could not do much for him; but he + sent in return two light field-pieces, a letter of compliments, with a + colonel’s commission in the royal forces, and a great Spanish flag. This + standard with much ceremony was hoisted over his house in the heart of the + Arauco country. Surely on that day she may have smiled on her guasso + husband with a less haughty reserve. + </p> + <p> + “The senior officer of the English squadron on our coast made + representations to our Government as to these captures. But Gaspar Ruiz + refused to treat with us. Then an English frigate proceeded to the bay, + and her captain, doctor, and two lieutenants travelled inland under a safe + conduct. They were well received, and spent three days as guests of the + partisan chief. A sort of military, barbaric state was kept up at the + residence. It was furnished with the loot of frontier towns. When first + admitted to the principal sala, they saw his wife lying down (she was not + in good health then), with Gaspar Ruiz sitting at the foot of the couch. + His-hat was lying on the floor, and his hands reposed on the hilt of his + sword. + </p> + <p> + “During that first conversation he never removed his big hands from the + sword-hilt, except once, to arrange the coverings about her, with gentle, + careful touches. They noticed that when ever she spoke he would fix his + eyes upon her in a kind of expectant, breathless attention, and seemingly + forget the existence of the world and his own existence too. In the course + of the farewell banquet, at which she was present reclining on her couch, + he burst forth into complaints of the treatment he had received. After + General San Martin’s departure he had been beset by spies, slandered by + civil officials, his services ignored, his liberty and even his life + threatened by the Chilian Government. He got up from the table, thundered + execrations pacing the room wildly, then sat down on the couch at his + wife’s feet, his breast heaving, his eyes fixed on the floor. She reclined + on her back, her head on the cushions, her eyes nearly closed. + </p> + <p> + “‘And now I am an honoured Spanish officer,’ he added in a calm voice. + </p> + <p> + “The captain of the English frigate then took the opportunity to inform + him gently that Lima had fallen, and that by the terms of a convention the + Spaniards were withdrawing from the whole continent. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz raised his head, and without hesitation, speaking with + suppressed vehemence, declared, that if not a single Spanish soldier were + left in the whole of South America he would persist in carrying on the + contest against Chile to the last drop of blood. When he finished that mad + tirade his wife’s long white hand was raised, and she just caressed his + knee with the tips of her fingers for a fraction of a second. + </p> + <p> + “For the rest of the officers’ stay, which did not extend for more than + half an hour after the banquet, that ferocious chieftain of a desperate + partida overflowed with amiability and kindness. He had been hospitable + before, but now it seemed as though he could not do enough for the comfort + and safety of his visitors’ journey back to their ship. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, I have been told, could have presented a greater contrast to his + late violence or the habitual taciturn reserve of his manner. Like a man + elated beyond measure by an unexpected happiness, he overflowed with + good-will, amiability, and attentions. He embraced the officers like + brothers, almost with tears in his eyes. The released prisoners were + presented each with a piece of gold. At the last moment, suddenly, he + declared he could do no less than restore to the masters of the merchant + vessels all their private property. This unexpected generosity caused some + delay in the departure of the party, and their first march was very short. + </p> + <p> + “Late in the evening Gaspar Ruiz rode up with an escort, to their camp + fires, bringing along with him a mule loaded with cases of wine. He had + come, he said, to drink a stirrup cup with his English friends, whom he + would never see again. He was mellow and joyous in his temper. He told + stories of his own exploits, laughed like a boy, borrowed a guitar from + the Englishmen’s chief muleteer, and sitting cross-legged on his superfine + poncho spread before the glow of the embers, sang a guasso love-song in a + tender voice. Then his head dropped on his breast, his hands fell to the + ground; the guitar rolled off his knees—and a great hush fell over + the camp after the love-song of the implacable partisan who had made so + many of our people weep for destroyed homes and for loves cut short. + </p> + <p> + “Before anybody could make a sound he sprang up from the ground and called + for his horse. ‘Adios, my friends!’ he cried, ‘Go with God. I love you. + And tell them well in Santiago that between Gaspar Ruiz, colonel of the + King of Spain, and the republican carrion-crows of Chile there is war to + the last breath—war! war! war!’ + </p> + <p> + “With a great yell of ‘War! war! war!’ which his escort took up, they rode + away, and the sound of hoofs and of voices died out in the distance + between the slopes of the hills. + </p> + <p> + “The two young English officers were convinced that Ruiz was mad. How do + you say that?—tile loose—eh? But the doctor, an observant + Scotsman with much shrewdness and philosophy in his character, told me + that it was a very curious case of possession. I met him many years + afterwards, but he remembered the experience very well. He told me too + that in his opinion that woman did not lead Gaspar Ruiz into the practice + of sanguinary treachery by direct persuasion, but by the subtle way of + awakening and keeping alive in his simple mind a burning sense of an + irreparable wrong. Maybe, maybe. But I would say that she poured half of + her vengeful soul into the strong clay of that man, as you may pour + intoxication, madness, poison into an empty cup. + </p> + <p> + “If he wanted war he got it in earnest when our victorious army began to + return from Peru. Systematic operations were planned against this blot on + the honour and prosperity of our hardly-won independence. General Robles + commanded, with his well-known ruthless severity. Savage reprisals were + exercised on both sides, and no quarter was given in the field. Having won + my promotion in the Peru campaign, I was a captain on the staff. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz found himself hard pressed; at the same time we heard by + means of a fugitive priest who had been carried off from his village + presbytery, and galloped eighty miles into the hills to perform the + christening ceremony, that a daughter was born to them. To celebrate the + event, I suppose, Ruiz executed one or two brilliant forays clear away at + the rear of our forces, and defeated the detachments sent out to cut off + his retreat. General Robles nearly had a stroke of apoplexy from rage. He + found another cause of insomnia than the bites of mosquitoes; but against + this one, senores, tumblers of raw brandy had no more effect than so much + water. He took to railing and storming at me about my strong man. And from + our impatience to end this inglorious campaign, I am afraid that we young + officers became reckless and apt to take undue risks on service. + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless, slowly, inch by inch as it were, our columns were closing + upon Gaspar Ruiz, though he had managed to raise all the Araucanian nation + of wild Indians against us. Then a year or more later our Government + became aware through its agents and spies that he had actually entered + into alliance with Carreras, the so-called dictator of the so-called + republic of Mendoza, on the other side of the mountains. Whether Gaspar + Ruiz had a deep political intention, or whether he wished only to secure a + safe retreat for his wife and child while he pursued remorselessly against + us his war of surprises and massacres, I cannot tell. The alliance, + however, was a fact. Defeated in his attempt to check our advance from the + sea, he retreated with his usual swiftness, and preparing for another hard + and hazardous tussle began by sending his wife with the little girl across + the Pequena range of mountains, on the frontier of Mendoza.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XI + </h2> + <p> + “Now Carreras, under the guise of politics and liberalism, was a scoundrel + of the deepest dye, and the unhappy state of Mendoza was the prey of + thieves, robbers, traitors and murderers, who formed his party. He was + under a noble exterior a man without heart, pity, honour, or conscience. + Tie aspired to nothing but tyranny, and though he would have made use of + Gaspar Ruiz for his nefarious designs, yet he soon became aware that to + propitiate the Chilian Government would answer his purpose better. I blush + to say that he made proposals to our Government to deliver up on certain + conditions the wife and child of the man who had trusted to his honour, + and that this offer was accepted. + </p> + <p> + “While on her way to Mendoza over the Pequena pass she was betrayed by her + escort of Carreras’ men, and given up to the officer in command of a + Chilian fort on the upland at the foot of the main Cordillera range. This + atrocious transaction might have cost me dear, for as a matter of fact I + was a prisoner in Gaspar Ruiz’ camp when he received the news. I had been + captured during a reconnaissance, my escort of a few troopers being + speared by the Indians of his bodyguard. I was saved from the same fate + because he recognised my features just in time. No doubt my friends + thought I was dead, and I would not have given much for my life at any + time. But the strong man treated me very well, because, he said, I had + always believed in his innocence and had tried to serve him when he was a + victim of injustice. + </p> + <p> + “‘And now,’ was his speech to me, ‘you shall see that I always speak the + truth. You are safe.’ + </p> + <p> + “I did not think I was very safe when I was called up to go to him one + night. He paced up and down like a wild beast, exclaiming, ‘Betrayed! + Betrayed!’ + </p> + <p> + “He walked up to me clenching his fists. ‘I could cut your throat.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Will that give your wife back to you?’ I said as quietly as I could. + </p> + <p> + “‘And the child!’ he yelled out, as if mad. He fell into a chair and + laughed in a frightful, boisterous manner. ‘Oh, no, you are safe.’ + </p> + <p> + “I assured him that his wife’s life was safe too; but I did not say what I + was convinced of—that he would never see her again. He wanted war to + the death, and the war could only end with his death. + </p> + <p> + “He gave me a strange, inexplicable look, and sat muttering blankly. ‘In + their hands. In their hands.’ + </p> + <p> + “I kept as still as a mouse before a cat. Suddenly he jumped up. ‘What am + I doing here?’ he cried; and opening the door, he yelled out orders to + saddle and mount. ‘What is it?’ he stammered, coming up to me. ‘The + Pequena fort; a fort of palisades! Nothing. I would get her back if she + were hidden in the very heart of the mountain.’ He amazed me by adding, + with an effort: ‘I carried her off in my two arms while the earth + trembled. And the child at least is mine. She at least is mine!’ + </p> + <p> + “Those were bizarre words; but I had no time for wonder. + </p> + <p> + “‘You shall go with me;’ he said violently. ‘I may want to parley, and any + other messenger from Ruiz, the outlaw, would have his throat cut.’ + </p> + <p> + “This was true enough. Between him and the rest of incensed mankind there + could be no communication, according to the customs of honour-able + warfare. + </p> + <p> + “In less than half an hour we were in the saddle, flying wildly through + the night. He had only an escort of twenty men at his quarters, but would + not wait for more. He sent, however, messengers to Peneleo, the Indian + chief then ranging in the foothills, directing him to bring his warriors + to the uplands and meet him at the lake called the Eye of Water, near + whose shores the frontier fort of Pequena was built. + </p> + <p> + “We crossed the lowlands with that untired rapidity of movement which had + made Gaspar Ruiz’ raids so famous. We followed the lower valleys up to + their precipitous heads. The ride was not without its dangers. A cornice + road on a perpendicular wall of basalt wound itself around a buttressing + rock, and at last we emerged from the gloom of a deep gorge upon the + upland of Peeña. + </p> + <p> + “It was a plain of green wiry grass and thin flowering bushes; but high + above our heads patches of snow hung in the folds and crevices of the + great walls of rock. The little lake was as round as a staring eye. The + garrison of the fort were just driving in their small herd of cattle when + we appeared. Then the great wooden gates swung to, and that four-square + enclosure of broad blackened stakes pointed at the top and barely hiding + the grass roofs of the huts inside, seemed deserted, empty, without a + single soul. + </p> + <p> + “But when summoned to surrender, by a man who at Gaspar Ruiz’ order rode + fearlessly forward, those inside answered by a volley which rolled him and + his horse over. I heard Ruiz by my side grind his teeth. ‘It does not + matter,’ he said. ‘Now you go.’ + </p> + <p> + “Torn and faded as its rags were, the vestiges of my uniform were + recognised, and I was allowed to approach within speaking distance; and + then I had to wait, because a voice clamouring through a loophole with joy + and astonishment would not allow me to place a word. It was the voice of + Major Pajol, an old friend. He, like my other comrades, had thought me + killed a long time ago. + </p> + <p> + “‘Put spurs to your horse, man!’ he yelled, in the greatest excitement; + ‘we will swing the gate open for you.’ + </p> + <p> + “I let the reins fall out of my hand and shook my head. ‘I am on my + honour,’ I cried. + </p> + <p> + “‘To him!’ he shouted, with infinite disgust.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘He promises you your life.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Our life is our own. And do you, Santierra, advise us to surrender to + that rastrero?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘No!’ I shouted. ‘But he wants his wife and child, and he can cut you off + from water.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Then she would be the first to suffer. You may tell him that. Look here—this + is all nonsense: we shall dash out and capture you. + </p> + <p> + “‘You shall not catch me alive,’ I said firmly. + </p> + <p> + “‘Imbecile!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘For God’s sake,’ I continued hastily, ‘do not open the gate.’ And I + pointed at the multitude of Peneleo’s Indians who covered the shores of + the lake. + </p> + <p> + “I had never seen so many of these savages together. Their lances seemed + as numerous as stalks of grass. Their hoarse voices made a vast, + inarticulate sound like the murmur of the sea. + </p> + <p> + “My friend Pajol was swearing to himself. ‘Well, then—go to the + devil!’ he shouted, exasperated. But as I swung round he repented, for I + heard him say hurriedly, ‘Shoot the fool’s horse before he gets away. + </p> + <p> + “He had good marksmen. Two shots rang out, and in the very act of turning + my horse staggered, fell and lay still as if struck by lightning. I had my + feet out of the stirrups and rolled clear of him; but I did not attempt to + rise. Neither dared they rush out to drag me in. + </p> + <p> + “The masses of Indians had begun to move upon the fort. They rode up in + squadrons, trailing their long chusos; then dismounted out of musket-shot, + and, throwing off their fur mantles, advanced naked to the attack, + stamping their feet and shouting in cadence. A sheet of flame ran three + times along the face of the fort without checking their steady march. They + crowded right up to the very stakes, flourishing their broad knives. But + this palisade was not fastened together with hide lashings in the usual + way, but with long iron nails, which they could not cut. Dismayed at the + failure of their usual method of forcing an entrance, the heathen, who had + marched so steadily against the musketry fire, broke and fled under the + volleys of the besieged. + </p> + <p> + “Directly they had passed me on their advance I got up and rejoined Gaspar + Ruiz on a low ridge which jutted out upon the plain. The musketry of his + own men had covered the attack, but now at a sign from him a trumpet + sounded the ‘Cease fire.’ Together we looked in silence at the hopeless + rout of the savages. + </p> + <p> + “‘It must be a siege, then,’ he muttered. And I detected him wringing his + hands stealthily. + </p> + <p> + “But what sort of siege could it be? Without any need for me to repeat my + friend Pajol’s message, he dared not cut the water off from the besieged. + They had plenty of meat. And, indeed, if they had been short, he would + have been too anxious to send food into the stockade had he been able. + But, as a matter of fact, it was we on the plain who were beginning to + feel the pinch of hunger. + </p> + <p> + “Peneleo, the Indian chief, sat by our fire folded in his ample mantle of + guanaco skins. He was an athletic savage, with an enormous square shock + head of hair resembling a straw beehive in shape and size, and with grave, + surly, much-lined features. In his broken Spanish he repeated, growling + like a bad-tempered wild beast, that if an opening ever so small were made + in the stockade his men would march in and get the senora—not + otherwise. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz, sitting opposite him, kept his eyes fixed on the fort night + and day as it were, in awful silence and immobility. Meantime, by runners + from the lowlands that arrived nearly every day, we heard of the defeat of + one of his lieutenants in the Maipu valley. Scouts sent afar brought news + of a column of infantry advancing through distant passes to the relief of + the fort. They were slow, but we could trace their toilful progress up the + lower valleys. I wondered why Ruiz did not march to attack and destroy + this threatening force, in some wild gorge fit for an ambuscade, in + accordance with his genius for guerrilla warfare. But his genius seemed to + have abandoned him to his despair. + </p> + <p> + “It was obvious to me that he could not tear himself away from the sight + of the fort. I protest to you, senores, that I was moved almost to pity by + the sight of this powerless strong man sitting on the ridge, indifferent + to sun, to rain, to cold, to wind; with his hands clasped round his legs + and his chin resting on his knees, gazing—gazing—gazing. + </p> + <p> + “And the fort he kept his eyes fastened on was as still and silent as + himself. The garrison gave no sign of life. They did not even answer the + desultory fire directed at the loopholes. + </p> + <p> + “One night, as I strolled past him, he, without changing his attitude, + spoke to me unexpectedly ‘I have sent for a gun,’ he said. ‘I shall have + time to get her back and retreat before your Robles manages to crawl up + here.’ + </p> + <p> + “He had sent for a gun to the plains. + </p> + <p> + “It was long in coming, but at last it came. It was a seven-pounder + field-gun. Dismounted and lashed crosswise to two long poles, it had been + carried up the narrow paths between two mules with ease. His wild cry of + exultation at daybreak when he saw the gun escort emerge from the valley + rings in my ears now. + </p> + <p> + “But, senores, I have no words to depict his amazement, his fury, his + despair and distraction, when he heard that the animal loaded with the + gun-carriage had, during the last night march, somehow or other tumbled + down a precipice. He broke into menaces of death and torture against the + escort. I kept out of his way all that day, lying behind some bushes, and + wondering what he would do now. Retreat was left for him; but he could not + retreat. + </p> + <p> + “I saw below me his artillerist Jorge, an old Spanish soldier, building up + a sort of structure with heaped-up saddles. The gun, ready-loaded was + lifted on to that, but in the act of firing the whole thing collapsed and + the shot flew high above the stockade. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing more was attempted. One of the ammunition mules had been lost + too, and they had no more than six shots to fire; amply enough to batter + down the gate, providing the gun was well laid. This was impossible + without it being properly mounted. There was no time nor means to + construct a carriage. Already every moment I expected to hear Robles’ + bugle-calls echo amongst the crags. + </p> + <p> + “Peneleo, wandering about uneasily, draped in his skins, sat down for a + moment near me growling his usual tale. + </p> + <p> + “‘Make an entrada—a hole. If make a hole, bueno. If not make a hole, + them vamos—we must go away.’ + </p> + <p> + “After sunset I observed with surprise the Indians making preparations as + if for another assault. Their lines stood ranged in the shadows mountains. + On the plain in front of the fort gate I saw a group of men swaying about + in the same place. + </p> + <p> + “I walked down the ridge disregarded. The moonlight in the clear air of + the uplands was as bright as day, but the intense shadows confused my + sight, and I could not make out what they were doing. I heard voice Jorge, + artillerist, say in a queer, doubtful tone, ‘It is loaded, senores.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then another voice in that group pronounced firmly the words, ‘Bring the + riata here.’ It was the voice of Gaspar Ruiz. + </p> + <p> + “A silence fell, in which the popping shots of the besieged garrison rang + out sharply. They too had observed the group. But the distance was too + great, and in the spatter of spent musket-balls cutting up the ground, the + group opened, closed, swayed, giving me a glimpse of busy stooping figures + in its midst. I drew nearer, doubting whether this was a weird vision, a + suggestive and insensate dream. + </p> + <p> + “A strangely stifled voice commanded, ‘Haul the hitches tighter.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Si, senor,’ several other voices answered in tones of awed alacrity. + </p> + <p> + “Then the stifled voice said: ‘Like this. I must be free to breathe.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then there was a concerned noise of many men together. ‘Help him up, + hombres. Steady! Under the other arm.’ + </p> + <p> + “That deadened voice, ordered: ‘Bueno! Stand away from me, men.’ + </p> + <p> + “I pushed my way through the recoiling circle, and heard once more that + same oppressed voice saying earnestly: ‘Forget that I am a living man, + Jorge. Forget me altogether, and think of what you have to do.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Be without fear, senor. You are nothing to me but a gun carriage, and I + shall not waste a shot.’ + </p> + <p> + “I heard the spluttering of a port-fire, and smelt the saltpetre of the + match. I saw suddenly before me a nondescript shape on all fours like a + beast, but with a man’s head drooping below a tubular projection over the + nape of the neck, and the gleam of a rounded mass of bronze on its back. + </p> + <p> + “In front of a silent semicircle of men it squatted alone with Jorge + behind it and a trumpeter motionless, his trumpet in his hand, by its + side. + </p> + <p> + “Jorge, bent double, muttered, port-fire in hand: ‘An inch to the left, + senor. Too much. So. Now, if you let yourself down a little by letting + your elbows bend, I will...’ + </p> + <p> + “He leaped aside, lowering his port-fire, and a burst of flame darted out + of the muzzle of the gun lashed on the man’s back. + </p> + <p> + “Then Gaspar Ruiz lowered himself slowly. ‘Good shot?’ he asked. + </p> + <p> + “‘Full on, senor.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Then load again.’ + </p> + <p> + “He lay there before me on his breast under the darkly glittering bronze + of his monstrous burden, such as no love or strength of man had ever had + to bear in the lamentable history of the world. His arms were spread out, + and he resembled a prostrate penitent on the moonlit ground. + </p> + <p> + “Again I saw him raised to his hands and knees, and the men stand away + from him, and old Jorge stoop, glancing along the gun. + </p> + <p> + “‘Left a little. Right an inch. Por Dios, senor, stop this trembling. + Where is your strength?’ + </p> + <p> + “The old gunner’s voice was cracked with emotion. He stepped aside, and + quick as lightning brought the spark to the touch-hole. + </p> + <p> + “‘Excellent!’ he cried tearfully; but Gaspar Ruiz lay for a long time + silent, flattened on the ground. + </p> + <p> + “‘I am tired,’ he murmured at last. ‘Will another shot do it?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Without doubt,’ said Jorge, bending down to his ear. + </p> + <p> + “‘Then—load,’ I heard him utter distinctly. ‘Trumpeter!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I am here, senor, ready for your word.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Blow a blast at this word that shall be heard from one end of Chile to + the other,’ he said, in an extraordinarily strong voice. ‘And you others + stand ready to cut this accursed riata, for then will be the time for me + to lead you in your rush. Now raise me up, and, you, Jorge—be quick + with your aim.’ + </p> + <p> + “The rattle of musketry from the fort nearly drowned his voice. The + palisade was wreathed in smoke and flame. + </p> + <p> + “‘Exert your force forward against the recoil, mi amo,’ said the old + gunner shakily. ‘Dig your fingers into the ground. So. Now!’ + </p> + <p> + “A cry of exultation escaped him after the shot. The trumpeter raised his + trumpet nearly to his lips, and waited. But no word came from the + prostrate man. I fell on one knee, and heard all he had to say then. + </p> + <p> + “‘Something broken,’ he whispered, lifting his head a little, and turning + his eyes towards me in his hopelessly crushed attitude. + </p> + <p> + “‘The gate hangs only by the splinters,’ yelled Jorge. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz tried to speak, but his voice died out in his throat, and I + helped to roll the gun off his broken back. He was insensible. + </p> + <p> + “I kept my lips shut, of course. The signal for the Indians to attack was + never given. Instead, the bugle-calls of the relieving force, for which my + ears had thirsted so long, burst out, terrifying like the call of the Last + Day to our surprised enemies. + </p> + <p> + “A tornado, senores, a real hurricane of stampeded men, wild horses, + mounted Indians, swept over me as I cowered on the ground by the side of + Gaspar Ruiz, still stretched out on his face in the shape of a cross. + Peneleo, galloping for life, jabbed at me with his long chuso in passing—for + the sake of old acquaintance, I suppose. How I escaped the flying lead is + more difficult to explain. Venturing to rise on my knees too soon, some + soldiers of the 17th Taltal regiment, in their hurry to get at something + alive, nearly bayonetted me on the spot. They looked very disappointed too + when some officers galloping up drove them away with the flat of their + swords. + </p> + <p> + “It was General Robles with his staff. He wanted badly to make some + prisoners. He, too, seemed disappointed for a moment. ‘What? Is it you?’ + he cried. But he dismounted at once to embrace me, for he was an old + friend of my family. I pointed to the body at our feet, and said only + these two words: + </p> + <p> + “‘Gaspar Ruiz.’ + </p> + <p> + “He threw his arms up in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “‘Aha! Your strong man! Always to the last with your strong man. No + matter. He saved our lives when the earth trembled enough to make the + bravest faint with fear. I was frightened out of my wits. But he—no! + Que guape! Where’s the hero who got the best of him? Ha! ha! ha! What + killed him, chico?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘His own strength general,’ I answered.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XII + </h2> + <p> + “BUT Gaspar Ruiz breathed yet. I had him carried in his poncho under the + shelter of some bushes on the very ridge from which he had been gazing so + fixedly at the fort while unseen death was hovering already over his head. + </p> + <p> + “Our troops had bivouacked round the fort. Towards daybreak I was not + surprised to hear that I was designated to command the escort of a + prisoner who was to be sent down at once to Santiago. Of course the + prisoner was Gaspar Ruiz’ wife. + </p> + <p> + “‘I have named you out of regard for your feelings,’ General Robles + remarked. ‘Though the woman really ought to be shot for all the harm she + has done to the Republic.’ + </p> + <p> + “And as I made a movement of shocked protest, he continued: + </p> + <p> + “‘Now he is as well as dead, she is of no importance. Nobody will know + what to do with her. However, the Government wants her.’ He shrugged his + shoulders. ‘I suppose he must have buried large quantities of his loot in + places that she alone knows of.’ + </p> + <p> + “At dawn I saw her coming up the ridge, guarded by two soldiers, and + carrying her child on her arm. + </p> + <p> + “I walked to meet her. + </p> + <p> + “‘Is he living yet?’ she asked, confronting me with that white, impassive + face he used to look at in an adoring way. + </p> + <p> + “I bent my head, and led her round a clump of bushes without a word. His + eyes were open. He breathed with difficulty, and uttered her name with a + great effort. + </p> + <p> + “‘Erminia!’ + </p> + <p> + “She knelt at his head. The little girl, unconscious of him, and with her + big eyes, looking about, began to chatter suddenly, in a joyous, thin + voice. She pointed a tiny finger at the rosy glow of sunrise behind the + black shapes of the peaks. And while that child-talk, incomprehensible and + sweet to the ear, lasted, those two, the dying man and the kneeling woman, + remained silent, looking into each other’s eyes, listening to the frail + sound. Then the prattle stopped. The child laid its head against its + mother’s breast and was still. + </p> + <p> + “‘It was for you,’ he began. ‘Forgive.’ His voice failed him. Presently I + heard a mutter, and caught the pitiful words: ‘Not strong enough.’ + </p> + <p> + “She looked at him with an extraordinary intensity. He tried to smile, and + in a humble tone, ‘Forgive me,’ he repeated. ‘Leaving you...’ + </p> + <p> + “She bent down, dry-eyed, and in a steady voice: ‘On all the earth I have + loved nothing but you, Gaspar,’ she said. + </p> + <p> + “His head made a movement. His eyes revived. ‘At last! ‘he sighed out. + Then, anxiously, ‘But is this true... is this true?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘As true as that there is no mercy and justice in this world,’ she + answered him passionately. She stooped over his face. He tried to raise + his head, but it fell back, and when she kissed his lips he was already + dead. His glazed eyes stared at the sky, on which pink clouds floated very + high. But I noticed the eyelids of the child, pressed to its mother’s + breast, droop and close slowly. She had gone to sleep. + </p> + <p> + “The widow of Gaspar Ruiz, the strong man, allowed me to lead her away + without shedding a tear. + </p> + <p> + “For travelling we had arranged for her a side-saddle very much like a + chair, with a board swung beneath to rest her feet on. And the first day + she rode without uttering a word, and hardly for one moment turning her + eyes away from the little girl, whom she held on her knees. At our first + camp I saw her during the night walking about, rocking the child in her + arms and gazing down at it by the light of the moon. After we had started + on our second day’s march she asked me how soon we should come to the + first village of the inhabited country. + </p> + <p> + “I said we should be there about noon. + </p> + <p> + “‘And will there be women there?’ she inquired. + </p> + <p> + “I told her that it was a large village. ‘There will be men and women + there, senora,’ I said, ‘whose hearts shall be made glad by the news that + all the unrest and war is over now.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes, it is all over now,’ she repeated. Then, after a time: ‘senor + officer, what will your Government do with me?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I do not know, senora,’ I said. ‘They will treat you well, no doubt. We + republicans are not savages, and take no vengeance on women.’ + </p> + <p> + “She gave me a look at the word ‘republicans’ which I imagined full of + undying hate. But an hour or so afterwards, as we drew up to let the + baggage mules go first along a narrow path skirting a precipice, she + looked at me with such a white, troubled face that I felt a great pity for + her. + </p> + <p> + “‘Senor officer,’ she said, ‘I am weak, I tremble. It is an insensate + fear.’ And indeed her lips did tremble, while she tried to smile glancing + at the beginning of the narrow path which was not so dangerous after all. + ‘I am afraid I shall drop the child. Gaspar saved your life, you + remember.... Take her from me.’ + </p> + <p> + “I took the child out of her extended arms. ‘Shut your eyes, senora, and + trust to your mule,’ I recommended. + </p> + <p> + “She did so, and with her pallor and her wasted thin face she looked + deathlike. At a turn of the path, where a great crag of purple porphyry + closes the view of the lowlands, I saw her open her eyes. I rode just + behind her holding the little girl with my right arm. ‘The child is all + right,’ I cried encouragingly. + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes,’ she answered faintly; and then, to my intense terror, I saw her + stand up on the footrest, staring horribly, and throw herself forward into + the chasm on our right. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot describe to you the sudden and abject fear that came over me at + that dreadful sight. It was a dread of the abyss, the dread of the crags + which seemed to nod upon me. My head swam. I pressed the child to my side + and sat my horse as still as a statue. I was speechless and cold all over. + Her mule staggered, sidling close to the rock, and then went on. My horse + only pricked up his ears with a slight snort. My heart stood still, and + from the depths of the precipice the stones rattling in the bed of the + furious stream made me almost insane with their sound. + </p> + <p> + “Next moment we were round the turn and on a broad and grassy slope. And + then I yelled. My men came running back to me in great alarm. It seems + that at first I did nothing but shout, ‘She has given the child into my + hands! She has given the child into my hands!’ The escort thought I had + gone mad.” + </p> + <p> + General Santierra ceased and got up from the table. “And that is all, + senores,” he concluded, with a courteous glance at his rising guests. + </p> + <p> + “But what became of the child, General?” we asked. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, the child, the child.” + </p> + <p> + He walked to one of the windows opening on his beautiful garden, the + refuge of his old days. Its fame was great in the land. Keeping us back + with a raised arm, he called out, “Erminia, Erminia!” and waited. Then his + cautioning arm dropped, and we crowded to the windows. + </p> + <p> + From a clump of trees a woman had come upon the broad walk bordered with + flowers. We could hear the rustle of her starched petticoats and observed + the ample spread of her old-fashioned black silk skirt. She looked up, and + seeing all these eyes staring at her, stopped, frowned, smiled, shook her + finger at the General, who was laughing boisterously, and drawing the + black lace on her head so as to partly conceal her haughty profile, passed + out of our sight, walking with stiff dignity. + </p> + <p> + “You have beheld the guardian angel of the old man—and her to whom + you owe all that is seemly and comfortable in my hospitality. Somehow, + senores, though the flame of love has been kindled early in my breast, I + have never married. And because of that perhaps the sparks of the sacred + fire are not yet extinct here.” He struck his broad chest. “Still alive, + still alive,” he said, with serio-comic emphasis. “But I shall not marry + now. She is General Santierra’s adopted daughter and heiress.” + </p> + <p> + One of our fellow-guests, a young naval officer, described her afterwards + as a “short, stout, old girl of forty or thereabouts.” We had all noticed + that her hair was turning grey, and that she had very fine black eyes. + </p> + <p> + “And,” General Santierra continued, “neither would she ever hear of + marrying any one. A real calamity! Good, patient, devoted to the old man. + A simple soul. But I would not advise any of you to ask for her hand, for + if she took yours into hers it would be only to crush your bones. Ah! she + does not jest on that subject. And she is the own daughter of her father, + the strong man who perished through his own strength: the strength of his + body, of his simplicity—of his love!” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + +***** This file should be named 8736-h.htm or 8736-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/3/8736/ + +Produced by John Orford, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Gaspar Ruiz + +Author: Joseph Conrad + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8736] +Posting Date: June 18, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + + + + +Produced by John Orford + + + + + + + + +GASPAR RUIZ + + +By Joseph Conrad + + + + +I + +A Revolutionary war raises many strange characters out of the obscurity +which is the common lot of humble lives in an undisturbed state of +society. + +Certain individualities grow into fame through their vices and their +virtues, or simply by their actions, which may have a temporary +importance; and then they become forgotten. The names of a few leaders +alone survive the end of armed strife and are further preserved in +history; so that, vanishing from men's active memories, they still exist +in books. + +The name of General Santierra attained that cold, paper-and-ink +immortality. He was a South American of good family, and the books +published in his lifetime numbered him amongst the liberators of that +continent from the oppressive rule of Spain. + +That long contest, waged for independence on one side and for dominion +on the other, developed, in the course of years and the vicissitudes of +changing fortune, the fierceness and inhumanity of a struggle for +life. All feelings of pity and compassion disappeared in the growth of +political hatred. And, as is usual in war, the mass of the people, +who had the least to gain by the issue, suffered most in their obscure +persons and their humble fortunes. + +General Santierra began his service as lieutenant in the patriot army +raised and commanded by the famous San Martin, afterwards conqueror of +Lima and liberator of Peru. A great battle had just been fought on the +banks of the river Bio-Bio. Amongst the prisoners made upon the routed +Royalist troops there was a soldier called Gaspar Ruiz. His +powerful build and his big head rendered him remarkable amongst his +fellow-captives. The personality of the man was unmistakable. Some +months before, he had been missed from the ranks of Republican troops +after one of the many skirmishes which preceded the great battle. And +now, having been captured arms in hand amongst Royalists, he could +expect no other fate but to be shot as a deserter. + +Gaspar Ruiz, however, was not a deserter; his mind was hardly active +enough to take a discriminating view of the advantages or perils +of treachery. Why should he change sides? He had really been made a +prisoner, had suffered ill-usage and many privations. Neither side +showed tenderness to its adversaries. There came a day when he was +ordered, together with some other captured rebels, to march in the front +rank of the Royal troops. A musket, had been thrust into his hands. +He had taken it. He had marched. He did not want to be killed with +circumstances of peculiar atrocity for refusing to march. He did not +understand heroism, but it was his intention to throw his musket away at +the first opportunity. Meantime he had gone on loading and firing, from +fear of having his brains blown out, at the first sign of unwillingness, +by some non-commissioned officer of the King of Spain. He tried to set +forth these elementary considerations before the sergeant of the +guard set over him and some twenty other such deserters, who had been +condemned summarily to be shot. + +It was in the quadrangle of the fort at the back of the batteries which +command the road-stead of Valparaiso. The officer who had identified him +had gone on without listening to his protestations. His doom was sealed; +his hands were tied very tightly together behind his back; his body was +sore all over from the many blows with sticks and butts of muskets which +had hurried him along on the painful road from the place of his capture +to the gate of the fort. This was the only kind of systematic attention +the prisoners had received from their escort during a four days' journey +across a scantily watered tract of country. At the crossings of rare +streams they were permitted to quench their thirst by lapping hurriedly +like dogs. In the evening a few scraps of meat were thrown amongst +them as they dropped down dead-beat upon the stony ground of the +halting-place. + +As he stood in the courtyard of the castle in the early morning, after +having been driven hard all night, Gaspar Ruiz's throat was parched, and +his tongue felt very large and dry in his mouth. + +And Gaspar Ruiz, besides being very thirsty, was stirred by a feeling +of sluggish anger, which he could not very well express, as though the +vigour of his spirit were by no means equal to the strength of his body. + +The other prisoners in the batch of the condemned hung their heads, +looking obstinately on the ground. But Gaspar Ruiz kept on repeating: +"What should I desert for to the Royalists? Why should I desert? Tell +me, Estaban!" + +He addressed himself to the sergeant, who happened to belong to the same +part of the country as himself. But the sergeant, after shrugging his +meagre shoulders once, paid no further attention to the deep murmuring +voice at his back. It was indeed strange that Gaspar Ruiz should desert. +His people were in too humble a station to feel much the disadvantages +of any form of government. There was no reason why Gaspar Ruiz should +wish to uphold in his own person the rule of the King of Spain. Neither +had he been anxious to exert himself for its subversion. He had joined +the side of Independence in an extremely reasonable and natural manner. +A band of patriots appeared one morning early, surrounding his father's +ranche, spearing the watch-dogs and hamstringing a fat cow all in the +twinkling of an eye, to the cries of "Viva La Libertad!" Their officer +discoursed of Liberty with enthusiasm and eloquence after a long and +refreshing sleep. When they left in the evening, taking with them some +of Ruiz, the father's, best horses to replace their own lamed animals, +Gaspar Ruiz went away with them, having been invited pressingly to do so +by the eloquent officer. + +Shortly afterwards a detachment of Royalist troops, coming to pacify the +district, burnt the ranche, carried off the remaining horses and +cattle, and having thus deprived the old people of all their worldly +possessions, left them sitting under a bush in the enjoyment of the +inestimable boon of life. + + + + +II + +GASPAR Ruiz, condemned to death as a deserter, was not thinking either +of his native place or of his parents, to whom he had been a good son on +account of the mildness of his character and the great strength of his +limbs. The practical advantage of this last was made still more +valuable to his father by his obedient disposition. Gaspar Ruiz had an +acquiescent soul. + +But it was stirred now to a sort of dim revolt by his dislike to die the +death of a traitor. He was not a traitor. He said again to the sergeant: +"You know I did not desert, Estaban. You know I remained behind amongst +the trees with three others to keep the enemy back while the detachment +was running away!" + +Lieutenant Santierra, little more than a boy at the time, and unused as +yet to the sanguinary imbecilities of a state of war, had lingered +near by, as if fascinated by the sight of these men who were to be shot +presently--"for an example"--as the Commandante had said. + +The sergeant, without deigning to look at the prisoner, addressed +himself to the young officer with a superior smile. + +"Ten men would not have been enough to make him a prisoner, mi teniente. +Moreover, the other three rejoined the detachment after dark. Why should +he, unwounded and the strongest of them all, have failed to do so?" + +"My strength is as nothing against a mounted man with a lasso," Gaspar +Ruiz protested eagerly. "He dragged me behind his horse for half a +mile." + +At this excellent reason the sergeant only laughed contemptuously. The +young officer hurried away after the Commandante. + +Presently the adjutant of the castle came by. He was a truculent, +raw-boned man in a ragged uniform. His spluttering voice issued out of a +flat, yellow face. The sergeant learned from him that the condemned men +would not be shot till sunset. He begged then to know what he was to do +with them meantime. + +The adjutant looked savagely round the courtyard, and, pointing to the +door of a small dungeon-like guard-room, receiving light and air through +one heavily-barred window, said: "Drive the scoundrels in there." + +The sergeant, tightening his grip upon the stick he carried in virtue +of his rank, executed this order with alacrity and zeal. He hit Gaspar +Ruiz, whose movements were slow, over his head and shoulders. Gaspar +Ruiz stood still for a moment under the shower of blows, biting his +lip thoughtfully as if absorbed by a perplexing mental process--then +followed the others without haste. The door was locked, and the adjutant +carried off the key. + +By noon the heat of that low vaulted place crammed to suffocation had +become unbearable. The prisoners crowded towards the window, begging +their guards for a drop of water; but the soldiers remained lying in +indolent attitudes wherever there was a little shade under a wall, while +the sentry sat with his back against the door smoking a cigarette, and +raising his eyebrows philosophically from time to time. Gaspar Ruiz +had pushed his way to the window with irresistible force. His capacious +chest needed more air than the others; his big face, resting with its +chin on the ledge, pressed close to the bars, seemed to support the +other faces crowding up for breath. From moaned entreaties they had +passed to desperate cries, and the tumultuous howling of those thirsty +men obliged a young officer who was just then crossing the courtyard to +shout in order to make himself heard. + +"Why don't you give some water to these prisoners!" + +The sergeant, with an air of surprised innocence, excused himself by the +remark that all those men were condemned to die in a very few hours. + +Lieutenant Santierra stamped his foot. "They are condemned to death, not +to torture," he shouted. "Give them some water at once." + +Impressed by this appearance of anger, the soldiers bestirred +themselves, and the sentry, snatching up his musket, stood to attention. + +But when a couple of buckets were found and filled from the well, it was +discovered that they could not be passed through the bars, which were +set too close. At the prospect of quenching their thirst, the shrieks of +those trampled down in the struggle to get near the opening became very +heartrending. But when the soldiers who had lifted the buckets towards +the window put them to the ground again helplessly, the yell of +disappointment was still more terrible. + +The soldiers of the army of Independence were not equipped with +canteens. A small tin cup was found, but its approach to the opening +caused such a commotion, such yells of rage and' pain in the vague +mass of limbs behind the straining faces at the window, that Lieutenant +Santierra