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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:56:02 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:56:02 -0700 |
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diff --git a/19503-tei/19503-tei.tei b/19503-tei/19503-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0a59bf --- /dev/null +++ b/19503-tei/19503-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,11814 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> + +<!-- +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Historical Tales - The Romance of Reality - Volume III +by Charles Morris + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + +Title: Historical Tales - The Romance of Reality - Volume III + +Author: Charles Morris + +Release Date: October 9, 2006 [Ebook #19503] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 +--> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd"> + +<TEI.2 lang="en"> +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>Historical Tales - The Romance of Reality - Volume III</title> + <author>Charles Morris</author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1">Edition 1</edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date value="2006-10-09">October 9, 2006</date> + <idno type="etext-no">19503</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and + with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + <classDecl> + <taxonomy id="lc"> + <bibl> + <title>Library of Congress Classification</title> + </bibl> + </taxonomy> + </classDecl> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en"></language> + </langUsage> + <textClass> + </textClass> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2006-10-09">October 9, 2006</date> + <respStmt> + <name>Joshua Hutchinson and<lb /></name> + <name>The Online Distributed Proofreading Team<lb /></name> + </respStmt> + <item>Posted to Project Gutenberg</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + figure { text-align: center; page-float: 'htbp' } + .floatleft { float: left; margin-right: 2em } + .floatright { float: right; margin-left: 2em } + .w90 { } + .w50 { } + .w20 { } + .w05 { } + @media pdf { + .w90 { width: 90% } + .w50 { width: 50% } + .w20 { width: 20% } + .w05 { width: 5% } + } + </pgStyleSheet> +</pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> + <front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader" /> + </div> + + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="titlepage" /> + </div> + + <div> + <p rend="text-align: center">Philadelphia and London<lb /> + J. B. Lippincott Company</p> + </div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<p>Copyright, 1904, by <hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">J. B. Lippincott Company</hi>.<lb /> +Copyright, 1908, by <hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">J. B. Lippincott Company</hi>.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<figure url="images/image01.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>DEPARTURE OF COLUMBUS.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: DEPARTURE OF COLUMBUS.</figDesc> +</figure> +<p></p> +</div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <head>Illustrations</head> + <divGen type="fig" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <head>Contents</head> + <divGen type="toc" /> + </div> +</front> + +<body> +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<pb n="007" /><anchor id="Pg007" /> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>THE ISLES OF BEAUTY BEYOND THE SEAS.</head> + +<p>The 12th of October, 1492, ranks very high +among the important dates in the history of the +world. For on that day men from Europe, then +the centre of civilization, first gazed on a rich new +land beyond the seas, a great virgin continent, destined +to become the seat of flourishing civilizations +and to play a leading part in the later history of +the world. Little did Columbus and his companions, +when they saw before them on that +famous morning a beautiful island, rising like a +pearl of promise from the sparkling tropical sea, +dream of what time held in store for that new-found +land, foreordained to become the "New +World" of the nations, the hope of the oppressed, +and the pioneer dwelling-place of liberty and +equality.</p> + +<p>But we are here concerned with only what they +saw, and this was a green and populous island, so +covered with fresh verdure that it seemed to their +eyes like a continual orchard. An orchard it was, +for many of the trees were laden with new and +strange fruits, of rare color and attractive form. +Never had they breathed air more pure and +fresh, and never had they beheld seas of such +crystal clearness or verdure of more emerald hue;<pb n="008" /><anchor id="Pg008" /> +and it is not surprising that their eyes sparkled +with joy and their souls were filled with wonder +and delight as they gazed on this entrancing scene +after their long and dreaded journey over a vast +and unknown ocean.