The Insurgent Chief

ured in passing from mouth to mouth, constantly increasing, and finishing, in a very short time, by returning

, so as to transmit to the greatest distance, with the rapidity of lightning, that bad news that t

t perfectly silent on what had passed during their short expedition in search of the fugitives; and yet, by an inexplicable fatality, scarcely had the two generals, on leaving the Duc

ng on its route-and of which the ferocious squadron of the Pincheyras formed the advance guard. They had arrived by forced marches; and soon-the next day, perhaps-they would encamp before the town. What

fantastic Spanish army, which existed only in their imaginations-were certain that they had

ng from no one knew where, traversed

ms! To

the women and children wept and lamented-in a word, the panic had become in a few minutes so general, that the two officers, who, neverth

ere holding for them at the door of the duke's hou

and the Montonero entered it, was invaded by the crowd, and offered a spectacle of disorder and of fea

nd protestations of devotion that fear alone could

lishing a little order, and in making himself heard

had passed; they did not wish to believe him, and he did not succeed in

at the corners of all the streets, which were constantly traversed b

. Despairing to re-establish security by ordinary methods, he pretended to give way to the views of the persons who surrounded him

ice with the governor, instead of going up into the Cabi

eard, and Don Zeno reappeared at the head of his Montonero,

he inhabitants of San Miguel had full confiden

, mingled with the crowd, and began gently-talking with one and the other, at first pretending to enter into the

y recommenced by the soldiers, was soon felt in the crowd; the reaction soon m

eting for the common safety. General Moratin skilfully took advantage of the excitement of the population, by taking the most efficacious measures he could think of to resist an at

f the houses stones were carried to crush the assailants; dep?ts of arms and munitions wer

esolute Montoneros, had set out on a journey of di

the Cabildo, in the Hall of Assembl

numerous staff, had traversed the town in all directions, encouraging some, reprimanding others, and e

ss was somewhat re-established, although everyo

itre, had not returned. Don Eusebio did not know what to thin

eek for the Montoneros, had returned without

ant towards the ear of the governor, and

rned rather pale, but imme

dron of Don Zeno Cabral mount horse. We will go and make a reconnaissance out of the

y executed; the Montoner

ificent black horse, and dressed in a uniform

streets, saluted the partisans as t

ute a military promenade, than to be

tants, the general had a halt sounded, stationed the sentinels, and ordered the officers to come to him

, although no one had informed them, they vaguely suspected that this sudden

dismounted, they ranged themselves in a c

tion has passed; it is my duty frankly to explain to you the s

obey you as if you were really our chief, whatever may be

who accompanied him, surprised by a party of royal scouts. Everything leads to the belief that this party belongs to the formidable band of the Pincheyras. Don Zeno, after prodigies of valour, has been cons

ese words, uttered

ers, and feeling perfectly sure that their bold coup de main is still unknown to us, they have only withdrawn gently, and almost

icers, brandishing their

unawares, and then each will do his duty. Remember that the men that attack us are bandits, with neith

at the head of their respective platoons, and the squadron set out at a ga

was true, or, at least-somewhat misinformed by the fugitive-he thou

without discovering anything suspicious, and without noticing any trace of the passage of an armed troop, he wished, before reentering the town, to explore the borders of the river, which-escarped by reason of the numerous masses of rock which li

convinced that the enemy-if by chance he had ventured so near the town-had judged it prudent not to remain there any longer, gave the order to retreat; when all of

with reason to be much superior to themselves, the Montoneros were not the men to lay down their arms

collision, hand-to-hand-in the midst of which Don

companions th

e midst of the trees and rocks, and galloped hard to San

tely risen, and had reappeared at the head of his men, who, discouraged for a ti

osen-for the Montoneros to have the hope-not of conquering them, they had no

the ground on which it was necessary to fight, and where

d him, boldly charged the enemy several times without succeeding in breaking through them; the position

ntend: their red ponchos-a uniform adopted by the Pincheyras-

at that the two troops had be

ing the small number of the patriots,

held in check by so feeble a detachment, redo

the charge by their intrepid chief, they rushed with fur

rturning the human barrier raised b

rice of what

number of about fifteen at the most, were, for the most part, wounded and w

deceive themselves as to their fate, but, knowing that they had no quarter to expect from their ferocious enemies, they pre

y ameliorated, by reason that they now had space around them, and

es, had been obliged to dismount, and t

Pincheyras precipitated themselves immediately towards the s

no Cabral and his companions profited, to increase t

mbat, had performed prodigies of valour, and had furiously pressed Don Zeno Cabral himself, whom he had at the commencement of the action overthrown from h

aking him, emerging successively from the m

n-rapid, disordered,

emselves over their horses, hanging on one side by the stirrup, and holding the bridle with one hand, to

practised horsemen, presented a most stir

m rapidly. A few minutes more and they would arrive within reach of those whom they pursued, when, on a sudden, the earth

o Moratin, followed by the whole squadron of Don

s, closely pressed by the Montoneros, who, on recognising their chief, had redoubled their ardour. Don Zeno, burning to draw a brilliant vengeance from what he considered an affront, affectio

s, and the horsemen, hurled from their saddles, r

e squadron, the Pincheyras, despite a desperate resi

the lagos, wounded by the lances, or their skulls brok

ed, by what miracle it

chief of th

penetrated into a thick cluster of mastic trees, and trees of

ad killed one of those who most closely pressed him, and then, with a laugh of disdai

hey searched the ground foot by foot, inch by inch; separated the branches in the wood, and struck the ground with their lances; they could not succeed in discovering

im much not to be able to bring that man to San Miguel-so much the more as one of the pri

established for the general not to be vexe

prisoners were tied to the tails of the horses, a

ith emotion, "you have saved my life-more than that, you have saved my h

smile answering to the warm grasp of the hand; "I acc

and for everythi

by the joyful cries of the inhabitants, at the sight of the

s through the streets of the