cried out hurriedly, "No, no--you must open the door, +sergeant." + +The sergeant, shrugging his shoulders, explained that he had no right +to open the door even if he had had the key. But he had not the key. +The adjutant of the garrison kept the key. Those men were giving much +unnecessary trouble, since they had to die at sunset in any case. +Why they had not been shot at once early in the morning he could not +understand. + +Lieutenant Santierra kept his back studiously to the window. It was +at his earnest solicitations that the Commandante had delayed the +execution. This favour had been granted to him in consideration of +his distinguished family and of his father's high position amongst the +chiefs of the Republican party. Lieutenant Santierra believed that the +General commanding would visit the fort some time in the afternoon, +and he ingenuously hoped that his naive intercession would induce +that severe man to pardon some, at least, of those criminals. In the +revulsion of his feeling his interference stood revealed now as guilty +and futile meddling. It appeared to him obvious that the general would +never even consent to listen to his petition. He could never save those +men, and he had only made himself responsible for the sufferings added +to the cruelty of their fate. + +"Then go at once and get the key from the adjutant," said Lieutenant +Santierra. + +The sergeant shook his head with a sort of bashful smile, while his eyes +glanced sideways at Gaspar Ruiz's face, motionless and silent, staring +through the bars at the bottom of a heap of other haggard, distorted, +yelling faces. + +His worship the adjutant de Plaza, the sergeant murmured, was having his +siesta; and supposing that he, the sergeant, would be allowed access to +him, the only result he expected would be to have his soul flogged out +of his body for presuming to disturb his worship's repose. He made a +deprecatory movement with his hands, and stood stock-still, looking down +modestly upon his brown toes. + +Lieutenant Santierra glared with indignation, but hesitated. His +handsome oval face, as smooth as a girl's, flushed with the shame of +his perplexity. Its nature humiliated his spirit. His hairless upper lip +trembled; he seemed on the point of either bursting into a fit of rage +or into tears of dismay. + +Fifty years later, General Santierra, the venerable relic of +revolutionary times, was well able to remember the feelings of the +young lieutenant. Since he had given up riding altogether, and found +it difficult to walk beyond the limits of his garden, the general's +greatest delight, was to entertain in his house the officers of the +foreign men-of-war visiting the harbour. For Englishmen he had a +preference, as for old companions in arms. English naval men of all +ranks accepted his hospitality with curiosity, because he had known Lord +Cochrane and had taken part, on board the patriot squadron commanded +by that marvellous seaman, in the cutting-out and blockading operations +before Callao--an episode of unalloyed glory in the wars of Independence +and of endless honour in the fighting tradition of Englishmen. He was a +fair linguist, this ancient survivor of the Liberating armies. A trick +of smoothing his long white beard whenever he was short of a word in +French or English imparted an air of leisurely dignity to the tone of +his reminiscences. + + + + +III + +"YES, my friends," he used to say to his guests, "what would you have? +A youth of seventeen summers, without worldly experience, and owing +my rank only to the glorious patriotism of my father, may God rest his +soul, I suffered immense humiliation, not so much from the disobedience +of That subordinate, who, alter all, was responsible for those +prisoners; but I suffered because, like the boy I was, I myself dreaded +going to the adjutant for the key. I had felt, before, his rough and +cutting tongue. Being quite a common fellow, with no merit except his +savage valour, he made me feel his contempt and dislike from the +first day I joined my battalion in garrison at the fort. It was only +a fortnight before! I would have confronted him sword in hand, but I +shrank from the mocking brutality of his sneers. + +"I don't remember having been so miserable in my life before or since. +The torment of my sensibility was so great that I wished the sergeant to +fall dead at my feet, and the stupid soldiers who stared at me to +turn into corpses; and even those wretches for whom my entreaties had +procured a reprieve I wished dead also, because I could not face them +without shame. A mephitic heat like a whiff of air from hell came out +of that dark place in which they were confined. Those at the window who +heard what was going on jeered at me in very desperation; one of these +fellows, gone mad no doubt, kept on urging me volubly to order the +soldiers to fire through the window. His insane loquacity made my heart +turn faint. And my feet were like lead. There was no higher officer to +whom I could appeal. I had not even the firmness of spirit to simply go +away. + +"Benumbed by my remorse, I stood with my back to the window. You must +not suppose that all this lasted a long time. How long could it have +been? A minute? If you measured by mental suffering it was like a +hundred years; a longer time than all my life has been since. No, +certainly, it was not so much as a minute. The hoarse screaming of those +miserable wretches died out in their dry throats, and then suddenly a +voice spoke, a deep voice muttering calmly. It called upon me to turn +round. + +"That voice, senores, proceeded from the head of Gaspar Ruiz. Of his +body I could see nothing. Some of his fellow-captives had clambered upon +his back. He was holding them up. His eyes blinked without looking at +me. That and the moving of his lips was all he seemed able to manage in +his overloaded state. And when I turned round, this head, that seemed +more than human size resting on its chin under a multitude of other +heads, asked me whether I really desired to quench the thirst of the +captives. + +"I said, 'Yes, yes!' eagerly, and came up quite close to the window. I +was like a child, and did not know what would happen. I was anxious to +be comforted in my helplessness and remorse. + +"'Have you the authority, senor teniente, to release my wrists from +their bonds?' Gaspar Ruiz's head asked me. + +"His features expressed no anxiety, no hope; his heavy eyelids blinked +upon his eyes that looked past me straight into the courtyard. + +"As if in an ugly dream, I spoke, stammering: 'What do you mean? And how +can I reach the bonds on your wrists?' + +"'I will try what I can do,' he said; and then that large staring +head moved at last, and all the wild faces piled up in that window +disappeared, tumbling down. He had shaken his load off with one +movement, so strong he was. + +"And he had not only shaken it off, but he got free of the crush and +vanished from my sight. For a moment there was no one at all to be seen +at the window. He had swung about, butting and shouldering, clearing +a space for himself in the only way he could do it with his hands tied +behind his back. + +"Finally, backing to the opening, he pushed out to me between the bars +his wrists, lashed with many turns of rope. His hands, very swollen, +with knotted veins, looked enormous and unwieldy. I saw his bent back. +It was very broad. His voice was like the muttering of a bull. + +"Cut, senor teniente! Cut!' + +"I drew my sword, my new unblunted sword that had seen no service as +yet, and severed the many turns of the hide rope. I did this without +knowing the why and the wherefore of my action, but as it were compelled +by my faith in that man. The sergeant made as if to cry out, but +astonishment deprived him of his voice, and he remained standing with +his mouth open as if overtaken by sudden imbecility. + +"I sheathed my sword and faced the soldiers. An air of awestruck +expectation had replaced their usual listless apathy. I heard the voice +of Gaspar Ruiz shouting inside, but the words I could not make out +plainly. I suppose that to see him with his arms free augmented the +influence of his strength: I mean by this, the spiritual influence that +with ignorant people attaches to an exceptional degree of bodily vigour. +In fact, he was no more to be feared than before, on account of the +numbness of his arms and hands, which lasted for some time. + +"The sergeant had recovered his power of speech. 'By all the saints!' +he cried, 'we shall have to get a cavalry man with a lasso to secure him +again, if he is to be led to the place of execution. Nothing less than a +good enlazador on a good horse can subdue him. Your worship was pleased +to perform a very mad thing.' + +"I had nothing to say. I was surprised myself, and I felt a childish +curiosity to see what would happen. But the sergeant was thinking of +the difficulty of controlling Gaspar Ruiz when the time for making an +example would come. + +"'Or perhaps,' the sergeant pursued vexedly, 'we shall be obliged to +shoot him down as he dashes out when the door is opened.' He was going +to give further vent to his anxieties as to the proper carrying out +of the sentence; but he interrupted himself with a sudden exclamation, +snatched a musket from a soldier, and stood watchful with his eyes fixed +on the window.'" + + + + +IV + +"GASPAR RUIZ had clambered up on the sill, and sat down there with his +feet against the thickness of the wall and his knees slightly bent. +The window was not quite broad enough for the length of his legs. It +appeared to my crestfallen perception that he meant to keep the window +all to himself. He seemed to be taking up a comfortable position. Nobody +inside dared to approach him now he could strike with his hands. + +"'Por Dios!' I heard the sergeant muttering at my elbow, 'I shall shoot +him through the head now, and get rid of that trouble. He is a condemned +man.' + +"At that I looked at him angrily. 'The general has not confirmed the +sentence,' I said--though I knew well in my heart that these were but +vain words. The sentence required no confirmation. 'You have no right to +shoot him unless he tries to escape,' I added firmly. + +"'But sangre de Dios!' the sergeant yelled out, bringing his musket up +to the shoulder, 'he is escaping now. Look!' + +"But I, as if that Gaspar Ruiz had cast a spell upon me, struck the +musket upward, and the bullet flew over the roofs somewhere. The +sergeant dashed his arm to the ground and stared. He might have +commanded the soldiers to fire, but he did not. And if he had he would +not have been obeyed, I think, just then. + +"With his feet against the thickness of the wall, and his hairy hands +grasping the iron bar, Gaspar sat still. It was an attitude. Nothing +happened for a time. And suddenly it dawned upon us that he was +straightening his bowed back and contracting his arms. His lips were +twisted into a snarl. Next thing we perceived was that the bar of forged +iron was being bent slowly by the mightiness of his pull. The sun +was beating full upon his cramped, unquivering figure. A shower of +sweat-drops burst out of his forehead. Watching the bar grow crooked, I +saw a little blood ooze from under his finger-nails. Then he let go. +For a moment he remained all huddled up, with a hanging head, looking +drowsily into the upturned palms of his mighty hands. Indeed he seemed +to have dozed off. Suddenly he flung himself backwards on the sill, and +setting the soles of his bare feet against the other middle bar, he bent +that one too, but in the opposite direction from the first. + +"Such was his strength, which in this case relieved my painful feelings. +And the man seemed to have done nothing. Except for the change of +position in order to use his feet, which made us all start by its +swiftness, my recollection is that of immobility. But he had bent the +bars wide apart. And now he could get out if he liked; but he dropped +his legs inwards; and looking over his shoulder beckoned to the +soldiers. 'Hand up the water,' he said. 'I will give them all a drink.' + +"He was obeyed. For a moment I expected man and bucket to disappear, +overwhelmed by the rush of eagerness; I thought they would pull him down +with their teeth. There was a rush, but holding the bucket on his lap he +repulsed the assault of those wretches by the mere swinging of his feet. +They flew backwards at every kick, yelling with pain; and the soldiers +laughed, gazing at the window. + +"They all laughed, holding their sides, except the sergeant, who was +gloomy and morose. He was afraid the prisoners would rise and break +out--which would have been a bad example. But there was no fear of +that, and I stood myself before the window with my drawn sword. When +sufficiently tamed by the strength of Gaspar Ruiz, they came up one by +one, stretching their necks and presenting their lips to the edge of the +bucket which the strong man tilted towards them from his knees with an +extraordinary air of charity, gentleness and compassion. That benevolent +appearance was of course the effect of his care in not spilling the +water and of his attitude as he sat on the sill; for, if a man lingered +with his lips glued to the rim of the bucket after Gaspar Ruiz had said +'You have had enough,' there would be no tenderness or mercy in the +shove of the foot which would send him groaning and doubled up far +into the interior of the prison, where he would knock down two or three +others before he fell himself. They came up to him again and again; +it looked as if they meant to drink the well dry before going to their +death; but the soldiers were so amused by Gaspar Ruiz's systematic +proceedings that they carried the water up to the window cheerfully. + +"When the adjutant came out after his siesta there was some trouble over +this affair, I can assure you. And the worst of it, that the general +whom we expected never came to the castle that day." + +The guests of General Santierra unanimously expressed their regret that +the man of such strength and patience had not been saved. + +"He was not saved by my interference," said the General. "The prisoners +were led to execution half an hour before sunset. Gaspar Ruiz, contrary +to the sergeant's apprehensions, gave no trouble. There was no necessity +to get a cavalry man with a lasso in order to subdue him, as if he were +a wild bull of the campo. I believe he marched out with his arms free +amongst the others who were bound. I did not see. I was not there. I had +been put under arrest for interfering with the prisoner's guard. About +dusk, sitting dismally in my quarters, I heard three volleys fired, and +thought that I should never hear of Gaspar Ruiz again. He fell with the +others. But we were to hear of him nevertheless, though the sergeant +boasted that, as he lay on his face expiring or dead in the heap of the +slain, he had slashed his neck with a sword. He had done this, he said, +to make sure of ridding the world of a dangerous traitor. + +"I confess to you, senores, that I thought of that strong man with a +sort of gratitude, and with some admiration. He had used his strength +honourably. There dwelt, then, in his soul no fierceness corresponding +to the vigour of his body." + + + + +V + +GASPAR RUIZ, who could with ease bend apart the heavy iron bars of the +prison, was led out with others to summary execution. "Every bullet has +its billet," runs the proverb. All the merit of proverbs consists in +the concise and picturesque expression. In the surprise of our minds is +found their persuasiveness. In other words, we are struck and convinced +by the shock. + +What surprises us is the form, not the substance. Proverbs are +art--cheap art. As a general rule they are not true; unless indeed they +happen to be mere platitudes, as for instance the proverb, "Half a +loaf is better than no bread," or "A miss is as good as a mile." Some +proverbs are simply imbecile, others are immoral. That one evolved out +of the naive heart of the great Russian people, "Man discharges the +piece, but God carries the bullet," is piously atrocious, and at bitter +variance with the accepted conception of a compassionate God. It would +indeed be an inconsistent occupation for the Guardian of the poor, the +innocent and the helpless, to carry the bullet, for instance, into the +heart of a father. + +Gaspar Ruiz was childless, he had no wife, he had never been in love. +He had hardly ever spoken to a woman, beyond his mother and the ancient +negress of the household, whose wrinkled skin was the colour of cinders, +and whose lean body was bent double from age. If some bullets from those +muskets fired off at fifteen paces were specifically destined for +the heart of Gaspar Ruiz, they all missed their billet. One, however, +carried away a small piece of his ear, and another a fragment of flesh +from his shoulder. + +A red and unclouded sun setting into a purple ocean looked with a fiery +stare upon the enormous wall of the Cordilleras, worthy witnesses of his +glorious extinction. But it is inconceivable that it should have seen +the ant-like men busy with their absurd and insignificant trials of +killing and dying for reasons that, apart from being generally childish, +were also imperfectly understood. It did light up, however, the backs +of the firing party and the faces of the condemned men. Some of them +had fallen on their knees, others remained standing, a few averted their +heads from the levelled barrels of muskets. Gaspar Ruiz, upright, the +burliest of them all, hung his big shock head. The low sun dazzled him a +little, and he counted himself a dead man already. + +He fell at the first discharge. He fell because he thought he was a dead +man. He struck the ground heavily. The jar of the fall surprised him. +"I am not dead apparently," he thought to himself, when he heard the +execution platoon reloading its arms at the word of command. It was then +that the hope of escape dawned upon him for the first time. He remained +lying stretched out with rigid limbs under the weight of two bodies +collapsed crosswise upon his back. + +By the time the soldiers had fired a third volley into the slightly +stirring heaps of the slain, the sun had gone out of sight, and almost +immediately with the darkening of the ocean dusk fell upon the coasts of +the young Republic. Above the gloom of the lowlands the snowy peaks +of the Cordillera remained luminous and crimson for a long time. The +soldiers before marching back to the fort sat down to smoke. + +The sergeant with a naked sword in his hand strolled away by himself +along the heap of the dead. He was a humane man, and watched for any +stir or twitch of limb in the merciful idea of plunging the point of his +blade into any body giving the slightest sign of life. But none of the +bodies afforded him an opportunity for the display of this charitable +intention. Not a muscle twitched amongst them, not even the powerful +muscles of Gaspar Ruiz, who, deluged with the blood of his neighbours +and shamming death, strove to appear more lifeless than the others. + +He was lying face down. The sergeant recognised him by his stature, and +being himself a very small man, looked with envy and contempt at the +prostration of so much strength. He had always disliked that particular +soldier. Moved by an obscure animosity, he inflicted a long gash across +the neck of Gaspar Ruiz, with some vague notion of making sure of that +strong man's death, as if a powerful physique were more able to resist +the bullets. For the sergeant had no doubt that Gaspar Ruiz had been +shot through in many places. Then he passed on, and shortly afterwards +marched off with, his men, leaving the bodies to the care of crows and +vultures. + +Gaspar Ruiz had restrained a cry, though it had seemed to him that his +head was cut off at a blow; and when darkness came, shaking off the +dead, whose weight had oppressed him, he crawled away over the plain on +his hands and knees. After drinking deeply, like a wounded beast, at +a shallow stream, he assumed an upright posture, and staggered on +light-headed and aimless, as if lost amongst the stars of the clear +night. A small house seemed to rise out of the ground before him. He +stumbled into the porch and struck at the door with his fist. There +was not a gleam of light. Gaspar Ruiz might have thought that the +inhabitants had fled from it, as from many others in the neighbourhood, +had it not been for the shouts of abuse that answered his thumping. In +his feverish and enfeebled state the angry screaming seemed to him +part of a hallucination belonging to the weird dreamlike feeling of his +unexpected condemnation to death, of the thirst suffered, of the volleys +fired at him within fifteen paces, of his head being cut off at a blow. +"Open the door!" he cried. "Open in the name of God!" + +An infuriated voice from within jeered at him: "Come in, come in. This +house belongs to you. All this land belongs to you. Come and take it." + +"For the love of God," Gaspar Ruiz murmured. + +"Does not all the land belong to you patriots?" the voice on the other +side of the door screamed on. "Are you not a patriot?" + +Gaspar Ruiz did not know. "I am a wounded man," he said apathetically. + +All became still inside. Gaspar Ruiz lost the hope of being admitted, +and lay down under the porch just outside the door. He was utterly +careless of what was going to happen to him. All his consciousness +seemed to be concentrated in his neck, where he felt a severe pain. His +indifference as to his fate was genuine. + +The day was breaking when he awoke from a feverish doze; the door +at which he had knocked in the dark stood wide open now, and a girl, +steadying herself with her outspread arms, leaned over the threshold. +Lying on his back, he stared up at her. Her face was pale and her eyes +were very dark; her hair hung down black as ebony against her white +cheeks; her lips were full and red. Beyond her he saw another head with +long grey hair, and a thin old face with a pair of anxiously clasped +hands under the chin. + + + + +VI + +"I KNEW those people by sight," General Santierra would tell his guests +at the dining-table. "I mean the people with whom Gaspar Ruiz found +shelter. The father was an old Spaniard, a man of property, ruined by +the revolution. His estates, his house in town, his money, everything +he had in the world had been confiscated by proclamation, for he was +a bitter foe of our independence. From a position of great dignity and +influence on the Viceroy's Council he became of less importance than his +own negro slaves made free by our glorious revolution. He had not even +the means to flee the country, as other Spaniards had managed to do. It +may be that, wandering ruined and houseless, and burdened with nothing +but his life, which was left to him by the clemency of the Provisional +Government, he had simply walked under that broken roof of old tiles. It +was a lonely spot. There did not seem to be even a dog belonging to +the place. But though the roof had holes, as if a cannonball or two had +dropped through it, the wooden shutters were thick and tight-closed all +the time. + +"My way took me frequently along the path in front of that miserable +rancho. I rode from the fort to the town almost every evening, to sigh +at the window of a lady I was in love with, then. When one is young, +you understand.... She was a good patriot, you may be sure. Caballeros, +credit me or not, political feeling ran so high in those days that I +do not believe I could have been fascinated by the charms of a woman of +Royalist opinions...." + +Murmurs of amused incredulity all round the table interrupted the +General; and while they lasted he stroked his white beard gravely. + +"Senores," he protested, "a Royalist was a monster to our overwrought +feelings. I am telling you this in order not to be suspected of the +slightest tenderness towards that old Royalist's daughter. Moreover, +as you know, my affections were engaged elsewhere. But I could not help +noticing her on rare occasions when with the front door open she stood +in the porch. + +"You must know that this old Royalist was as crazy as a man can be. His +political misfortunes, his total downfall and ruin, had disordered his +mind. To show his contempt for what we patriots could do, he affected to +laugh at his imprisonment, at the confiscation of his lands, the +burning of his houses, and the misery to which he and his womenfolk were +reduced. This habit of laughing had grown upon him, so that he would +begin to laugh and shout directly he caught sight of any stranger. That +was the form of his madness. + +"I, of course, disregarded the noise of that madman with that feeling of +superiority the success of our cause inspired in us Americans. I suppose +I really despised him because he was an old Castilian, a Spaniard born, +and a Royalist. Those were certainly no reasons to scorn a man; but for +centuries Spaniards born had shown their contempt of us Americans, men +as well descended as themselves, simply because we were what they +called colonists. We had been kept in abasement and made to feel our +inferiority in social intercourse. And now it was our turn. It was sale +for us patriots to display the same sentiments; and I being a young +patriot, son of a patriot, despised that old Spaniard, and despising +him I naturally disregarded his abuse, though it was annoying to my +feelings. Others perhaps would not have been so forbearing. + +"He would begin with a great yell--'I see a patriot. Another of them!' +long before I came abreast of the house. The tone of his senseless +revilings, mingled with bursts of laughter, was sometimes piercingly +shrill and sometimes grave. It was all very mad; but I felt it incumbent +upon my dignity to check my horse to a walk without even glancing +towards the house, as if that man's abusive clamour in the porch were +less than the barking of a cur. I rode by, preserving an expression of +haughty indifference on my face. + +"It was no doubt very dignified; but I should have done better if I +had kept my eyes open. A military man in war time should never consider +himself off duty; and especially so if the war is a revolutionary war, +when the enemy is not at the door, but within your very house. At such +times the heat of passionate convictions, passing into hatred, removes +the restraints of honour and humanity from many men and of delicacy and +fear from some women. These last, when once they throw off the timidity +and reserve of their sex, become by the vivacity of their intelligence +and the violence of their merciless resentment more dangerous than so +many armed giants." + +The General's voice rose, but his big hand stroked his white beard twice +with an effect of venerable calmness. "Si, senores! Women are ready to +rise to the heights of devotion unattainable by us men, or to sink into +the depths of abasement which amazes our masculine prejudices. I am +speaking now of exceptional women, you understand..." + +Here one of the guests observed that he had never met a woman yet who +was not capable of turning out quite exceptional under circumstances +that would engage her feelings strongly. "That sort of superiority in +recklessness they have over us," he concluded, "makes of them the more +interesting half of mankind." + +The General, who bore the interruption with gravity, nodded courteous +assent. "Si. Si. Under circumstances.... Precisely. They can do an +infinite deal of mischief sometimes in quite unexpected ways. For who +could have imagined that a young girl, daughter of a ruined Royalist +whose life itself was held only by the contempt of his enemies, would +have had the power to bring death and devastation upon two flourishing +provinces and cause serious anxiety to the leaders of the revolution +in the very hour of its success!" He paused to let the wonder of it +penetrate our minds. + +"Death and devastation," somebody murmured in surprise: "how shocking!" + +The old General gave a glance in the direction of the murmur and went +on. "Yes. That is, war--calamity. But the means by which she obtained +the power to work this havoc on our southern frontier seem to me, who +have seen her and spoken to her, still more shocking. That particular +thing left on my mind a dreadful amazement which the further experience +of life, of more than fifty years, has done nothing to diminish." He +looked round as if to make sure of our attention, and, in a changed +voice: "I am, as you know, a republican, son of a Liberator," he +declared. "My incomparable mother, God rest her soul, was a Frenchwoman, +the daughter of an ardent republican. As a boy I fought for liberty; +I've always believed in the equality of men; and as to their +brotherhood, that, to my mind, is even more certain. Look at the fierce +animosity they display in their differences. And what in the world do +you know that is more bitterly fierce than brothers' quarrels?" + +All absence of cynicism checked an inclination to smile at this view of +human brotherhood. On the contrary, there was in the tone the melancholy +natural to a man profoundly humane at heart who from duty, from +conviction and from necessity, had played his part in scenes of ruthless +violence. + +The General had seen much of fratricidal strife. "Certainly. There is no +doubt of their brotherhood," he insisted. "All men are brothers, and +as such know almost too much of each other. But "--and here in the +old patriarchal head, white as silver, the black eyes humorously +twinkled--"if we are all brothers, all the women are not our sisters." + +One of the younger guests was heard murmuring his satisfaction at the +fact. But the General continued, with deliberate earnestness: "They are +so different! The tale of a king who took a beggar-maid for a partner of +his throne may be pretty enough as we men look upon ourselves and upon +love. But that a young girl, famous for her haughty beauty and, only +a short time before, the admired of all at the balls in the Viceroy's +palace, should take by the hand a guasso, a common peasant, is +intolerable to our sentiment of women and their love. It is madness. +Nevertheless it happened. But it must be said that in her case it was +the madness of hate--not of love." + +After presenting this excuse in a spirit of chivalrous justice, the +General remained silent for a time. "I rode past the house every day +almost," he began again, "and this was what was going on within. But how +it was going on no mind of man can conceive. Her desperation must +have been extreme, and Gaspar Ruiz was a docile fellow. He had been an +obedient soldier. His strength was like an enormous stone lying on the +ground, ready to be hurled this way that by the hand that picks it up. + +"It is clear that he would tell his story to the people who gave him +the shelter he needed. And he needed assistance badly. His wound was not +dangerous, but his life was forfeited. The old Royalist being wrapped up +in his laughing madness, the two women arranged a hiding-place for the +wounded man in one of the huts amongst the fruit trees at the back of +the house. That hovel, an abundance of clear water while the fever was +on him, and some words of pity were all they could give. I suppose +he had a share of what food there was. And it would be but little; a +handful of roasted corn, perhaps a dish of beans, or a piece of bread +with a few figs. To such misery were those proud and once wealthy people +reduced." + + + + +VII + +GENERAL SANTIERRA was right in his surmise. Such was the exact nature of +the assistance which Gaspar Ruiz, peasant son of peasants, received +from the Royalist family whose daughter had opened the door--of their +miserable refuge to his extreme distress. Her sombre resolution ruled +the madness of her father and the trembling bewilderment of her mother. + +She had asked the strange man on the door-step, "Who wounded you?" + +"The soldiers, senora," Gaspar Ruiz had answered, in a faint voice. + +"Patriots?" + +"Si." + +"What for?" + +"Deserter," he gasped, leaning against the wall under the scrutiny of +her black eyes. "I was left for dead over there." + +She led him through the house out to a small hut of clay and reeds, lost +in the long grass of the overgrown orchard. He sank on a heap of maize +straw in a corner, and sighed profoundly. + +"No one will look for you here," she said, looking down at him. "Nobody +comes near us. We too have been left for dead--here." + +He stirred uneasily on his heap of dirty straw, and the pain in his neck +made him groan deliriously. + +"I shall show Estaban some day that I am alive yet," he mumbled. + +He accepted her assistance in silence, and the many days of pain went +by. Her appearances in the hut brought him relief and became connected +with the feverish dreams of angels which visited his couch; for Gaspar +Ruiz was instructed in the mysteries of his religion, and had even +been taught to read and write a little by the priest of his village. He +waited for her with impatience, and saw her pass out of the dark hut and +disappear in the brilliant sunshine with poignant regret. He discovered +that, while he lay there feeling so very weak, he could, by closing his +eyes, evoke her face with considerable distinctness. And this discovered +faculty charmed the long solitary hours of his convalescence. Later, +when he began to regain his strength, he would creep at dusk from his +hut to the house and sit on the step of the garden door. + +In one of the rooms the mad father paced to and fro, muttering to +himself with short abrupt laughs. In the passage, sitting on a stool, +the mother sighed and moaned. The daughter, in rough threadbare +clothing, and her white haggard face half hidden by a coarse manta, +stood leaning against the lintel of the door. Gaspar Ruiz, with his +elbows propped on his knees and his head resting in his hands, talked to +the two women in an undertone. + +The common misery of destitution would have made a bitter mockery of a +marked insistence on social differences. Gaspar Ruiz understood this in +his simplicity. From his captivity amongst the Royalists he could give +them news of people they knew. He described their appearance; and when +he related the story of the battle in which he was recaptured the two +women lamented the blow to their cause and the ruin of their secret +hopes. + +He had no feeling either way. But he felt a great devotion for that +young girl. In his desire to appear worthy of her condescension, he +boasted a little of his bodily strength. He had nothing else to boast +of. Because of that quality his comrades treated him with as great a +deference, he explained, as though he had been a sergeant, both in camp +and in battle. + +"I could always get as many as I wanted to follow me anywhere, senorita. +I ought to have been made an officer, because I can read and write." + +Behind him the silent old lady fetched a moaning sigh from time to time; +the distracted father muttered to himself, pacing the sala; and Gaspar +Ruiz would raise his eyes now and then to look at the daughter of these +people. + +He would look at her with curiosity because she was alive, and also with +that feeling of familiarity and awe with which he had contemplated +in churches the inanimate and powerful statues of the saints, whose +protection is invoked in dangers and difficulties. His difficulty was +very great. + +He could not remain hiding in an orchard for ever and ever. He knew also +very well that before he had gone half a day's journey in any direction, +he would be picked up by one of the cavalry patrols scouring the +country, and brought into one or another of the camps where the patriot +army destined for the liberation of Peru was collected. There he +would in the end be recognised as Gaspar Ruiz--the deserter to the +Royalists--and no doubt shot very effectually this time. There did not +seem any place in the world for the innocent Gaspar Ruiz anywhere. +And at this thought his simple soul surrendered itself to gloom and +resentment as black as night. + +They had made him a soldier forcibly. He did not mind being a soldier. +And he had been a good soldier as he had been a good son, because of his +docility and his strength. But now there was no use for either. They had +taken him from his parents, and he could no longer be a soldier--not a +good soldier at any rate. Nobody would listen to his explanations. What +injustice it was! What injustice! + +And in a mournful murmur he would go over the story of his capture and +recapture for the twentieth time. Then, raising his eyes to the silent +girl in the doorway, "Si, senorita," he would say with a deep sigh, +"injustice has made this poor breath in my body quite worthless to me +and to anybody else. And I do not care who robs me of it." + +One evening, as he exhaled thus the plaint of his wounded soul, she +condescended to say that, if she were a man, she would consider no life +worthless which held the possibility of revenge. + +She seemed to be speaking to herself. Her voice was low. He drank in the +gentle, as if dreamy sound, with a consciousness of peculiar delight, of +something warming his breast like a draught of generous wine. + +"True, senorita," he said, raising his face up to hers slowly: "there is +Estaban, who must be shown that I am not dead after all." + +The mutterings of the mad father had ceased long before; the sighing +mother had withdrawn somewhere into one of the empty rooms. All was +still within as well as without, in the moonlight bright as day on the +wild orchard full of inky shadows. Gaspar Ruiz saw the dark eyes of Dona +Erminia look down at him. + +"Ala! The sergeant," she muttered disdainfully. + +"Why! He has wounded me with his sword," he protested, bewildered by the +contempt that seemed to shine livid on her pale face. + +She crushed him with her glance. The power of her will to be understood +was so strong that it kindled in him the intelligence of unexpressed +things. + +"What else did you expect me to do?" he cried, as if suddenly driven to +despair. "Have I the power to do more? Am I a general with an army at my +back?--miserable sinner that I am to be despised by you at last." + + + + +VIII + +"SENORES," related the General to his guests, "though my thoughts were +of love then, and therefore enchanting, the sight of that house always +affected me disagreeably, especially in the moonlight, when its close +shutters and its air of lonely neglect appeared sinister. Still I went +on using the bridle-path by the ravine, because it was a short cut. +The mad Royalist howled and laughed at me every evening to his complete +satisfaction; but after a time, as if wearied with my indifference, he +ceased to appear in the porch. How they persuaded him to leave off I do +not know. However, with Gaspar Ruiz in the house there would have been +no difficulty in restraining him by force. It was part of their policy +in there to avoid anything which could provoke me. At least, so I +suppose. + +"Notwithstanding my infatuation with the brightest pair of eyes in +Chile, I noticed the absence of the old man after a week or so. A few +more days passed. I began to think that perhaps these Royalists had gone +away somewhere else. But one evening, as I was hastening towards the +city, I saw again somebody in the porch. It was not the madman; it was +the girl. She stood holding on to one of the wooden columns, tall and +white-faced, her big eyes sunk deep with privation and sorrow. I looked +hard at her, and she met my stare with a strange, inquisitive look. +Then, as I turned my head after riding past, she seemed to gather +courage for the act, and absolutely beckoned me back. + +"I obeyed, senores, almost without thinking, so great was my +astonishment. It was greater still when I heard what she had to say. She +began by thanking me for my forbearance of her father's infirmity, +so that I felt ashamed of myself. I had meant to show disdain, not +forbearance! Every word must have burnt her lips, but she never departed +from a gentle and melancholy dignity which filled me with respect +against my will. Senores, we are no match for women. But I could hardly +believe my ears when she began her tale. Providence, she concluded, +seemed to have preserved the life of that wronged soldier, who now +trusted to my honour as a caballero and to my compassion for his +sufferings. + +"'Wronged man,' I observed coldly. 'Well, I think so too: and you have +been harbouring an enemy of your cause.' + +"'He was a poor Christian crying for help at our door in the name of +God, senor,' she answered simply. + +"I began to admire her. 'Where is he now?' I asked stiffly. + +"But she would not answer that question. With extreme cunning, and an +almost fiendish delicacy, she managed to remind me of my failure in +saving the lives of the prisoners in the guard-room, without wounding +my pride. She knew, of course, the whole story. Gaspar Ruiz, she said, +entreated me to procure for him a safe-conduce from General San +Martin himself. He had an important communication to make to the +Commander-in-Chief. + +"Por Dios, senores, she made me swallow all that, pretending to be only +the mouthpiece of that poor man. Overcome by injustice, he expected to +find, she said, as much generosity in me as had been shown to him by the +Royalist family which had given him a refuge. + +"Hal It was well and nobly said to a youngster like me. I thought her +great. Alas! she was only implacable. + +"In the end I rode away very enthusiastic about the business, without +demanding even to see Gaspar Ruiz, who I was confident was in the house. + +"But on calm reflection I began to see some difficulties which I had not +confidence enough in myself to encounter. It was not easy to approach +a commander-in-chief with such a story. I feared failure. At last I +thought it better to lay the matter before my general-of-division, +Robles, a friend of my family, who had appointed me his aide-de-camp +lately. + +"He took it out of my hands at once without any ceremony. + +"'In the house! of course he is in the house,' he said contemptuously. +'You ought to have gone sword in hand inside and demanded his surrender, +instead of chatting with a Royalist girl in the porch. Those people +should have been hunted out of that long ago. Who knows how many spies +they have harboured right in the very midst of our camps? A safe-conduct +from the Commander-in-Chief! The audacity of the fellow! Ha! ha! Now +we shall catch him to-night, and then we shall find out, without any +safe-conduct, what he has got to say, that is so very important. Ha! ha! +ha!' + +"General Robles, peace to his soul, was a short, thick man, with round, +staring eyes, fierce and jovial. Seeing my distress he added: + +"'Come, come, chico. I promise you his life if he does not resist. And +that is not likely. We are not going to break up a good soldier if it +can be helped. I tell you what! I am curious to see your strong man. +Nothing but a general will do for the picaro--well, he shall have a +general to talk to. Ha! ha! I shall go myself to the catching, and you +are coming with me, of course.' + +"And it was done that same night. Early in the evening the house and the +orchard were surrounded quietly. Later on the general and I left a ball +we were attending in town and rode out at an easy gallop. At some little +distance from the house we pulled up. A mounted orderly held our horses. +A low whistle warned the men watching all along the ravine, and we +walked up to the porch softly. The barricaded house in the moonlight +seemed empty. + +"The general knocked at the door. After a time a woman's voice within +asked who was there. My chief nudged me hard. I gasped. + +"' It is I, Lieutenant Santierra,' I stammered out, as if choked. 'Open +the door.' + +"It came open slowly. The girl, holding a thin taper in her hand, seeing +another man with me, began to back away before us slowly, shading the +light with her hand. Her impassive white face looked ghostly. I followed +behind General Robles. Her eyes were fixed on mine. I made a gesture of +helplessness behind my chief's back, trying at the same time to give a +reassuring expression to my face. Neither of us three uttered a sound. + +"We found ourselves in a room with bare floor and walls. There was a +rough table and a couple of stools in it, nothing else whatever. An old +woman with her grey hair hanging loose wrung her hands when we appeared. +A peal of loud laughter resounded through the empty house, very amazing +and weird. At this the old woman tried to get past us. + +"'Nobody to leave the room,' said General Robles to me. + +"I swung the door to, heard the latch click, and the laughter became +faint in our ears. + +"Before another word could be spoken in that room I was amazed by +hearing the sound of distant thunder. + +"I had carried in with me into the house a vivid impression of a +beautiful, clear, moonlight night, without a speck of cloud in the sky. +I could not believe my ears. Sent early abroad for my education, I was +not familiar with the most dreaded natural phenomenon of my native land. +I saw, with inexpressible astonishment, a look of terror in my chief's +eyes. Suddenly I felt giddy! The general staggered against me heavily; +the girl seemed to reel in the middle of the room, the taper fell out of +her hand and the light went out; a shrill cry of Misericordia! from the +old woman pierced my ears. In the pitchy darkness I heard the plaster +off the walls falling on The floor. It is a mercy there was no ceiling. +Holding on to the latch of the door, I heard the grinding of the +roof-tiles cease above my head. The shock was over. + +"'Out of the house! The door! Fly, Santierra, fly!' howled the general. +You know, senores, in our country the bravest are not ashamed of the +fear an earthquake strikes into all the senses of man. One never gets +used to it. + +"Repeated experience only augments the mastery of that nameless terror. + +"It was my first earthquake, and I was the calmest of them all. I +understood that the crash outside was caused by the porch, with its +wooden pillars and tiled roof projection, falling down. The next +shock would destroy the house, maybe. That rumble as of thunder was +approaching again. The general was rushing round the room, to find the +door, perhaps. He made a noise as though he were trying to climb the +walls, and I heard him distinctly invoke the names of several saints. +'Out, out, Santierra!' he yelled. + +"The girl's voice was the only one I did not hear. + +"'General,' I cried, 'I cannot move the door. We must be locked in.' + +"I did not recognise his voice in the shout of malediction and despair +he let out. Senores I know many men in my country, especially in the +provinces most subject to earthquakes, who will neither eat, sleep, +pray, nor even sit down to cards with closed doors. The danger is not +in the loss of time, but in this--that the movement of the walls may +prevent a door being opened at all. This was what had happened to us. We +were trapped, and we had no help to expect from anybody. There is no man +in my country who will go into a house when the earth trembles. There +never was--except one: Gaspar Ruiz. + +"He had come out of whatever hole he had been hiding in outside, and +had clambered over the timbers of the destroyed porch. Above the awful +subterranean groan of coming destruction I heard a mighty voice shouting +the word 'Erminia!' with the lungs of a giant. An earthquake is a great +leveller of distinctions. I collected all my resolution against the +terror of the scene. 'She is here,' I shouted back. A roar as of a +furious wild beast answered me--while my head swam, my heart sank, and +the sweat of anguish streamed like rain off my brow. + +"He had the strength to pick up one of the heavy posts of the porch. +Holding it under his armpit like a lance, but with both hands, he +charged madly the rocking house with the force of a battering-ram, +bursting open the door and rushing in, headlong, over our prostrate +bodies. I and the general, picking ourselves up, bolted out together, +without looking round once till we got across the road. Then, clinging +to each other, we beheld the house change suddenly into a heap of +formless rubbish behind the back of a man, who staggered towards us +bearing the form of a woman clasped in his arms. Her long black hair +hung nearly to his feet. He laid her down reverently on the heaving +earth, and the moonlight shone on her closed eyes. + +"senores, we mounted with difficulty. Our horses, getting up, plunged +madly, held by the soldiers who had come running from all sides. Nobody +thought of catching Gaspar Ruiz then. The eyes of men and animals shone +with wild fear. My general approached Gaspar Ruiz, who stood motionless +as a statue above the girl. He let himself be shaken by the shoulder +without detaching his eyes from her face. + +"'Que guape!' shouted the general in his ear. 