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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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