</p> + +<p>Not less strange to the new-comers were the +people who flocked in numbers from the woods and +ran to the shore, where they stood gazing in simple +wonder on the ships, winged marvels which had +never met their eyes before. No clothing hid their +dusky, copper-colored skins, of a hue unknown to +their visitors, and they looked like the unclad +tenants of some new paradise. Their astonishment +turned into fright when they saw boats leave these +strange monsters of the deep, in them men clad +in shining steel or raiment of varied color. Their +white faces, their curling beards, their splendid +clothing, as it appeared to these simple denizens of +the forest, and especially the air of dignity of their +leader, with his ample cloak of scarlet, added to +their amazement, and they viewed the strangers as +divine visitors, come to them from the skies.</p> + +<p>Not less was their surprise when they saw the +wonderful strangers kneel and kiss the soil, and +then uplift a great and gleaming banner, of rich +colors and designs that seemed magical to their +untaught eyes. And deep was their delight when +these strange beings distributed among them wonderful +gifts,—glass beads, hawk's bells, and other +trifles,—which seemed precious gems to their untutored +souls. They had nothing to offer in return,<pb n="009" /><anchor id="Pg009" /> +except tame parrots, of which they had many, and +balls of cotton-yarn; but the eyes of the Spaniards +sparkled with hope when they saw small ornaments +of gold, which some of them wore. Happy had it +been for all the natives of the New World if this +yellow metal had not existed among them, for it +was to bring them untold suffering and despair.</p> + +<p>Such was the island of San Salvador, as Columbus +named this first-seen land; but, leaving it, let +us go with him in his voyage through that island-sprinkled +sea, and use his eyes in taking in the +marvels with which it was sown. Familiar as +these islands have become to many of us, to him +they were all new, beautiful, and strange, a string +of tropic pearls or rare emeralds spread out along +those shining waters of the South.</p> + +<p>On leaving San Salvador, the Spaniards, their +hearts elate with joy and pride in their discovery, +hardly knew whither to go. They seemed drawn +to the right and the left alike. They found themselves +in an archipelago of beautiful islands, green +and level, rising on all sides and seemingly numberless. +To us they are the great green cluster of the +Bahamas, but to Columbus, who fancied that he +had reached the shores of Asia, they were that +wonderful archipelago spoken of by Marco Polo, in +which were seven thousand four hundred and fifty-eight +islands, abounding with spices and rich in +odoriferous trees and shrubs.</p> + +<p>On went the Spanish caravels, sailing over bright +and placid waters scarce ruffled by the gentle<pb n="010" /><anchor id="Pg010" /> +breeze, and touching at isle after isle, each of +which seemed to the voyagers more beautiful than +the last. Besting under the shade of warm and +verdant groves, while his men sought to fill their +water-casks from the purest and coolest springs, the +admiral found the scene around him entrancing to +his vision, "the country as fresh and green as the +month of May in Andalusia; the trees, the fruits, +the herbs, the flowers, the very stones, for the most +part, as different from those of Spain as night from +day."</p> + +<figure url="images/image02.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>A TROPICAL RIVER SCENE.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: A TROPICAL RIVER SCENE.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>One isle, which he honored with the name of +Isabella, after his patron, the Spanish queen, surpassed +in charm all he had yet seen. Like them +all, it was covered with rich vegetation, its climate +delightful, its air soft and balmy, its scenery so +lovely that it seemed to him "as if one would +never desire to depart. I know not where first to +go, nor are my eyes ever weary of gazing on the +beautiful verdure."</p> + +<p>Fresh water was abundant, and he ordered all +the casks of the ships to be filled. He could not +say enough in praise of what he saw. "Here +are large lakes, and the groves about them are +marvellous, and in all the island everything is +green, and the herbage as in April in Andalusia. +The singing of the birds is such that it seems as if +one would never wish to leave this land. There are +flocks of parrots which hide the sun, and other +birds, large and small, of so many kinds, and so +different from ours, that it is wonderful; and<pb n="011" /><anchor id="Pg011" /> +besides, there are trees of a thousand species, each +having its particular fruit, and all of marvellous +flavor, so that I am in the greatest trouble in the +world not to know them, for I am very certain that +they are each of great value."</p> + +<p>As he approached this island, he fancied that the +winds bore to his senses the spicy odors said to be +wafted from the islands of the East Indian seas. +"As I arrived at this cape," he said, "there came +off a fragrance so good and soft of the flowers or +trees of the land that it was the sweetest thing in +the world."