'You are the bravest man +living. You have saved my life. I am General Robles. Come to my quarters +to-morrow, if God gives us the grace to see another day.' + +"He never stirred--as if deaf, without feeling, insensible. + +"We rode away for the town, full of our relations, of our friends, of +whose fate we hardly dared to think. The soldiers ran by the side of +our horses. Everything was forgotten in the immensity of the catastrophe +overtaking a whole country." + +Gaspar Ruiz saw the girl open her eyes. The raising of her eyelids +seemed to recall him from a trance. They were alone; the cries of terror +and distress from homeless people filled the plains of the coast, remote +and immense, coming like a whisper into their loneliness. + +She rose swiftly to her feet, darting fearful glances on all sides. +"What is it?" she cried out low, and peering into his face. "Where am +I?" + +He bowed his head sadly, without a word. + +"... Who are you?" + +He knelt down slowly before her, and touched the hem of her coarse black +baize skirt. "Your slave," he said. + +She caught sight then of the heap of rubbish that had been the house, +all misty in the cloud of dust. "Ah!" she cried, pressing her hand to +her forehead. + +"I carried you out from there," he whispered at her feet. + +"And they?" she asked in a great sob. + +He rose, and taking her by the arms, led her gently towards the +shapeless ruin half overwhelmed by a land-slide. "Come and listen," he +said. + +The serene moon saw them clambering over that heap of stones, joists and +tiles, which was a grave. They pressed their ears to the interstices, +listening for the sound of a groan, for a sigh of pain. + +At last he said, "They died swiftly. You are alone." + +She sat down on a piece of broken timber and put one arm across her +face. He waited--then, approaching his lips to her ear, "Let us go," he +whispered. + +"Never--never from here," she cried out, flinging her arms above her +head. + +He stooped over her, and her raised arms fell upon his shoulders. He +lifted her up, steadied himself and began to walk, looking straight +before him. + +"What are you doing?" she asked feebly. + +"I am escaping from my enemies," he said, never once glancing at his +light burden. + +"With me?" she sighed helplessly. + +"Never without you," he said. "You are my strength." + +He pressed her close to him. His face was grave and his footsteps +steady. The conflagrations bursting out in the ruins of destroyed +villages dotted the plain with red fires; and the sounds of distant +lamentations, the cries of "Misericordia! Misericordia!" made a desolate +murmur in his ears. He walked on, solemn and collected, as if carrying +something holy, fragile and precious. + +The earth rocked at times under his feet. + + + + +IX + +WITH movements of mechanical care and an air of abstraction old General +Santierra lighted a long and thick cigar. + +"It was a good many hours before we could send a party back to the +ravine," he said to his guests. "We had found one-third of the town laid +low, the rest shaken up; and the inhabitants, rich and poor, reduced to +the same state of distraction by the universal disaster. The affected +cheerfulness of some contrasted with the despair of others. In the +general confusion a number of reckless thieves, without fear of God or +man, became a danger to those who from the downfall of their homes had +managed to save some valuables. Crying 'Misericordia' louder than any at +every tremor, and beating their breasts with one hand, these scoundrels +robbed the poor victims with the other, not even stopping short of +murder. + +"General Robles' division was occupied entirely in guarding the +destroyed quarters of the town from the depredations of these inhuman +monsters. Taken up with my duties of orderly officer, it was only in the +morning that I could assure myself of the safety of my own family. + +"My mother and my sisters had escaped with their lives from that +ball-room, where I had left them early in the evening. I remember those +two beautiful young women--God rest their souls--as if I saw them this +moment, in the garden of our destroyed house, pale but active, assisting +some of our poor neighbours, in their soiled ball-dresses and with the +dust of fallen walls on their hair. As to my mother, she had a stoical +soul in her frail body. Half-covered by a costly shawl, she was lying +on a rustic seat by the side of an ornamental basin whose fountain had +ceased to play for ever on that night. + +"I had hardly had time to embrace them all with transports of joy, when +my chief, coming along, dispatched me to the ravine with a few soldiers, +to bring in my strong man, as he called him, and that pale girl. + +"But there was no one for us to bring in. A land-slide had covered the +ruins of the house; and it was like a large mound of earth with only the +ends of some timbers visible here and there--nothing more. + +"Thus were the tribulations of the old Royalist couple ended. An +enormous and unconsecrated grave had swallowed them up alive, in their +unhappy obstinacy against the will of a people to be free. And their +daughter was gone. + +"That Gaspar Ruiz had carried her off I understood very well. But as +the case was not foreseen, I had no instructions to pursue them. And +certainly I had no desire to do so. I had grown mistrustful of my +interference. It had never been successful, and had not even appeared +creditable. He was gone. Well, let him go. And he had carried off the +Royalist girl! Nothing better. Vaya con Dios. This was not the time +to bother about a deserter who, justly or unjustly, ought to have been +dead, and a girl for whom it would have been better to have never been +born. + +"So I marched my men back to the town. + +"After a few days, order having been re-established, all the principal +families, including my own, left for Santiago. We had a fine house +there. At the same time the division of Robles was moved to new +cantonments near the capital. This change suited very well the state of +my domestic and amorous feelings. + +"One night, rather late, I was called to my chief. I found General +Robles in his quarters, at ease, with his uniform off, drinking neat +brandy out of a tumbler--as a precaution, he used to say, against the +sleeplessness induced by the bites of mosquitoes. He was a good soldier, +and he taught me the art and practice of war. + +"No doubt God has been merciful to his soul; for his motives were never +other than patriotic, if his character was irascible. As to the use +of mosquito nets, he considered it effeminate, shameful--unworthy of a +soldier. + +"I noticed at the first glance that his face, already very red, wore an +expression of high good-humour. + +"'Aha! senor teniente,' he cried loudly, as I saluted at the door. +'Behold! Your strong man has turned up again.' + +"He extended to me a folded letter, which I saw was superscribed 'To the +Commander-in-Chief of the Republican Armies.' + +"'This,' General Robles went on in his loud voice, 'was thrust by a boy +into the hand of a sentry at the Quartel General, while the fellow stood +there thinking of his girl, no doubt--for before he could gather his +wits together, the boy had disappeared amongst the market people, and he +protests he could not recognise him to save his life.' + +"My chief told me further that the soldier had given the letter to the +sergeant of the guard, and that ultimately it had reached the hands of +our generalissimo. His Excellency had deigned to take cognisance of it +with his own eyes. After that he had referred the matter in confidence +to General Robles. + +"The letter, senores, I cannot now recollect textually. I saw the +signature of Gaspar Ruiz. He was an audacious fellow. He had snatched a +soul for himself out of a cataclysm, remember. And now it was that +soul which had dictated the terms of his letter. Its tone was very +independent. I remember it struck me at the time as noble--dignified. It +was, no doubt, her letter. Now I shudder at the depth of its duplicity. +Gaspar Ruiz was made to complain of the injustice of which he had been +a victim. He invoked his previous record of fidelity and courage. Having +been saved from death by the miraculous interposition of Providence, he +could think of nothing but of retrieving his character. This, he wrote, +he could not hope to do in the ranks as a discredited soldier still +under suspicion. He had the means to give a striking proof of his +fidelity. And he ended by proposing to the General-in-Chief a meeting at +midnight in the middle of the Plaza before the Moneta. The signal would +be to strike fire with flint and steel three times, which was not too +conspicuous and yet distinctive enough for recognition. + +"San Martin, the great Liberator, loved men of audacity and courage. +Besides, he was just and compassionate. I told him as much of the man's +story as I knew, and was ordered to accompany him on the appointed +night. The signals were duly exchanged. It was midnight, and the whole +town was dark and silent. Their two cloaked figures came together in +the centre of the vast Plaza, and, keeping discreetly at a distance, +I listened for an hour or more to the murmur of their voices. Then the +general motioned me to approach; and as I did so I heard San Martin, +who was courteous to gentle and simple alike, offer Gaspar Ruiz the +hospitality of the headquarters for the night. But the soldier refused, +saying that he would not be worthy of that honour till he had done +something. + +"'You cannot have a common deserter for your guest, Excellency,' he +protested with a low laugh, and stepping backwards, merged slowly into +the night. + +"The Commander-in-Chief observed to me, as we turned away: 'He had +somebody with him, our friend Ruiz. I saw two figures for a moment. It +was an unobtrusive companion.' + +"I too had observed another figure join the vanishing form of Gaspar +Ruiz. It had the appearance of a short fellow in a poncho and a big +hat. And I wondered stupidly who it could be he had dared take into +his confidence. I might have guessed it could be no one but that fatal +girl--alas! + +"Where he kept her concealed I do not know. He had--it was known +afterwards--an uncle, his mother's brother, a small shopkeeper in +Santiago. Perhaps it was there that she found a roof and food. Whatever +she found, it was poor enough to exasperate her pride and keep up her +anger and hate. It is certain she did not accompany him on the feat +he undertook to accomplish first of all. It was nothing less than the +destruction of a store of war material collected secretly by the Spanish +authorities in the south, in a town called Linares. Gaspar Ruiz was +entrusted with a small party only, but they proved themselves worthy of +San Martin's confidence. The season was not propitious. They had to swim +swollen rivers. They seemed, however, to have galloped night and day, +outriding the news of their foray, and holding straight for the town, a +hundred miles into the enemy's country, till at break of day they rode +into it sword in hand, surprising the little garrison. It fled without +making a stand, leaving most of its officers in Gaspar Ruiz' hands. + +"A great explosion of gunpowder ended the conflagration of the magazines +the raiders had set on fire without loss of time. In less than six +hours they were riding away at the same mad speed, without the loss of a +single man. Good as they were, such an exploit is not performed without +a still better leadership. + +"I was dining at the headquarters when Gas-par Ruiz himself brought the +news of his success. And it was a great blow to the Royalist troops. For +a proof he displayed to us the garrison's flag. He took it from under +his poncho and flung it on the table. The man was transfigured; there +was something exulting and menacing in the expression of his face. He +stood behind General San Martin's chair and looked proudly at us all. +He had a round blue cap edged with silver braid on his head, and we all +could see a large white scar on the nape of his sunburnt neck. + +"Somebody asked him what he had done with the captured Spanish officers. + +"He shrugged his shoulders scornfully. 'What a question to ask! In +a partisan war you do not burden yourself with prisoners. I let them +go--and here are their sword-knots.' + +"He flung a bunch of them on the table upon the flag. Then General +Robles, whom I was attending there, spoke up in his loud, thick voice: +'You did! Then, my brave friend, you do not know yet how a war like ours +ought to be conducted. You should have done--this.' And he passed the +edge of his hand across his own throat. + +"Alas, senores! It was only too true that on both sides this contest, in +its nature so heroic, was stained by ferocity. The murmurs that arose +at General Robles' words were by no means unanimous in tone. But the +generous and brave San Martin praised the humane action, and pointed +out to Ruiz a place on his right hand. Then rising with a full glass +he proposed a toast: 'Caballeros and comrades-in-arms, let us drink the +health of Captain Gaspar Ruiz.' And when we had emptied our glasses: +'I intend,' the Commander-in-Chief continued, 'to entrust him with the +guardianship of our southern frontier, while we go afar to liberate our +brethren in Peru. He whom the enemy could not stop from striking a blow +at his very heart will know how to protect the peaceful populations we +leave behind us to pursue our sacred task.' And he embraced the silent +Gaspar Ruiz by his side. + +"Later on, when we all rose from table, I approached the latest officer +of the army with my congratulations. 'And, Captain Ruiz,' I added, +'perhaps you do not mind telling a man who has always believed in the +uprightness of your character, what became of Dona Erminia on that +night?' + +"At this friendly question his aspect changed. He looked at me from +under his eyebrows with the heavy, dull glance of a guasso--of a +peasant. + +"Senor teniente,' he said thickly, and as if very much cast down, 'do +not ask me about the senorita, for I prefer not to think about her at +all when I am amongst you.' + +"He looked, with a frown, all about the room, full of smoking and +talking officers. Of course I did not insist. + +"These, senores, were the last words I was to hear him utter for a long, +long time. The very next day we embarked for our arduous expedition to +Peru, and we only heard of Gaspar Ruiz' doings in the midst of battles +of our own. He had been appointed military guardian of our southern +province. He raised a partida. But his leniency to the conquered foe +displeased the Civil Governor, who was a formal, uneasy man, full of +suspicions. He forwarded reports against Gaspar Ruiz to the Supreme +Government; one of them being that he had married publicly, with great +pomp, a woman of Royalist tendencies. Quarrels were sure to arise +between these two men of very different character. At last the Civil +Governor began to complain of his inactivity, and to hint at treachery, +which, he wrote, would be not surprising in a man of such antecedents. +Gaspar Ruiz heard of it. His rage flamed up, and the woman ever by his +side knew how to feed it with perfidious words. I do not know +whether really the Supreme Government ever did--as he complained +afterwards--send orders for his arrest. It seems certain that the +Civil Governor began to tamper with his officers, and that Gaspar Ruiz +discovered the fact. + +"One evening, when the Governor was giving a tertullia Gaspar Ruiz, +followed by six men he could trust, appeared riding through the town to +the door of the Government House, and entered the sala armed, his hat on +his head. As the Governor, displeased, advanced to meet him, he seized +the wretched man round the body, carried him off from the midst of the +appalled guests, as though he were a child, and flung him down the outer +steps into the street. An angry hug from Gaspar Ruiz was enough to crush +the life out of a giant; but in addition Gaspar Ruiz' horsemen fired +their pistols at the body of the Governor as it lay motionless at the +bottom of the stairs." + + + + +X + +"AFTER this--as he called it--act of justice, Ruiz crossed the Rio +Blanco, followed by the greater part of his band, and entrenched himself +upon a hill A company of regular troops sent out foolishly against him +was surrounded, and destroyed almost to a man. Other expeditions, though +better organised, were equally unsuccessful. + +"It was during these sanguinary skirmishes that his wife first began to +appear on horseback at his right hand. Rendered proud and self-confident +by his successes, Ruiz no longer charged at the head of his partida, but +presumptuously, like a general directing the movements of an army, +he remained in the rear, well mounted and motionless on an eminence, +sending out his orders. She was seen repeatedly at his side, and for +a long time was mistaken for a man. There was much talk then of a +mysterious white-faced chief, to whom the defeats of our troops were +ascribed. She rode like an Indian woman, astride, wearing a broad-rimmed +man's hat and a dark poncho. Afterwards, in the day of their greatest +prosperity, this poncho was embroidered in gold, and she wore then, +also, the sword of poor Don Antonio de Leyva. This veteran Chilean +officer, having the misfortune to be surrounded with his small force, +and running short of ammunition, found his death at the hands of the +Arauco Indians, the allies and auxiliaries of Gaspar Ruiz. This was the +fatal affair long remembered afterwards as the 'Massacre of the Island.' +The sword of the unhappy officer was presented to her by Peneleo, the +Araucanian chief; for these Indians, struck by her aspect, the deathly +pallor of her face, which no exposure to the weather seemed to affect, +and her calm indifference under fire, looked upon her as a supernatural +being, or at least as a witch. By this superstition the prestige and +authority of Gaspar Ruiz amongst these ignorant people were greatly +augmented. She must have savoured her vengeance to the full on that day +when she buckled on the sword of Don Antonio de Leyva. It never left her +side, unless she put on her woman's clothes--not that she would or +could ever use it, but she loved to feel it beating upon her thigh as +a perpetual reminder and symbol of the dishonour to the arms of the +Republic. She was insatiable. Moreover, on the path she had led Gaspar +Ruiz upon, there is no stopping. Escaped prisoners--and they were not +many--used to relate how with a few whispered words she could change the +expression of his face and revive his flagging animosity. They told how +after every skirmish, after every raid, after every successful action, +he would ride up to her and look into her face. Its haughty-calm was +never relaxed. Her embrace, senores, must have been as cold as the +embrace of a statue. He tried to melt her icy heart in a stream of warm +blood. Some English naval officers who visited him at that time noticed +the strange character of his infatuation." + +At the movement of surprise and curiosity in his audience General +Santierra paused for a moment. + +"Yes--English naval officers," he repeated. "Ruiz had consented to +receive them to arrange for the liberation of some prisoners of your +nationality. In the territory upon which he ranged, from sea coast to +the Cordillera, there was a bay where the ships of that time, after +rounding Gape Horn, used to resort for wood and water. There, decoying +the crew on shore, he captured first the whaling brig Hersalia, and +afterwards made himself master by surprise of two more ships, one +English and one American. + +"It was rumoured at the time that he dreamed of setting up a navy of his +own. But that, of course, was impossible. Still, manning the brig with +part of her own crew, and putting an officer and a good many men of his +own on board, he sent her off to the Spanish Governor of the island of +Chiloe with a report of his exploits, and a demand for assistance in the +war against the rebels. The Governor could not do much for him; but he +sent in return two light field-pieces, a letter of compliments, with a +colonel's commission in the royal forces, and a great Spanish flag. This +standard with much ceremony was hoisted over his house in the heart of +the Arauco country. Surely on that day she may have smiled on her guasso +husband with a less haughty reserve. + +"The senior officer of the English squadron on our coast made +representations to our Government as to these captures. But Gaspar Ruiz +refused to treat with us. Then an English frigate proceeded to the bay, +and her captain, doctor, and two lieutenants travelled inland under a +safe conduct. They were well received, and spent three days as guests +of the partisan chief. A sort of military, barbaric state was kept up +at the residence. It was furnished with the loot of frontier towns. When +first admitted to the principal sala, they saw his wife lying down (she +was not in good health then), with Gaspar Ruiz sitting at the foot of +the couch. His-hat was lying on the floor, and his hands reposed on the +hilt of his sword. + +"During that first conversation he never removed his big hands from +the sword-hilt, except once, to arrange the coverings about her, with +gentle, careful touches. They noticed that when ever she spoke he would +fix his eyes upon her in a kind of expectant, breathless attention, and +seemingly forget the existence of the world and his own existence +too. In the course of the farewell banquet, at which she was present +reclining on her couch, he burst forth into complaints of the treatment +he had received. After General San Martin's departure he had been +beset by spies, slandered by civil officials, his services ignored, his +liberty and even his life threatened by the Chilian Government. He got +up from the table, thundered execrations pacing the room wildly, then +sat down on the couch at his wife's feet, his breast heaving, his eyes +fixed on the floor. She reclined on her back, her head on the cushions, +her eyes nearly closed. + +"'And now I am an honoured Spanish officer,' he added in a calm voice. + +"The captain of the English frigate then took the opportunity to inform +him gently that Lima had fallen, and that by the terms of a convention +the Spaniards were withdrawing from the whole continent. + +"Gaspar Ruiz raised his head, and without hesitation, speaking with +suppressed vehemence, declared, that if not a single Spanish soldier +were left in the whole of South America he would persist in carrying on +the contest against Chile to the last drop of blood. When he finished +that mad tirade his wife's long white hand was raised, and she just +caressed his knee with the tips of her fingers for a fraction of a +second. + +"For the rest of the officers' stay, which did not extend for more than +half an hour after the banquet, that ferocious chieftain of a desperate +partida overflowed with amiability and kindness. He had been hospitable +before, but now it seemed as though he could not do enough for the +comfort and safety of his visitors' journey back to their ship. + +"Nothing, I have been told, could have presented a greater contrast to +his late violence or the habitual taciturn reserve of his manner. Like a +man elated beyond measure by an unexpected happiness, he overflowed with +good-will, amiability, and attentions. He embraced the officers like +brothers, almost with tears in his eyes. The released prisoners were +presented each with a piece of gold. At the last moment, suddenly, he +declared he could do no less than restore to the masters of the merchant +vessels all their private property. This unexpected generosity caused +some delay in the departure of the party, and their first march was very +short. + +"Late in the evening Gaspar Ruiz rode up with an escort, to their camp +fires, bringing along with him a mule loaded with cases of wine. He had +come, he said, to drink a stirrup cup with his English friends, whom he +would never see again. He was mellow and joyous in his temper. He told +stories of his own exploits, laughed like a boy, borrowed a guitar +from the Englishmen's chief muleteer, and sitting cross-legged on his +superfine poncho spread before the glow of the embers, sang a guasso +love-song in a tender voice. Then his head dropped on his breast, his +hands fell to the ground; the guitar rolled off his knees--and a great +hush fell over the camp after the love-song of the implacable partisan +who had made so many of our people weep for destroyed homes and for +loves cut short. + +"Before anybody could make a sound he sprang up from the ground and +called for his horse. 'Adios, my friends!' he cried, 'Go with God. +I love you. And tell them well in Santiago that between Gaspar Ruiz, +colonel of the King of Spain, and the republican carrion-crows of Chile +there is war to the last breath--war! war! war!' + +"With a great yell of 'War! war! war!' which his escort took up, they +rode away, and the sound of hoofs and of voices died out in the distance +between the slopes of the hills. + +"The two young English officers were convinced that Ruiz was mad. How +do you say that?--tile loose--eh? But the doctor, an observant Scotsman +with much shrewdness and philosophy in his character, told me that it +was a very curious case of possession. I met him many years afterwards, +but he remembered the experience very well. He told me too that in +his opinion that woman did not lead Gaspar Ruiz into the practice of +sanguinary treachery by direct persuasion, but by the subtle way of +awakening and keeping alive in his simple mind a burning sense of an +irreparable wrong. Maybe, maybe. But I would say that she poured half +of her vengeful soul into the strong clay of that man, as you may pour +intoxication, madness, poison into an empty cup. + +"If he wanted war he got it in earnest when our victorious army began to +return from Peru. Systematic operations were planned against this blot +on the honour and prosperity of our hardly-won independence. General +Robles commanded, with his well-known ruthless severity. Savage +reprisals were exercised on both sides, and no quarter was given in the +field. Having won my promotion in the Peru campaign, I was a captain on +the staff. + +"Gaspar Ruiz found himself hard pressed; at the same time we heard by +means of a fugitive priest who had been carried off from his village +presbytery, and galloped eighty miles into the hills to perform the +christening ceremony, that a daughter was born to them. To celebrate the +event, I suppose, Ruiz executed one or two brilliant forays clear away +at the rear of our forces, and defeated the detachments sent out to cut +off his retreat. General Robles nearly had a stroke of apoplexy from +rage. He found another cause of insomnia than the bites of mosquitoes; +but against this one, senores, tumblers of raw brandy had no more effect +than so much water. He took to railing and storming at me about my +strong man. And from our impatience to end this inglorious campaign, I +am afraid that we young officers became reckless and apt to take undue +risks on service. + +"Nevertheless, slowly, inch by inch as it were, our columns were closing +upon Gaspar Ruiz, though he had managed to raise all the Araucanian +nation of wild Indians against us. Then a year or more later our +Government became aware through its agents and spies that he had +actually entered into alliance with Carreras, the so-called dictator of +the so-called republic of Mendoza, on the other side of the mountains. +Whether Gaspar Ruiz had a deep political intention, or whether he wished +only to secure a safe retreat for his wife and child while he pursued +remorselessly against us his war of surprises and massacres, I cannot +tell. The alliance, however, was a fact. Defeated in his attempt to +check our advance from the sea, he retreated with his usual swiftness, +and preparing for another hard and hazardous tussle began by sending his +wife with the little girl across the Pequena range of mountains, on the +frontier of Mendoza." + + + + +XI + +"Now Carreras, under the guise of politics and liberalism, was a +scoundrel of the deepest dye, and the unhappy state of Mendoza was the +prey of thieves, robbers, traitors and murderers, who formed his party. +He was under a noble exterior a man without heart, pity, honour, or +conscience. Tie aspired to nothing but tyranny, and though he would have +made use of Gaspar Ruiz for his nefarious designs, yet he soon became +aware that to propitiate the Chilian Government would answer his purpose +better. I blush to say that he made proposals to our Government to +deliver up on certain conditions the wife and child of the man who had +trusted to his honour, and that this offer was accepted. + +"While on her way to Mendoza over the Pequena pass she was betrayed by +her escort of Carreras' men, and given up to the officer in command of +a Chilian fort on the upland at the foot of the main Cordillera range. +This atrocious transaction might have cost me dear, for as a matter of +fact I was a prisoner in Gaspar Ruiz' camp when he received the news. I +had been captured during a reconnaissance, my escort of a few troopers +being speared by the Indians of his bodyguard. I was saved from the same +fate because he recognised my features just in time. No doubt my friends +thought I was dead, and I would not have given much for my life at any +time. But the strong man treated me very well, because, he said, I had +always believed in his innocence and had tried to serve him when he was +a victim of injustice. + +"'And now,' was his speech to me, 'you shall see that I always speak the +truth. You are safe.' + +"I did not think I was very safe when I was called up to go to him one +night. He paced up and down like a wild beast, exclaiming, 'Betrayed! +Betrayed!' + +"He walked up to me clenching his fists. 'I could cut your throat.' + +"'Will that give your wife back to you?' I said as quietly as I could. + +"'And the child!' he yelled out, as if mad. He fell into a chair and +laughed in a frightful, boisterous manner. 'Oh, no, you are safe.' + +"I assured him that his wife's life was safe too; but I did not say what +I was convinced of--that he would never see her again. He wanted war to +the death, and the war could only end with his death. + +"He gave me a strange, inexplicable look, and sat muttering blankly. 'In +their hands. In their hands.' + +"I kept as still as a mouse before a cat. Suddenly he jumped up. 'What +am I doing here?' he cried; and opening the door, he yelled out orders +to saddle and mount. 'What is it?' he stammered, coming up to me. 'The +Pequena fort; a fort of palisades! Nothing. I would get her back if she +were hidden in the very heart of the mountain.' He amazed me by adding, +with an effort: 'I carried her off in my two arms while the earth +trembled. And the child at least is mine. She at least is mine!' + +"Those were bizarre words; but I had no time for wonder. + +"'You shall go with me;' he said violently. 'I may want to parley, and +any other messenger from Ruiz, the outlaw, would have his throat cut.' + +"This was true enough. Between him and the rest of incensed mankind +there could be no communication, according to the customs of honour-able +warfare. + +"In less than half an hour we were in the saddle, flying wildly through +the night. He had only an escort of twenty men at his quarters, but +would not wait for more. He sent, however, messengers to Peneleo, the +Indian chief then ranging in the foothills, directing him to bring +his warriors to the uplands and meet him at the lake called the Eye of +Water, near whose shores the frontier fort of Pequena was built. + +"We crossed the lowlands with that untired rapidity of movement which +had made Gaspar Ruiz' raids so famous. We followed the lower valleys +up to their precipitous heads. The ride was not without its dangers. +A cornice road on a perpendicular wall of basalt wound itself around a +buttressing rock, and at last we emerged from the gloom of a deep gorge +upon the upland of Peena. + +"It was a plain of green wiry grass and thin flowering bushes; but high +above our heads patches of snow hung in the folds and crevices of the +great walls of rock. The little lake was as round as a staring eye. The +garrison of the fort were just driving in their small herd of cattle +when we appeared. Then the great wooden gates swung to, and that +four-square enclosure of broad blackened stakes pointed at the top +and barely hiding the grass roofs of the huts inside, seemed deserted, +empty, without a single soul. + +"But when summoned to surrender, by a man who at Gaspar Ruiz' order rode +fearlessly forward, those inside answered by a volley which rolled him +and his horse over. I heard Ruiz by my side grind his teeth. 'It does +not matter,' he said. 'Now you go.' + +"Torn and faded as its rags were, the vestiges of my uniform were +recognised, and I was allowed to approach within speaking distance; and +then I had to wait, because a voice clamouring through a loophole with +joy and astonishment would not allow me to place a word. It was the +voice of Major Pajol, an old friend. He, like my other comrades, had +thought me killed a long time ago. + +"'Put spurs to your horse, man!' he yelled, in the greatest excitement; +'we will swing the gate open for you.' + +"I let the reins fall out of my hand and shook my head. 'I am on my +honour,' I cried. + +"'To him!' he shouted, with infinite disgust.' + +"'He promises you your life.' + +"'Our life is our own. And do you, Santierra, advise us to surrender to +that rastrero?' + +"'No!' I shouted. 'But he wants his wife and child, and he can cut you +off from water.' + +"'Then she would be the first to suffer. You may tell him that. Look +here--this is all nonsense: we shall dash out and capture you. + +"'You shall not catch me alive,' I said firmly. + +"'Imbecile!' + +"'For God's sake,' I continued hastily, 'do not open the gate.' And I +pointed at the multitude of Peneleo's Indians who covered the shores of +the lake. + +"I had never seen so many of these savages together. Their lances +seemed as numerous as stalks of grass. Their hoarse voices made a vast, +inarticulate sound like the murmur of the sea. + +"My friend Pajol was swearing to himself. 'Well, then--go to the devil!' +he shouted, exasperated. But as I swung round he repented, for I heard +him say hurriedly, 'Shoot the fool's horse before he gets away. + +"He had good marksmen. Two shots rang out, and in the very act +of turning my horse staggered, fell and lay still as if struck by +lightning. I had my feet out of the stirrups and rolled clear of him; +but I did not attempt to rise. Neither dared they rush out to drag me +in. + +"The masses of Indians had begun to move upon the fort. They rode up +in squadrons, trailing their long chusos; then dismounted out of +musket-shot, and, throwing off their fur mantles, advanced naked to the +attack, stamping their feet and shouting in cadence. A sheet of flame +ran three times along the face of the fort without checking their steady +march. They crowded right up to the very stakes, flourishing their broad +knives. But this palisade was not fastened together with hide lashings +in the usual way, but with long iron nails, which they could not cut. +Dismayed at the failure of their usual method of forcing an entrance, +the heathen, who had marched so steadily against the musketry fire, +broke and fled under the volleys of the besieged. + +"Directly they had passed me on their advance I got up and rejoined +Gaspar Ruiz on a low ridge which jutted out upon the plain. The musketry +of his own men had covered the attack, but now at a sign from him a +trumpet sounded the 'Cease fire.' Together we looked in silence at the +hopeless rout of the savages. + +"'It must be a siege, then,' he muttered. And I detected him wringing +his hands stealthily. + +"But what sort of siege could it be? Without any need for me to repeat +my friend Pajol's message, he dared not cut the water off from the +besieged. They had plenty of meat. And, indeed, if they had been short, +he would have been too anxious to send food into the stockade had he +been able. But, as a matter of fact, it was we on the plain who were +beginning to feel the pinch of hunger. + +"Peneleo, the Indian chief, sat by our fire folded in his ample mantle +of guanaco skins. He was an athletic savage, with an enormous square +shock head of hair resembling a straw beehive in shape and size, +and with grave, surly, much-lined features. In his broken Spanish he +repeated, growling like a bad-tempered wild beast, that if an opening +ever so small were made in the stockade his men would march in and get +the senora--not otherwise. + +"Gaspar Ruiz, sitting opposite him, kept his eyes fixed on the fort +night and day as it were, in awful silence and immobility. Meantime, by +runners from the lowlands that arrived nearly every day, we heard of the +defeat of one of his lieutenants in the Maipu valley. Scouts sent afar +brought news of a column of infantry advancing through distant passes to +the relief of the fort. They were slow, but we could trace their toilful +progress up the lower valleys. I wondered why Ruiz did not march to +attack and destroy this threatening force, in some wild gorge fit for an +ambuscade, in accordance with his genius for guerrilla warfare. But his +genius seemed to have abandoned him to his despair. + +"It was obvious to me that he could not tear himself away from the sight +of the fort. I protest to you, senores, that I was moved almost to +pity by the sight of this powerless strong man sitting on the ridge, +indifferent to sun, to rain, to cold, to wind; with his hands +clasped round his legs and his chin resting on his knees, +gazing--gazing--gazing. + +"And the fort he kept his eyes fastened on was as still and silent as +himself. The garrison gave no sign of life. They did not even answer the +desultory fire directed at the loopholes. + +"One night, as I strolled past him, he, without changing his attitude, +spoke to me unexpectedly 'I have sent for a gun,' he said. 'I shall have +time to get her back and retreat before your Robles manages to crawl up +here.' + +"He had sent for a gun to the plains. + +"It was long in coming, but at last it came. It was a seven-pounder +field-gun. Dismounted and lashed crosswise to two long poles, it had +been carried up the narrow paths between two mules with ease. His wild +cry of exultation at daybreak when he saw the gun escort emerge from the +valley rings in my ears now. + +"But, senores, I have no words to depict his amazement, his fury, his +despair and distraction, when he heard that the animal loaded with the +gun-carriage had, during the last night march, somehow or other tumbled +down a precipice. He broke into menaces of death and torture against the +escort. I kept out of his way all that day, lying behind some bushes, +and wondering what he would do now. Retreat was left for him; but he +could not retreat. + +"I saw below me his artillerist Jorge, an old Spanish soldier, building +up a sort of structure with heaped-up saddles. The gun, ready-loaded was +lifted on to that, but in the act of firing the whole thing collapsed +and the shot flew high above the stockade. + +"Nothing more was attempted. One of the ammunition mules had been lost +too, and they had no more than six shots to fire; amply enough to batter +down the gate, providing the gun was well laid. This was impossible +without it being properly mounted. There was no time nor means to +construct a carriage. Already every moment I expected to hear Robles' +bugle-calls echo amongst the crags. + +"Peneleo, wandering about uneasily, draped in his skins, sat down for a +moment near me growling his usual tale. + +"'Make an entrada--a hole. If make a hole, bueno. If not make a hole, +them vamos--we must go away.' + +"After sunset I observed with surprise the Indians making preparations +as if for another assault. Their lines stood ranged in the shadows +mountains. On the plain in front of the fort gate I saw a group of men +swaying about in the same place. + +"I walked down the ridge disregarded. The moonlight in the clear air of +the uplands was as bright as day, but the intense shadows confused my +sight, and I could not make out what they were doing. I heard voice +Jorge, artillerist, say in a queer, doubtful tone, 'It is loaded, +senores.' + +"Then another voice in that group pronounced firmly the words, 'Bring +the riata here.' It was the voice of Gaspar Ruiz. + +"A silence fell, in which the popping shots of the besieged garrison +rang out sharply. They too had observed the group. But the distance +was too great, and in the spatter of spent musket-balls cutting up the +ground, the group opened, closed, swayed, giving me a glimpse of busy +stooping figures in its midst. I drew nearer, doubting whether this was +a weird vision, a suggestive and insensate dream. + +"A strangely stifled voice commanded, 'Haul the hitches tighter.' + +"'Si, senor,' several other voices answered in tones of awed alacrity. + +"Then the stifled voice said: 'Like this. I must be free to breathe.' + +"Then there was a concerned noise of many men together. 'Help him up, +hombres. Steady! Under the other arm.' + +"That deadened voice, ordered: 'Bueno! Stand away from me, men.' + +"I pushed my way through the recoiling circle, and heard once more that +same oppressed voice saying earnestly: 'Forget that I am a living man, +Jorge. Forget me altogether, and think of what you have to do.' + +"'Be without fear, senor. You are nothing to me but a gun carriage, and +I shall not waste a shot.' + +"I heard the spluttering of a port-fire, and smelt the saltpetre of the +match. I saw suddenly before me a nondescript shape on all fours like +a beast, but with a man's head drooping below a tubular projection over +the nape of the neck, and the gleam of a rounded mass of bronze on its +back. + +"In front of a silent semicircle of men it squatted alone with Jorge +behind it and a trumpeter motionless, his trumpet in his hand, by its +side. + +"Jorge, bent double, muttered, port-fire in hand: 'An inch to the left, +senor. Too much. So. Now, if you let yourself down a little by letting +your elbows bend, I will...' + +"He leaped aside, lowering his port-fire, and a burst of flame darted +out of the muzzle of the gun lashed on the man's back. + +"Then Gaspar Ruiz lowered himself slowly. 'Good shot?' he asked. + +"'Full on, senor.' + +"'Then load again.' + +"He lay there before me on his breast under the darkly glittering bronze +of his monstrous burden, such as no love or strength of man had ever +had to bear in the lamentable history of the world. His arms were spread +out, and he resembled a prostrate penitent on the moonlit ground. + +"Again I saw him raised to his hands and knees, and the men stand away +from him, and old Jorge stoop, glancing along the gun. + +"'Left a little. Right an inch. Por Dios, senor, stop this trembling. +Where is your strength?' + +"The old gunner's voice was cracked with emotion. He stepped aside, and +quick as lightning brought the spark to the touch-hole. + +"'Excellent!' he cried tearfully; but Gaspar Ruiz lay for a long time +silent, flattened on the ground. + +"'I am tired,' he murmured at last. 'Will another shot do it?' + +"'Without doubt,' said Jorge, bending down to his ear. + +"'Then--load,' I heard him utter distinctly. 'Trumpeter!' + +"'I am here, senor, ready for your word.' + +"'Blow a blast at this word that shall be heard from one end of Chile to +the other,' he said, in an extraordinarily strong voice. 'And you others +stand ready to cut this accursed riata, for then will be the time for +me to lead you in your rush. Now raise me up, and, you, Jorge--be quick +with your aim.' + +"The rattle of musketry from the fort nearly drowned his voice. The +palisade was wreathed in smoke and flame. + +"'Exert your force forward against the recoil, mi amo,' said the old +gunner shakily. 'Dig your fingers into the ground. So. Now!' + +"A cry of exultation escaped him after the shot. The trumpeter raised +his trumpet nearly to his lips, and waited. But no word came from the +prostrate man. I fell on one knee, and heard all he had to say then. + +"'Something broken,' he whispered, lifting his head a little, and +turning his eyes towards me in his hopelessly crushed attitude. + +"'The gate hangs only by the splinters,' yelled Jorge. + +"Gaspar Ruiz tried to speak, but his voice died out in his throat, and I +helped to roll the gun off his broken back. He was insensible. + +"I kept my lips shut, of course. The signal for the Indians to attack +was never given. Instead, the bugle-calls of the relieving force, for +which my ears had thirsted so long, burst out, terrifying like the call +of the Last Day to our surprised enemies. + +"A tornado, senores, a real hurricane of stampeded men, wild horses, +mounted Indians, swept over me as I cowered on the ground by the side +of Gaspar Ruiz, still stretched out on his face in the shape of a +cross. Peneleo, galloping for life, jabbed at me with his long chuso in +passing--for the sake of old acquaintance, I suppose. How I escaped the +flying lead is more difficult to explain. Venturing to rise on my knees +too soon, some soldiers of the 17th Taltal regiment, in their hurry to +get at something alive, nearly bayonetted me on the spot. They looked +very disappointed too when some officers galloping up drove them away +with the flat of their swords. + +"It was General Robles with his staff. He wanted badly to make some +prisoners. He, too, seemed disappointed for a moment. 'What? Is it you?' +he cried. But he dismounted at once to embrace me, for he was an old +friend of my family. I pointed to the body at our feet, and said only +these two words: + +"'Gaspar Ruiz.' + +"He threw his arms up in astonishment. + +"'Aha! Your strong man! Always to the last with your strong man. No +matter. He saved our lives when the earth trembled enough to make the +bravest faint with fear. I was frightened out of my wits. But he--no! +Que guape! Where's the hero who got the best of him? Ha! ha! ha! What +killed him, chico?' + +"'His own strength general,' I answered." + + + + +XII + +"BUT Gaspar Ruiz breathed yet. I had him carried in his poncho under the +shelter of some bushes on the very ridge from which he had been gazing +so fixedly at the fort while unseen death was hovering already over his +head. + +"Our troops had bivouacked round the fort. Towards daybreak I was not +surprised to hear that I was designated to command the escort of a +prisoner who was to be sent down at once to Santiago. Of course the +prisoner was Gaspar Ruiz' wife. + +"'I have named you out of regard for your feelings,' General Robles +remarked. 'Though the woman really ought to be shot for all the harm she +has done to the Republic.' + +"And as I made a movement of shocked protest, he continued: + +"'Now he is as well as dead, she is of no importance. Nobody will know +what to do with her. However, the Government wants her.' He shrugged his +shoulders. 'I suppose he must have buried large quantities of his loot +in places that she alone knows of.' + +"At dawn I saw her coming up the ridge, guarded by two soldiers, and +carrying her child on her arm. + +"I walked to meet her. + +"'Is he living yet?' she asked, confronting me with that white, +impassive face he used to look at in an adoring way. + +"I bent my head, and led her round a clump of bushes without a word. His +eyes were open. He breathed with difficulty, and uttered her name with a +great effort. + +"'Erminia!' + +"She knelt at his head. The little girl, unconscious of him, and with +her big eyes, looking about, began to chatter suddenly, in a joyous, +thin voice. She pointed a tiny finger at the rosy glow of sunrise +behind the black shapes of the peaks. And while that child-talk, +incomprehensible and sweet to the ear, lasted, those two, the dying man +and the kneeling woman, remained silent, looking into each other's eyes, +listening to the frail sound. Then the prattle stopped. The child laid +its head against its mother's breast and was still. + +"'It was for you,' he began. 'Forgive.' His voice failed him. Presently +I heard a mutter, and caught the pitiful words: 'Not strong enough.' + +"She looked at him with an extraordinary intensity. He tried to smile, +and in a humble tone, 'Forgive me,' he repeated. 'Leaving you...' + +"She bent down, dry-eyed, and in a steady voice: 'On all the earth I +have loved nothing but you, Gaspar,' she said. + +"His head made a movement. His eyes revived. 