The Insurgent Chief

uge in his apartments, a

is last asylum, he allowed himself to fall heavily on a butaca, threw his body backward, leaned his head forward, crossed his

y the saddest presentiments-all the events which

ong, and by no

Fate had taken a malicious pleasure in falling furiously upon him, and in making him the sport of the most disastrous combinations, spite of the effor

ringing into the dispute a poor painter, who has nothing to do with it, and who is travelling as an amateur in their country! They have, indeed, a singular manner of rendering hospitality, these pretty fellows! I compliment them sincerely upon it. And I, who was persuaded, on the faith of travellers, that America was, par excellence, the land of hospitality-the country of simple and patriarchal manners. Trust to narratives of travel-those who take such pleasure in leading the public into error, ought to be burnt alive! What is to be done? What is to become of me? I

ined the victory over the anxiety which agitated him, s

r, without stirring from his butaca,

t time he was as far advanced as before; t

fuses me its aid! It is always so. Well, I, who wanted sensation, cannot complain; it is to be

h his legs, mechanically rolled up a cigarette, a

e felt in his waistcoat pocket something which he di

t that's accounted for by my vexation! If this lasts only for eight days, I am convinced I shall

drawn from his pocket the little roll o

own to ourselves, on the organisation of us men, and how the most trivial thing whi

esolution to break the silk, which alone prevented him from satisfying his curiosity, al

ilk thread, and then unrolled the paper carefully. This paper, which-as the young man had conjectured -serv

a nervous trembling as he unfolded th

old ring, in which was set a

oung man, admiring the ring, and tryi

sis, he was very proud-this ring was so small, that it was only on the little

ll return it, come what may. But to do that I must know the individual, and I have no ot

ne, at the foot of which is a precipice, and who, perceiving that he has not the power successfully to resis

to be made in the image of his Maker) always a comedian, even to himself, when no one can see him, because even then he tries to impose upon his self-love-the artist wen

e hand, but nervous and agitated, which convince

. As he proceeded in his reading, he found his interest increase; and when he had reached the last word, he remained with his eyes fixed on the thin paper which was

original of which has for a long time remained in

not fail, I am convinced, if, as I have the presentiment, you are a true caballero. I demand that you read this lett

thank you for the proof of confidence

that is to say, the son of a country where gallantry and devotion to women reign supreme, and

nown to you, your friend, almost your sister on that far-off land; and as such,

you, I must first tell you, in a few words, not my history-that would cause you unreasonably to lose precious time-but who I am, and by what motives I am co

a division of the Brazilian army, which, they say,

thing of the events which had just previously occurred-I have been surprised, carried away, and declared a prisoner of

ss protracted, I would resign myself to submit to it

ghtful danger hangs not only over my own head, but

is thought very highly of by the members of his Government-we shall be brought before a tribunal assembled to judge us, and the v

m in their distress, has inspired me with the thought

it? I belie

nor the hatred of its inhabitants against Europeans-you ought to make common

the frank expression of your countenance, and even your youth, prepossessed me in your favour-I feared to trust my

r of the Black House, and knock. When the door is opened, say that you have heard that a pro

erhaps it would be better if you were to disguise yourself, to

nt women, who, if you refuse them your help, will

en ten and eleve

unfortunat

EONA DE CAS

ch was painted on the countenance of the young man, when he had finished the r

ly without seeing the characters which were written there, his body leaning forwa

d of chimeras, and who had thought himself the object of a sudden and irresistible passion, caused by his good looks and his Don Juan-like appearance-the servi

is is absurd! Here am I asked to be a protector-I, who so much want protection myself! Heaven is not just to permit,

egan to stride

bandon them thus, without trying to come to their aid; my honour is engaged in it; a Fren

lost in a deep reverie. At last, in ab

all have nothing to reproach myself with, for I shall have done even more th

vidently ma

or, and went dow

more or less properly accomplished, were resting themselves, re

stics in the midst of the twenty or five-and-tw

o come to him, and he immediate

his master, immediately r

twenty-four or twenty-five, With fine, bold, and intelligent features, a t

the gauchos of the Pa

ked up his hat, gathered his poncho round him, and had darted t

rather a taciturn disposition, like all his people, appe

, but, stopping on the threshold, he respectfully bowed, a

d the painter to him, in a friendly tone; "

ster?" asked

es

ission, master, I wil

that capr

me and put his ear to the door and hear all that we may say, so much the more easily as we, absorbed in our own conversation, should not be

leave the doors open, then. The precaution cannot

the Indian, with an emphatic gesture. "The spy is lik

atter with you. Let us come to the

stening,

rankly, the question whic

e maste

question, so as to answer, fully understanding it. Are you towards me only a good domestic, stric

to the old woman her cuarto, her garden, and her flock. As to me, you have treated me as a man, never commanding me with rudeness, and never obliging me to do shameful or dishonourable thing

"I half thought what you have just told me, but I was resolv

but what is

acquainted yet with the character of these primitive races-by no means

sation renders

rtist, who, unaccustomed to dissimulation, allowed hi

each Tyro," said he, with a

man, with a start of s

he mere

thing, I would not be sorry if you were to inform me how

y; let the m

related to him, without omitting the least detail, all th

satisfaction that this recital, so complete in other respects, had one omission-an important omission fo

rely arose from forgetfulness, he

te is correct, but you forget to sp

that. The master passes all his time in a reverie, looking up at the sky and gesticulating

then! I did not know I had friend

the expressive lips of the

the person who has

know him

ell me his

person spies you at the command of another, I watch him, master, for your sake; and what he has

painter, again provoked at the moment w

f the Callejón de las Cruces; bu

uch!" murmured

of the painter, "ought to know all, so that when the time comes that his ass

little valued had he known the true reason for it. Though he did not fully admit it to himself, the painter only acted under the pressure of necessity, and, feeling the uselessness of concealing the least thing from so far-seeing a servant, he preferred freely placing himself entirely in the India

and really devoted man, who with any other person woul

ns. He was thoroughly acquainted with all the Indian schemes. Nothing would have been easier for him than to ha

ot long in displaying all the artless honesty of his character, happy in meeting in a country, where everybody was hostile to him, a man w

erything. Our conversation has lasted too long already, master. Suspicions are awakened. I will go down as if I had been scolded by you. Follow me to the door of the room, speaking in a loud tone, and finding fault with me; then, in a little while, yo

Indian withdrew, his

been arranged betwee

up to his apartment, leaving all the attendants astounded at a scene which they never

e feigned the utmost indifference, to return every now and then, to assure himself that he was not followed

undred paces from the town, a man, concealed b

nised Tyro, the Guaraní servant dismissed by him th