</p> + +<p>Not only were the islands the homes of birds of +brilliant plumage and flowers of gorgeous hue, but +the very seas seemed to their new visitors like +tropical gardens, for the fish with which they +abounded rivalled the birds and flowers in brilliancy +of color. The scales of some of them glittered +like precious stones, and gleams of gold and +silver seemed to come from them as they swam +around the ships, while the dolphins taken from +the water changed color like the chameleon.</p> + +<p>The natives who had been taken on board the +ships made signs which seemed to indicate that +more wonderful islands were yet to be seen, with +cities and kings and queens, and abundance of gold +and gems; or, at least, the Spaniards understood +this from their signs, as they pointed to the south +when gold was shown them and they were asked +where it could be found. Far to the south was a +great island which they named Cuba, and another<pb n="012" /><anchor id="Pg012" /> +which they called Bohio. Cuba, as their signs +appeared to show, was of vast extent and abounded +with gold, pearls, and spices, and Columbus determined +to sail for it, hoping there to find the wealth +which he and his companions so ardently craved. +It cannot be said that the natives wished to deceive +them, but no doubt they willingly agreed to all +they were asked, with the innocent desire of +pleasing their wonderful new friends. Columbus, +full of the idea that he was near the shores of India, +hoped to reach the city of Quinsai, which Marco +Polo had said was one of the most magnificent in +the world, and there deliver the letter of his sovereigns +to the Grand Khan of the Indies and bring +back his reply to Spain. Inspired by this enticing +hope, he left the Bahamas and turned the prows of +his small fleet towards the isle of Cuba.</p> + +<p>It was on the morning of October 28 that the +shores of this noble island first met the eyes of the +eager mariners. As the small fleet swept along its +coast the admiral was struck with its size and +grandeur; its high and airy mountains, like those +of Sicily; its long and sweeping plains, and the +fertile valleys of its broad rivers; its far-reaching +forests and many green headlands, which led them +on and on into the remote distance. They anchored +at length in a beautiful river, whose waters were +transparent and deeply shaded with overhanging +trees. Here Columbus had himself rowed up the +stream, which seemed to grow more enchanting +with every mile, forests of lofty and spreading<pb n="013" /><anchor id="Pg013" /> +trees crowding down to its banks, some in fruit, +some in flower, some bearing fruits and flowers at +once. These woods swarmed with birds of brilliant +plumage,—the scarlet flamingo, the rich-hued parrots +and woodpeckers, the tiny and sparkling humming-birds, +which flitted on rainbow wings from +flower to flower, and which no European had ever +before seen. Even the insects were beautiful, +in their shining coats of mail. Though most of +the birds were silent, the charms of song were not +wanting, and the excited fancy of Columbus detected +among them notes like those of the nightingale. +Ever open to the charms of nature, Cuba +seemed to him an elysium, "the most beautiful +island that eyes ever beheld."</p> + +<p>He was sure there must here be mines of gold, +groves of spices, rivers and seas that bore pearls. +The houses, though simple in structure, were +well built and clean, roofed with palm-leaves and +shaded by spreading trees. Led on still by his excited +fancy, he hoped soon to find great cities and +rich settlements, but none such greeted his gaze. +Assured that the capital of the Grand Khan could +not be far away, he sent two ambassadors, with +presents, to the interior, in a direction pointed out +by the people. But after going many miles they +found only a village of fifty houses, like those seen +on the coast. There was no gold or silver, no +spices, none of the things they so ardently sought. +The only thing new to their eyes was a fashion seen +among the people, who rolled up certain dried and<pb n="014" /><anchor id="Pg014" /> +aromatic leaves, and, lighting one end, put the +other in their mouths, and exhaled the smoke. +This was the first ever seen by white men of that +remarkable American plant, called by the natives +by a name like tobacco, which has since grown to +be a favorite throughout the world, in palace and +hovel alike.</p> + +<p>Sailing onward along the Cuban coast, the imagination +of Columbus was continually aroused by the +magnificence, freshness, and verdant charm of the +scenery, which he could not praise too highly. A +warm love of nature is frequently displayed in the +description of the country which he wrote out for +Ferdinand and Isabella, of Spain. Of one place, +named by him Puerto Santo, he said: "The +amenity of this river, and the clearness of the +water, through which the sand at the bottom may +be seen; the multitude of palm-trees of various +forms, the highest and most beautiful that I have +met with, and an infinity of other great and green +trees; the birds in rich plumage, and the verdure +of the fields, render this country, most Serene +Princess, of such marvellous beauty, that it surpasses +all others in graces and charm, as the day +doth the night in lustre. For which reason I often +say to my people, that, much as I endeavor to +give a complete account of it to your Majesties, +my tongue cannot express the whole truth or my +tongue describe it; and I have been so overwhelmed +at the sight of so much beauty that I +have not known how to relate it."