'At last! 'he sighed out. +Then, anxiously, 'But is this true... is this true?' + +"'As true as that there is no mercy and justice in this world,' she +answered him passionately. She stooped over his face. He tried to raise +his head, but it fell back, and when she kissed his lips he was already +dead. His glazed eyes stared at the sky, on which pink clouds floated +very high. But I noticed the eyelids of the child, pressed to its +mother's breast, droop and close slowly. She had gone to sleep. + +"The widow of Gaspar Ruiz, the strong man, allowed me to lead her away +without shedding a tear. + +"For travelling we had arranged for her a side-saddle very much like a +chair, with a board swung beneath to rest her feet on. And the first day +she rode without uttering a word, and hardly for one moment turning her +eyes away from the little girl, whom she held on her knees. At our first +camp I saw her during the night walking about, rocking the child in +her arms and gazing down at it by the light of the moon. After we had +started on our second day's march she asked me how soon we should come +to the first village of the inhabited country. + +"I said we should be there about noon. + +"'And will there be women there?' she inquired. + +"I told her that it was a large village. 'There will be men and women +there, senora,' I said, 'whose hearts shall be made glad by the news +that all the unrest and war is over now.' + +"'Yes, it is all over now,' she repeated. Then, after a time: 'senor +officer, what will your Government do with me?' + +"'I do not know, senora,' I said. 'They will treat you well, no doubt. +We republicans are not savages, and take no vengeance on women.' + +"She gave me a look at the word 'republicans' which I imagined full of +undying hate. But an hour or so afterwards, as we drew up to let the +baggage mules go first along a narrow path skirting a precipice, she +looked at me with such a white, troubled face that I felt a great pity +for her. + +"'Senor officer,' she said, 'I am weak, I tremble. It is an insensate +fear.' And indeed her lips did tremble, while she tried to smile +glancing at the beginning of the narrow path which was not so dangerous +after all. 'I am afraid I shall drop the child. Gaspar saved your life, +you remember.... Take her from me.' + +"I took the child out of her extended arms. 'Shut your eyes, senora, and +trust to your mule,' I recommended. + +"She did so, and with her pallor and her wasted thin face she looked +deathlike. At a turn of the path, where a great crag of purple porphyry +closes the view of the lowlands, I saw her open her eyes. I rode just +behind her holding the little girl with my right arm. 'The child is all +right,' I cried encouragingly. + +"'Yes,' she answered faintly; and then, to my intense terror, I saw her +stand up on the footrest, staring horribly, and throw herself forward +into the chasm on our right. + +"I cannot describe to you the sudden and abject fear that came over me +at that dreadful sight. It was a dread of the abyss, the dread of the +crags which seemed to nod upon me. My head swam. I pressed the child to +my side and sat my horse as still as a statue. I was speechless and cold +all over. Her mule staggered, sidling close to the rock, and then went +on. My horse only pricked up his ears with a slight snort. My heart +stood still, and from the depths of the precipice the stones rattling in +the bed of the furious stream made me almost insane with their sound. + +"Next moment we were round the turn and on a broad and grassy slope. And +then I yelled. My men came running back to me in great alarm. It seems +that at first I did nothing but shout, 'She has given the child into my +hands! She has given the child into my hands!' The escort thought I had +gone mad." + +General Santierra ceased and got up from the table. "And that is all, +senores," he concluded, with a courteous glance at his rising guests. + +"But what became of the child, General?" we asked. + +"Ah, the child, the child." + +He walked to one of the windows opening on his beautiful garden, the +refuge of his old days. Its fame was great in the land. Keeping us back +with a raised arm, he called out, "Erminia, Erminia!" and waited. Then +his cautioning arm dropped, and we crowded to the windows. + +From a clump of trees a woman had come upon the broad walk bordered +with flowers. We could hear the rustle of her starched petticoats and +observed the ample spread of her old-fashioned black silk skirt. She +looked up, and seeing all these eyes staring at her, stopped, frowned, +smiled, shook her finger at the General, who was laughing boisterously, +and drawing the black lace on her head so as to partly conceal her +haughty profile, passed out of our sight, walking with stiff dignity. + +"You have beheld the guardian angel of the old man--and her to whom +you owe all that is seemly and comfortable in my hospitality. Somehow, +senores, though the flame of love has been kindled early in my breast, I +have never married. And because of that perhaps the sparks of the sacred +fire are not yet extinct here." He struck his broad chest. "Still alive, +still alive," he said, with serio-comic emphasis. "But I shall not marry +now. She is General Santierra's adopted daughter and heiress." + +One of our fellow-guests, a young naval officer, described her +afterwards as a "short, stout, old girl of forty or thereabouts." We had +all noticed that her hair was turning grey, and that she had very fine +black eyes. + +"And," General Santierra continued, "neither would she ever hear of +marrying any one. A real calamity! Good, patient, devoted to the old +man. A simple soul. But I would not advise any of you to ask for her +hand, for if she took yours into hers it would be only to crush your +bones. Ah! she does not jest on that subject. And she is the own +daughter of her father, the strong man who perished through his own +strength: the strength of his body, of his simplicity--of his love!" + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + +***** This file should be named 8736.txt or 8736.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/3/8736/ + +Produced by John Orford + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Gaspar Ruiz + +Author: Joseph Conrad + +Release Date: June 18, 2009 [EBook #8736] +Last Updated: September 9, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + + + + +Produced by John Orford, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + GASPAR RUIZ + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Joseph Conrad + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Contents + </h3> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> I </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> III </a> + </p> + </td> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> VI </a> + </p> + </td> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VIII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> IX </a> + </p> + </td> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> X </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> XI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> XII </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + I + </h2> + <p> + A Revolutionary war raises many strange characters out of the obscurity + which is the common lot of humble lives in an undisturbed state of + society. + </p> + <p> + Certain individualities grow into fame through their vices and their + virtues, or simply by their actions, which may have a temporary + importance; and then they become forgotten. The names of a few leaders + alone survive the end of armed strife and are further preserved in + history; so that, vanishing from men’s active memories, they still exist + in books. + </p> + <p> + The name of General Santierra attained that cold, paper-and-ink + immortality. He was a South American of good family, and the books + published in his lifetime numbered him amongst the liberators of that + continent from the oppressive rule of Spain. + </p> + <p> + That long contest, waged for independence on one side and for dominion on + the other, developed, in the course of years and the vicissitudes of + changing fortune, the fierceness and inhumanity of a struggle for life. + All feelings of pity and compassion disappeared in the growth of political + hatred. And, as is usual in war, the mass of the people, who had the least + to gain by the issue, suffered most in their obscure persons and their + humble fortunes. + </p> + <p> + General Santierra began his service as lieutenant in the patriot army + raised and commanded by the famous San Martin, afterwards conqueror of + Lima and liberator of Peru. A great battle had just been fought on the + banks of the river Bio-Bio. Amongst the prisoners made upon the routed + Royalist troops there was a soldier called Gaspar Ruiz. His powerful build + and his big head rendered him remarkable amongst his fellow-captives. The + personality of the man was unmistakable. Some months before, he had been + missed from the ranks of Republican troops after one of the many + skirmishes which preceded the great battle. And now, having been captured + arms in hand amongst Royalists, he could expect no other fate but to be + shot as a deserter. + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz, however, was not a deserter; his mind was hardly active + enough to take a discriminating view of the advantages or perils of + treachery. Why should he change sides? He had really been made a prisoner, + had suffered ill-usage and many privations. Neither side showed tenderness + to its adversaries. There came a day when he was ordered, together with + some other captured rebels, to march in the front rank of the Royal + troops. A musket, had been thrust into his hands. He had taken it. He had + marched. He did not want to be killed with circumstances of peculiar + atrocity for refusing to march. He did not understand heroism, but it was + his intention to throw his musket away at the first opportunity. Meantime + he had gone on loading and firing, from fear of having his brains blown + out, at the first sign of unwillingness, by some non-commissioned officer + of the King of Spain. He tried to set forth these elementary + considerations before the sergeant of the guard set over him and some + twenty other such deserters, who had been condemned summarily to be shot. + </p> + <p> + It was in the quadrangle of the fort at the back of the batteries which + command the road-stead of Valparaiso. The officer who had identified him + had gone on without listening to his protestations. His doom was sealed; + his hands were tied very tightly together behind his back; his body was + sore all over from the many blows with sticks and butts of muskets which + had hurried him along on the painful road from the place of his capture to + the gate of the fort. This was the only kind of systematic attention the + prisoners had received from their escort during a four days’ journey + across a scantily watered tract of country. At the crossings of rare + streams they were permitted to quench their thirst by lapping hurriedly + like dogs. In the evening a few scraps of meat were thrown amongst them as + they dropped down dead-beat upon the stony ground of the halting-place. + </p> + <p> + As he stood in the courtyard of the castle in the early morning, after + having been driven hard all night, Gaspar Ruiz’s throat was parched, and + his tongue felt very large and dry in his mouth. + </p> + <p> + And Gaspar Ruiz, besides being very thirsty, was stirred by a feeling of + sluggish anger, which he could not very well express, as though the vigour + of his spirit were by no means equal to the strength of his body. + </p> + <p> + The other prisoners in the batch of the condemned hung their heads, + looking obstinately on the ground. But Gaspar Ruiz kept on repeating: + “What should I desert for to the Royalists? Why should I desert? Tell me, + Estaban!” + </p> + <p> + He addressed himself to the sergeant, who happened to belong to the same + part of the country as himself. But the sergeant, after shrugging his + meagre shoulders once, paid no further attention to the deep murmuring + voice at his back. It was indeed strange that Gaspar Ruiz should desert. + His people were in too humble a station to feel much the disadvantages of + any form of government. There was no reason why Gaspar Ruiz should wish to + uphold in his own person the rule of the King of Spain. Neither had he + been anxious to exert himself for its subversion. He had joined the side + of Independence in an extremely reasonable and natural manner. A band of + patriots appeared one morning early, surrounding his father’s ranche, + spearing the watch-dogs and hamstringing a fat cow all in the twinkling of + an eye, to the cries of “Viva La Libertad!” Their officer discoursed of + Liberty with enthusiasm and eloquence after a long and refreshing sleep. + When they left in the evening, taking with them some of Ruiz, the + father’s, best horses to replace their own lamed animals, Gaspar Ruiz went + away with them, having been invited pressingly to do so by the eloquent + officer. + </p> + <p> + Shortly afterwards a detachment of Royalist troops, coming to pacify the + district, burnt the ranche, carried off the remaining horses and cattle, + and having thus deprived the old people of all their worldly possessions, + left them sitting under a bush in the enjoyment of the inestimable boon of + life. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II + </h2> + <p> + GASPAR Ruiz, condemned to death as a deserter, was not thinking either of + his native place or of his parents, to whom he had been a good son on + account of the mildness of his character and the great strength of his + limbs. The practical advantage of this last was made still more valuable + to his father by his obedient disposition. Gaspar Ruiz had an acquiescent + soul. + </p> + <p> + But it was stirred now to a sort of dim revolt by his dislike to die the + death of a traitor. He was not a traitor. He said again to the sergeant: + “You know I did not desert, Estaban. You know I remained behind amongst + the trees with three others to keep the enemy back while the detachment + was running away!” + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra, little more than a boy at the time, and unused as + yet to the sanguinary imbecilities of a state of war, had lingered near + by, as if fascinated by the sight of these men who were to be shot + presently—“for an example”—as the Commandante had said. + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, without deigning to look at the prisoner, addressed himself + to the young officer with a superior smile. + </p> + <p> + “Ten men would not have been enough to make him a prisoner, mi teniente. + Moreover, the other three rejoined the detachment after dark. Why should + he, unwounded and the strongest of them all, have failed to do so?” + </p> + <p> + “My strength is as nothing against a mounted man with a lasso,” Gaspar + Ruiz protested eagerly. “He dragged me behind his horse for half a mile.” + </p> + <p> + At this excellent reason the sergeant only laughed contemptuously. The + young officer hurried away after the Commandante. + </p> + <p> + Presently the adjutant of the castle came by. He was a truculent, + raw-boned man in a ragged uniform. His spluttering voice issued out of a + flat, yellow face. The sergeant learned from him that the condemned men + would not be shot till sunset. He begged then to know what he was to do + with them meantime. + </p> + <p> + The adjutant looked savagely round the courtyard, and, pointing to the + door of a small dungeon-like guard-room, receiving light and air through + one heavily-barred window, said: “Drive the scoundrels in there.” + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, tightening his grip upon the stick he carried in virtue of + his rank, executed this order with alacrity and zeal. He hit Gaspar Ruiz, + whose movements were slow, over his head and shoulders. Gaspar Ruiz stood + still for a moment under the shower of blows, biting his lip thoughtfully + as if absorbed by a perplexing mental process—then followed the + others without haste. The door was locked, and the adjutant carried off + the key. + </p> + <p> + By noon the heat of that low vaulted place crammed to suffocation had + become unbearable. The prisoners crowded towards the window, begging their + guards for a drop of water; but the soldiers remained lying in indolent + attitudes wherever there was a little shade under a wall, while the sentry + sat with his back against the door smoking a cigarette, and raising his + eyebrows philosophically from time to time. Gaspar Ruiz had pushed his way + to the window with irresistible force. His capacious chest needed more air + than the others; his big face, resting with its chin on the ledge, pressed + close to the bars, seemed to support the other faces crowding up for + breath. From moaned entreaties they had passed to desperate cries, and the + tumultuous howling of those thirsty men obliged a young officer who was + just then crossing the courtyard to shout in order to make himself heard. + </p> + <p> + “Why don’t you give some water to these prisoners!” + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, with an air of surprised innocence, excused himself by the + remark that all those men were condemned to die in a very few hours. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra stamped his foot. “They are condemned to death, not + to torture,” he shouted. “Give them some water at once.” + </p> + <p> + Impressed by this appearance of anger, the soldiers bestirred themselves, + and the sentry, snatching up his musket, stood to attention. + </p> + <p> + But when a couple of buckets were found and filled from the well, it was + discovered that they could not be passed through the bars, which were set + too close. At the prospect of quenching their thirst, the shrieks of those + trampled down in the struggle to get near the opening became very + heartrending. But when the soldiers who had lifted the buckets towards the + window put them to the ground again helplessly, the yell of disappointment + was still more terrible. + </p> + <p> + The soldiers of the army of Independence were not equipped with canteens. + A small tin cup was found, but its approach to the opening caused such a + commotion, such yells of rage and’ pain in the vague mass of limbs behind + the straining faces at the window, that Lieutenant Santierra cried out + hurriedly, “No, no—you must open the door, sergeant.” + </p> + <p> + The sergeant, shrugging his shoulders, explained that he had no right to + open the door even if he had had the key. But he had not the key. The + adjutant of the garrison kept the key. Those men were giving much + unnecessary trouble, since they had to die at sunset in any case. Why they + had not been shot at once early in the morning he could not understand. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra kept his back studiously to the window. It was at his + earnest solicitations that the Commandante had delayed the execution. This + favour had been granted to him in consideration of his distinguished + family and of his father’s high position amongst the chiefs of the + Republican party. Lieutenant Santierra believed that the General + commanding would visit the fort some time in the afternoon, and he + ingenuously hoped that his naive intercession would induce that severe man + to pardon some, at least, of those criminals. In the revulsion of his + feeling his interference stood revealed now as guilty and futile meddling. + It appeared to him obvious that the general would never even consent to + listen to his petition. He could never save those men, and he had only + made himself responsible for the sufferings added to the cruelty of their + fate. + </p> + <p> + “Then go at once and get the key from the adjutant,” said Lieutenant + Santierra. + </p> + <p> + The sergeant shook his head with a sort of bashful smile, while his eyes + glanced sideways at Gaspar Ruiz’s face, motionless and silent, staring + through the bars at the bottom of a heap of other haggard, distorted, + yelling faces. + </p> + <p> + His worship the adjutant de Plaza, the sergeant murmured, was having his + siesta; and supposing that he, the sergeant, would be allowed access to + him, the only result he expected would be to have his soul flogged out of + his body for presuming to disturb his worship’s repose. He made a + deprecatory movement with his hands, and stood stock-still, looking down + modestly upon his brown toes. + </p> + <p> + Lieutenant Santierra glared with indignation, but hesitated. His handsome + oval face, as smooth as a girl’s, flushed with the shame of his + perplexity. Its nature humiliated his spirit. His hairless upper lip + trembled; he seemed on the point of either bursting into a fit of rage or + into tears of dismay. + </p> + <p> + Fifty years later, General Santierra, the venerable relic of revolutionary + times, was well able to remember the feelings of the young lieutenant. + Since he had given up riding altogether, and found it difficult to walk + beyond the limits of his garden, the general’s greatest delight, was to + entertain in his house the officers of the foreign men-of-war visiting the + harbour. For Englishmen he had a preference, as for old companions in + arms. English naval men of all ranks accepted his hospitality with + curiosity, because he had known Lord Cochrane and had taken part, on board + the patriot squadron commanded by that marvellous seaman, in the + cutting-out and blockading operations before Callao—an episode of + unalloyed glory in the wars of Independence and of endless honour in the + fighting tradition of Englishmen. He was a fair linguist, this ancient + survivor of the Liberating armies. A trick of smoothing his long white + beard whenever he was short of a word in French or English imparted an air + of leisurely dignity to the tone of his reminiscences. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III + </h2> + <p> + “YES, my friends,” he used to say to his guests, “what would you have? A + youth of seventeen summers, without worldly experience, and owing my rank + only to the glorious patriotism of my father, may God rest his soul, I + suffered immense humiliation, not so much from the disobedience of That + subordinate, who, alter all, was responsible for those prisoners; but I + suffered because, like the boy I was, I myself dreaded going to the + adjutant for the key. I had felt, before, his rough and cutting tongue. + Being quite a common fellow, with no merit except his savage valour, he + made me feel his contempt and dislike from the first day I joined my + battalion in garrison at the fort. It was only a fortnight before! I would + have confronted him sword in hand, but I shrank from the mocking brutality + of his sneers. + </p> + <p> + “I don’t remember having been so miserable in my life before or since. The + torment of my sensibility was so great that I wished the sergeant to fall + dead at my feet, and the stupid soldiers who stared at me to turn into + corpses; and even those wretches for whom my entreaties had procured a + reprieve I wished dead also, because I could not face them without shame. + A mephitic heat like a whiff of air from hell came out of that dark place + in which they were confined. Those at the window who heard what was going + on jeered at me in very desperation; one of these fellows, gone mad no + doubt, kept on urging me volubly to order the soldiers to fire through the + window. His insane loquacity made my heart turn faint. And my feet were + like lead. There was no higher officer to whom I could appeal. I had not + even the firmness of spirit to simply go away. + </p> + <p> + “Benumbed by my remorse, I stood with my back to the window. You must not + suppose that all this lasted a long time. How long could it have been? A + minute? If you measured by mental suffering it was like a hundred years; a + longer time than all my life has been since. No, certainly, it was not so + much as a minute. The hoarse screaming of those miserable wretches died + out in their dry throats, and then suddenly a voice spoke, a deep voice + muttering calmly. It called upon me to turn round. + </p> + <p> + “That voice, senores, proceeded from the head of Gaspar Ruiz. Of his body + I could see nothing. Some of his fellow-captives had clambered upon his + back. He was holding them up. His eyes blinked without looking at me. That + and the moving of his lips was all he seemed able to manage in his + overloaded state. And when I turned round, this head, that seemed more + than human size resting on its chin under a multitude of other heads, + asked me whether I really desired to quench the thirst of the captives. + </p> + <p> + “I said, ‘Yes, yes!’ eagerly, and came up quite close to the window. I was + like a child, and did not know what would happen. I was anxious to be + comforted in my helplessness and remorse. + </p> + <p> + “‘Have you the authority, senor teniente, to release my wrists from their + bonds?’ Gaspar Ruiz’s head asked me. + </p> + <p> + “His features expressed no anxiety, no hope; his heavy eyelids blinked + upon his eyes that looked past me straight into the courtyard. + </p> + <p> + “As if in an ugly dream, I spoke, stammering: ‘What do you mean? And how + can I reach the bonds on your wrists?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I will try what I can do,’ he said; and then that large staring head + moved at last, and all the wild faces piled up in that window disappeared, + tumbling down. He had shaken his load off with one movement, so strong he + was. + </p> + <p> + “And he had not only shaken it off, but he got free of the crush and + vanished from my sight. For a moment there was no one at all to be seen at + the window. He had swung about, butting and shouldering, clearing a space + for himself in the only way he could do it with his hands tied behind his + back. + </p> + <p> + “Finally, backing to the opening, he pushed out to me between the bars his + wrists, lashed with many turns of rope. His hands, very swollen, with + knotted veins, looked enormous and unwieldy. I saw his bent back. It was + very broad. His voice was like the muttering of a bull. + </p> + <p> + “Cut, senor teniente! Cut!’ + </p> + <p> + “I drew my sword, my new unblunted sword that had seen no service as yet, + and severed the many turns of the hide rope. I did this without knowing + the why and the wherefore of my action, but as it were compelled by my + faith in that man. The sergeant made as if to cry out, but astonishment + deprived him of his voice, and he remained standing with his mouth open as + if overtaken by sudden imbecility. + </p> + <p> + “I sheathed my sword and faced the soldiers. An air of awestruck + expectation had replaced their usual listless apathy. I heard the voice of + Gaspar Ruiz shouting inside, but the words I could not make out plainly. I + suppose that to see him with his arms free augmented the influence of his + strength: I mean by this, the spiritual influence that with ignorant + people attaches to an exceptional degree of bodily vigour. In fact, he was + no more to be feared than before, on account of the numbness of his arms + and hands, which lasted for some time. + </p> + <p> + “The sergeant had recovered his power of speech. ‘By all the saints!’ he + cried, ‘we shall have to get a cavalry man with a lasso to secure him + again, if he is to be led to the place of execution. Nothing less than a + good enlazador on a good horse can subdue him. Your worship was pleased to + perform a very mad thing.’ + </p> + <p> + “I had nothing to say. I was surprised myself, and I felt a childish + curiosity to see what would happen. But the sergeant was thinking of the + difficulty of controlling Gaspar Ruiz when the time for making an example + would come. + </p> + <p> + “‘Or perhaps,’ the sergeant pursued vexedly, ‘we shall be obliged to shoot + him down as he dashes out when the door is opened.’ He was going to give + further vent to his anxieties as to the proper carrying out of the + sentence; but he interrupted himself with a sudden exclamation, snatched a + musket from a soldier, and stood watchful with his eyes fixed on the + window.’” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV + </h2> + <p> + “GASPAR RUIZ had clambered up on the sill, and sat down there with his + feet against the thickness of the wall and his knees slightly bent. The + window was not quite broad enough for the length of his legs. It appeared + to my crestfallen perception that he meant to keep the window all to + himself. He seemed to be taking up a comfortable position. Nobody inside + dared to approach him now he could strike with his hands. + </p> + <p> + “‘Por Dios!’ I heard the sergeant muttering at my elbow, ‘I shall shoot + him through the head now, and get rid of that trouble. He is a condemned + man.’ + </p> + <p> + “At that I looked at him angrily. ‘The general has not confirmed the + sentence,’ I said—though I knew well in my heart that these were but + vain words. The sentence required no confirmation. ‘You have no right to + shoot him unless he tries to escape,’ I added firmly. + </p> + <p> + “‘But sangre de Dios!’ the sergeant yelled out, bringing his musket up to + the shoulder, ‘he is escaping now. Look!’ + </p> + <p> + “But I, as if that Gaspar Ruiz had cast a spell upon me, struck the musket + upward, and the bullet flew over the roofs somewhere. The sergeant dashed + his arm to the ground and stared. He might have commanded the soldiers to + fire, but he did not. And if he had he would not have been obeyed, I + think, just then. + </p> + <p> + “With his feet against the thickness of the wall, and his hairy hands + grasping the iron bar, Gaspar sat still. It was an attitude. Nothing + happened for a time. And suddenly it dawned upon us that he was + straightening his bowed back and contracting his arms. His lips were + twisted into a snarl. Next thing we perceived was that the bar of forged + iron was being bent slowly by the mightiness of his pull. The sun was + beating full upon his cramped, unquivering figure. A shower of sweat-drops + burst out of his forehead. Watching the bar grow crooked, I saw a little + blood ooze from under his finger-nails. Then he let go. For a moment he + remained all huddled up, with a hanging head, looking drowsily into the + upturned palms of his mighty hands. Indeed he seemed to have dozed off. + Suddenly he flung himself backwards on the sill, and setting the soles of + his bare feet against the other middle bar, he bent that one too, but in + the opposite direction from the first. + </p> + <p> + “Such was his strength, which in this case relieved my painful feelings. + And the man seemed to have done nothing. Except for the change of position + in order to use his feet, which made us all start by its swiftness, my + recollection is that of immobility. But he had bent the bars wide apart. + And now he could get out if he liked; but he dropped his legs inwards; and + looking over his shoulder beckoned to the soldiers. ‘Hand up the water,’ + he said. ‘I will give them all a drink.’ + </p> + <p> + “He was obeyed. For a moment I expected man and bucket to disappear, + overwhelmed by the rush of eagerness; I thought they would pull him down + with their teeth. There was a rush, but holding the bucket on his lap he + repulsed the assault of those wretches by the mere swinging of his feet. + They flew backwards at every kick, yelling with pain; and the soldiers + laughed, gazing at the window. + </p> + <p> + “They all laughed, holding their sides, except the sergeant, who was + gloomy and morose. He was afraid the prisoners would rise and break out—which + would have been a bad example. But there was no fear of that, and I stood + myself before the window with my drawn sword. When sufficiently tamed by + the strength of Gaspar Ruiz, they came up one by one, stretching their + necks and presenting their lips to the edge of the bucket which the strong + man tilted towards them from his knees with an extraordinary air of + charity, gentleness and compassion. That benevolent appearance was of + course the effect of his care in not spilling the water and of his + attitude as he sat on the sill; for, if a man lingered with his lips glued + to the rim of the bucket after Gaspar Ruiz had said ‘You have had enough,’ + there would be no tenderness or mercy in the shove of the foot which would + send him groaning and doubled up far into the interior of the prison, + where he would knock down two or three others before he fell himself. They + came up to him again and again; it looked as if they meant to drink the + well dry before going to their death; but the soldiers were so amused by + Gaspar Ruiz’s systematic proceedings that they carried the water up to the + window cheerfully. + </p> + <p> + “When the adjutant came out after his siesta there was some trouble over + this affair, I can assure you. And the worst of it, that the general whom + we expected never came to the castle that day.” + </p> + <p> + The guests of General Santierra unanimously expressed their regret that + the man of such strength and patience had not been saved. + </p> + <p> + “He was not saved by my interference,” said the General. “The prisoners + were led to execution half an hour before sunset. Gaspar Ruiz, contrary to + the sergeant’s apprehensions, gave no trouble. There was no necessity to + get a cavalry man with a lasso in order to subdue him, as if he were a + wild bull of the campo. I believe he marched out with his arms free + amongst the others who were bound. I did not see. I was not there. I had + been put under arrest for interfering with the prisoner’s guard. About + dusk, sitting dismally in my quarters, I heard three volleys fired, and + thought that I should never hear of Gaspar Ruiz again. He fell with the + others. But we were to hear of him nevertheless, though the sergeant + boasted that, as he lay on his face expiring or dead in the heap of the + slain, he had slashed his neck with a sword. He had done this, he said, to + make sure of ridding the world of a dangerous traitor. + </p> + <p> + “I confess to you, senores, that I thought of that strong man with a sort + of gratitude, and with some admiration. He had used his strength + honourably. There dwelt, then, in his soul no fierceness corresponding to + the vigour of his body.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V + </h2> + <p> + GASPAR RUIZ, who could with ease bend apart the heavy iron bars of the + prison, was led out with others to summary execution. “Every bullet has + its billet,” runs the proverb. All the merit of proverbs consists in the + concise and picturesque expression. In the surprise of our minds is found + their persuasiveness. In other words, we are struck and convinced by the + shock. + </p> + <p> + What surprises us is the form, not the substance. Proverbs are art—cheap + art. As a general rule they are not true; unless indeed they happen to be + mere platitudes, as for instance the proverb, “Half a loaf is better than + no bread,” or “A miss is as good as a mile.” Some proverbs are simply + imbecile, others are immoral. That one evolved out of the naive heart of + the great Russian people, “Man discharges the piece, but God carries the + bullet,” is piously atrocious, and at bitter variance with the accepted + conception of a compassionate God. It would indeed be an inconsistent + occupation for the Guardian of the poor, the innocent and the helpless, to + carry the bullet, for instance, into the heart of a father. + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz was childless, he had no wife, he had never been in love. He + had hardly ever spoken to a woman, beyond his mother and the ancient + negress of the household, whose wrinkled skin was the colour of cinders, + and whose lean body was bent double from age. If some bullets from those + muskets fired off at fifteen paces were specifically destined for the + heart of Gaspar Ruiz, they all missed their billet. One, however, carried + away a small piece of his ear, and another a fragment of flesh from his + shoulder. + </p> + <p> + A red and unclouded sun setting into a purple ocean looked with a fiery + stare upon the enormous wall of the Cordilleras, worthy witnesses of his + glorious extinction. But it is inconceivable that it should have seen the + ant-like men busy with their absurd and insignificant trials of killing + and dying for reasons that, apart from being generally childish, were also + imperfectly understood. It did light up, however, the backs of the firing + party and the faces of the condemned men. Some of them had fallen on their + knees, others remained standing, a few averted their heads from the + levelled barrels of muskets. Gaspar Ruiz, upright, the burliest of them + all, hung his big shock head. The low sun dazzled him a little, and he + counted himself a dead man already. + </p> + <p> + He fell at the first discharge. He fell because he thought he was a dead + man. He struck the ground heavily. The jar of the fall surprised him. “I + am not dead apparently,” he thought to himself, when he heard the + execution platoon reloading its arms at the word of command. It was then + that the hope of escape dawned upon him for the first time. He remained + lying stretched out with rigid limbs under the weight of two bodies + collapsed crosswise upon his back. + </p> + <p> + By the time the soldiers had fired a third volley into the slightly + stirring heaps of the slain, the sun had gone out of sight, and almost + immediately with the darkening of the ocean dusk fell upon the coasts of + the young Republic. Above the gloom of the lowlands the snowy peaks of the + Cordillera remained luminous and crimson for a long time. The soldiers + before marching back to the fort sat down to smoke. + </p> + <p> + The sergeant with a naked sword in his hand strolled away by himself along + the heap of the dead. He was a humane man, and watched for any stir or + twitch of limb in the merciful idea of plunging the point of his blade + into any body giving the slightest sign of life. But none of the bodies + afforded him an opportunity for the display of this charitable intention. + Not a muscle twitched amongst them, not even the powerful muscles of + Gaspar Ruiz, who, deluged with the blood of his neighbours and shamming + death, strove to appear more lifeless than the others. + </p> + <p> + He was lying face down. The sergeant recognised him by his stature, and + being himself a very small man, looked with envy and contempt at the + prostration of so much strength. He had always disliked that particular + soldier. Moved by an obscure animosity, he inflicted a long gash across + the neck of Gaspar Ruiz, with some vague notion of making sure of that + strong man’s death, as if a powerful physique were more able to resist the + bullets. For the sergeant had no doubt that Gaspar Ruiz had been shot + through in many places. Then he passed on, and shortly afterwards marched + off with, his men, leaving the bodies to the care of crows and vultures. + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz had restrained a cry, though it had seemed to him that his + head was cut off at a blow; and when darkness came, shaking off the dead, + whose weight had oppressed him, he crawled away over the plain on his + hands and knees. After drinking deeply, like a wounded beast, at a shallow + stream, he assumed an upright posture, and staggered on light-headed and + aimless, as if lost amongst the stars of the clear night. A small house + seemed to rise out of the ground before him. He stumbled into the porch + and struck at the door with his fist. There was not a gleam of light. + Gaspar Ruiz might have thought that the inhabitants had fled from it, as + from many others in the neighbourhood, had it not been for the shouts of + abuse that answered his thumping. In his feverish and enfeebled state the + angry screaming seemed to him part of a hallucination belonging to the + weird dreamlike feeling of his unexpected condemnation to death, of the + thirst suffered, of the volleys fired at him within fifteen paces, of his + head being cut off at a blow. “Open the door!” he cried. “Open in the name + of God!” + </p> + <p> + An infuriated voice from within jeered at him: “Come in, come in. This + house belongs to you. All this land belongs to you. Come and take it.” + </p> + <p> + “For the love of God,” Gaspar Ruiz murmured. + </p> + <p> + “Does not all the land belong to you patriots?” the voice on the other + side of the door screamed on. “Are you not a patriot?” + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz did not know. “I am a wounded man,” he said apathetically. + </p> + <p> + All became still inside. Gaspar Ruiz lost the hope of being admitted, and + lay down under the porch just outside the door. He was utterly careless of + what was going to happen to him. All his consciousness seemed to be + concentrated in his neck, where he felt a severe pain. His indifference as + to his fate was genuine. + </p> + <p> + The day was breaking when he awoke from a feverish doze; the door at which + he had knocked in the dark stood wide open now, and a girl, steadying + herself with her outspread arms, leaned over the threshold. Lying on his + back, he stared up at her. Her face was pale and her eyes were very dark; + her hair hung down black as ebony against her white cheeks; her lips were + full and red. Beyond her he saw another head with long grey hair, and a + thin old face with a pair of anxiously clasped hands under the chin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI + </h2> + <p> + “I KNEW those people by sight,” General Santierra would tell his guests at + the dining-table. “I mean the people with whom Gaspar Ruiz found shelter. + The father was an old Spaniard, a man of property, ruined by the + revolution. His estates, his house in town, his money, everything he had + in the world had been confiscated by proclamation, for he was a bitter foe + of our independence. From a position of great dignity and influence on the + Viceroy’s Council he became of less importance than his own negro slaves + made free by our glorious revolution. He had not even the means to flee + the country, as other Spaniards had managed to do. It may be that, + wandering ruined and houseless, and burdened with nothing but his life, + which was left to him by the clemency of the Provisional Government, he + had simply walked under that broken roof of old tiles. It was a lonely + spot. There did not seem to be even a dog belonging to the place. But + though the roof had holes, as if a cannonball or two had dropped through + it, the wooden shutters were thick and tight-closed all the time. + </p> + <p> + “My way took me frequently along the path in front of that miserable + rancho. I rode from the fort to the town almost every evening, to sigh at + the window of a lady I was in love with, then. When one is young, you + understand.... She was a good patriot, you may be sure. Caballeros, credit + me or not, political feeling ran so high in those days that I do not + believe I could have been fascinated by the charms of a woman of Royalist + opinions....” + </p> + <p> + Murmurs of amused incredulity all round the table interrupted the General; + and while they lasted he stroked his white beard gravely. + </p> + <p> + “Senores,” he protested, “a Royalist was a monster to our overwrought + feelings. I am telling you this in order not to be suspected of the + slightest tenderness towards that old Royalist’s daughter. Moreover, as + you know, my affections were engaged elsewhere. But I could not help + noticing her on rare occasions when with the front door open she stood in + the porch. + </p> + <p> + “You must know that this old Royalist was as crazy as a man can be. His + political misfortunes, his total downfall and ruin, had disordered his + mind. To show his contempt for what we patriots could do, he affected to + laugh at his imprisonment, at the confiscation of his lands, the burning + of his houses, and the misery to which he and his womenfolk were reduced. + This habit of laughing had grown upon him, so that he would begin to laugh + and shout directly he caught sight of any stranger. That was the form of + his madness. + </p> + <p> + “I, of course, disregarded the noise of that madman with that feeling of + superiority the success of our cause inspired in us Americans. I suppose I + really despised him because he was an old Castilian, a Spaniard born, and + a Royalist. Those were certainly no reasons to scorn a man; but for + centuries Spaniards born had shown their contempt of us Americans, men as + well descended as themselves, simply because we were what they called + colonists. We had been kept in abasement and made to feel our inferiority + in social intercourse. And now it was our turn. It was sale for us + patriots to display the same sentiments; and I being a young patriot, son + of a patriot, despised that old Spaniard, and despising him I naturally + disregarded his abuse, though it was annoying to my feelings. Others + perhaps would not have been so forbearing. + </p> + <p> + “He would begin with a great yell—‘I see a patriot. Another of + them!’ long before I came abreast of the house. The tone of his senseless + revilings, mingled with bursts of laughter, was sometimes piercingly + shrill and sometimes grave. It was all very mad; but I felt it incumbent + upon my dignity to check my horse to a walk without even glancing towards + the house, as if that man’s abusive clamour in the porch were less than + the barking of a cur. I rode by, preserving an expression of haughty + indifference on my face. + </p> + <p> + “It was no doubt very dignified; but I should have done better if I had + kept my eyes open. A military man in war time should never consider + himself off duty; and especially so if the war is a revolutionary war, + when the enemy is not at the door, but within your very house. At such + times the heat of passionate convictions, passing into hatred, removes the + restraints of honour and humanity from many men and of delicacy and fear + from some women. These last, when once they throw off the timidity and + reserve of their sex, become by the vivacity of their intelligence and the + violence of their merciless resentment more dangerous than so many armed + giants.” + </p> + <p> + The General’s voice rose, but his big hand stroked his white beard twice + with an effect of venerable calmness. “Si, senores! Women are ready to + rise to the heights of devotion unattainable by us men, or to sink into + the depths of abasement which amazes our masculine prejudices. I am + speaking now of exceptional women, you understand...” + </p> + <p> + Here one of the guests observed that he had never met a woman yet who was + not capable of turning out quite exceptional under circumstances that + would engage her feelings strongly. “That sort of superiority in + recklessness they have over us,” he concluded, “makes of them the more + interesting half of mankind.” + </p> + <p> + The General, who bore the interruption with gravity, nodded courteous + assent. “Si. Si. Under circumstances.... Precisely. They can do an + infinite deal of mischief sometimes in quite unexpected ways. For who + could have imagined that a young girl, daughter of a ruined Royalist whose + life itself was held only by the contempt of his enemies, would have had + the power to bring death and devastation upon two flourishing provinces + and cause serious anxiety to the leaders of the revolution in the very + hour of its success!” He paused to let the wonder of it penetrate our + minds. + </p> + <p> + “Death and devastation,” somebody murmured in surprise: “how shocking!” + </p> + <p> + The old General gave a glance in the direction of the murmur and went on. + “Yes. That is, war—calamity. But the means by which she obtained the + power to work this havoc on our southern frontier seem to me, who have + seen her and spoken to her, still more shocking. That particular thing + left on my mind a dreadful amazement which the further experience of life, + of more than fifty years, has done nothing to diminish.” He looked round + as if to make sure of our attention, and, in a changed voice: “I am, as + you know, a republican, son of a Liberator,” he declared. “My incomparable + mother, God rest her soul, was a Frenchwoman, the daughter of an ardent + republican. As a boy I fought for liberty; I’ve always believed in the + equality of men; and as to their brotherhood, that, to my mind, is even + more certain. Look at the fierce animosity they display in their + differences. And what in the world do you know that is more bitterly + fierce than brothers’ quarrels?” + </p> + <p> + All absence of cynicism checked an inclination to smile at this view of + human brotherhood. On the contrary, there was in the tone the melancholy + natural to a man profoundly humane at heart who from duty, from conviction + and from necessity, had played his part in scenes of ruthless violence. + </p> + <p> + The General had seen much of fratricidal strife. “Certainly. There is no + doubt of their brotherhood,” he insisted. “All men are brothers, and as + such know almost too much of each other. But “—and here in the old + patriarchal head, white as silver, the black eyes humorously twinkled—“if + we are all brothers, all the women are not our sisters.” + </p> + <p> + One of the younger guests was heard murmuring his satisfaction at the + fact. But the General continued, with deliberate earnestness: “They are so + different! The tale of a king who took a beggar-maid for a partner of his + throne may be pretty enough as we men look upon ourselves and upon love. + But that a young girl, famous for her haughty beauty and, only a short + time before, the admired of all at the balls in the Viceroy’s palace, + should take by the hand a guasso, a common peasant, is intolerable to our + sentiment of women and their love. It is madness. Nevertheless it + happened. But it must be said that in her case it was the madness of hate—not + of love.” + </p> + <p> + After presenting this excuse in a spirit of chivalrous justice, the + General remained silent for a time. “I rode past the house every day + almost,” he began again, “and this was what was going on within. But how + it was going on no mind of man can conceive. Her desperation must have + been extreme, and Gaspar Ruiz was a docile fellow. He had been an obedient + soldier. His strength was like an enormous stone lying on the ground, + ready to be hurled this way that by the hand that picks it up. + </p> + <p> + “It is clear that he would tell his story to the people who gave him the + shelter he needed. And he needed assistance badly. His wound was not + dangerous, but his life was forfeited. The old Royalist being wrapped up + in his laughing madness, the two women arranged a hiding-place for the + wounded man in one of the huts amongst the fruit trees at the back of the + house. That hovel, an abundance of clear water while the fever was on him, + and some words of pity were all they could give. I suppose he had a share + of what food there was. And it would be but little; a handful of roasted + corn, perhaps a dish of beans, or a piece of bread with a few figs. To + such misery were those proud and once wealthy people reduced.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII + </h2> + <p> + GENERAL SANTIERRA was right in his surmise. Such was the exact nature of + the assistance which Gaspar Ruiz, peasant son of peasants, received from + the Royalist family whose daughter had opened the door—of their + miserable refuge to his extreme distress. Her sombre resolution ruled the + madness of her father and the trembling bewilderment of her mother. + </p> + <p> + She had asked the strange man on the door-step, “Who wounded you?” + </p> + <p> + “The soldiers, senora,” Gaspar Ruiz had answered, in a faint voice. + </p> + <p> + “Patriots?” + </p> + <p> + “Si.” + </p> + <p> + “What for?” + </p> + <p> + “Deserter,” he gasped, leaning against the wall under the scrutiny of her + black eyes. “I was left for dead over there.” + </p> + <p> + She led him through the house out to a small hut of clay and reeds, lost + in the long grass of the overgrown orchard. He sank on a heap of maize + straw in a corner, and sighed profoundly. + </p> + <p> + “No one will look for you here,” she said, looking down at him. “Nobody + comes near us. We too have been left for dead—here.” + </p> + <p> + He stirred uneasily on his heap of dirty straw, and the pain in his neck + made him groan deliriously. + </p> + <p> + “I shall show Estaban some day that I am alive yet,” he mumbled. + </p> + <p> + He accepted her assistance in silence, and the many days of pain went by. + Her appearances in the hut brought him relief and became connected with + the feverish dreams of angels which visited his couch; for Gaspar Ruiz was + instructed in the mysteries of his religion, and had even been taught to + read and write a little by the priest of his village. He waited for her + with impatience, and saw her pass out of the dark hut and disappear in the + brilliant sunshine with poignant regret. He discovered that, while he lay + there feeling so very weak, he could, by closing his eyes, evoke her face + with considerable distinctness. And this discovered faculty charmed the + long solitary hours of his convalescence. Later, when he began to regain + his strength, he would creep at dusk from his hut to the house and sit on + the step of the garden door. + </p> + <p> + In one of the rooms the mad father paced to and fro, muttering to himself + with short abrupt laughs. In the passage, sitting on a stool, the mother + sighed and moaned. The daughter, in rough threadbare clothing, and her + white haggard face half hidden by a coarse manta, stood leaning against + the lintel of the door. Gaspar Ruiz, with his elbows propped on his knees + and his head resting in his hands, talked to the two women in an + undertone. + </p> + <p> + The common misery of destitution would have made a bitter mockery of a + marked insistence on social differences. Gaspar Ruiz understood this in + his simplicity. From his captivity amongst the Royalists he could give + them news of people they knew. He described their appearance; and when he + related the story of the battle in which he was recaptured the two women + lamented the blow to their cause and the ruin of their secret hopes. + </p> + <p> + He had no feeling either way. But he felt a great devotion for that young + girl. In his desire to appear worthy of her condescension, he boasted a + little of his bodily strength. He had nothing else to boast of. Because of + that quality his comrades treated him with as great a deference, he + explained, as though he had been a sergeant, both in camp and in battle. + </p> + <p> + “I could always get as many as I wanted to follow me anywhere, senorita. I + ought to have been made an officer, because I can read and write.” + </p> + <p> + Behind him the silent old lady fetched a moaning sigh from time to time; + the distracted father muttered to himself, pacing the sala; and Gaspar + Ruiz would raise his eyes now and then to look at the daughter of these + people. + </p> + <p> + He would look at her with curiosity because she was alive, and also with + that feeling of familiarity and awe with which he had contemplated in + churches the inanimate and powerful statues of the saints, whose + protection is invoked in dangers and difficulties. His difficulty was very + great. + </p> + <p> + He could not remain hiding in an orchard for ever and ever. He knew also + very well that before he had gone half a day’s journey in any direction, + he would be picked up by one of the cavalry patrols scouring the country, + and brought into one or another of the camps where the patriot army + destined for the liberation of Peru was collected. There he would in the + end be recognised as Gaspar Ruiz—the deserter to the Royalists—and + no doubt shot very effectually this time. There did not seem any place in + the world for the innocent Gaspar Ruiz anywhere. And at this thought his + simple soul surrendered itself to gloom and resentment as black as night. + </p> + <p> + They had made him a soldier forcibly. He did not mind being a soldier. And + he had been a good soldier as he had been a good son, because of his + docility and his strength. But now there was no use for either. They had + taken him from his parents, and he could no longer be a soldier—not + a good soldier at any rate. Nobody would listen to his explanations. What + injustice it was! What injustice! + </p> + <p> + And in a mournful murmur he would go over the story of his capture and + recapture for the twentieth time. Then, raising his eyes to the silent + girl in the doorway, “Si, senorita,” he would say with a deep sigh, + “injustice has made this poor breath in my body quite worthless to me and + to anybody else. And I do not care who robs me of it.” + </p> + <p> + One evening, as he exhaled thus the plaint of his wounded soul, she + condescended to say that, if she were a man, she would consider no life + worthless which held the possibility of revenge. + </p> + <p> + She seemed to be speaking to herself. Her voice was low. He drank in the + gentle, as if dreamy sound, with a consciousness of peculiar delight, of + something warming his breast like a draught of generous wine. + </p> + <p> + “True, senorita,” he said, raising his face up to hers slowly: “there is + Estaban, who must be shown that I am not dead after all.” + </p> + <p> + The mutterings of the mad father had ceased long before; the sighing + mother had withdrawn somewhere into one of the empty rooms. All was still + within as well as without, in the moonlight bright as day on the wild + orchard full of inky shadows. Gaspar Ruiz saw the dark eyes of Doña + Erminia look down at him. + </p> + <p> + “Ala! The sergeant,” she muttered disdainfully. + </p> + <p> + “Why! He has wounded me with his sword,” he protested, bewildered by the + contempt that seemed to shine livid on her pale face. + </p> + <p> + She crushed him with her glance. The power of her will to be understood + was so strong that it kindled in him the intelligence of unexpressed + things. + </p> + <p> + “What else did you expect me to do?” he cried, as if suddenly driven to + despair. “Have I the power to do more? Am I a general with an army at my + back?—miserable sinner that I am to be despised by you at last.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VIII + </h2> + <p> + “SENORES,” related the General to his guests, “though my thoughts were of + love then, and therefore enchanting, the sight of that house always + affected me disagreeably, especially in the moonlight, when its close + shutters and its air of lonely neglect appeared sinister. Still I went on + using the bridle-path by the ravine, because it was a short cut. The mad + Royalist howled and laughed at me every evening to his complete + satisfaction; but after a time, as if wearied with my indifference, he + ceased to appear in the porch. How they persuaded him to leave off I do + not know. However, with Gaspar Ruiz in the house there would have been no + difficulty in restraining him by force. It was part of their policy in + there to avoid anything which could provoke me. At least, so I suppose. + </p> + <p> + “Notwithstanding my infatuation with the brightest pair of eyes in Chile, + I noticed the absence of the old man after a week or so. A few more days + passed. I began to think that perhaps these Royalists had gone away + somewhere else. But one evening, as I was hastening towards the city, I + saw again somebody in the porch. It was not the madman; it was the girl. + She stood holding on to one of the wooden columns, tall and white-faced, + her big eyes sunk deep with privation and sorrow. I looked hard at her, + and she met my stare with a strange, inquisitive look. Then, as I turned + my head after riding past, she seemed to gather courage for the act, and + absolutely beckoned me back. + </p> + <p> + “I obeyed, senores, almost without thinking, so great was my astonishment. + It was greater still when I heard what she had to say. She began by + thanking me for my forbearance of her father’s infirmity, so that I felt + ashamed of myself. I had meant to show disdain, not forbearance! Every + word must have burnt her lips, but she never departed from a gentle and + melancholy dignity which filled me with respect against my will. Senores, + we are no match for women. But I could hardly believe my ears when she + began her tale. Providence, she concluded, seemed to have preserved the + life of that wronged soldier, who now trusted to my honour as a caballero + and to my compassion for his sufferings. + </p> + <p> + “‘Wronged man,’ I observed coldly. ‘Well, I think so too: and you have + been harbouring an enemy of your cause.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘He was a poor Christian crying for help at our door in the name of God, + senor,’ she answered simply. + </p> + <p> + “I began to admire her. ‘Where is he now?’ I asked stiffly. + </p> + <p> + “But she would not answer that question. With extreme cunning, and an + almost fiendish delicacy, she managed to remind me of my failure in saving + the lives of the prisoners in the guard-room, without wounding my pride. + She knew, of course, the whole story. Gaspar Ruiz, she said, entreated me + to procure for him a safe-conduce from General San Martin himself. He had + an important communication to make to the Commander-in-Chief. + </p> + <p> + “Por Dios, senores, she made me swallow all that, pretending to be only + the mouthpiece of that poor man. Overcome by injustice, he expected to + find, she said, as much generosity in me as had been shown to him by the + Royalist family which had given him a refuge. + </p> + <p> + “Hal It was well and nobly said to a youngster like me. I thought her + great. Alas! she was only implacable. + </p> + <p> + “In the end I rode away very enthusiastic about the business, without + demanding even to see Gaspar Ruiz, who I was confident was in the house. + </p> + <p> + “But on calm reflection I began to see some difficulties which I had not + confidence enough in myself to encounter. It was not easy to approach a + commander-in-chief with such a story. I feared failure. At last I thought + it better to lay the matter before my general-of-division, Robles, a + friend of my family, who had appointed me his aide-de-camp lately. + </p> + <p> + “He took it out of my hands at once without any ceremony. + </p> + <p> + “‘In the house! of course he is in the house,’ he said contemptuously. + ‘You ought to have gone sword in hand inside and demanded his surrender, + instead of chatting with a Royalist girl in the porch. Those people should + have been hunted out of that long ago. Who knows how many spies they have + harboured right in the very midst of our camps? A safe-conduct from the + Commander-in-Chief! The audacity of the fellow! Ha! ha! Now we shall catch + him to-night, and then we shall find out, without any safe-conduct, what + he has got to say, that is so very important. Ha! ha! ha!’ + </p> + <p> + “General Robles, peace to his soul, was a short, thick man, with round, + staring eyes, fierce and jovial. Seeing my distress he added: + </p> + <p> + “‘Come, come, chico. I promise you his life if he does not resist. And + that is not likely. We are not going to break up a good soldier if it can + be helped. I tell you what! I am curious to see your strong man. Nothing + but a general will do for the picaro—well, he shall have a general + to talk to. Ha! ha! I shall go myself to the catching, and you are coming + with me, of course.’ + </p> + <p> + “And it was done that same night. Early in the evening the house and the + orchard were surrounded quietly. Later on the general and I left a ball we + were attending in town and rode out at an easy gallop. At some little + distance from the house we pulled up. A mounted orderly held our horses. A + low whistle warned the men watching all along the ravine, and we walked up + to the porch softly. The barricaded house in the moonlight seemed empty. + </p> + <p> + “The general knocked at the door. After a time a woman’s voice within + asked who was there. My chief nudged me hard. I gasped. + </p> + <p> + “’ It is I, Lieutenant Santierra,’ I stammered out, as if choked. ‘Open + the door.’ + </p> + <p> + “It came open slowly. The girl, holding a thin taper in her hand, seeing + another man with me, began to back away before us slowly, shading the + light with her hand. Her impassive white face looked ghostly. I followed + behind General Robles. Her eyes were fixed on mine. I made a gesture of + helplessness behind my chief’s back, trying at the same time to give a + reassuring expression to my face. Neither of us three uttered a sound. + </p> + <p> + “We found ourselves in a room with bare floor and walls. There was a rough + table and a couple of stools in it, nothing else whatever. An old woman + with her grey hair hanging loose wrung her hands when we appeared. A peal + of loud laughter resounded through the empty house, very amazing and + weird. At this the old woman tried to get past us. + </p> + <p> + “‘Nobody to leave the room,’ said General Robles to me. + </p> + <p> + “I swung the door to, heard the latch click, and the laughter became faint + in our ears. + </p> + <p> + “Before another word could be spoken in that room I was amazed by hearing + the sound of distant thunder. + </p> + <p> + “I had carried in with me into the house a vivid impression of a + beautiful, clear, moonlight night, without a speck of cloud in the sky. I + could not believe my ears. Sent early abroad for my education, I was not + familiar with the most dreaded natural phenomenon of my native land. I + saw, with inexpressible astonishment, a look of terror in my chief’s eyes. + Suddenly I felt giddy! The general staggered against me heavily; the girl + seemed to reel in the middle of the room, the taper fell out of her hand + and the light went out; a shrill cry of Misericordia! from the old woman + pierced my ears. In the pitchy darkness I heard the plaster off the walls + falling on The floor. It is a mercy there was no ceiling. Holding on to + the latch of the door, I heard the grinding of the roof-tiles cease above + my head. The shock was over. + </p> + <p> + “‘Out of the house! The door! Fly, Santierra, fly!’ howled the general. + You know, senores, in our country the bravest are not ashamed of the fear + an earthquake strikes into all the senses of man. One never gets used to + it. + </p> + <p> + “Repeated experience only augments the mastery of that nameless terror. + </p> + <p> + “It was my first earthquake, and I was the calmest of them all. I + understood that the crash outside was caused by the porch, with its wooden + pillars and tiled roof projection, falling down. The next shock would + destroy the house, maybe. That rumble as of thunder was approaching again. + The general was rushing round the room, to find the door, perhaps. He made + a noise as though he were trying to climb the walls, and I heard him + distinctly invoke the names of several saints. ‘Out, out, Santierra!’ he + yelled. + </p> + <p> + “The girl’s voice was the only one I did not hear. + </p> + <p> + “‘General,’ I cried, ‘I cannot move the door. We must be locked in.’ + </p> + <p> + “I did not recognise his voice in the shout of malediction and despair he + let out. Senores I know many men in my country, especially in the + provinces most subject to earthquakes, who will neither eat, sleep, pray, + nor even sit down to cards with closed doors. The danger is not in the + loss of time, but in this—that the movement of the walls may prevent + a door being opened at all. This was what had happened to us. We were + trapped, and we had no help to expect from anybody. There is no man in my + country who will go into a house when the earth trembles. There never was—except + one: Gaspar Ruiz. + </p> + <p> + “He had come out of whatever hole he had been hiding in outside, and had + clambered over the timbers of the destroyed porch. Above the awful + subterranean groan of coming destruction I heard a mighty voice shouting + the word ‘Erminia!’ with the lungs of a giant. An earthquake is a great + leveller of distinctions. I collected all my resolution against the terror + of the scene. ‘She is here,’ I shouted back. A roar as of a furious wild + beast answered me—while my head swam, my heart sank, and the sweat + of anguish streamed like rain off my brow. + </p> + <p> + “He had the strength to pick up one of the heavy posts of the porch. + Holding it under his armpit like a lance, but with both hands, he charged + madly the rocking house with the force of a battering-ram, bursting open + the door and rushing in, headlong, over our prostrate bodies. I and the + general, picking ourselves up, bolted out together, without looking round + once till we got across the road. Then, clinging to each other, we beheld + the house change suddenly into a heap of formless rubbish behind the back + of a man, who staggered towards us bearing the form of a woman clasped in + his arms. Her long black hair hung nearly to his feet. He laid her down + reverently on the heaving earth, and the moonlight shone on her closed + eyes. + </p> + <p> + “senores, we mounted with difficulty. Our horses, getting up, plunged + madly, held by the soldiers who had come running from all sides. Nobody + thought of catching Gaspar Ruiz then. The eyes of men and animals shone + with wild fear. My general approached Gaspar Ruiz, who stood motionless as + a statue above the girl. He let himself be shaken by the shoulder without + detaching his eyes from her face. + </p> + <p> + “‘Que guape!’ shouted the general in his ear. ‘You are the bravest man + living. You have saved my life. I am General Robles. Come to my quarters + to-morrow, if God gives us the grace to see another day.’ + </p> + <p> + “He never stirred—as if deaf, without feeling, insensible. + </p> + <p> + “We rode away for the town, full of our relations, of our friends, of + whose fate we hardly dared to think. The soldiers ran by the side of our + horses. Everything was forgotten in the immensity of the catastrophe + overtaking a whole country.” + </p> + <p> + Gaspar Ruiz saw the girl open her eyes. The raising of her eyelids seemed + to recall him from a trance. They were alone; the cries of terror and + distress from homeless people filled the plains of the coast, remote and + immense, coming like a whisper into their loneliness. + </p> + <p> + She rose swiftly to her feet, darting fearful glances on all sides. “What + is it?” she cried out low, and peering into his face. “Where am I?” + </p> + <p> + He bowed his head sadly, without a word. + </p> + <p> + “... Who are you?” + </p> + <p> + He knelt down slowly before her, and touched the hem of her coarse black + baize skirt. “Your slave,” he said. + </p> + <p> + She caught sight then of the heap of rubbish that had been the house, all + misty in the cloud of dust. “Ah!” she cried, pressing her hand to her + forehead. + </p> + <p> + “I carried you out from there,” he whispered at her feet. + </p> + <p> + “And they?” she asked in a great sob. + </p> + <p> + He rose, and taking her by the arms, led her gently towards the shapeless + ruin half overwhelmed by a land-slide. “Come and listen,” he said. + </p> + <p> + The serene moon saw them clambering over that heap of stones, joists and + tiles, which was a grave. They pressed their ears to the interstices, + listening for the sound of a groan, for a sigh of pain. + </p> + <p> + At last he said, “They died swiftly. You are alone.” + </p> + <p> + She sat down on a piece of broken timber and put one arm across her face. + He waited—then, approaching his lips to her ear, “Let us go,” he + whispered. + </p> + <p> + “Never—never from here,” she cried out, flinging her arms above her + head. + </p> + <p> + He stooped over her, and her raised arms fell upon his shoulders. He + lifted her up, steadied himself and began to walk, looking straight before + him. + </p> + <p> + “What are you doing?” she asked feebly. + </p> + <p> + “I am escaping from my enemies,” he said, never once glancing at his light + burden. + </p> + <p> + “With me?” she sighed helplessly. + </p> + <p> + “Never without you,” he said. “You are my strength.” + </p> + <p> + He pressed her close to him. His face was grave and his footsteps steady. + The conflagrations bursting out in the ruins of destroyed villages dotted + the plain with red fires; and the sounds of distant lamentations, the + cries of “Misericordia! Misericordia!” made a desolate murmur in his ears. + He walked on, solemn and collected, as if carrying something holy, fragile + and precious. + </p> + <p> + The earth rocked at times under his feet. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IX + </h2> + <p> + WITH movements of mechanical care and an air of abstraction old General + Santierra lighted a long and thick cigar. + </p> + <p> + “It was a good many hours before we could send a party back to the + ravine,” he said to his guests. “We had found one-third of the town laid + low, the rest shaken up; and the inhabitants, rich and poor, reduced to + the same state of distraction by the universal disaster. The affected + cheerfulness of some contrasted with the despair of others. In the general + confusion a number of reckless thieves, without fear of God or man, became + a danger to those who from the downfall of their homes had managed to save + some valuables. Crying ‘Misericordia’ louder than any at every tremor, and + beating their breasts with one hand, these scoundrels robbed the poor + victims with the other, not even stopping short of murder. + </p> + <p> + “General Robles’ division was occupied entirely in guarding the destroyed + quarters of the town from the depredations of these inhuman monsters. + Taken up with my duties of orderly officer, it was only in the morning + that I could assure myself of the safety of my own family. + </p> + <p> + “My mother and my sisters had escaped with their lives from that + ball-room, where I had left them early in the evening. I remember those + two beautiful young women—God rest their souls—as if I saw + them this moment, in the garden of our destroyed house, pale but active, + assisting some of our poor neighbours, in their soiled ball-dresses and + with the dust of fallen walls on their hair. As to my mother, she had a + stoical soul in her frail body. Half-covered by a costly shawl, she was + lying on a rustic seat by the side of an ornamental basin whose fountain + had ceased to play for ever on that night. + </p> + <p> + “I had hardly had time to embrace them all with transports of joy, when my + chief, coming along, dispatched me to the ravine with a few soldiers, to + bring in my strong man, as he called him, and that pale girl. + </p> + <p> + “But there was no one for us to bring in. A land-slide had covered the + ruins of the house; and it was like a large mound of earth with only the + ends of some timbers visible here and there—nothing more. + </p> + <p> + “Thus were the tribulations of the old Royalist couple ended. An enormous + and unconsecrated grave had swallowed them up alive, in their unhappy + obstinacy against the will of a people to be free. And their daughter was + gone. + </p> + <p> + “That Gaspar Ruiz had carried her off I understood very well. But as the + case was not foreseen, I had no instructions to pursue them. And certainly + I had no desire to do so. I had grown mistrustful of my interference. It + had never been successful, and had not even appeared creditable. He was + gone. Well, let him go. And he had carried off the Royalist girl! Nothing + better. Vaya con Dios. This was not the time to bother about a deserter + who, justly or unjustly, ought to have been dead, and a girl for whom it + would have been better to have never been born. + </p> + <p> + “So I marched my men back to the town. + </p> + <p> + “After a few days, order having been re-established, all the principal + families, including my own, left for Santiago. We had a fine house there. + At the same time the division of Robles was moved to new cantonments near + the capital. This change suited very well the state of my domestic and + amorous feelings. + </p> + <p> + “One night, rather late, I was called to my chief. I found General Robles + in his quarters, at ease, with his uniform off, drinking neat brandy out + of a tumbler—as a precaution, he used to say, against the + sleeplessness induced by the bites of mosquitoes. He was a good soldier, + and he taught me the art and practice of war. + </p> + <p> + “No doubt God has been merciful to his soul; for his motives were never + other than patriotic, if his character was irascible. As to the use of + mosquito nets, he considered it effeminate, shameful—unworthy of a + soldier. + </p> + <p> + “I noticed at the first glance that his face, already very red, wore an + expression of high good-humour. + </p> + <p> + “‘Aha! senor teniente,’ he cried loudly, as I saluted at the door. + ‘Behold! Your strong man has turned up again.’ + </p> + <p> + “He extended to me a folded letter, which I saw was superscribed ‘To the + Commander-in-Chief of the Republican Armies.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘This,’ General Robles went on in his loud voice, ‘was thrust by a boy + into the hand of a sentry at the Quartel General, while the fellow stood + there thinking of his girl, no doubt—for before he could gather his + wits together, the boy had disappeared amongst the market people, and he + protests he could not recognise him to save his life.’ + </p> + <p> + “My chief told me further that the soldier had given the letter to the + sergeant of the guard, and that ultimately it had reached the hands of our + generalissimo. His Excellency had deigned to take cognisance of it with + his own eyes. After that he had referred the matter in confidence to + General Robles. + </p> + <p> + “The letter, senores, I cannot now recollect textually. I saw the + signature of Gaspar Ruiz. He was an audacious fellow. He had snatched a + soul for himself out of a cataclysm, remember. And now it was that soul + which had dictated the terms of his letter. Its tone was very independent. + I remember it struck me at the time as noble—dignified. It was, no + doubt, her letter. Now I shudder at the depth of its duplicity. Gaspar + Ruiz was made to complain of the injustice of which he had been a victim. + He invoked his previous record of fidelity and courage. Having been saved + from death by the miraculous interposition of Providence, he could think + of nothing but of retrieving his character. This, he wrote, he could not + hope to do in the ranks as a discredited soldier still under suspicion. He + had the means to give a striking proof of his fidelity. And he ended by + proposing to the General-in-Chief a meeting at midnight in the middle of + the Plaza before the Moneta. The signal would be to strike fire with flint + and steel three times, which was not too conspicuous and yet distinctive + enough for recognition. + </p> + <p> + “San Martin, the great Liberator, loved men of audacity and courage. + Besides, he was just and compassionate. I told him as much of the man’s + story as I knew, and was ordered to accompany him on the appointed night. + The signals were duly exchanged. It was midnight, and the whole town was + dark and silent. Their two cloaked figures came together in the centre of + the vast Plaza, and, keeping discreetly at a distance, I listened for an + hour or more to the murmur of their voices. Then the general motioned me + to approach; and as I did so I heard San Martin, who was courteous to + gentle and simple alike, offer Gaspar Ruiz the hospitality of the + headquarters for the night. But the soldier refused, saying that he would + not be worthy of that honour till he had done something. + </p> + <p> + “‘You cannot have a common deserter for your guest, Excellency,’ he + protested with a low laugh, and stepping backwards, merged slowly into the + night. + </p> + <p> + “The Commander-in-Chief observed to me, as we turned away: ‘He had + somebody with him, our friend Ruiz. I saw two figures for a moment. It was + an unobtrusive companion.’ + </p> + <p> + “I too had observed another figure join the vanishing form of Gaspar Ruiz. + It had the appearance of a short fellow in a poncho and a big hat. And I + wondered stupidly who it could be he had dared take into his confidence. I + might have guessed it could be no one but that fatal girl—alas! + </p> + <p> + “Where he kept her concealed I do not know. He had—it was known + afterwards—an uncle, his mother’s brother, a small shopkeeper in + Santiago. Perhaps it was there that she found a roof and food. Whatever + she found, it was poor enough to exasperate her pride and keep up her + anger and hate. It is certain she did not accompany him on the feat he + undertook to accomplish first of all. It was nothing less than the + destruction of a store of war material collected secretly by the Spanish + authorities in the south, in a town called Linares. Gaspar Ruiz was + entrusted with a small party only, but they proved themselves worthy of + San Martin’s confidence. The season was not propitious. They had to swim + swollen rivers. They seemed, however, to have galloped night and day, + outriding the news of their foray, and holding straight for the town, a + hundred miles into the enemy’s country, till at break of day they rode + into it sword in hand, surprising the little garrison. It fled without + making a stand, leaving most of its officers in Gaspar Ruiz’ hands. + </p> + <p> + “A great explosion of gunpowder ended the conflagration of the magazines + the raiders had set on fire without loss of time. In less than six hours + they were riding away at the same mad speed, without the loss of a single + man. Good as they were, such an exploit is not performed without a still + better leadership. + </p> + <p> + “I was dining at the headquarters when Gas-par Ruiz himself brought the + news of his success. And it was a great blow to the Royalist troops. For a + proof he displayed to us the garrison’s flag. He took it from under his + poncho and flung it on the table. The man was transfigured; there was + something exulting and menacing in the expression of his face. He stood + behind General San Martin’s chair and looked proudly at us all. He had a + round blue cap edged with silver braid on his head, and we all could see a + large white scar on the nape of his sunburnt neck. + </p> + <p> + “Somebody asked him what he had done with the captured Spanish officers. + </p> + <p> + “He shrugged his shoulders scornfully. ‘What a question to ask! In a + partisan war you do not burden yourself with prisoners. I let them go—and + here are their sword-knots.’ + </p> + <p> + “He flung a bunch of them on the table upon the flag. Then General Robles, + whom I was attending there, spoke up in his loud, thick voice: ‘You did! + Then, my brave friend, you do not know yet how a war like ours ought to be + conducted. You should have done—this.’ And he passed the edge of his + hand across his own throat. + </p> + <p> + “Alas, senores! It was only too true that on both sides this contest, in + its nature so heroic, was stained by ferocity. The murmurs that arose at + General Robles’ words were by no means unanimous in tone. But the generous + and brave San Martin praised the humane action, and pointed out to Ruiz a + place on his right hand. Then rising with a full glass he proposed a + toast: ‘Caballeros and comrades-in-arms, let us drink the health of + Captain Gaspar Ruiz.’ And when we had emptied our glasses: ‘I intend,’ the + Commander-in-Chief continued, ‘to entrust him with the guardianship of our + southern frontier, while we go afar to liberate our brethren in Peru. He + whom the enemy could not stop from striking a blow at his very heart will + know how to protect the peaceful populations we leave behind us to pursue + our sacred task.’ And he embraced the silent Gaspar Ruiz by his side. + </p> + <p> + “Later on, when we all rose from table, I approached the latest officer of + the army with my congratulations. ‘And, Captain Ruiz,’ I added, ‘perhaps + you do not mind telling a man who has always believed in the uprightness + of your character, what became of Doña Erminia on that night?’ + </p> + <p> + “At this friendly question his aspect changed. He looked at me from under + his eyebrows with the heavy, dull glance of a guasso—of a peasant. + </p> + <p> + “Senor teniente,’ he said thickly, and as if very much cast down, ‘do not + ask me about the senorita, for I prefer not to think about her at all when + I am amongst you.’ + </p> + <p> + “He looked, with a frown, all about the room, full of smoking and talking + officers. Of course I did not insist. + </p> + <p> + “These, senores, were the last words I was to hear him utter for a long, + long time. The very next day we embarked for our arduous expedition to + Peru, and we only heard of Gaspar Ruiz’ doings in the midst of battles of + our own. He had been appointed military guardian of our southern province. + He raised a partida. But his leniency to the conquered foe displeased the + Civil Governor, who was a formal, uneasy man, full of suspicions. He + forwarded reports against Gaspar Ruiz to the Supreme Government; one of + them being that he had married publicly, with great pomp, a woman of + Royalist tendencies. Quarrels were sure to arise between these two men of + very different character. At last the Civil Governor began to complain of + his inactivity, and to hint at treachery, which, he wrote, would be not + surprising in a man of such antecedents. Gaspar Ruiz heard of it. His rage + flamed up, and the woman ever by his side knew how to feed it with + perfidious words. I do not know whether really the Supreme Government ever + did—as he complained afterwards—send orders for his arrest. It + seems certain that the Civil Governor began to tamper with his officers, + and that Gaspar Ruiz discovered the fact. + </p> + <p> + “One evening, when the Governor was giving a tertullia Gaspar Ruiz, + followed by six men he could trust, appeared riding through the town to + the door of the Government House, and entered the sala armed, his hat on + his head. As the Governor, displeased, advanced to meet him, he seized the + wretched man round the body, carried him off from the midst of the + appalled guests, as though he were a child, and flung him down the outer + steps into the street. An angry hug from Gaspar Ruiz was enough to crush + the life out of a giant; but in addition Gaspar Ruiz’ horsemen fired their + pistols at the body of the Governor as it lay motionless at the bottom of + the stairs.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + X + </h2> + <p> + “AFTER this—as he called it—act of justice, Ruiz crossed the + Rio Blanco, followed by the greater part of his band, and entrenched + himself upon a hill A company of regular troops sent out foolishly against + him was surrounded, and destroyed almost to a man. Other expeditions, + though better organised, were equally unsuccessful. + </p> + <p> + “It was during these sanguinary skirmishes that his wife first began to + appear on horseback at his right hand. Rendered proud and self-confident + by his successes, Ruiz no longer charged at the head of his partida, but + presumptuously, like a general directing the movements of an army, he + remained in the rear, well mounted and motionless on an eminence, sending + out his orders. She was seen repeatedly at his side, and for a long time + was mistaken for a man. There was much talk then of a mysterious + white-faced chief, to whom the defeats of our troops were ascribed. She + rode like an Indian woman, astride, wearing a broad-rimmed man’s hat and a + dark poncho. Afterwards, in the day of their greatest prosperity, this + poncho was embroidered in gold, and she wore then, also, the sword of poor + Don Antonio de Leyva. This veteran Chilean officer, having the misfortune + to be surrounded with his small force, and running short of ammunition, + found his death at the hands of the Arauco Indians, the allies and + auxiliaries of Gaspar Ruiz. This was the fatal affair long remembered + afterwards as the ‘Massacre of the Island.’ The sword of the unhappy + officer was presented to her by Peneleo, the Araucanian chief; for these + Indians, struck by her aspect, the deathly pallor of her face, which no + exposure to the weather seemed to affect, and her calm indifference under + fire, looked upon her as a supernatural being, or at least as a witch. By + this superstition the prestige and authority of Gaspar Ruiz amongst these + ignorant people were greatly augmented. She must have savoured her + vengeance to the full on that day when she buckled on the sword of Don + Antonio de Leyva. It never left her side, unless she put on her woman’s + clothes—not that she would or could ever use it, but she loved to + feel it beating upon her thigh as a perpetual reminder and symbol of the + dishonour to the arms of the Republic. She was insatiable. Moreover, on + the path she had led Gaspar Ruiz upon, there is no stopping. Escaped + prisoners—and they were not many—used to relate how with a few + whispered words she could change the expression of his face and revive his + flagging animosity. They told how after every skirmish, after every raid, + after every successful action, he would ride up to her and look into her + face. Its haughty-calm was never relaxed. Her embrace, senores, must have + been as cold as the embrace of a statue. He tried to melt her icy heart in + a stream of warm blood. Some English naval officers who visited him at + that time noticed the strange character of his infatuation.” + </p> + <p> + At the movement of surprise and curiosity in his audience General + Santierra paused for a moment. + </p> + <p> + “Yes—English naval officers,” he repeated. “Ruiz had consented to + receive them to arrange for the liberation of some prisoners of your + nationality. In the territory upon which he ranged, from sea coast to the + Cordillera, there was a bay where the ships of that time, after rounding + Gape Horn, used to resort for wood and water. There, decoying the crew on + shore, he captured first the whaling brig Hersalia, and afterwards made + himself master by surprise of two more ships, one English and one + American. + </p> + <p> + “It was rumoured at the time that he dreamed of setting up a navy of his + own. But that, of course, was impossible. Still, manning the brig with + part of her own crew, and putting an officer and a good many men of his + own on board, he sent her off to the Spanish Governor of the island of + Chiloe with a report of his exploits, and a demand for assistance in the + war against the rebels. The Governor could not do much for him; but he + sent in return two light field-pieces, a letter of compliments, with a + colonel’s commission in the royal forces, and a great Spanish flag. This + standard with much ceremony was hoisted over his house in the heart of the + Arauco country. Surely on that day she may have smiled on her guasso + husband with a less haughty reserve. + </p> + <p> + “The senior officer of the English squadron on our coast made + representations to our Government as to these captures. But Gaspar Ruiz + refused to treat with us. Then an English frigate proceeded to the bay, + and her captain, doctor, and two lieutenants travelled inland under a safe + conduct. They were well received, and spent three days as guests of the + partisan chief. A sort of military, barbaric state was kept up at the + residence. It was furnished with the loot of frontier towns. When first + admitted to the principal sala, they saw his wife lying down (she was not + in good health then), with Gaspar Ruiz sitting at the foot of the couch. + His-hat was lying on the floor, and his hands reposed on the hilt of his + sword. + </p> + <p> + “During that first conversation he never removed his big hands from the + sword-hilt, except once, to arrange the coverings about her, with gentle, + careful touches. They noticed that when ever she spoke he would fix his + eyes upon her in a kind of expectant, breathless attention, and seemingly + forget the existence of the world and his own existence too. In the course + of the farewell banquet, at which she was present reclining on her couch, + he burst forth into complaints of the treatment he had received. After + General San Martin’s departure he had been beset by spies, slandered by + civil officials, his services ignored, his liberty and even his life + threatened by the Chilian Government. He got up from the table, thundered + execrations pacing the room wildly, then sat down on the couch at his + wife’s feet, his breast heaving, his eyes fixed on the floor. She reclined + on her back, her head on the cushions, her eyes nearly closed. + </p> + <p> + “‘And now I am an honoured Spanish officer,’ he added in a calm voice. + </p> + <p> + “The captain of the English frigate then took the opportunity to inform + him gently that Lima had fallen, and that by the terms of a convention the + Spaniards were withdrawing from the whole continent. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz raised his head, and without hesitation, speaking with + suppressed vehemence, declared, that if not a single Spanish soldier were + left in the whole of South America he would persist in carrying on the + contest against Chile to the last drop of blood. When he finished that mad + tirade his wife’s long white hand was raised, and she just caressed his + knee with the tips of her fingers for a fraction of a second. + </p> + <p> + “For the rest of the officers’ stay, which did not extend for more than + half an hour after the banquet, that ferocious chieftain of a desperate + partida overflowed with amiability and kindness. He had been hospitable + before, but now it seemed as though he could not do enough for the comfort + and safety of his visitors’ journey back to their ship. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing, I have been told, could have presented a greater contrast to his + late violence or the habitual taciturn reserve of his manner. Like a man + elated beyond measure by an unexpected happiness, he overflowed with + good-will, amiability, and attentions. He embraced the officers like + brothers, almost with tears in his eyes. The released prisoners were + presented each with a piece of gold. At the last moment, suddenly, he + declared he could do no less than restore to the masters of the merchant + vessels all their private property. This unexpected generosity caused some + delay in the departure of the party, and their first march was very short. + </p> + <p> + “Late in the evening Gaspar Ruiz rode up with an escort, to their camp + fires, bringing along with him a mule loaded with cases of wine. He had + come, he said, to drink a stirrup cup with his English friends, whom he + would never see again. He was mellow and joyous in his temper. He told + stories of his own exploits, laughed like a boy, borrowed a guitar from + the Englishmen’s chief muleteer, and sitting cross-legged on his superfine + poncho spread before the glow of the embers, sang a guasso love-song in a + tender voice. Then his head dropped on his breast, his hands fell to the + ground; the guitar rolled off his knees—and a great hush fell over + the camp after the love-song of the implacable partisan who had made so + many of our people weep for destroyed homes and for loves cut short. + </p> + <p> + “Before anybody could make a sound he sprang up from the ground and called + for his horse. ‘Adios, my friends!’ he cried, ‘Go with God. I love you. + And tell them well in Santiago that between Gaspar Ruiz, colonel of the + King of Spain, and the republican carrion-crows of Chile there is war to + the last breath—war! war! war!’ + </p> + <p> + “With a great yell of ‘War! war! war!’ which his escort took up, they rode + away, and the sound of hoofs and of voices died out in the distance + between the slopes of the hills. + </p> + <p> + “The two young English officers were convinced that Ruiz was mad. How do + you say that?—tile loose—eh? But the doctor, an observant + Scotsman with much shrewdness and philosophy in his character, told me + that it was a very curious case of possession. I met him many years + afterwards, but he remembered the experience very well. He told me too + that in his opinion that woman did not lead Gaspar Ruiz into the practice + of sanguinary treachery by direct persuasion, but by the subtle way of + awakening and keeping alive in his simple mind a burning sense of an + irreparable wrong. Maybe, maybe. But I would say that she poured half of + her vengeful soul into the strong clay of that man, as you may pour + intoxication, madness, poison into an empty cup. + </p> + <p> + “If he wanted war he got it in earnest when our victorious army began to + return from Peru. Systematic operations were planned against this blot on + the honour and prosperity of our hardly-won independence. General Robles + commanded, with his well-known ruthless severity. Savage reprisals were + exercised on both sides, and no quarter was given in the field. Having won + my promotion in the Peru campaign, I was a captain on the staff. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz found himself hard pressed; at the same time we heard by + means of a fugitive priest who had been carried off from his village + presbytery, and galloped eighty miles into the hills to perform the + christening ceremony, that a daughter was born to them. To celebrate the + event, I suppose, Ruiz executed one or two brilliant forays clear away at + the rear of our forces, and defeated the detachments sent out to cut off + his retreat. General Robles nearly had a stroke of apoplexy from rage. He + found another cause of insomnia than the bites of mosquitoes; but against + this one, senores, tumblers of raw brandy had no more effect than so much + water. He took to railing and storming at me about my strong man. And from + our impatience to end this inglorious campaign, I am afraid that we young + officers became reckless and apt to take undue risks on service. + </p> + <p> + “Nevertheless, slowly, inch by inch as it were, our columns were closing + upon Gaspar Ruiz, though he had managed to raise all the Araucanian nation + of wild Indians against us. Then a year or more later our Government + became aware through its agents and spies that he had actually entered + into alliance with Carreras, the so-called dictator of the so-called + republic of Mendoza, on the other side of the mountains. Whether Gaspar + Ruiz had a deep political intention, or whether he wished only to secure a + safe retreat for his wife and child while he pursued remorselessly against + us his war of surprises and massacres, I cannot tell. The alliance, + however, was a fact. Defeated in his attempt to check our advance from the + sea, he retreated with his usual swiftness, and preparing for another hard + and hazardous tussle began by sending his wife with the little girl across + the Pequena range of mountains, on the frontier of Mendoza.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XI + </h2> + <p> + “Now Carreras, under the guise of politics and liberalism, was a scoundrel + of the deepest dye, and the unhappy state of Mendoza was the prey of + thieves, robbers, traitors and murderers, who formed his party. He was + under a noble exterior a man without heart, pity, honour, or conscience. + Tie aspired to nothing but tyranny, and though he would have made use of + Gaspar Ruiz for his nefarious designs, yet he soon became aware that to + propitiate the Chilian Government would answer his purpose better. I blush + to say that he made proposals to our Government to deliver up on certain + conditions the wife and child of the man who had trusted to his honour, + and that this offer was accepted. + </p> + <p> + “While on her way to Mendoza over the Pequena pass she was betrayed by her + escort of Carreras’ men, and given up to the officer in command of a + Chilian fort on the upland at the foot of the main Cordillera range. This + atrocious transaction might have cost me dear, for as a matter of fact I + was a prisoner in Gaspar Ruiz’ camp when he received the news. I had been + captured during a reconnaissance, my escort of a few troopers being + speared by the Indians of his bodyguard. I was saved from the same fate + because he recognised my features just in time. No doubt my friends + thought I was dead, and I would not have given much for my life at any + time. But the strong man treated me very well, because, he said, I had + always believed in his innocence and had tried to serve him when he was a + victim of injustice. + </p> + <p> + “‘And now,’ was his speech to me, ‘you shall see that I always speak the + truth. You are safe.’ + </p> + <p> + “I did not think I was very safe when I was called up to go to him one + night. He paced up and down like a wild beast, exclaiming, ‘Betrayed! + Betrayed!’ + </p> + <p> + “He walked up to me clenching his fists. ‘I could cut your throat.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Will that give your wife back to you?’ I said as quietly as I could. + </p> + <p> + “‘And the child!’ he yelled out, as if mad. He fell into a chair and + laughed in a frightful, boisterous manner. ‘Oh, no, you are safe.’ + </p> + <p> + “I assured him that his wife’s life was safe too; but I did not say what I + was convinced of—that he would never see her again. He wanted war to + the death, and the war could only end with his death. + </p> + <p> + “He gave me a strange, inexplicable look, and sat muttering blankly. ‘In + their hands. In their hands.’ + </p> + <p> + “I kept as still as a mouse before a cat. Suddenly he jumped up. ‘What am + I doing here?’ he cried; and opening the door, he yelled out orders to + saddle and mount. ‘What is it?’ he stammered, coming up to me. ‘The + Pequena fort; a fort of palisades! Nothing. I would get her back if she + were hidden in the very heart of the mountain.’ He amazed me by adding, + with an effort: ‘I carried her off in my two arms while the earth + trembled. And the child at least is mine. She at least is mine!’ + </p> + <p> + “Those were bizarre words; but I had no time for wonder. + </p> + <p> + “‘You shall go with me;’ he said violently. ‘I may want to parley, and any + other messenger from Ruiz, the outlaw, would have his throat cut.’ + </p> + <p> + “This was true enough. Between him and the rest of incensed mankind there + could be no communication, according to the customs of honour-able + warfare. + </p> + <p> + “In less than half an hour we were in the saddle, flying wildly through + the night. He had only an escort of twenty men at his quarters, but would + not wait for more. He sent, however, messengers to Peneleo, the Indian + chief then ranging in the foothills, directing him to bring his warriors + to the uplands and meet him at the lake called the Eye of Water, near + whose shores the frontier fort of Pequena was built. + </p> + <p> + “We crossed the lowlands with that untired rapidity of movement which had + made Gaspar Ruiz’ raids so famous. We followed the lower valleys up to + their precipitous heads. The ride was not without its dangers. A cornice + road on a perpendicular wall of basalt wound itself around a buttressing + rock, and at last we emerged from the gloom of a deep gorge upon the + upland of Peeña. + </p> + <p> + “It was a plain of green wiry grass and thin flowering bushes; but high + above our heads patches of snow hung in the folds and crevices of the + great walls of rock. The little lake was as round as a staring eye. The + garrison of the fort were just driving in their small herd of cattle when + we appeared. Then the great wooden gates swung to, and that four-square + enclosure of broad blackened stakes pointed at the top and barely hiding + the grass roofs of the huts inside, seemed deserted, empty, without a + single soul. + </p> + <p> + “But when summoned to surrender, by a man who at Gaspar Ruiz’ order rode + fearlessly forward, those inside answered by a volley which rolled him and + his horse over. I heard Ruiz by my side grind his teeth. ‘It does not + matter,’ he said. ‘Now you go.’ + </p> + <p> + “Torn and faded as its rags were, the vestiges of my uniform were + recognised, and I was allowed to approach within speaking distance; and + then I had to wait, because a voice clamouring through a loophole with joy + and astonishment would not allow me to place a word. It was the voice of + Major Pajol, an old friend. He, like my other comrades, had thought me + killed a long time ago. + </p> + <p> + “‘Put spurs to your horse, man!’ he yelled, in the greatest excitement; + ‘we will swing the gate open for you.’ + </p> + <p> + “I let the reins fall out of my hand and shook my head. ‘I am on my + honour,’ I cried. + </p> + <p> + “‘To him!’ he shouted, with infinite disgust.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘He promises you your life.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Our life is our own. And do you, Santierra, advise us to surrender to + that rastrero?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘No!’ I shouted. ‘But he wants his wife and child, and he can cut you off + from water.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Then she would be the first to suffer. You may tell him that. Look here—this + is all nonsense: we shall dash out and capture you. + </p> + <p> + “‘You shall not catch me alive,’ I said firmly. + </p> + <p> + “‘Imbecile!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘For God’s sake,’ I continued hastily, ‘do not open the gate.’ And I + pointed at the multitude of Peneleo’s Indians who covered the shores of + the lake. + </p> + <p> + “I had never seen so many of these savages together. Their lances seemed + as numerous as stalks of grass. Their hoarse voices made a vast, + inarticulate sound like the murmur of the sea. + </p> + <p> + “My friend Pajol was swearing to himself. ‘Well, then—go to the + devil!’ he shouted, exasperated. But as I swung round he repented, for I + heard him say hurriedly, ‘Shoot the fool’s horse before he gets away. + </p> + <p> + “He had good marksmen. Two shots rang out, and in the very act of turning + my horse staggered, fell and lay still as if struck by lightning. I had my + feet out of the stirrups and rolled clear of him; but I did not attempt to + rise. Neither dared they rush out to drag me in. + </p> + <p> + “The masses of Indians had begun to move upon the fort. They rode up in + squadrons, trailing their long chusos; then dismounted out of musket-shot, + and, throwing off their fur mantles, advanced naked to the attack, + stamping their feet and shouting in cadence. A sheet of flame ran three + times along the face of the fort without checking their steady march. They + crowded right up to the very stakes, flourishing their broad knives. But + this palisade was not fastened together with hide lashings in the usual + way, but with long iron nails, which they could not cut. Dismayed at the + failure of their usual method of forcing an entrance, the heathen, who had + marched so steadily against the musketry fire, broke and fled under the + volleys of the besieged. + </p> + <p> + “Directly they had passed me on their advance I got up and rejoined Gaspar + Ruiz on a low ridge which jutted out upon the plain. The musketry of his + own men had covered the attack, but now at a sign from him a trumpet + sounded the ‘Cease fire.’ Together we looked in silence at the hopeless + rout of the savages. + </p> + <p> + “‘It must be a siege, then,’ he muttered. And I detected him wringing his + hands stealthily. + </p> + <p> + “But what sort of siege could it be? Without any need for me to repeat my + friend Pajol’s message, he dared not cut the water off from the besieged. + They had plenty of meat. And, indeed, if they had been short, he would + have been too anxious to send food into the stockade had he been able. + But, as a matter of fact, it was we on the plain who were beginning to + feel the pinch of hunger. + </p> + <p> + “Peneleo, the Indian chief, sat by our fire folded in his ample mantle of + guanaco skins. He was an athletic savage, with an enormous square shock + head of hair resembling a straw beehive in shape and size, and with grave, + surly, much-lined features. In his broken Spanish he repeated, growling + like a bad-tempered wild beast, that if an opening ever so small were made + in the stockade his men would march in and get the senora—not + otherwise. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz, sitting opposite him, kept his eyes fixed on the fort night + and day as it were, in awful silence and immobility. Meantime, by runners + from the lowlands that arrived nearly every day, we heard of the defeat of + one of his lieutenants in the Maipu valley. Scouts sent afar brought news + of a column of infantry advancing through distant passes to the relief of + the fort. They were slow, but we could trace their toilful progress up the + lower valleys. I wondered why Ruiz did not march to attack and destroy + this threatening force, in some wild gorge fit for an ambuscade, in + accordance with his genius for guerrilla warfare. But his genius seemed to + have abandoned him to his despair. + </p> + <p> + “It was obvious to me that he could not tear himself away from the sight + of the fort. I protest to you, senores, that I was moved almost to pity by + the sight of this powerless strong man sitting on the ridge, indifferent + to sun, to rain, to cold, to wind; with his hands clasped round his legs + and his chin resting on his knees, gazing—gazing—gazing. + </p> + <p> + “And the fort he kept his eyes fastened on was as still and silent as + himself. The garrison gave no sign of life. They did not even answer the + desultory fire directed at the loopholes. + </p> + <p> + “One night, as I strolled past him, he, without changing his attitude, + spoke to me unexpectedly ‘I have sent for a gun,’ he said. ‘I shall have + time to get her back and retreat before your Robles manages to crawl up + here.’ + </p> + <p> + “He had sent for a gun to the plains. + </p> + <p> + “It was long in coming, but at last it came. It was a seven-pounder + field-gun. Dismounted and lashed crosswise to two long poles, it had been + carried up the narrow paths between two mules with ease. His wild cry of + exultation at daybreak when he saw the gun escort emerge from the valley + rings in my ears now. + </p> + <p> + “But, senores, I have no words to depict his amazement, his fury, his + despair and distraction, when he heard that the animal loaded with the + gun-carriage had, during the last night march, somehow or other tumbled + down a precipice. He broke into menaces of death and torture against the + escort. I kept out of his way all that day, lying behind some bushes, and + wondering what he would do now. Retreat was left for him; but he could not + retreat. + </p> + <p> + “I saw below me his artillerist Jorge, an old Spanish soldier, building up + a sort of structure with heaped-up saddles. The gun, ready-loaded was + lifted on to that, but in the act of firing the whole thing collapsed and + the shot flew high above the stockade. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing more was attempted. One of the ammunition mules had been lost + too, and they had no more than six shots to fire; amply enough to batter + down the gate, providing the gun was well laid. This was impossible + without it being properly mounted. There was no time nor means to + construct a carriage. Already every moment I expected to hear Robles’ + bugle-calls echo amongst the crags. + </p> + <p> + “Peneleo, wandering about uneasily, draped in his skins, sat down for a + moment near me growling his usual tale. + </p> + <p> + “‘Make an entrada—a hole. If make a hole, bueno. If not make a hole, + them vamos—we must go away.’ + </p> + <p> + “After sunset I observed with surprise the Indians making preparations as + if for another assault. Their lines stood ranged in the shadows mountains. + On the plain in front of the fort gate I saw a group of men swaying about + in the same place. + </p> + <p> + “I walked down the ridge disregarded. The moonlight in the clear air of + the uplands was as bright as day, but the intense shadows confused my + sight, and I could not make out what they were doing. I heard voice Jorge, + artillerist, say in a queer, doubtful tone, ‘It is loaded, senores.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then another voice in that group pronounced firmly the words, ‘Bring the + riata here.’ It was the voice of Gaspar Ruiz. + </p> + <p> + “A silence fell, in which the popping shots of the besieged garrison rang + out sharply. They too had observed the group. But the distance was too + great, and in the spatter of spent musket-balls cutting up the ground, the + group opened, closed, swayed, giving me a glimpse of busy stooping figures + in its midst. I drew nearer, doubting whether this was a weird vision, a + suggestive and insensate dream. + </p> + <p> + “A strangely stifled voice commanded, ‘Haul the hitches tighter.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Si, senor,’ several other voices answered in tones of awed alacrity. + </p> + <p> + “Then the stifled voice said: ‘Like this. I must be free to breathe.’ + </p> + <p> + “Then there was a concerned noise of many men together. ‘Help him up, + hombres. Steady! Under the other arm.’ + </p> + <p> + “That deadened voice, ordered: ‘Bueno! Stand away from me, men.’ + </p> + <p> + “I pushed my way through the recoiling circle, and heard once more that + same oppressed voice saying earnestly: ‘Forget that I am a living man, + Jorge. Forget me altogether, and think of what you have to do.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Be without fear, senor. You are nothing to me but a gun carriage, and I + shall not waste a shot.’ + </p> + <p> + “I heard the spluttering of a port-fire, and smelt the saltpetre of the + match. I saw suddenly before me a nondescript shape on all fours like a + beast, but with a man’s head drooping below a tubular projection over the + nape of the neck, and the gleam of a rounded mass of bronze on its back. + </p> + <p> + “In front of a silent semicircle of men it squatted alone with Jorge + behind it and a trumpeter motionless, his trumpet in his hand, by its + side. + </p> + <p> + “Jorge, bent double, muttered, port-fire in hand: ‘An inch to the left, + senor. Too much. So. Now, if you let yourself down a little by letting + your elbows bend, I will...’ + </p> + <p> + “He leaped aside, lowering his port-fire, and a burst of flame darted out + of the muzzle of the gun lashed on the man’s back. + </p> + <p> + “Then Gaspar Ruiz lowered himself slowly. ‘Good shot?’ he asked. + </p> + <p> + “‘Full on, senor.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Then load again.’ + </p> + <p> + “He lay there before me on his breast under the darkly glittering bronze + of his monstrous burden, such as no love or strength of man had ever had + to bear in the lamentable history of the world. His arms were spread out, + and he resembled a prostrate penitent on the moonlit ground. + </p> + <p> + “Again I saw him raised to his hands and knees, and the men stand away + from him, and old Jorge stoop, glancing along the gun. + </p> + <p> + “‘Left a little. Right an inch. Por Dios, senor, stop this trembling. + Where is your strength?’ + </p> + <p> + “The old gunner’s voice was cracked with emotion. He stepped aside, and + quick as lightning brought the spark to the touch-hole. + </p> + <p> + “‘Excellent!’ he cried tearfully; but Gaspar Ruiz lay for a long time + silent, flattened on the ground. + </p> + <p> + “‘I am tired,’ he murmured at last. ‘Will another shot do it?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Without doubt,’ said Jorge, bending down to his ear. + </p> + <p> + “‘Then—load,’ I heard him utter distinctly. ‘Trumpeter!’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I am here, senor, ready for your word.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Blow a blast at this word that shall be heard from one end of Chile to + the other,’ he said, in an extraordinarily strong voice. ‘And you others + stand ready to cut this accursed riata, for then will be the time for me + to lead you in your rush. Now raise me up, and, you, Jorge—be quick + with your aim.’ + </p> + <p> + “The rattle of musketry from the fort nearly drowned his voice. The + palisade was wreathed in smoke and flame. + </p> + <p> + “‘Exert your force forward against the recoil, mi amo,’ said the old + gunner shakily. ‘Dig your fingers into the ground. So. Now!’ + </p> + <p> + “A cry of exultation escaped him after the shot. The trumpeter raised his + trumpet nearly to his lips, and waited. But no word came from the + prostrate man. I fell on one knee, and heard all he had to say then. + </p> + <p> + “‘Something broken,’ he whispered, lifting his head a little, and turning + his eyes towards me in his hopelessly crushed attitude. + </p> + <p> + “‘The gate hangs only by the splinters,’ yelled Jorge. + </p> + <p> + “Gaspar Ruiz tried to speak, but his voice died out in his throat, and I + helped to roll the gun off his broken back. He was insensible. + </p> + <p> + “I kept my lips shut, of course. The signal for the Indians to attack was + never given. Instead, the bugle-calls of the relieving force, for which my + ears had thirsted so long, burst out, terrifying like the call of the Last + Day to our surprised enemies. + </p> + <p> + “A tornado, senores, a real hurricane of stampeded men, wild horses, + mounted Indians, swept over me as I cowered on the ground by the side of + Gaspar Ruiz, still stretched out on his face in the shape of a cross. + Peneleo, galloping for life, jabbed at me with his long chuso in passing—for + the sake of old acquaintance, I suppose. How I escaped the flying lead is + more difficult to explain. Venturing to rise on my knees too soon, some + soldiers of the 17th Taltal regiment, in their hurry to get at something + alive, nearly bayonetted me on the spot. They looked very disappointed too + when some officers galloping up drove them away with the flat of their + swords. + </p> + <p> + “It was General Robles with his staff. He wanted badly to make some + prisoners. He, too, seemed disappointed for a moment. ‘What? Is it you?’ + he cried. But he dismounted at once to embrace me, for he was an old + friend of my family. I pointed to the body at our feet, and said only + these two words: + </p> + <p> + “‘Gaspar Ruiz.’ + </p> + <p> + “He threw his arms up in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “‘Aha! Your strong man! Always to the last with your strong man. No + matter. He saved our lives when the earth trembled enough to make the + bravest faint with fear. I was frightened out of my wits. But he—no! + Que guape! Where’s the hero who got the best of him? Ha! ha! ha! What + killed him, chico?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘His own strength general,’ I answered.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + XII + </h2> + <p> + “BUT Gaspar Ruiz breathed yet. I had him carried in his poncho under the + shelter of some bushes on the very ridge from which he had been gazing so + fixedly at the fort while unseen death was hovering already over his head. + </p> + <p> + “Our troops had bivouacked round the fort. Towards daybreak I was not + surprised to hear that I was designated to command the escort of a + prisoner who was to be sent down at once to Santiago. Of course the + prisoner was Gaspar Ruiz’ wife. + </p> + <p> + “‘I have named you out of regard for your feelings,’ General Robles + remarked. ‘Though the woman really ought to be shot for all the harm she + has done to the Republic.’ + </p> + <p> + “And as I made a movement of shocked protest, he continued: + </p> + <p> + “‘Now he is as well as dead, she is of no importance. Nobody will know + what to do with her. However, the Government wants her.’ He shrugged his + shoulders. ‘I suppose he must have buried large quantities of his loot in + places that she alone knows of.’ + </p> + <p> + “At dawn I saw her coming up the ridge, guarded by two soldiers, and + carrying her child on her arm. + </p> + <p> + “I walked to meet her. + </p> + <p> + “‘Is he living yet?’ she asked, confronting me with that white, impassive + face he used to look at in an adoring way. + </p> + <p> + “I bent my head, and led her round a clump of bushes without a word. His + eyes were open. He breathed with difficulty, and uttered her name with a + great effort. + </p> + <p> + “‘Erminia!’ + </p> + <p> + “She knelt at his head. The little girl, unconscious of him, and with her + big eyes, looking about, began to chatter suddenly, in a joyous, thin + voice. She pointed a tiny finger at the rosy glow of sunrise behind the + black shapes of the peaks. And while that child-talk, incomprehensible and + sweet to the ear, lasted, those two, the dying man and the kneeling woman, + remained silent, looking into each other’s eyes, listening to the frail + sound. Then the prattle stopped. The child laid its head against its + mother’s breast and was still. + </p> + <p> + “‘It was for you,’ he began. ‘Forgive.’ His voice failed him. Presently I + heard a mutter, and caught the pitiful words: ‘Not strong enough.’ + </p> + <p> + “She looked at him with an extraordinary intensity. He tried to smile, and + in a humble tone, ‘Forgive me,’ he repeated. ‘Leaving you...’ + </p> + <p> + “She bent down, dry-eyed, and in a steady voice: ‘On all the earth I have + loved nothing but you, Gaspar,’ she said. + </p> + <p> + “His head made a movement. His eyes revived. ‘At last! ‘he sighed out. + Then, anxiously, ‘But is this true... is this true?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘As true as that there is no mercy and justice in this world,’ she + answered him passionately. She stooped over his face. He tried to raise + his head, but it fell back, and when she kissed his lips he was already + dead. His glazed eyes stared at the sky, on which pink clouds floated very + high. But I noticed the eyelids of the child, pressed to its mother’s + breast, droop and close slowly. She had gone to sleep. + </p> + <p> + “The widow of Gaspar Ruiz, the strong man, allowed me to lead her away + without shedding a tear. + </p> + <p> + “For travelling we had arranged for her a side-saddle very much like a + chair, with a board swung beneath to rest her feet on. And the first day + she rode without uttering a word, and hardly for one moment turning her + eyes away from the little girl, whom she held on her knees. At our first + camp I saw her during the night walking about, rocking the child in her + arms and gazing down at it by the light of the moon. After we had started + on our second day’s march she asked me how soon we should come to the + first village of the inhabited country. + </p> + <p> + “I said we should be there about noon. + </p> + <p> + “‘And will there be women there?’ she inquired. + </p> + <p> + “I told her that it was a large village. ‘There will be men and women + there, senora,’ I said, ‘whose hearts shall be made glad by the news that + all the unrest and war is over now.’ + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes, it is all over now,’ she repeated. Then, after a time: ‘senor + officer, what will your Government do with me?’ + </p> + <p> + “‘I do not know, senora,’ I said. ‘They will treat you well, no doubt. We + republicans are not savages, and take no vengeance on women.’ + </p> + <p> + “She gave me a look at the word ‘republicans’ which I imagined full of + undying hate. But an hour or so afterwards, as we drew up to let the + baggage mules go first along a narrow path skirting a precipice, she + looked at me with such a white, troubled face that I felt a great pity for + her. + </p> + <p> + “‘Senor officer,’ she said, ‘I am weak, I tremble. It is an insensate + fear.’ And indeed her lips did tremble, while she tried to smile glancing + at the beginning of the narrow path which was not so dangerous after all. + ‘I am afraid I shall drop the child. Gaspar saved your life, you + remember.... Take her from me.’ + </p> + <p> + “I took the child out of her extended arms. ‘Shut your eyes, senora, and + trust to your mule,’ I recommended. + </p> + <p> + “She did so, and with her pallor and her wasted thin face she looked + deathlike. At a turn of the path, where a great crag of purple porphyry + closes the view of the lowlands, I saw her open her eyes. I rode just + behind her holding the little girl with my right arm. ‘The child is all + right,’ I cried encouragingly. + </p> + <p> + “‘Yes,’ she answered faintly; and then, to my intense terror, I saw her + stand up on the footrest, staring horribly, and throw herself forward into + the chasm on our right. + </p> + <p> + “I cannot describe to you the sudden and abject fear that came over me at + that dreadful sight. It was a dread of the abyss, the dread of the crags + which seemed to nod upon me. My head swam. I pressed the child to my side + and sat my horse as still as a statue. I was speechless and cold all over. + Her mule staggered, sidling close to the rock, and then went on. My horse + only pricked up his ears with a slight snort. My heart stood still, and + from the depths of the precipice the stones rattling in the bed of the + furious stream made me almost insane with their sound. + </p> + <p> + “Next moment we were round the turn and on a broad and grassy slope. And + then I yelled. My men came running back to me in great alarm. It seems + that at first I did nothing but shout, ‘She has given the child into my + hands! She has given the child into my hands!’ The escort thought I had + gone mad.” + </p> + <p> + General Santierra ceased and got up from the table. “And that is all, + senores,” he concluded, with a courteous glance at his rising guests. + </p> + <p> + “But what became of the child, General?” we asked. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, the child, the child.” + </p> + <p> + He walked to one of the windows opening on his beautiful garden, the + refuge of his old days. Its fame was great in the land. Keeping us back + with a raised arm, he called out, “Erminia, Erminia!” and waited. Then his + cautioning arm dropped, and we crowded to the windows. + </p> + <p> + From a clump of trees a woman had come upon the broad walk bordered with + flowers. We could hear the rustle of her starched petticoats and observed + the ample spread of her old-fashioned black silk skirt. She looked up, and + seeing all these eyes staring at her, stopped, frowned, smiled, shook her + finger at the General, who was laughing boisterously, and drawing the + black lace on her head so as to partly conceal her haughty profile, passed + out of our sight, walking with stiff dignity. + </p> + <p> + “You have beheld the guardian angel of the old man—and her to whom + you owe all that is seemly and comfortable in my hospitality. Somehow, + senores, though the flame of love has been kindled early in my breast, I + have never married. And because of that perhaps the sparks of the sacred + fire are not yet extinct here.” He struck his broad chest. “Still alive, + still alive,” he said, with serio-comic emphasis. “But I shall not marry + now. She is General Santierra’s adopted daughter and heiress.” + </p> + <p> + One of our fellow-guests, a young naval officer, described her afterwards + as a “short, stout, old girl of forty or thereabouts.” We had all noticed + that her hair was turning grey, and that she had very fine black eyes. + </p> + <p> + “And,” General Santierra continued, “neither would she ever hear of + marrying any one. A real calamity! Good, patient, devoted to the old man. + A simple soul. But I would not advise any of you to ask for her hand, for + if she took yours into hers it would be only to crush your bones. Ah! she + does not jest on that subject. And she is the own daughter of her father, + the strong man who perished through his own strength: the strength of his + body, of his simplicity—of his love!” + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + +***** This file should be named 8736-h.htm or 8736-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/3/8736/ + +Produced by John Orford, and David Widger + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Gaspar Ruiz + +Author: Joseph Conrad + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8736] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 6, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + + + + +Produced by John Orford + + + + +GASPAR RUIZ + +By Joseph Conrad + + + +I + +A REVOLUTIONARY war raises many strange characters out of the +obscurity which is the common lot of humble lives in an undisturbed +state of society. + +Certain individualities grow into fame through their vices and their +virtues, or simply by their actions, which may have a temporary +importance; and then they become forgotten. The names of a few leaders +alone survive the end of armed strife and are further preserved in +history; so that, vanishing from men's active memories, they still +exist in books. + +The name of General Santierra attained that cold, paper-and-ink +immortality. He was a South American of good family, and the books +published in his lifetime numbered him amongst the liberators of that +continent from the oppressive rule of Spain. + +That long contest, waged for independence on one side and for dominion +on the other, developed, in the course of years and the vicissitudes +of changing fortune, the fierceness and inhumanity of a struggle for +life. All feelings of pity and compassion disappeared in the growth of +political hatred. And, as is usual in war, the mass of the people, who +had the least to gain by the issue, suffered most in their obscure +persons and their humble fortunes. + +General Santierra began his service as lieutenant in the patriot army +raised and commanded by the famous San Martin, afterwards conqueror of +Lima and liberator of Peru. A great battle had just been fought on the +banks of the river Bio-Bio. Amongst the prisoners made upon the routed +Royalist troops there was a soldier called Gaspar Ruiz. His powerful +build and his big head rendered him remarkable amongst his fellow- +captives. The personality of the man was unmistakable. Some months +before, he had been missed from the ranks of Republican troops after +one of the many skirmishes which preceded the great battle. And now, +having been captured arms in hand amongst Royalists, he could expect +no other fate but to be shot as a deserter. + +Gaspar Ruiz, however, was not a deserter; his mind was hardly active +enough to take a discriminating view of the advantages or perils of +treachery. Why should he change sides? He had really been made a +prisoner, had suffered ill-usage and many privations. Neither side +showed tenderness to its adversaries. There came a day when he was +ordered, together with some other captured rebels, to march in the +front rank of the Royal troops. A musket, had been thrust into his +hands. He had taken it. He had marched. He did not want to be killed +with circumstances of peculiar atrocity for refusing to march. He did +not understand heroism, but it was his intention to throw his musket +away at the first opportunity. Meantime he had gone on loading and +firing, from fear of having his brains blown out, at the first sign of +unwillingness, by some non-commissioned officer of the King of Spain. +He tried to set forth these elementary considerations before the +sergeant of the guard set over him and some twenty other such +deserters, who had been condemned summarily to be shot. + +It was in the quadrangle of the fort at the back of the batteries +which command the road-stead of Valparaiso. The officer who had +identified him had gone on without listening to his protestations. His +doom was sealed; his hands were tied very tightly together behind his +back; his body was sore all over from the many blows with sticks and +butts of muskets which had hurried him along on the painful road from +the place of his capture to the gate of the fort. This was the only +kind of systematic attention the prisoners had received from their +escort during a four days' journey across a scantily watered tract of +country. At the crossings of rare streams they were permitted to +quench their thirst by lapping hurriedly like dogs. In the evening a +few scraps of meat were thrown amongst them as they dropped down dead- +beat upon the stony ground of the halting-place. + +As he stood in the courtyard of the castle in the early morning, after +having been driven hard all night, Gaspar Ruiz's throat was parched, +and his tongue felt very large and dry in his mouth. + +And Gaspar Ruiz, besides being very thirsty, was stirred by a feeling +of sluggish anger, which he could not very well express, as though the +vigour of his spirit were by no means equal to the strength of his +body. + +The other prisoners in the batch of the condemned hung their heads, +looking obstinately on the ground. But Gaspar Ruiz kept on repeating: +"What should I desert for to the Royalists? Why should I desert? Tell +me, Estaban!" + +He addressed himself to the sergeant, who happened to belong to the +same part of the country as himself. But the sergeant, after shrugging +his meagre shoulders once, paid no further attention to the deep +murmuring voice at his back. It was indeed strange that Gaspar Ruiz +should desert. His people were in too humble a station to feel much +the disadvantages of any form of government. There was no reason why +Gaspar Ruiz should wish to uphold in his own person the rule of the +King of Spain. Neither had he been anxious to exert himself for its +subversion. He had joined the side of Independence in an extremely +reasonable and natural manner. A band of patriots appeared one morning +early, surrounding his father's ranche, spearing the watch-dogs and +hamstringing a fat cow all in the twinkling of an eye, to the cries of +"Viva La Libertad!" Their officer discoursed of Liberty with +enthusiasm and eloquence after a long and refreshing sleep. When they +left in the evening, taking with them some of Ruiz, the father's, best +horses to replace their own lamed animals, Gaspar Ruiz went away with +them, having been invited pressingly to do so by the eloquent officer. + +Shortly afterwards a detachment of Royalist troops, coming to pacify +the district, burnt the ranche, carried off the remaining horses and +cattle, and having thus deprived the old people of all their worldly +possessions, left them sitting under a bush in the enjoyment of the +inestimable boon of life. + + + + +II + +GASPAR Ruiz, condemned to death as a deserter, was not thinking either +of his native place or of his parents, to whom he had been a good son +on account of the mildness of his character and the great strength of +his limbs. The practical advantage of this last was made still more +valuable to his father by his obedient disposition. Gaspar Ruiz had an +acquiescent soul. + +But it was stirred now to a sort of dim revolt by his dislike to die +the death of a traitor. He was not a traitor. He said again to the +sergeant: "You know I did not desert, Estaban. You know I remained +behind amongst the trees with three others to keep the enemy back +while the detachment was running away!" + +Lieutenant Santierra, little more than a boy at the time, and unused +as yet to the sanguinary imbecilities of a state of war, had lingered +near by, as if fascinated by the sight of these men who were to be +shot presently--"for an example"--as the Commandante had said. + +The sergeant, without deigning to look at the prisoner, addressed +himself to the young officer with a superior smile. + +"Ten men would not have been enough to make him a prisoner, mi +teniente. Moreover, the other three rejoined the detachment after +dark. Why should he, unwounded and the strongest of them all, have +failed to do so?" + +"My strength is as nothing against a mounted man with a lasso," Gaspar +Ruiz protested eagerly. "He dragged me behind his horse for half a +mile." + +At this excellent reason the sergeant only laughed contemptuously. The +young officer hurried away after the Commandante. + +Presently the adjutant of the castle came by. He was a truculent, raw- +boned man in a ragged uniform. His spluttering voice issued out of a +flat, yellow face. The sergeant learned from him that the condemned +men would not be shot till sunset. He begged then to know what he was +to do with them meantime. + +The adjutant looked savagely round the courtyard, and, pointing to the +door of a small dungeon-like guard-room, receiving light and air +through one heavily-barred window, said: "Drive the scoundrels in +there." + +The sergeant, tightening his grip upon the stick he carried in virtue +of his rank, executed this order with alacrity and zeal. He hit Gaspar +Ruiz, whose movements were slow, over his head and shoulders. Gaspar +Ruiz stood still for a moment under the shower of blows, biting his +lip thoughtfully as if absorbed by a perplexing mental process--then +followed the others without haste. The door was locked, and the +adjutant carried off the key. + +By noon the heat of that low vaulted place crammed to suffocation had +become unbearable. The prisoners crowded towards the window, begging +their guards for a drop of water; but the soldiers remained lying in +indolent attitudes wherever there was a little shade under a wall, +while the sentry sat with his back against the door smoking a +cigarette, and raising his eyebrows philosophically from time to time. +Gaspar Ruiz had pushed his way to the window with irresistible force. +His capacious chest needed more air than the others; his big face, +resting with its chin on the ledge, pressed close to the bars, seemed +to support the other faces crowding up for breath. From moaned +entreaties they had passed to desperate cries, and the tumultuous +howling of those thirsty men obliged a young officer who was just then +crossing the courtyard to shout in order to make himself heard. + +"Why don't you give some water to these prisoners!" + +The sergeant, with an air of surprised innocence, excused himself by +the remark that all those men were condemned to die in a very few +hours. + +Lieutenant Santierra stamped his foot. "They are condemned to death, +not to torture," he shouted. "Give them some water at once." + +Impressed by this appearance of anger, the soldiers bestirred +themselves, and the sentry, snatching up his musket, stood to +attention. + +But when a couple of buckets were found and filled from the well, it +was discovered that they could not be passed through the bars, which +were set too close. At the prospect of quenching their thirst, the +shrieks of those trampled down in the struggle to get near the opening +became very heartrending. But when the soldiers who had lifted the +buckets towards the window put them to the ground again helplessly, +the yell of disappointment was still more terrible. + +The soldiers of the army of Independence were not equipped with +canteens. A small tin cup was found, but its approach to the opening +caused such a commotion, such yells of rage and' pain in the vague +mass of limbs behind the straining faces at the window, that +Lieutenant Santierra cried out hurriedly, "No, no--you must open the +door, sergeant." + +The sergeant, shrugging his shoulders, explained that he had no right +to open the door even if he had had the key. But he had not the key. +The adjutant of the garrison kept the key. Those men were giving much +unnecessary trouble, since they had to die at sunset in any case. Why +they had not been shot at once early in the morning he could not +understand. + +Lieutenant Santierra kept his back studiously to the window. It was at +his earnest solicitations that the Commandante had delayed the +execution. This favour had been granted to him in consideration of his +distinguished family and of his father's high position amongst the +chiefs of the Republican party. Lieutenant Santierra believed that the +General commanding would visit the fort some time in the afternoon, +and he ingenuously hoped that his naive intercession would induce that +severe man to pardon some, at least, of those criminals. In the +revulsion of his feeling his interference stood revealed now as guilty +and futile meddling. It appeared to him obvious that the general would +never even consent to listen to his petition. He could never save +those men, and he had only made himself responsible for the sufferings +added to the cruelty of their fate. + +"Then go at once and get the key from the adjutant," said Lieutenant +Santierra. + +The sergeant shook his head with a sort of bashful smile, while his +eyes glanced sideways at Gaspar Ruiz's face, motionless and silent, +staring through the bars at the bottom of a heap of other haggard, +distorted, yelling faces. + +His worship the adjutant de Plaza, the sergeant murmured, was having +his siesta; and supposing that he, the sergeant, would be allowed +access to him, the only result he expected would be to have his soul +flogged out of his body for presuming to disturb his worship's repose. +He made a deprecatory movement with his hands, and stood stock-still, +looking down modestly upon his brown toes. + +Lieutenant Santierra glared with indignation, but hesitated. His +handsome oval face, as smooth as a girl's, flushed with the shame of +his perplexity. Its nature humiliated his spirit. His hairless upper +lip trembled; he seemed on the point of either bursting into a fit of +rage or into tears of dismay. + +Fifty years later, General Santierra, the venerable relic of +revolutionary times, was well able to remember the feelings of the +young lieutenant. Since he had given up riding altogether, and found +it difficult to walk beyond the limits of his garden, the general's +greatest delight, was to entertain in his house the officers of the +foreign men-of-war visiting the harbour. For Englishmen he had a +preference, as for old companions in arms. English naval men of all +ranks accepted his hospitality with curiosity, because he had known +Lord Cochrane and had taken part, on board the patriot squadron +commanded by that marvellous seaman, in the cutting-out and blockading +operations before Callao--an episode of unalloyed glory in the wars +of Independence and of endless honour in the fighting tradition of +Englishmen. He was a fair linguist, this ancient survivor of the +Liberating armies. A trick of smoothing his long white beard whenever +he was short of a word in French or English imparted an air of +leisurely dignity to the tone of his reminiscences. + + + + +III + +"YES, my friends," he used to say to his guests, "what would you have? +A youth of seventeen summers, without worldly experience, and owing my +rank only to the glorious patriotism of my father, may God rest his +soul, I suffered immense humiliation, not so much from the +disobedience of That subordinate, who, alter all, was responsible for +those prisoners; but I suffered because, like the boy I was, I myself +dreaded going to the adjutant for the key. I had felt, before, his +rough and cutting tongue. Being quite a common fellow, with no merit +except his savage valour, he made me feel his contempt and dislike +from the first day I joined my battalion in garrison at the fort. It +was only a fortnight before! I would have confronted him sword in +hand, but I shrank from the mocking brutality of his sneers. + +"I don't remember having been so miserable in my life before or since. +The torment of my sensibility was so great that I wished the sergeant +to fall dead at my feet, and the stupid soldiers who stared at me to +turn into corpses; and even those wretches for whom my entreaties had +procured a reprieve I wished dead also, because I could not face them +without shame. A mephitic heat like a whiff of air from hell came out +of that dark place in which they were confined. Those at the window +who heard what was going on jeered at me in very desperation; one of +these fellows, gone mad no doubt, kept on urging me volubly to order +the soldiers to fire through the window. His insane loquacity made my +heart turn faint. And my feet were like lead. There was no higher +officer to whom I could appeal. I had not even the firmness of spirit +to simply go away. + +"Benumbed by my remorse, I stood with my back to the window. You must +not suppose that all this lasted a long time. How long could it have +been? A minute? If you measured by mental suffering it was like a +hundred years; a longer time than all my life has been since. No, +certainly, it was not so much as a minute. The hoarse screaming of +those miserable wretches died out in their dry throats, and then +suddenly a voice spoke, a deep voice muttering calmly. It called upon +me to turn round. + +"That voice, senores, proceeded from the head of Gaspar Ruiz. Of his +body I could see nothing. Some of his fellow-captives had clambered +upon his back. He was holding them up. His eyes blinked without +looking at me. That and the moving of his lips was all he seemed able +to manage in his overloaded state. And when I turned round, this head, +that seemed more than human size resting on its chin under a multitude +of other heads, asked me whether I really desired to quench the thirst +of the captives. + +"I said, 'Yes, yes!' eagerly, and came up quite close to the window. I +was like a child, and did not know what would happen. I was anxious to +be comforted in my helplessness and remorse. + +"'Have you the authority, senor teniente, to release my wrists from +their bonds?' Gaspar Ruiz's head asked me. + +"His features expressed no anxiety, no hope; his heavy eyelids blinked +upon his eyes that looked past me straight into the courtyard. + +"As if in an ugly dream, I spoke, stammering: 'What do you mean? And +how can I reach the bonds on your wrists?' + +"'I will try what I can do,' he said; and then that large staring +head moved at last, and all the wild faces piled up in that window +disappeared, tumbling down. He had shaken his load off with one +movement, so strong he was. + +"And he had not only shaken it off, but he got free of the crush and +vanished from my sight. For a moment there was no one at all to be +seen at the window. He had swung about, butting and shouldering, +clearing a space for himself in the only way he could do it with his +hands tied behind his back. + +"Finally, backing to the opening, he pushed out to me between the bars +his wrists, lashed with many turns of rope. His hands, very swollen, +with knotted veins, looked enormous and unwieldy. I saw his bent back. +It was very broad. His voice was like the muttering of a bull. + +"Cut, senor teniente! Cut!' + +"I drew my sword, my new unblunted sword that had seen no service as +yet, and severed the many turns of the hide rope. I did this without +knowing the why and the wherefore of my action, but as it were +compelled by my faith in that man. The sergeant made as if to cry out, +but astonishment deprived him of his voice, and he remained standing +with his mouth open as if overtaken by sudden imbecility. + +"I sheathed my sword and faced the soldiers. An air of awestruck +expectation had replaced their usual listless apathy. I heard the +voice of Gaspar Ruiz shouting inside, but the words I could not make +out plainly. I suppose that to see him with his arms free augmented +the influence of his strength: I mean by this, the spiritual influence +that with ignorant people attaches to an exceptional degree of bodily +vigour. In fact, he was no more to be feared than before, on account +of the numbness of his arms and hands, which lasted for some time. + +"The sergeant had recovered his power of speech. 'By all the saints!' +he cried, 'we shall have to get a cavalry man with a lasso to secure +him again, if he is to be led to the place of execution. Nothing less +than a good enlazador on a good horse can subdue him. Your worship was +pleased to perform a very mad thing.' + +"I had nothing to say. I was surprised myself, and I felt a childish +curiosity to see what would happen. But the sergeant was thinking of +the difficulty of controlling Gaspar Ruiz when the time for making an +example would come. + +"'Or perhaps,' the sergeant pursued vexedly, 'we shall be obliged to +shoot him down as he dashes out when the door is opened.' He was going +to give further vent to his anxieties as to the proper carrying out of +the sentence; but he interrupted himself with a sudden exclamation, +snatched a musket from a soldier, and stood watchful with his eyes +fixed on the window.'" + + + + +IV + +"GASPAR RUIZ had clambered up on the sill, and sat down there with his +feet against the thickness of the wall and his knees slightly bent. +The window was not quite broad enough for the length of his legs. It +appeared to my crestfallen perception that he meant to keep the window +all to himself. He seemed to be taking up a comfortable position. +Nobody inside dared to approach him now he could strike with his +hands. + +"'Por Dios!' I heard the sergeant muttering at my elbow, 'I shall +shoot him through the head now, and get rid of that trouble. He is a +condemned man.' + +"At that I looked at him angrily. 'The general has not confirmed the +sentence,' I said--though I knew well in my heart that these were but +vain words. The sentence required no confirmation. 'You have no right +to shoot him unless he tries to escape,' I added firmly. + +"'But sangre de Dios!' the sergeant yelled out, bringing his musket +up to the shoulder, 'he is escaping now. Look!' + +"But I, as if that Gaspar Ruiz had cast a spell upon me, struck the +musket upward, and the bullet flew over the roofs somewhere. The +sergeant dashed his arm to the ground and stared. He might have +commanded the soldiers to fire, but he did not. And if he had he would +not have been obeyed, I think, just then. + +"With his feet against the thickness of the wall, and his hairy hands +grasping the iron bar, Gaspar sat still. It was an attitude. Nothing +happened for a time. And suddenly it dawned upon us that he was +straightening his bowed back and contracting his arms. His lips were +twisted into a snarl. Next thing we perceived was that the bar of +forged iron was being bent slowly by the mightiness of his pull. The +sun was beating full upon his cramped, unquivering figure. A shower of +sweat-drops burst out of his forehead. Watching the bar grow crooked, +I saw a little blood ooze from under his finger-nails. Then he let go. +For a moment he remained all huddled up, with a hanging head, looking +drowsily into the upturned palms of his mighty hands. Indeed he seemed +to have dozed off. Suddenly he flung himself backwards on the sill, +and setting the soles of his bare feet against the other middle bar, +he bent that one too, but in the opposite direction from the first. + +"Such was his strength, which in this case relieved my painful +feelings. And the man seemed to have done nothing. Except for the +change of position in order to use his feet, which made us all start +by its swiftness, my recollection is that of immobility. But he had +bent the bars wide apart. And now he could get out if he liked; but he +dropped his legs inwards; and looking over his shoulder beckoned to +the soldiers. 'Hand up the water,' he said. 'I will give them all a +drink.' + +"He was obeyed. For a moment I expected man and bucket to disappear, +overwhelmed by the rush of eagerness; I thought they would pull him +down with their teeth. There was a rush, but holding the bucket on his +lap he repulsed the assault of those wretches by the mere swinging of +his feet. They flew backwards at every kick, yelling with pain; and +the soldiers laughed, gazing at the window. + +"They all laughed, holding their sides, except the sergeant, who was +gloomy and morose. He was afraid the prisoners would rise and break +out--which would have been a bad example. But there was no fear of +that, and I stood myself before the window with my drawn sword. When +sufficiently tamed by the strength of Gaspar Ruiz, they came up one by +one, stretching their necks and presenting their lips to the edge of +the bucket which the strong man tilted towards them from his knees +with an extraordinary air of charity, gentleness and compassion. That +benevolent appearance was of course the effect of his care in not +spilling the water and of his attitude as he sat on the sill; for, if +a man lingered with his lips glued to the rim of the bucket after +Gaspar Ruiz had said 'You have had enough,' there would be no +tenderness or mercy in the shove of the foot which would send him +groaning and doubled up far into the interior of the prison, where he +would knock down two or three others before he fell himself. They came +up to him again and again; it looked as if they meant to drink the +well dry before going to their death; but the soldiers were so amused +by Gaspar Ruiz's systematic proceedings that they carried the water up +to the window cheerfully. + +"When the adjutant came out after his siesta there was some trouble +over this affair, I can assure you. And the worst of it, that the +general whom we expected never came to the castle that day." + +The guests of General Santierra unanimously expressed their regret +that the man of such strength and patience had not been saved. + +"He was not saved by my interference," said the General. "The +prisoners were led to execution half an hour before sunset. Gaspar +Ruiz, contrary to the sergeant's apprehensions, gave no trouble. There +was no necessity to get a cavalry man with a lasso in order to subdue +him, as if he were a wild bull of the campo. I believe he marched out +with his arms free amongst the others who were bound. I did not see. I +was not there. I had been put under arrest for interfering with the +prisoner's guard. About dusk, sitting dismally in my quarters, I heard +three volleys fired, and thought that I should never hear of Gaspar +Ruiz again. He fell with the others. But we were to hear of him +nevertheless, though the sergeant boasted that, as he lay on his face +expiring or dead in the heap of the slain, he had slashed his neck +with a sword. He had done this, he said, to make sure of ridding the +world of a dangerous traitor. + +"I confess to you, senores, that I thought of that strong man with a +sort of gratitude, and with some admiration. He had used his strength +honourably. There dwelt, then, in his soul no fierceness corresponding +to the vigour of his body." + + + + +V + +GASPAR RUIZ, who could with ease bend apart the heavy iron bars of the +prison, was led out with others to summary execution. "Every bullet +has its billet," runs the proverb. All the merit of proverbs consists +in the concise and picturesque expression. In the surprise of our +minds is found their persuasiveness. In other words, we are struck and +convinced by the shock. + +What surprises us is the form, not the substance. Proverbs are art-- +cheap art. As a general rule they are not true; unless indeed they +happen to be mere platitudes, as for instance the proverb, "Half a +loaf is better than no bread," or "A miss is as good as a mile." Some +proverbs are simply imbecile, others are immoral. That one evolved out +of the naive heart of the great Russian people, "Man discharges the +piece, but God carries the bullet," is piously atrocious, and at +bitter variance with the accepted conception of a compassionate God. +It would indeed be an inconsistent occupation for the Guardian of the +poor, the innocent and the helpless, to carry the bullet, for +instance, into the heart of a father. + +Gaspar Ruiz was childless, he had no wife, he had never been in love. +He had hardly ever spoken to a woman, beyond his mother and the +ancient negress of the household, whose wrinkled skin was the colour +of cinders, and whose lean body was bent double from age. If some +bullets from those muskets fired off at fifteen paces were +specifically destined for the heart of Gaspar Ruiz, they all missed +their billet. One, however, carried away a small piece of his ear, and +another a fragment of flesh from his shoulder. + +A red and unclouded sun setting into a purple ocean looked with a +fiery stare upon the enormous wall of the Cordilleras, worthy +witnesses of his glorious extinction. But it is inconceivable that it +should have seen the ant-like men busy with their absurd and +insignificant trials of killing and dying for reasons that, apart from +being generally childish, were also imperfectly understood. It did +light up, however, the backs of the firing party and the faces of the +condemned men. Some of them had fallen on their knees, others remained +standing, a few averted their heads from the levelled barrels of +muskets. Gaspar Ruiz, upright, the burliest of them all, hung his big +shock head. The low sun dazzled him a little, and he counted himself a +dead man already. + +He fell at the first discharge. He fell because he thought he was a +dead man. He struck the ground heavily. The jar of the fall surprised +him. "I am not dead apparently," he thought to himself, when he heard +the execution platoon reloading its arms at the word of command. It +was then that the hope of escape dawned upon him for the first time. +He remained lying stretched out with rigid limbs under the weight of +two bodies collapsed crosswise upon his back. + +By the time the soldiers had fired a third volley into the slightly +stirring heaps of the slain, the sun had gone out of sight, and almost +immediately with the darkening of the ocean dusk fell upon the coasts +of the young Republic. Above the gloom of the lowlands the snowy peaks +of the Cordillera remained luminous and crimson for a long time. The +soldiers before marching back to the fort sat down to smoke. + +The sergeant with a naked sword in his hand strolled away by himself +along the heap of the dead. He was a humane man, and watched for any +stir or twitch of limb in the merciful idea of plunging the point of +his blade into any body giving the slightest sign of life. But none of +the bodies afforded him an opportunity for the display of this +charitable intention. Not a muscle twitched amongst them, not even the +powerful muscles of Gaspar Ruiz, who, deluged with the blood of his +neighbours and shamming death, strove to appear more lifeless than the +others. + +He was lying face down. The sergeant recognised him by his stature, +and being himself a very small man, looked with envy and contempt at +the prostration of so much strength. He had always disliked that +particular soldier. Moved by an obscure animosity, he inflicted a long +gash across the neck of Gaspar Ruiz, with some vague notion of making +sure of that strong man's death, as if a powerful physique were more +able to resist the bullets. For the sergeant had no doubt that Gaspar +Ruiz had been shot through in many places. Then he passed on, and +shortly afterwards marched off with, his men, leaving the bodies to +the care of crows and vultures. + +Gaspar Ruiz had restrained a cry, though it had seemed to him that his +head was cut off at a blow; and when darkness came, shaking off the +dead, whose weight had oppressed him, he crawled away over the plain +on his hands and knees. After drinking deeply, like a wounded beast, +at a shallow stream, he assumed an upright posture, and staggered on +light-headed and aimless, as if lost amongst the stars of the clear +night. A small house seemed to rise out of the ground before him. He +stumbled into the porch and struck at the door with his fist. There +was not a gleam of light. Gaspar Ruiz might have thought that the +inhabitants had fled from it, as from many others in the +neighbourhood, had it not been for the shouts of abuse that answered +his thumping. In his feverish and enfeebled state the angry screaming +seemed to him part of a hallucination belonging to the weird dreamlike +feeling of his unexpected condemnation to death, of the thirst +suffered, of the volleys fired at him within fifteen paces, of his +head being cut off at a blow. "Open the door!" he cried. "Open in the +name of God!" + +An infuriated voice from within jeered at him: "Come in, come in. This +house belongs to you. All this land belongs to you. Come and take it." + +"For the love of God," Gaspar Ruiz murmured. + +"Does not all the land belong to you patriots?" the voice on the other +side of the door screamed on. "Are you not a patriot?" + +Gaspar Ruiz did not know. "I am a wounded man," he said apathetically. + +All became still inside. Gaspar Ruiz lost the hope of being admitted, +and lay down under the porch just outside the door. He was utterly +careless of what was going to happen to him. All his consciousness +seemed to be concentrated in his neck, where he felt a severe pain. +His indifference as to his fate was genuine. + +The day was breaking when he awoke from a feverish doze; the door at +which he had knocked in the dark stood wide open now, and a girl, +steadying herself with her outspread arms, leaned over the threshold. +Lying on his back, he stared up at her. Her face was pale and her eyes +were very dark; her hair hung down black as ebony against her white +cheeks; her lips were full and red. Beyond her he saw another head +with long grey hair, and a thin old face with a pair of anxiously +clasped hands under the chin. + + + + +VI + +"I KNEW those people by sight," General Santierra would tell his +guests at the dining-table. "I mean the people with whom Gaspar Ruiz +found shelter. The father was an old Spaniard, a man of property, +ruined by the revolution. His estates, his house in town, his money, +everything he had in the world had been confiscated by proclamation, +for he was a bitter foe of our independence. From a position of great +dignity and influence on the Viceroy's Council he became of less +importance than his own negro slaves made free by our glorious +revolution. He had not even the means to flee the country, as other +Spaniards had managed to do. It may be that, wandering ruined and +houseless, and burdened with nothing but his life, which was left to +him by the clemency of the Provisional Government, he had simply +walked under that broken roof of old tiles. It was a lonely spot. +There did not seem to be even a dog belonging to the place. But though +the roof had holes, as if a cannonball or two had dropped through it, +the wooden shutters were thick and tight-closed all the time. + +"My way took me frequently along the path in front of that miserable +rancho. I rode from the fort to the town almost every evening, to sigh +at the window of a lady I was in love with, then. When one is young, +you understand . . . . She was a good patriot, you may be sure. +Caballeros, credit me or not, political feeling ran so high in those +days that I do not believe I could have been fascinated by the charms +of a woman of Royalist opinions. . . ." + +Murmurs of amused incredulity all round the table interrupted the +General; and while they lasted he stroked his white beard gravely. + +"Senores," he protested, "a Royalist was a monster to our overwrought +feelings. I am telling you this in order not to be suspected of the +slightest tenderness towards that old Royalist's daughter. Moreover, +as you know, my affections were engaged elsewhere. But I could not +help noticing her on rare occasions when with the front door open she +stood in the porch. + +"You must know that this old Royalist was as crazy as a man can be. +His political misfortunes, his total downfall and ruin, had disordered +his mind. To show his contempt for what we patriots could do, he +affected to laugh at his imprisonment, at the confiscation of his +lands, the burning of his houses, and the misery to which he and his +womenfolk were reduced. This habit of laughing had grown upon him, so +that he would begin to laugh and shout directly he caught sight of any +stranger. That was the form of his madness. + +"I, of course, disregarded the noise of that madman with that feeling +of superiority the success of our cause inspired in us Americans. I +suppose I really despised him because he was an old Castilian, a +Spaniard born, and a Royalist. Those were certainly no reasons to +scorn a man; but for centuries Spaniards born had shown their contempt +of us Americans, men as well descended as themselves, simply because +we were what they called colonists. We had been kept in abasement and +made to feel our inferiority in social intercourse. And now it was our +turn. It was sale for us patriots to display the same sentiments; and +I being a young patriot, son of a patriot, despised that old Spaniard, +and despising him I naturally disregarded his abuse, though it was +annoying to my feelings. Others perhaps would not have been so +forbearing. + +"He would begin with a great yell--'I see a patriot. Another of +them!' long before I came abreast of the house. The tone of his +senseless revilings, mingled with bursts of laughter, was sometimes +piercingly shrill and sometimes grave. It was all very mad; but I felt +it incumbent upon my dignity to check my horse to a walk without even +glancing towards the house, as if that man's abusive clamour in the +porch were less than the barking of a cur. I rode by, preserving an +expression of haughty indifference on my face. + +"It was no doubt very dignified; but I should have done better if I +had kept my eyes open. A military man in war time should never +consider himself off duty; and especially so if the war is a +revolutionary war, when the enemy is not at the door, but within your +very house. At such times the heat of passionate convictions, passing +into hatred, removes the restraints of honour and humanity from many +men and of delicacy and fear from some women. These last, when once +they throw off the timidity and reserve of their sex, become by the +vivacity of their intelligence and the violence of their merciless +resentment more dangerous than so many armed giants." + +The General's voice rose, but his big hand stroked his white beard +twice with an effect of venerable calmness. "Si, senores! Women are +ready to rise to the heights of devotion unattainable by us men, or to +sink into the depths of abasement which amazes our masculine +prejudices. I am speaking now of exceptional women, you understand. . ." + +Here one of the guests observed that he had never met a woman yet who +was not capable of turning out quite exceptional under circumstances +that would engage her feelings strongly. "That sort of superiority in +recklessness they have over us," he concluded, "makes of them the more +interesting half of mankind." + +The General, who bore the interruption with gravity, nodded courteous +assent. "Si. Si. Under circumstances. . . . Precisely. They can do an +infinite deal of mischief sometimes in quite unexpected ways. For who +could have imagined that a young girl, daughter of a ruined Royalist +whose life itself was held only by the contempt of his enemies, would +have had the power to bring death and devastation upon two flourishing +provinces and cause serious anxiety to the leaders of the revolution +in the very hour of its success!" He paused to let the wonder of it +penetrate our minds. + +"Death and devastation," somebody murmured in surprise: "how +shocking!" + +The old General gave a glance in the direction of the murmur and went +on. "Yes. That is, war--calamity. But the means by which she obtained +the power to work this havoc on our southern frontier seem to me, who +have seen her and spoken to her, still more shocking. That particular +thing left on my mind a dreadful amazement which the further +experience of life, of more than fifty years, has done nothing to +diminish." He looked round as if to make sure of our attention, and, +in a changed voice: "I am, as you know, a republican, son of a +Liberator," he declared. "My incomparable mother, God rest her soul, +was a Frenchwoman, the daughter of an ardent republican. As a boy I +fought for liberty; I've always believed in the equality of men; and +as to their brotherhood, that, to my mind, is even more certain. Look +at the fierce animosity they display in their differences. And what in +the world do you know that is more bitterly fierce than brothers' +quarrels?" + +All absence of cynicism checked an inclination to smile at this view +of human brotherhood. On the contrary, there was in the tone the +melancholy natural to a man profoundly humane at heart who from duty, +from conviction and from necessity, had played his part in scenes of +ruthless violence. + +The General had seen much of fratricidal strife. "Certainly. There is +no doubt of their brotherhood," he insisted. "All men are brothers, +and as such know almost too much of each other. But "--and here in +the old patriarchal head, white as silver, the black eyes humorously +twinkled--"if we are all brothers, all the women are not our +sisters." + +One of the younger guests was heard murmuring his satisfaction at the +fact. But the General continued, with deliberate earnestness: "They +are so different! The tale of a king who took a beggar-maid for a +partner of his throne may be pretty enough as we men look upon +ourselves and upon love. But that a young girl, famous for her haughty +beauty and, only a short time before, the admired of all at the balls +in the Viceroy's palace, should take by the hand a guasso, a common +peasant, is intolerable to our sentiment of women and their love. It +is madness. Nevertheless it happened. But it must be said that in her +case it was the madness of hate--not of love." + +After presenting this excuse in a spirit of chivalrous justice, the +General remained silent for a time. "I rode past the house every day +almost," he began again, "and this was what was going on within. But +how it was going on no mind of man can conceive. Her desperation must +have been extreme, and Gaspar Ruiz was a docile fellow. He had been an +obedient soldier. His strength was like an enormous stone lying on the +ground, ready to be hurled this way that by the hand that picks it up. + +"It is clear that he would tell his story to the people who gave him +the shelter he needed. And he needed assistance badly. His wound was +not dangerous, but his life was forfeited. The old Royalist being +wrapped up in his laughing madness, the two women arranged a hiding- +place for the wounded man in one of the huts amongst the fruit trees +at the back of the house. That hovel, an abundance of clear water +while the fever was on him, and some words of pity were all they could +give. I suppose he had a share of what food there was. And it would be +but little; a handful of roasted corn, perhaps a dish of beans, or a +piece of bread with a few figs. To such misery were those proud and +once wealthy people reduced." + + + + +VII + +GENERAL SANTIERRA was right in his surmise. Such was the exact nature +of the assistance which Gaspar Ruiz, peasant son of peasants, received +from the Royalist family whose daughter had opened the door--of their +miserable refuge to his extreme distress. Her sombre resolution ruled +the madness of her father and the trembling bewilderment of her +mother. + +She had asked the strange man on the door-step, "Who wounded you?" + +"The soldiers, senora," Gaspar Ruiz had answered, in a faint voice. + +"Patriots?" + +"Si." + +"What for?" + +"Deserter," he gasped, leaning against the wall under the scrutiny of +her black eyes. "I was left for dead over there." + +She led him through the house out to a small hut of clay and reeds, +lost in the long grass of the overgrown orchard. He sank on a heap of +maize straw in a corner, and sighed profoundly. + +"No one will look for you here," she said, looking down at him. +"Nobody comes near us. We too have been left for dead--here." + +He stirred uneasily on his heap of dirty straw, and the pain in his +neck made him groan deliriously. + +"I shall show Estaban some day that I am alive yet," he mumbled. + +He accepted her assistance in silence, and the many days of pain went +by. Her appearances in the hut brought him relief and became connected +with the feverish dreams of angels which visited his couch; for Gaspar +Ruiz was instructed in the mysteries of his religion, and had even +been taught to read and write a little by the priest of his village. +He waited for her with impatience, and saw her pass out of the dark +hut and disappear in the brilliant sunshine with poignant regret. He +discovered that, while he lay there feeling so very weak, he could, by +closing his eyes, evoke her face with considerable distinctness. And +this discovered faculty charmed the long solitary hours of his +convalescence. Later, when he began to regain his strength, he would +creep at dusk from his hut to the house and sit on the step of the +garden door. + +In one of the rooms the mad father paced to and fro, muttering to +himself with short abrupt laughs. In the passage, sitting on a stool, +the mother sighed and moaned. The daughter, in rough threadbare +clothing, and her white haggard face half hidden by a coarse manta, +stood leaning against the lintel of the door. Gaspar Ruiz, with his +elbows propped on his knees and his head resting in his hands, talked +to the two women in an undertone. + +The common misery of destitution would have made a bitter mockery of a +marked insistence on social differences. Gaspar Ruiz understood this +in his simplicity. From his captivity amongst the Royalists he could +give them news of people they knew. He described their appearance; and +when he related the story of the battle in which he was recaptured the +two women lamented the blow to their cause and the ruin of their +secret hopes. + +He had no feeling either way. But he felt a great devotion for that +young girl. In his desire to appear worthy of her condescension, he +boasted a little of his bodily strength. He had nothing else to boast +of. Because of that quality his comrades treated him with as great a +deference, he explained, as though he had been a sergeant, both in +camp and in battle. + +"I could always get as many as I wanted to follow me anywhere, +senorita. I ought to have been made an officer, because I can read and +write." + +Behind him the silent old lady fetched a moaning sigh from time to +time; the distracted father muttered to himself, pacing the sala; and +Gaspar Ruiz would raise his eyes now and then to look at the daughter +of these people. + +He would look at her with curiosity because she was alive, and also +with that feeling of familiarity and awe with which he had +contemplated in churches the inanimate and powerful statues of the +saints, whose protection is invoked in dangers and difficulties. His +difficulty was very great. + +He could not remain hiding in an orchard for ever and ever. He knew +also very well that before he had gone half a day's journey in any +direction, he would be picked up by one of the cavalry patrols +scouring the country, and brought into one or another of the camps +where the patriot army destined for the liberation of Peru was +collected. There he would in the end be recognised as Gaspar Ruiz-- +the deserter to the Royalists--and no doubt shot very effectually +this time. There did not seem any place in the world for the innocent +Gaspar Ruiz anywhere. And at this thought his simple soul surrendered +itself to gloom and resentment as black as night. + +They had made him a soldier forcibly. He did not mind being a soldier. +And he had been a good soldier as he had been a good son, because of +his docility and his strength. But now there was no use for either. +They had taken him from his parents, and he could no longer be a +soldier--not a good soldier at any rate. Nobody would listen to his +explanations. What injustice it was! What injustice! + +And in a mournful murmur he would go over the story of his capture and +recapture for the twentieth time. Then, raising his eyes to the silent +girl in the doorway, "Si, senorita," he would say with a deep sigh, +"injustice has made this poor breath in my body quite worthless to me +and to anybody else. And I do not care who robs me of it." + +One evening, as he exhaled thus the plaint of his wounded soul, she +condescended to say that, if she were a man, she would consider no +life worthless which held the possibility of revenge. + +She seemed to be speaking to herself. Her voice was low. He drank in +the gentle, as if dreamy sound, with a consciousness of peculiar +delight, of something warming his breast like a draught of generous +wine. + +"True, senorita," he said, raising his face up to hers slowly: "there +is Estaban, who must be shown that I am not dead after all." + +The mutterings of the mad father had ceased long before; the sighing +mother had withdrawn somewhere into one of the empty rooms. All was +still within as well as without, in the moonlight bright as day on the +wild orchard full of inky shadows. Gaspar Ruiz saw the dark eyes of +Doa Erminia look down at him. + +"Ala! The sergeant," she muttered disdainfully. + +"Why! He has wounded me with his sword," he protested, bewildered by +the contempt that seemed to shine livid on her pale face. + +She crushed him with her glance. The power of her will to be +understood was so strong that it kindled in him the intelligence of +unexpressed things. + +"What else did you expect me to do?" he cried, as if suddenly driven +to despair. "Have I the power to do more? Am I a general with an army +at my back ?--miserable sinner that I am to be despised by you at +last." + + + + +VIII + +"SENORES," related the General to his guests, "though my thoughts were +of love then, and therefore enchanting, the sight of that house always +affected me disagreeably, especially in the moonlight, when its close +shutters and its air of lonely neglect appeared sinister. Still I went +on using the bridle-path by the ravine, because it was a short cut. +The mad Royalist howled and laughed at me every evening to his +complete satisfaction; but after a time, as if wearied with my +indifference, he ceased to appear in the porch. How they persuaded him +to leave off I do not know. However, with Gaspar Ruiz in the house +there would have been no difficulty in restraining him by force. It +was part of their policy in there to avoid anything which could +provoke me. At least, so I suppose. + +"Notwithstanding my infatuation with the brightest pair of eyes in +Chile, I noticed the absence of the old man after a week or so. A few +more days passed. I began to think that perhaps these Royalists had +gone away somewhere else. But one evening, as I was hastening towards +the city, I saw again somebody in the porch. It was not the madman; it +was the girl. She stood holding on to one of the wooden columns, tall +and white-faced, her big eyes sunk deep with privation and sorrow. I +looked hard at her, and she met my stare with a strange, inquisitive +look. Then, as I turned my head after riding past, she seemed to +gather courage for the act, and absolutely beckoned me back. + +"I obeyed, senores, almost without thinking, so great was my +astonishment. It was greater still when I heard what she had to say. +She began by thanking me for my forbearance of her father's infirmity, +so that I felt ashamed of myself. I had meant to show disdain, not +forbearance! Every word must have burnt her lips, but she never +departed from a gentle and melancholy dignity which filled me with +respect against my will. Senores, we are no match for women. But I +could hardly believe my ears when she began her tale. Providence, she +concluded, seemed to have preserved the life of that wronged soldier, +who now trusted to my honour as a caballero and to my compassion for +his sufferings. + +"'Wronged man,' I observed coldly. 'Well, I think so too: and you +have been harbouring an enemy of your cause.' + +"'He was a poor Christian crying for help at our door in the name of +God, senor,' she answered simply. + +"I began to admire her. 'Where is he now?' I asked stiffly. + +"But she would not answer that question. With extreme cunning, and an +almost fiendish delicacy, she managed to remind me of my failure in +saving the lives of the prisoners in the guard-room, without wounding +my pride. She knew, of course, the whole story. Gaspar Ruiz, she said, +entreated me to procure for him a safe-conduce from General San Martin +himself. He had an important communication to make to the Commander- +in-Chief. + +"Por Dios, senores, she made me swallow all that, pretending to be +only the mouthpiece of that poor man. Overcome by injustice, he +expected to find, she said, as much generosity in me as had been shown +to him by the Royalist family which had given him a refuge. + +"Hal It was well and nobly said to a youngster like me. I thought her +great. Alas! she was only implacable. + +"In the end I rode away very enthusiastic about the business, without +demanding even to see Gaspar Ruiz, who I was confident was in the +house. + +"But on calm reflection I began to see some difficulties which I had +not confidence enough in myself to encounter. It was not easy to +approach a commander-in-chief with such a story. I feared failure. At +last I thought it better to lay the matter before my general-of- +division, Robles, a friend of my family, who had appointed me his +aide-de-camp lately. + +"He took it out of my hands at once without any ceremony. + +"'In the house! of course he is in the house,' he said +contemptuously. 'You ought to have gone sword in hand inside and +demanded his surrender, instead of chatting with a Royalist girl in +the porch. Those people should have been hunted out of that long ago. +Who knows how many spies they have harboured right in the very midst +of our camps? A safe-conduct from the Commander-in-Chief! The audacity +of the fellow! Ha! ha! Now we shall catch him to-night, and then we +shall find out, without any safe-conduct, what he has got to say, that +is so very important. Ha! ha! ha!' + +"General Robles, peace to his soul, was a short, thick man, with +round, staring eyes, fierce and jovial. Seeing my distress he added: + +"'Come, come, chico. I promise you his life if he does not resist. +And that is not likely. We are not going to break up a good soldier if +it can be helped. I tell you what! I am curious to see your strong +man. Nothing but a general will do for the picaro--well, he shall +have a general to talk to. Ha! ha! I shall go myself to the catching, +and you are coming with me, of course.' + +"And it was done that same night. Early in the evening the house and +the orchard were surrounded quietly. Later on the general and I left a +ball we were attending in town and rode out at an easy gallop. At some +little distance from the house we pulled up. A mounted orderly held +our horses. A low whistle warned the men watching all along the +ravine, and we walked up to the porch softly. The barricaded house in +the moonlight seemed empty. + +"The general knocked at the door. After a time a woman's voice within +asked who was there. My chief nudged me hard. I gasped. + +"' It is I, Lieutenant Santierra,' I stammered out, as if choked. +'Open the door.' + +"It came open slowly. The girl, holding a thin taper in her hand, +seeing another man with me, began to back away before us slowly, +shading the light with her hand. Her impassive white face looked +ghostly. I followed behind General Robles. Her eyes were fixed on +mine. I made a gesture of helplessness behind my chief's back, trying +at the same time to give a reassuring expression to my face. Neither +of us three uttered a sound. + +"We found ourselves in a room with bare floor and walls. There was a +rough table and a couple of stools in it, nothing else whatever. An +old woman with her grey hair hanging loose wrung her hands when we +appeared. A peal of loud laughter resounded through the empty house, +very amazing and weird. At this the old woman tried to get past us. + +"'Nobody to leave the room,' said General Robles to me. + +"I swung the door to, heard the latch click, and the laughter became +faint in our ears. + +"Before another word could be spoken in that room I was amazed by +hearing the sound of distant thunder. + +"I had carried in with me into the house a vivid impression of a +beautiful, clear, moonlight night, without a speck of cloud in the +sky. I could not believe my ears. Sent early abroad for my education, +I was not familiar with the most dreaded natural phenomenon of my +native land. I saw, with inexpressible astonishment, a look of terror +in my chief's eyes. Suddenly I felt giddy! The general staggered +against me heavily; the girl seemed to reel in the middle of the room, +the taper fell out of her hand and the light went out; a shrill cry of +Misericordia! from the old woman pierced my ears. In the pitchy +darkness I heard the plaster off the walls falling on The floor. It is +a mercy there was no ceiling. Holding on to the latch of the door, I +heard the grinding of the roof-tiles cease above my head. The shock +was over. + +"'Out of the house! The door! Fly, Santierra, fly!' howled the +general. You know, senores, in our country the bravest are not ashamed +of the fear an earthquake strikes into all the senses of man. One +never gets used to it. + +"Repeated experience only augments the mastery of that nameless terror. + +"It was my first earthquake, and I was the calmest of them all. I +understood that the crash outside was caused by the porch, with its +wooden pillars and tiled roof projection, falling down. The next shock +would destroy the house, maybe. That rumble as of thunder was +approaching again. The general was rushing round the room, to find the +door, perhaps. He made a noise as though he were trying to climb the +walls, and I heard him distinctly invoke the names of several saints. +'Out, out, Santierra!' he yelled. + +"The girl's voice was the only one I did not hear. + +"'General,' I cried, 'I cannot move the door. We must be locked in.' + +"I did not recognise his voice in the shout of malediction and despair +he let out. Senores I know many men in my country, especially in the +provinces most subject to earthquakes, who will neither eat, sleep, +pray, nor even sit down to cards with closed doors. The danger is not +in the loss of time, but in this--that the movement of the walls may +prevent a door being opened at all. This was what had happened to us. +We were trapped, and we had no help to expect from anybody. There is +no man in my country who will go into a house when the earth trembles. +There never was--except one: Gaspar Ruiz. + +"He had come out of whatever hole he had been hiding in outside, and +had clambered over the timbers of the destroyed porch. Above the awful +subterranean groan of coming destruction I heard a mighty voice +shouting the word 'Erminia!' with the lungs of a giant. An earthquake +is a great leveller of distinctions. I collected all my resolution +against the terror of the scene. 'She is here,' I shouted back. A roar +as of a furious wild beast answered me--while my head swam, my heart +sank, and the sweat of anguish streamed like rain off my brow. + +"He had the strength to pick up one of the heavy posts of the porch. +Holding it under his armpit like a lance, but with both hands, he +charged madly the rocking house with the force of a battering-ram, +bursting open the door and rushing in, headlong, over our prostrate +bodies. I and the general, picking ourselves up, bolted out together, +without looking round once till we got across the road. Then, clinging +to each other, we beheld the house change suddenly into a heap of +formless rubbish behind the back of a man, who staggered towards us +bearing the form of a woman clasped in his arms. Her long black hair +hung nearly to his feet. He laid her down reverently on the heaving +earth, and the moonlight shone on her closed eyes. + +"senores, we mounted with difficulty. Our horses, getting up, plunged +madly, held by the soldiers who had come running from all sides. +Nobody thought of catching Gaspar Ruiz then. The eyes of men and +animals shone with wild fear. My general approached Gaspar Ruiz, who +stood motionless as a statue above the girl. He let himself be shaken +by the shoulder without detaching his eyes from her face. + +"'Que guape!' shouted the general in his ear. 'You are the bravest +man living. You have saved my life. I am General Robles. Come to my +quarters to-morrow, if God gives us the grace to see another day.' + +"He never stirred--as if deaf, without feeling, insensible. + +"We rode away for the town, full of our relations, of our friends, of +whose fate we hardly dared to think. The soldiers ran by the side of +our horses. Everything was forgotten in the immensity of the +catastrophe overtaking a whole country." + +Gaspar Ruiz saw the girl open her eyes. The raising of her eyelids +seemed to recall him from a trance. They were alone; the cries of +terror and distress from homeless people filled the plains of the +coast, remote and immense, coming like a whisper into their +loneliness. + +She rose swiftly to her feet, darting fearful glances on all sides. +"What is it?" she cried out low, and peering into his face. "Where am +I?" + +He bowed his head sadly, without a word. + +" . . . Who are you?" + +He knelt down slowly before her, and touched the hem of her coarse +black baize skirt. "Your slave," he said. + +She caught sight then of the heap of rubbish that had been the house, +all misty in the cloud of dust. "Ah!" she cried, pressing her hand to +her forehead. + +"I carried you out from there," he whispered at her feet. + +"And they?" she asked in a great sob. + +He rose, and taking her by the arms, led her gently towards the +shapeless ruin half overwhelmed by a land-slide. "Come and listen," he +said. + +The serene moon saw them clambering over that heap of stones, joists +and tiles, which was a grave. They pressed their ears to the +interstices, listening for the sound of a groan, for a sigh of pain. + +At last he said, "They died swiftly. You are alone." + +She sat down on a piece of broken timber and put one arm across her +face. He waited--then, approaching his lips to her ear, "Let us go," +he whispered. + +"Never--never from here," she cried out, flinging her arms above her +head. + +He stooped over her, and her raised arms fell upon his shoulders. He +lifted her up, steadied himself and began to walk, looking straight +before him. + +"What are you doing?" she asked feebly. + +"I am escaping from my enemies," he said, never once glancing at his +light burden. + +"With me?" she sighed helplessly. + +"Never without you," he said. "You are my strength." + +He pressed her close to him. His face was grave and his footsteps +steady. The conflagrations bursting out in the ruins of destroyed +villages dotted the plain with red fires; and the sounds of distant +lamentations, the cries of "Misericordia! Misericordia!" made a +desolate murmur in his ears. He walked on, solemn and collected, as if +carrying something holy, fragile and precious. + +The earth rocked at times under his feet. + + + + +IX + +WITH movements of mechanical care and an air of abstraction old +General Santierra lighted a long and thick cigar. + +"It was a good many hours before we could send a party back to the +ravine," he said to his guests. "We had found one-third of the town +laid low, the rest shaken up; and the inhabitants, rich and poor, +reduced to the same state of distraction by the universal disaster. +The affected cheerfulness of some contrasted with the despair of +others. In the general confusion a number of reckless thieves, without +fear of God or man, became a danger to those who from the downfall of +their homes had managed to save some valuables. Crying 'Misericordia' +louder than any at every tremor, and beating their breasts with one +hand, these scoundrels robbed the poor victims with the other, not +even stopping short of murder. + +"General Robles' division was occupied entirely in guarding the +destroyed quarters of the town from the depredations of these inhuman +monsters. Taken up with my duties of orderly officer, it was only in +the morning that I could assure myself of the safety of my own family. + +"My mother and my sisters had escaped with their lives from that ball- +room, where I had left them early in the evening. I remember those two +beautiful young women--God rest their souls--as if I saw them this +moment, in the garden of our destroyed house, pale but active, +assisting some of our poor neighbours, in their soiled ball-dresses +and with the dust of fallen walls on their hair. As to my mother, she +had a stoical soul in her frail body. Half-covered by a costly shawl, +she was lying on a rustic seat by the side of an ornamental basin +whose fountain had ceased to play for ever on that night. + +"I had hardly had time to embrace them all with transports of joy, +when my chief, coming along, dispatched me to the ravine with a few +soldiers, to bring in my strong man, as he called him, and that pale +girl. + +"But there was no one for us to bring in. A land-slide had covered the +ruins of the house; and it was like a large mound of earth with only +the ends of some timbers visible here and there--nothing more. + +"Thus were the tribulations of the old Royalist couple ended. An +enormous and unconsecrated grave had swallowed them up alive, in their +unhappy obstinacy against the will of a people to be free. And their +daughter was gone. + +"That Gaspar Ruiz had carried her off I understood very well. But as +the case was not foreseen, I had no instructions to pursue them. And +certainly I had no desire to do so. I had grown mistrustful of my +interference. It had never been successful, and had not even appeared +creditable. He was gone. Well, let him go. And he had carried off the +Royalist girl! Nothing better. Vaya con Dios. This was not the time to +bother about a deserter who, justly or unjustly, ought to have been +dead, and a girl for whom it would have been better to have never been +born. + +"So I marched my men back to the town. + +"After a few days, order having been re-established, all the principal +families, including my own, left for Santiago. We had a fine house +there. At the same time the division of Robles was moved to new +cantonments near the capital. This change suited very well the state +of my domestic and amorous feelings. + +"One night, rather late, I was called to my chief. I found General +Robles in his quarters, at ease, with his uniform off, drinking neat +brandy out of a tumbler--as a precaution, he used to say, against the +sleeplessness induced by the bites of mosquitoes. He was a good +soldier, and he taught me the art and practice of war. + +"No doubt God has been merciful to his soul; for his motives were +never other than patriotic, if his character was irascible. As to the +use of mosquito nets, he considered it effeminate, shameful--unworthy +of a soldier. + +"I noticed at the first glance that his face, already very red, wore +an expression of high good-humour. + +"'Aha! senor teniente,' he cried loudly, as I saluted at the door. +'Behold! Your strong man has turned up again.' + +"He extended to me a folded letter, which I saw was superscribed 'To +the Commander-in-Chief of the Republican Armies.' + +"'This,' General Robles went on in his loud voice, 'was thrust by a +boy into the hand of a sentry at the Quartel General, while the fellow +stood there thinking of his girl, no doubt--for before he could +gather his wits together, the boy had disappeared amongst the market +people, and he protests he could not recognise him to save his life.' + +"My chief told me further that the soldier had given the letter to the +sergeant of the guard, and that ultimately it had reached the hands of +our generalissimo. His Excellency had deigned to take cognisance of it +with his own eyes. After that he had referred the matter in confidence +to General Robles. + +"The letter, senores, I cannot now recollect textually. I saw the +signature of Gaspar Ruiz. He was an audacious fellow. He had snatched +a soul for himself out of a cataclysm, remember. And now it was that +soul which had dictated the terms of his letter. Its tone was very +independent. I remember it struck me at the time as noble--dignified. +It was, no doubt, her letter. Now I shudder at the depth of its +duplicity. Gaspar Ruiz was made to complain of the injustice of which +he had been a victim. He invoked his previous record of fidelity and +courage. Having been saved from death by the miraculous interposition +of Providence, he could think of nothing but of retrieving his +character. This, he wrote, he could not hope to do in the ranks as a +discredited soldier still under suspicion. He had the means to give a +striking proof of his fidelity. And he ended by proposing to the +General-in-Chief a meeting at midnight in the middle of the Plaza +before the Moneta. The signal would be to strike fire with flint and +steel three times, which was not too conspicuous and yet distinctive +enough for recognition. + +"San Martin, the great Liberator, loved men of audacity and courage. +Besides, he was just and compassionate. I told him as much of the +man's story as I knew, and was ordered to accompany him on the +appointed night. The signals were duly exchanged. It was midnight, and +the whole town was dark and silent. Their two cloaked figures came +together in the centre of the vast Plaza, and, keeping discreetly at a +distance, I listened for an hour or more to the murmur of their +voices. Then the general motioned me to approach; and as I did so I +heard San Martin, who was courteous to gentle and simple alike, offer +Gaspar Ruiz the hospitality of the headquarters for the night. But the +soldier refused, saying that he would not be worthy of that honour +till he had done something. + +"'You cannot have a common deserter for your guest, Excellency,' he +protested with a low laugh, and stepping backwards, merged slowly into +the night. + +"The Commander-in-Chief observed to me, as we turned away: 'He had +somebody with him, our friend Ruiz. I saw two figures for a moment. It +was an unobtrusive companion.' + +"I too had observed another figure join the vanishing form of Gaspar +Ruiz. It had the appearance of a short fellow in a poncho and a big +hat. And I wondered stupidly who it could be he had dared take into +his confidence. I might have guessed it could be no one but that fatal +girl--alas! + +"Where he kept her concealed I do not know. He had--it was known +afterwards--an uncle, his mother's brother, a small shopkeeper in +Santiago. Perhaps it was there that she found a roof and food. +Whatever she found, it was poor enough to exasperate her pride and +keep up her anger and hate. It is certain she did not accompany him on +the feat he undertook to accomplish first of all. It was nothing less +than the destruction of a store of war material collected secretly by +the Spanish authorities in the south, in a town called Linares. Gaspar +Ruiz was entrusted with a small party only, but they proved themselves +worthy of San Martin's confidence. The season was not propitious. They +had to swim swollen rivers. They seemed, however, to have galloped +night and day, outriding the news of their foray, and holding straight +for the town, a hundred miles into the enemy's country, till at break +of day they rode into it sword in hand, surprising the little +garrison. It fled without making a stand, leaving most of its officers +in Gaspar Ruiz' hands. + +"A great explosion of gunpowder ended the conflagration of the +magazines the raiders had set on fire without loss of time. In less +than six hours they were riding away at the same mad speed, without +the loss of a single man. Good as they were, such an exploit is not +performed without a still better leadership. + +"I was dining at the headquarters when Gas-par Ruiz himself brought +the news of his success. And it was a great blow to the Royalist +troops. For a proof he displayed to us the garrison's flag. He took it +from under his poncho and flung it on the table. The man was +transfigured; there was something exulting and menacing in the +expression of his face. He stood behind General San Martin's chair and +looked proudly at us all. He had a round blue cap edged with silver +braid on his head, and we all could see a large white scar on the nape +of his sunburnt neck. + +"Somebody asked him what he had done with the captured Spanish +officers. + +"He shrugged his shoulders scornfully. 'What a question to ask! In a +partisan war you do not burden yourself with prisoners. I let them go +--and here are their sword-knots.' + +"He flung a bunch of them on the table upon the flag. Then General +Robles, whom I was attending there, spoke up in his loud, thick voice: +'You did! Then, my brave friend, you do not know yet how a war like +ours ought to be conducted. You should have done--this.' And he +passed the edge of his hand across his own throat. + +"Alas, senores! It was only too true that on both sides this contest, +in its nature so heroic, was stained by ferocity. The murmurs that +arose at General Robles' words were by no means unanimous in tone. But +the generous and brave San Martin praised the humane action, and +pointed out to Ruiz a place on his right hand. Then rising with a full +glass he proposed a toast: 'Caballeros and comrades-in-arms, let us +drink the health of Captain Gaspar Ruiz.' And when we had emptied our +glasses: 'I intend,' the Commander-in-Chief continued, 'to entrust him +with the guardianship of our southern frontier, while we go afar to +liberate our brethren in Peru. He whom the enemy could not stop from +striking a blow at his very heart will know how to protect the +peaceful populations we leave behind us to pursue our sacred task.' +And he embraced the silent Gaspar Ruiz by his side. + +"Later on, when we all rose from table, I approached the latest +officer of the army with my congratulations. 'And, Captain Ruiz,' I +added, 'perhaps you do not mind telling a man who has always believed +in the uprightness of your character, what became of Doa Erminia on +that night?' + +"At this friendly question his aspect changed. He looked at me from +under his eyebrows with the heavy, dull glance of a guasso--of a +peasant. + +"Senor teniente,' he said thickly, and as if very much cast down, 'do +not ask me about the senorita, for I prefer not to think about her at +all when I am amongst you.' + +"He looked, with a frown, all about the room, full of smoking and +talking officers. Of course I did not insist. + +"These, senores, were the last words I was to hear him utter for a +long, long time. The very next day we embarked for our arduous +expedition to Peru, and we only heard of Gaspar Ruiz' doings in the +midst of battles of our own. He had been appointed military guardian +of our southern province. He raised a partida. But his leniency to the +conquered foe displeased the Civil Governor, who was a formal, uneasy +man, full of suspicions. He forwarded reports against Gaspar Ruiz to +the Supreme Government; one of them being that he had married +publicly, with great pomp, a woman of Royalist tendencies. Quarrels +were sure to arise between these two men of very different character. +At last the Civil Governor began to complain of his inactivity, and to +hint at treachery, which, he wrote, would be not surprising in a man +of such antecedents. Gaspar Ruiz heard of it. His rage flamed up, and +the woman ever by his side knew how to feed it with perfidious words. +I do not know whether really the Supreme Government ever did--as he +complained afterwards--send orders for his arrest. It seems certain +that the Civil Governor began to tamper with his officers, and that +Gaspar Ruiz discovered the fact. + +"One evening, when the Governor was giving a tertullia Gaspar Ruiz, +followed by six men he could trust, appeared riding through the town +to the door of the Government House, and entered the sala armed, his +hat on his head. As the Governor, displeased, advanced to meet him, he +seized the wretched man round the body, carried him off from the midst +of the appalled guests, as though he were a child, and flung him down +the outer steps into the street. An angry hug from Gaspar Ruiz was +enough to crush the life out of a giant; but in addition Gaspar Ruiz' +horsemen fired their pistols at the body of the Governor as it lay +motionless at the bottom of the stairs." + + + + +X + +"AFTER this--as he called it--act of justice, Ruiz crossed the Rio +Blanco, followed by the greater part of his band, and entrenched +himself upon a hill A company of regular troops sent out foolishly +against him was surrounded, and destroyed almost to a man. Other +expeditions, though better organised, were equally unsuccessful. + +"It was during these sanguinary skirmishes that his wife first began +to appear on horseback at his right hand. Rendered proud and self- +confident by his successes, Ruiz no longer charged at the head of his +partida, but presumptuously, like a general directing the movements of +an army, he remained in the rear, well mounted and motionless on an +eminence, sending out his orders. She was seen repeatedly at his side, +and for a long time was mistaken for a man. There was much talk then +of a mysterious white-faced chief, to whom the defeats of our troops +were ascribed. She rode like an Indian woman, astride, wearing a +broad-rimmed man's hat and a dark poncho. Afterwards, in the day of +their greatest prosperity, this poncho was embroidered in gold, and +she wore then, also, the sword of poor Don Antonio de Leyva. This +veteran Chilean officer, having the misfortune to be surrounded with +his small force, and running short of ammunition, found his death at +the hands of the Arauco Indians, the allies and auxiliaries of Gaspar +Ruiz. This was the fatal affair long remembered afterwards as the +'Massacre of the Island.' The sword of the unhappy officer was +presented to her by Peneleo, the Araucanian chief; for these Indians, +struck by her aspect, the deathly pallor of her face, which no +exposure to the weather seemed to affect, and her calm indifference +under fire, looked upon her as a supernatural being, or at least as a +witch. By this superstition the prestige and authority of Gaspar Ruiz +amongst these ignorant people were greatly augmented. She must have +savoured her vengeance to the full on that day when she buckled on the +sword of Don Antonio de Leyva. It never left her side, unless she put +on her woman's clothes--not that she would or could ever use it, but +she loved to feel it beating upon her thigh as a perpetual reminder +and symbol of the dishonour to the arms of the Republic. She was +insatiable. Moreover, on the path she had led Gaspar Ruiz upon, there +is no stopping. Escaped prisoners--and they were not many--used to +relate how with a few whispered words she could change the expression +of his face and revive his flagging animosity. They told how after +every skirmish, after every raid, after every successful action, he +would ride up to her and look into her face. Its haughty-calm was +never relaxed. Her embrace, senores, must have been as cold as the +embrace of a statue. He tried to melt her icy heart in a stream of +warm blood. Some English naval officers who visited him at that time +noticed the strange character of his infatuation." + +At the movement of surprise and curiosity in his audience General +Santierra paused for a moment. + +"Yes--English naval officers," he repeated. "Ruiz had consented to +receive them to arrange for the liberation of some prisoners of your +nationality. In the territory upon which he ranged, from sea coast to +the Cordillera, there was a bay where the ships of that time, after +rounding Gape Horn, used to resort for wood and water. There, decoying +the crew on shore, he captured first the whaling brig Hersalia, and +afterwards made himself master by surprise of two more ships, one +English and one American. + +"It was rumoured at the time that he dreamed of setting up a navy of +his own. But that, of course, was impossible. Still, manning the brig +with part of her own crew, and putting an officer and a good many men +of his own on board, he sent her off to the Spanish Governor of the +island of Chiloe with a report of his exploits, and a demand for +assistance in the war against the rebels. The Governor could not do +much for him; but he sent in return two light field-pieces, a letter +of compliments, with a colonel's commission in the royal forces, and a +great Spanish flag. This standard with much ceremony was hoisted over +his house in the heart of the Arauco country. Surely on that day she +may have smiled on her guasso husband with a less haughty reserve. + +"The senior officer of the English squadron on our coast made +representations to our Government as to these captures. But Gaspar +Ruiz refused to treat with us. Then an English frigate proceeded to +the bay, and her captain, doctor, and two lieutenants travelled inland +under a safe conduct. They were well received, and spent three days +as guests of the partisan chief. A sort of military, barbaric state +was kept up at the residence. It was furnished with the loot of +frontier towns. When first admitted to the principal sala, they saw +his wife lying down (she was not in good health then), with Gaspar +Ruiz sitting at the foot of the couch. His-hat was lying on the floor, +and his hands reposed on the hilt of his sword. + +"During that first conversation he never removed his big hands from +the sword-hilt, except once, to arrange the coverings about her, with +gentle, careful touches. They noticed that when ever she spoke he +would fix his eyes upon her in a kind of expectant, breathless +attention, and seemingly forget the existence of the world and his own +existence too. In the course of the farewell banquet, at which she was +present reclining on her couch, he burst forth into complaints of the +treatment he had received. After General San Martin's departure he had +been beset by spies, slandered by civil officials, his services +ignored, his liberty and even his life threatened by the Chilian +Government. He got up from the table, thundered execrations pacing the +room wildly, then sat down on the couch at his wife's feet, his breast +heaving, his eyes fixed on the floor. She reclined on her back, her +head on the cushions, her eyes nearly closed. + +"'And now I am an honoured Spanish officer,' he added in a calm +voice. + +"The captain of the English frigate then took the opportunity to +inform him gently that Lima had fallen, and that by the terms of a +convention the Spaniards were withdrawing from the whole continent. + +"Gaspar Ruiz raised his head, and without hesitation, speaking with +suppressed vehemence, declared, that if not a single Spanish soldier +were left in the whole of South America he would persist in carrying +on the contest against Chile to the last drop of blood. When he +finished that mad tirade his wife's long white hand was raised, and +she just caressed his knee with the tips of her fingers for a fraction +of a second. + +"For the rest of the officers' stay, which did not extend for more +than half an hour after the banquet, that ferocious chieftain of a +desperate partida overflowed with amiability and kindness. He had been +hospitable before, but now it seemed as though he could not do enough +for the comfort and safety of his visitors' journey back to their +ship. + +"Nothing, I have been told, could have presented a greater contrast to +his late violence or the habitual taciturn reserve of his manner. Like +a man elated beyond measure by an unexpected happiness, he overflowed +with good-will, amiability, and attentions. He embraced the officers +like brothers, almost with tears in his eyes. The released prisoners +were presented each with a piece of gold. At the last moment, +suddenly, he declared he could do no less than restore to the masters +of the merchant vessels all their private property. This unexpected +generosity caused some delay in the departure of the party, and their +first march was very short. + +"Late in the evening Gaspar Ruiz rode up with an escort, to their camp +fires, bringing along with him a mule loaded with cases of wine. He +had come, he said, to drink a stirrup cup with his English friends, +whom he would never see again. He was mellow and joyous in his temper. +He told stories of his own exploits, laughed like a boy, borrowed a +guitar from the Englishmen's chief muleteer, and sitting cross-legged +on his superfine poncho spread before the glow of the embers, sang a +guasso love-song in a tender voice. Then his head dropped on his +breast, his hands fell to the ground; the guitar rolled off his knees +--and a great hush fell over the camp after the love-song of the +implacable partisan who had made so many of our people weep for +destroyed homes and for loves cut short. + +"Before anybody could make a sound he sprang up from the ground and +called for his horse. 'Adios, my friends!' he cried, 'Go with God. +I love you. And tell them well in Santiago that between Gaspar Ruiz, +colonel of the King of Spain, and the republican carrion-crows of +Chile there is war to the last breath--war! war! war!' + +"With a great yell of 'War! war! war!' which his escort took up, they +rode away, and the sound of hoofs and of voices died out in the +distance between the slopes of the hills. + +"The two young English officers were convinced that Ruiz was mad. How +do you say that ?--tile loose--eh? But the doctor, an observant +Scotsman with much shrewdness and philosophy in his character, told me +that it was a very curious case of possession. I met him many years +afterwards, but he remembered the experience very well. He told me too +that in his opinion that woman did not lead Gaspar Ruiz into the +practice of sanguinary treachery by direct persuasion, but by the +subtle way of awakening and keeping alive in his simple mind a burning +sense of an irreparable wrong. Maybe, maybe. But I would say that she +poured half of her vengeful soul into the strong clay of that man, as +you may pour intoxication, madness, poison into an empty cup. + +"If he wanted war he got it in earnest when our victorious army began +to return from Peru. Systematic operations were planned against this +blot on the honour and prosperity of our hardly-won independence. +General Robles commanded, with his well-known ruthless severity. +Savage reprisals were exercised on both sides, and no quarter was +given in the field. Having won my promotion in the Peru campaign, I +was a captain on the staff. + +"Gaspar Ruiz found himself hard pressed; at the same time we heard by +means of a fugitive priest who had been carried off from his village +presbytery, and galloped eighty miles into the hills to perform the +christening ceremony, that a daughter was born to them. To celebrate +the event, I suppose, Ruiz executed one or two brilliant forays clear +away at the rear of our forces, and defeated the detachments sent out +to cut off his retreat. General Robles nearly had a stroke of apoplexy +from rage. He found another cause of insomnia than the bites of +mosquitoes; but against this one, senores, tumblers of raw brandy had +no more effect than so much water. He took to railing and storming at +me about my strong man. And from our impatience to end this inglorious +campaign, I am afraid that we young officers became reckless and apt +to take undue risks on service. + +"Nevertheless, slowly, inch by inch as it were, our columns were +closing upon Gaspar Ruiz, though he had managed to raise all the +Araucanian nation of wild Indians against us. Then a year or more +later our Government became aware through its agents and spies that he +had actually entered into alliance with Carreras, the so-called +dictator of the so-called republic of Mendoza, on the other side of +the mountains. Whether Gaspar Ruiz had a deep political intention, or +whether he wished only to secure a safe retreat for his wife and child +while he pursued remorselessly against us his war of surprises and +massacres, I cannot tell. The alliance, however, was a fact. Defeated +in his attempt to check our advance from the sea, he retreated with +his usual swiftness, and preparing for another hard and hazardous +tussle began by sending his wife with the little girl across the +Pequena range of mountains, on the frontier of Mendoza." + + + + +XI + +"Now Carreras, under the guise of politics and liberalism, was a +scoundrel of the deepest dye, and the unhappy state of Mendoza was the +prey of thieves, robbers, traitors and murderers, who formed his +party. He was under a noble exterior a man without heart, pity, +honour, or conscience. Tie aspired to nothing but tyranny, and though +he would have made use of Gaspar Ruiz for his nefarious designs, yet +he soon became aware that to propitiate the Chilian Government would +answer his purpose better. I blush to say that he made proposals to +our Government to deliver up on certain conditions the wife and child +of the man who had trusted to his honour, and that this offer was +accepted. + +"While on her way to Mendoza over the Pequena pass she was betrayed by +her escort of Carreras' men, and given up to the officer in command of +a Chilian fort on the upland at the foot of the main Cordillera range. +This atrocious transaction might have cost me dear, for as a matter of +fact I was a prisoner in Gaspar Ruiz' camp when he received the news. +I had been captured during a reconnaissance, my escort of a few +troopers being speared by the Indians of his bodyguard. I was saved +from the same fate because he recognised my features just in time. No +doubt my friends thought I was dead, and I would not have given much +for my life at any time. But the strong man treated me very well, +because, he said, I had always believed in his innocence and had tried +to serve him when he was a victim of injustice. + +"'And now,' was his speech to me, 'you shall see that I always speak +the truth. You are safe.' + +"I did not think I was very safe when I was called up to go to him one +night. He paced up and down like a wild beast, exclaiming, 'Betrayed! +Betrayed!' + +"He walked up to me clenching his fists. 'I could cut your throat.' + +"'Will that give your wife back to you?' I said as quietly as I +could. + +"'And the child!' he yelled out, as if mad. He fell into a chair and +laughed in a frightful, boisterous manner. 'Oh, no, you are safe.' + +"I assured him that his wife's life was safe too; but I did not say +what I was convinced of--that he would never see her again. He wanted +war to the death, and the war could only end with his death. + +"He gave me a strange, inexplicable look, and sat muttering blankly. +'In their hands. In their hands.' + +"I kept as still as a mouse before a cat. Suddenly he jumped up. +'What am I doing here?' he cried; and opening the door, he yelled out +orders to saddle and mount. 'What is it?' he stammered, coming up to +me. 'The Pequena fort; a fort of palisades! Nothing. I would get her +back if she were hidden in the very heart of the mountain.' He amazed +me by adding, with an effort: 'I carried her off in my two arms while +the earth trembled. And the child at least is mine. She at least is +mine!' + +"Those were bizarre words; but I had no time for wonder. + +"'You shall go with me;' he said violently. 'I may want to parley, +and any other messenger from Ruiz, the outlaw, would have his throat +cut.' + +"This was true enough. Between him and the rest of incensed mankind +there could be no communication, according to the customs of honour- +able warfare. + +"In less than half an hour we were in the saddle, flying wildly +through the night. He had only an escort of twenty men at his +quarters, but would not wait for more. He sent, however, messengers to +Peneleo, the Indian chief then ranging in the foothills, directing him +to bring his warriors to the uplands and meet him at the lake called +the Eye of Water, near whose shores the frontier fort of Pequena was +built. + +"We crossed the lowlands with that untired rapidity of movement which +had made Gaspar Ruiz' raids so famous. We followed the lower valleys +up to their precipitous heads. The ride was not without its dangers. A +cornice road on a perpendicular wall of basalt wound itself around a +buttressing rock, and at last we emerged from the gloom of a deep +gorge upon the upland of Peea. + +"It was a plain of green wiry grass and thin flowering bushes; but +high above our heads patches of snow hung in the folds and crevices of +the great walls of rock. The little lake was as round as a staring +eye. The garrison of the fort were just driving in their small herd of +cattle when we appeared. Then the great wooden gates swung to, and +that four-square enclosure of broad blackened stakes pointed at the +top and barely hiding the grass roofs of the huts inside, seemed +deserted, empty, without a single soul. + +"But when summoned to surrender, by a man who at Gaspar Ruiz' order +rode fearlessly forward, those inside answered by a volley which +rolled him and his horse over. I heard Ruiz by my side grind his +teeth. 'It does not matter,' he said. 'Now you go.' + +"Torn and faded as its rags were, the vestiges of my uniform were +recognised, and I was allowed to approach within speaking distance; +and then I had to wait, because a voice clamouring through a loophole +with joy and astonishment would not allow me to place a word. It was +the voice of Major Pajol, an old friend. He, like my other comrades, +had thought me killed a long time ago. + +"'Put spurs to your horse, man!' he yelled, in the greatest excitement; +'we will swing the gate open for you.' + +"I let the reins fall out of my hand and shook my head. 'I am on my +honour,' I cried. + +"'To him!' he shouted, with infinite disgust.' + +"'He promises you your life.' + +"'Our life is our own. And do you, Santierra, advise us to surrender +to that rastrero?' + +"'No!' I shouted. 'But he wants his wife and child, and he can cut +you off from water.' + +"'Then she would be the first to suffer. You may tell him that. Look +here--this is all nonsense: we shall dash out and capture you. + +"'You shall not catch me alive,' I said firmly. + +"'Imbecile!' + +"'For God's sake,' I continued hastily, 'do not open the gate.' And I +pointed at the multitude of Peneleo's Indians who covered the shores +of the lake. + +"I had never seen so many of these savages together. Their lances +seemed as numerous as stalks of grass. Their hoarse voices made a +vast, inarticulate sound like the murmur of the sea. + +"My friend Pajol was swearing to himself. 'Well, then--go to the +devil!' he shouted, exasperated. But as I swung round he repented, +for I heard him say hurriedly, 'Shoot the fool's horse before he gets +away. + +"He had good marksmen. Two shots rang out, and in the very act of +turning my horse staggered, fell and lay still as if struck by +lightning. I had my feet out of the stirrups and rolled clear of him; +but I did not attempt to rise. Neither dared they rush out to drag me +in. + +"The masses of Indians had begun to move upon the fort. They rode up +in squadrons, trailing their long chusos; then dismounted out of +musket-shot, and, throwing off their fur mantles, advanced naked to +the attack, stamping their feet and shouting in cadence. A sheet of +flame ran three times along the face of the fort without checking +their steady march. They crowded right up to the very stakes, +flourishing their broad knives. But this palisade was not fastened +together with hide lashings in the usual way, but with long iron +nails, which they could not cut. Dismayed at the failure of their +usual method of forcing an entrance, the heathen, who had marched so +steadily against the musketry fire, broke and fled under the volleys +of the besieged. + +"Directly they had passed me on their advance I got up and rejoined +Gaspar Ruiz on a low ridge which jutted out upon the plain. The +musketry of his own men had covered the attack, but now at a sign from +him a trumpet sounded the 'Cease fire.' Together we looked in silence +at the hopeless rout of the savages. + +"'It must be a siege, then,' he muttered. And I detected him +wringing his hands stealthily. + +"But what sort of siege could it be? Without any need for me to repeat +my friend Pajol's message, he dared not cut the water off from the +besieged. They had plenty of meat. And, indeed, if they had been +short, he would have been too anxious to send food into the stockade +had he been able. But, as a matter of fact, it was we on the plain who +were beginning to feel the pinch of hunger. + +"Peneleo, the Indian chief, sat by our fire folded in his ample mantle +of guanaco skins. He was an athletic savage, with an enormous square +shock head of hair resembling a straw beehive in shape and size, and +with grave, surly, much-lined features. In his broken Spanish he +repeated, growling like a bad-tempered wild beast, that if an opening +ever so small were made in the stockade his men would march in and get +the senora--not otherwise. + +"Gaspar Ruiz, sitting opposite him, kept his eyes fixed on the fort +night and day as it were, in awful silence and immobility. Meantime, +by runners from the lowlands that arrived nearly every day, we heard +of the defeat of one of his lieutenants in the Maipu valley. Scouts +sent afar brought news of a column of infantry advancing through +distant passes to the relief of the fort. They were slow, but we could +trace their toilful progress up the lower valleys. I wondered why Ruiz +did not march to attack and destroy this threatening force, in some +wild gorge fit for an ambuscade, in accordance with his genius for +guerrilla warfare. But his genius seemed to have abandoned him to his +despair. + +"It was obvious to me that he could not tear himself away from the +sight of the fort. I protest to you, senores, that I was moved almost +to pity by the sight of this powerless strong man sitting on the +ridge, indifferent to sun, to rain, to cold, to wind; with his hands +clasped round his legs and his chin resting on his knees, gazing-- +gazing--gazing. + +"And. the fort he kept his eyes fastened on was as still and silent as +himself. The garrison gave no sign of life. They did not even answer +the desultory fire directed at the loopholes. + +"One night, as I strolled past him, he, without changing his attitude, +spoke to me unexpectedly 'I have sent for a gun,' he said. 'I shall +have time to get her back and retreat before your Robles manages to +crawl up here.' + +"He had sent for a gun to the plains. + +"It was long in coming, but at last it came. It was a seven-pounder +field-gun. Dismounted and lashed crosswise to two long poles, it had +been carried up the narrow paths between two mules with ease. His wild +cry of exultation at daybreak when he saw the gun escort emerge from +the valley rings in my ears now. + +"But, senores, I have no words to depict his amazement, his fury, his +despair and distraction, when he heard that the animal loaded with the +gun-carriage had, during the last night march, somehow or other +tumbled down a precipice. He broke into menaces of death and torture +against the escort. I kept out of his way all that day, lying behind +some bushes, and wondering what he would do now. Retreat was left for +him; but he could not retreat. + +"I saw below me his artillerist Jorge, an old Spanish soldier, +building up a sort of structure with heaped-up saddles. The gun, +ready-loaded was lifted on to that, but in the act of firing the whole +thing collapsed and the shot flew high above the stockade. + +"Nothing more was attempted. One of the ammunition mules had been lost +too, and they had no more than six shots to fire; amply enough to +batter down the gate, providing the gun was well laid. This was +impossible without it being properly mounted. There was no time nor +means to construct a carriage. Already every moment I expected to hear +Robles' bugle-calls echo amongst the crags. + +"Peneleo, wandering about uneasily, draped in his skins, sat down for +a moment near me growling his usual tale. + +"'Make an entrada--a hole. If make a hole, bueno. If not make a +hole, them vamos--we must go away.' + +"After sunset I observed with surprise the Indians making preparations +as if for another assault. Their lines stood ranged in the shadows +mountains. On the plain in front of the fort gate I saw a group of men +swaying about in the same place. + +"I walked down the ridge disregarded. The moonlight in the clear air +of the uplands was as bright as day, but the intense shadows confused +my sight, and I could not make out what they were doing. I heard voice +Jorge, artillerist, say in a queer, doubtful tone, 'It is loaded, +senores.' + +"Then another voice in that group pronounced firmly the words, 'Bring +the riata here.' It was the voice of Gaspar Ruiz. + +"A silence fell, in which the popping shots of the besieged garrison +rang out sharply. They too had observed the group. But the distance +was too great, and in the spatter of spent musket-balls cutting up the +ground, the group opened, closed, swayed, giving me a glimpse of busy +stooping figures in its midst. I drew nearer, doubting whether this +was a weird vision, a suggestive and insensate dream. + +"A strangely stifled voice commanded, 'Haul the hitches tighter.' + +"'Si, senor,' several other voices answered in tones of awed +alacrity. + +"Then the stifled voice said: 'Like this. I must be free to breathe.' + +"Then there was a concerned noise of many men together. 'Help him up, +hombres. Steady! Under the other arm.' + +"That deadened voice, ordered: 'Bueno! Stand away from me, men.' + +"I pushed my way through the recoiling circle, and heard once more +that same oppressed voice saying earnestly: 'Forget that I am a living +man, Jorge. Forget me altogether, and think of what you have to do.' + +"'Be without fear, senor. You are nothing to me but a gun carriage, +and I shall not waste a shot.' + +"I heard the spluttering of a port-fire, and smelt the saltpetre of +the match. I saw suddenly before me a nondescript shape on all fours +like a beast, but with a man's head drooping below a tubular +projection over the nape of the neck, and the gleam of a rounded mass +of bronze on its back. + +"In front of a silent semicircle of men it squatted alone with Jorge +behind it and a trumpeter motionless, his trumpet in his hand, by its +side. + +"Jorge, bent double, muttered, port-fire in hand: 'An inch to the +left, senor. Too much. So. Now, if you let yourself down a little by +letting your elbows bend, I will . . .' + +"He leaped aside, lowering his port-fire, and a burst of flame darted +out of the muzzle of the gun lashed on the man's back. + +"Then Gaspar Ruiz lowered himself slowly. 'Good shot?' he asked. + +"'Full on, senor.' + +"'Then load again.' + +"He lay there before me on his breast under the darkly glittering +bronze of his monstrous burden, such as no love or strength of man had +ever had to bear in the lamentable history of the world. His arms were +spread out, and he resembled a prostrate penitent on the moonlit +ground. + +"Again I saw him raised to his hands and knees, and the men stand away +from him, and old Jorge stoop, glancing along the gun. + +"'Left a little. Right an inch. Por Dios, senor, stop this +trembling. Where is your strength?' + +"The old gunner's voice was cracked with emotion. He stepped aside, +and quick as lightning brought the spark to the touch-hole. + +"'Excellent!' he cried tearfully; but Gaspar Ruiz lay for a long time +silent, flattened on the ground. + +"'I am tired,' he murmured at last. 'Will another shot do it?' + +"'Without doubt,' said Jorge, bending down to his ear. + +"'Then--load,' I heard him utter distinctly. 'Trumpeter!' + +"'I am here, senor, ready for your word.' + +"'Blow a blast at this word that shall be heard from one end of Chile +to the other,' he said, in an extraordinarily strong voice. 'And you +others stand ready to cut this accursed riata, for then will be the +time for me to lead you in your rush. Now raise me up, and, you, +Jorge--be quick with your aim.' + +"The rattle of musketry from the fort nearly drowned his voice. The +palisade was wreathed in smoke and flame. + +"'Exert your force forward against the recoil, mi amo,' said the old +gunner shakily. 'Dig your fingers into the ground. So. Now!' + +"A cry of exultation escaped him after the shot. The trumpeter raised +his trumpet nearly to his lips, and waited. But no word came from the +prostrate man. I fell on one knee, and heard all he had to say then. + +"'Something broken,' he whispered, lifting his head a little, and +turning his eyes towards me in his hopelessly crushed attitude. + +"'The gate hangs only by the splinters,' yelled Jorge. + +"Gaspar Ruiz tried to speak, but his voice died out in his throat, and +I helped to roll the gun off his broken back. He was insensible. + +"I kept my lips shut, of course. The signal for the Indians to attack +was never given. Instead, the bugle-calls of the relieving force, for +which my ears had thirsted so long, burst out, terrifying like the +call of the Last Day to our surprised enemies. + +"A tornado, senores, a real hurricane of stampeded men, wild horses, +mounted Indians, swept over me as I cowered on the ground by the side +of Gaspar Ruiz, still stretched out on his face in the shape of a +cross. Peneleo, galloping for life, jabbed at me with his long chuso +in passing--for the sake of old acquaintance, I suppose. How I +escaped the flying lead is more difficult to explain. Venturing to +rise on my knees too soon, some soldiers of the 17th Taltal regiment, +in their hurry to get at something alive, nearly bayonetted me on the +spot. They looked very disappointed too when some officers galloping +up drove them away with the flat of their swords. + +"It was General Robles with his staff. He wanted badly to make some +prisoners. He, too, seemed disappointed for a moment. 'What? Is it +you?' he cried. But he dismounted at once to embrace me, for he was +an old friend of my family. I pointed to the body at our feet, and +said only these two words: + +"'Gaspar Ruiz.' + +"He threw his arms up in astonishment. + +"'Aha! Your strong man! Always to the last with your strong man. No +matter. He saved our lives when the earth trembled enough to make the +bravest faint with fear. I was frightened out of my wits. But he--no! +Que guape! Where's the hero who got the best of him? Ha! ha! ha! What +killed him, chico?' + +"'His own strength general,' I answered." + + + + +XII + +"BUT Gaspar Ruiz breathed yet. I had him carried in his poncho under +the shelter of some bushes on the very ridge from which he had been +gazing so fixedly at the fort while unseen death was hovering already +over his head. + +"Our troops had bivouacked round the fort. Towards daybreak I was not +surprised to hear that I was designated to command the escort of a +prisoner who was to be sent down at once to Santiago. Of course the +prisoner was Gaspar Ruiz' wife. + +"'I have named you out of regard for your feelings,' General Robles +remarked. 'Though the woman really ought to be shot for all the harm +she has done to the Republic.' + +"And as I made a movement of shocked protest, he continued: + +"'Now he is as well as dead, she is of no importance. Nobody will +know what to do with her. However, the Government wants her.' He +shrugged his shoulders. 'I suppose he must have buried large +quantities of his loot in places that she alone knows of.' + +"At dawn I saw her coming up the ridge, guarded by two soldiers, and +carrying her child on her arm. + +"I walked to meet her. + +"'Is he living yet?' she asked, confronting me with that white, +impassive face he used to look at in an adoring way. + +"I bent my head, and led her round a clump of bushes without a word. +His eyes were open. He breathed with difficulty, and uttered her name +with a great effort. + +"'Erminia!' + +"She knelt at his head. The little girl, unconscious of him, and with +her big eyes, looking about, began to chatter suddenly, in a joyous, +thin voice. She pointed a tiny finger at the rosy glow of sunrise +behind the black shapes of the peaks. And while that child-talk, +incomprehensible and sweet to the ear, lasted, those two, the dying +man and the kneeling woman, remained silent, looking into each other's +eyes, listening to the frail sound. Then the prattle stopped. The +child laid its head against its mother's breast and was still. + +"'It was for you,' he began. 'Forgive.' His voice failed him. +Presently I heard a mutter, and caught the pitiful words: 'Not strong +enough.' + +"She looked at him with an extraordinary intensity. He tried to smile, +and in a humble tone, 'Forgive me,' he repeated. 'Leaving you. . .' + +"She bent down, dry-eyed, and in a steady voice: 'On all the earth I +have loved nothing but you, Gaspar,' she said. + +"His head made a movement. His eyes revived. 'At last! 'he sighed out. +Then, anxiously, 'But is this true . . . is this true?' + +"'As true as that there is no mercy and justice in this world,' she +answered him passionately. She stooped over his face. He tried to +raise his head, but it fell back, and when she kissed his lips he was +already dead. His glazed eyes stared at the sky, on which pink clouds +floated very high. But I noticed the eyelids of the child, pressed to +its mother's breast, droop and close slowly. She had gone to sleep. + +"The widow of Gaspar Ruiz, the strong man, allowed me to lead her away +without shedding a tear. + +"For travelling we had arranged for her a side-saddle very much like a +chair, with a board swung beneath to rest her feet on. And the first +day she rode without uttering a word, and hardly for one moment +turning her eyes away from the little girl, whom she held on her +knees. At our first camp I saw her during the night walking about, +rocking the child in her arms and gazing down at it by the light of +the moon. After we had started on our second day's march she asked me +how soon we should come to the first village of the inhabited country. + +"I said we should be there about noon. + +"'And will there be women there?' she inquired. + +"I told her that it was a large village. 'There will be men and women +there, senora,' I said, 'whose hearts shall be made glad by the news +that all the unrest and war is over now.' + +"'Yes, it is all over now,' she repeated. Then, after a time: 'senor +officer, what will your Government do with me?' + +"'I do not know, senora,' I said. 'They will treat you well, no +doubt. We republicans are not savages, and take no vengeance on +women.' + +"She gave me a look at the word 'republicans' which I imagined full of +undying hate. But an hour or so afterwards, as we drew up to let the +baggage mules go first along a narrow path skirting a precipice, she +looked at me with such a white, troubled face that I felt a great pity +for her. + +"'Senor officer,' she said, 'I am weak, I tremble. It is an +insensate fear.' And indeed her lips did tremble, while she tried to +smile glancing at the beginning of the narrow path which was not so +dangerous after all. 'I am afraid I shall drop the child. Gaspar saved +your life, you remember. . . . Take her from me.' + +"I took the child out of her extended arms. 'Shut your eyes, senora, +and trust to your mule,' I recommended. + +"She did so, and with her pallor and her wasted thin face she looked +deathlike. At a turn of the path, where a great crag of purple +porphyry closes the view of the lowlands, I saw her open her eyes. I +rode just behind her holding the little girl with my right arm. 'The +child is all right,' I cried encouragingly. + +"'Yes,' she answered faintly; and then, to my intense terror, I saw +her stand up on the footrest, staring horribly, and throw herself +forward into the chasm on our right. + +"I cannot describe to you the sudden and abject fear that came over me +at that dreadful sight. It was a dread of the abyss, the dread of the +crags which seemed to nod upon me. My head swam. I pressed the child +to my side and sat my horse as still as a statue. I was speechless and +cold all over. Her mule staggered, sidling close to the rock, and then +went on. My horse only pricked up his ears with a slight snort. My +heart stood still, and from the depths of the precipice the stones +rattling in the bed of the furious stream made me almost insane with +their sound. + +"Next moment we were round the turn and on a broad and grassy slope. +And then I yelled. My men came running back to me in great alarm. It +seems that at first I did nothing but shout, 'She has given the child +into my hands! She has given the child into my hands!' The escort +thought I had gone mad." + +General Santierra ceased and got up from the table. "And that is all, +senores," he concluded, with a courteous glance at his rising guests. + +"But what became of the child, General?" we asked. + +"Ah, the child, the child." + +He walked to one of the windows opening on his beautiful garden, the +refuge of his old days. Its fame was great in the land. Keeping us +back with a raised arm, he called out, "Erminia, Erminia!" and waited. +Then his cautioning arm dropped, and we crowded to the windows. + +From a clump of trees a woman had come upon the broad walk bordered +with flowers. We could hear the rustle of her starched petticoats and +observed the ample spread of her old-fashioned black silk skirt. She +looked up, and seeing all these eyes staring at her, stopped, frowned, +smiled, shook her finger at the General, who was laughing +boisterously, and drawing the black lace on her head so as to partly +conceal her haughty profile, passed out of our sight, walking with +stiff dignity. + +"You have beheld the guardian angel of the old man--and her to whom +you owe all that is seemly and comfortable in my hospitality. Somehow, +senores, though the flame of love has been kindled early in my breast, +I have never married. And because of that perhaps the sparks of the +sacred fire are not yet extinct here." He struck his broad chest. +"Still alive, still alive," he said, with serio-comic emphasis. "But I +shall not marry now. She is General Santierra's adopted daughter and +heiress." + +One of our fellow-guests, a young naval officer, described her +afterwards as a "short, stout, old girl of forty or thereabouts." We +had all noticed that her hair was turning grey, and that she had very +fine black eyes. + +"And", General Santierra continued, "neither would she ever hear of +marrying any one. A real calamity! Good, patient, devoted to the old +man. A simple soul. But I would not advise any of you to ask for her +hand, for if she took yours into hers it would be only to crush your +bones. Ah! she does not jest on that subject. And she is the own +daughter of her father, the strong man who perished through his own +strength: the strength of his body, of his simplicity--of his love!" + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Gaspar Ruiz, by Joseph Conrad + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GASPAR RUIZ *** + +This file should be named 8ruiz10.txt or 8ruiz10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8ruiz11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8ruiz10a.txt + +Produced by John Orford + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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