</p> + +<pb n="015" /><anchor id="Pg015" /> + +<p>One more island he was yet to see in this marvellous +series of discoveries,—the one called by the +natives Bohio or Babeque, now known as Hayti, +one of the most beautiful islands in the world in +the splendor of its tropical vegetation. Columbus +and his men could describe it only by comparison +with the most beautiful provinces of the country +from which they came, and in consequence he +named the island Hispaniola, or "Little Spain."</p> + +<p>Here he found the people as innocent and simple +in their habits as those of San Salvador, living in +huts built of the palm-branches, wearing no clothing, +for the air was always warm and balmy, and passing +life in a holiday of indolence and enjoyment. To +the Spaniards their life seemed like a pleasant +dream, their country a veritable Lotus land, where +it was "always afternoon." They had no wants +nor cares, and spent life in easy idleness and innocent +sports. They had their fields, but the food +plants grew bountifully with little labor. The +rivers and sea yielded abundance of fish, and +luscious tropical fruits grew profusely in their +forests. Thus favored by nature, they spent much +of the day in repose, while in the evenings they +danced gayly in their fragrant groves with songs or +the rude music of their drums. After the coming +of the Spaniards the clear tinkle of the hawk's +bells as they danced gave them the deepest delight, +and for those musical toys they were ready to +barter everything they possessed.</p> + +<p>In Hispaniola gold seemed more plentiful than<pb n="016" /><anchor id="Pg016" /> +the Spaniards had yet seen, but they were still +lured on to distant places, with the illusive hope +that this precious metal might there be found in +quantities. Yet Columbus felt forced to cease, for +a time, the quest of the precious metal, and sail for +home with the story of the new world he had +found. One of his vessels had deserted him; another +had been wrecked: if he should lose the third +he would be left without means of return and his +great discovery might remain unknown.</p> + +<p>Moved by this fear, on the 4th of January, 1493, +he spread the sails of the one caravel left to him, and +turned its prow towards Europe, to carry thither +the news of the greatest maritime discovery the +world had ever known. Thus ended in success and +triumph the first voyage of Columbus to the "New +World."</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<pb n="017" /><anchor id="Pg017" /> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>ALONSO DE OJEDA AND THE CARIB CACIQUE.</head> + +<p>Of the three ships with which Columbus made +his first voyage, the "Pinta" deserted the others and +went off on a voyage of discovery of its own, and +the "Santa Maria," the flag-ship of the admiral, ran +ashore on the coast of Hispaniola and proved a +hopeless wreck. Only the little "Niña" (the "girl," +as this word means in English) was left to carry the +discoverer home. The "Santa Maria" was carefully +taken to pieces, and from her timbers was constructed +a small but strong fort, with a deep vault +beneath and a ditch surrounding. Friendly Indians +aided in this, and not a shred of the stranded vessel +was left to the waves. As the "Niña" was too small +to carry all his crew back to Spain, Columbus decided +to leave a garrison to hold this fort and search for +gold until he should return. That the island held +plenty of gold he felt sure. So Captain Ardua was +left, with a garrison of forty men, and the "Niña" +spread her sails to the winds to carry to Spain the +wonderful news of the great discovery.</p> + +<p>La Navidad, or The Nativity, he named the fort, +in remembrance of the day of the wreck, and when +he came back in 1493 he hopefully expected to find +its garrison awaiting him, with a rich treasure in +the precious yellow metal. He reached the spot to<pb n="018" /><anchor id="Pg018" /> +find the fort a ruin and the garrison a remembrance +only. They had been attacked by the Indians and +massacred during the absence of the admiral.</p> + +<p>In fact, the mild, gentle, and friendly Indians +whom Columbus had met with on his first voyage +were not the only people of the islands. There +were on some of the West Indies a warlike race +called Caribs,—cannibals, the Spaniards said they +were,—who gave the invaders no small trouble +before they were overcome.</p> + +<p>It was a band of these fierce Caribs that had +attacked La Navidad and destroyed the fort and its +garrison, impelled to this, likely enough, by some +of the ruthless acts which the Spaniards were much +too ready to commit. The leader of these warriors +was a bold cacique named Caonabo, chief of a +warlike mountain tribe. It is with this chieftain +that we are at present concerned, as he was the +hero, or victim rather, of the first romantic story +known to us in Indian life.</p> + +<p>In addition to the forts built by the Spaniards on +the coast of Hispaniola, there was one built far in +the interior, called Fort Santo Tomas. This stood +in the mountainous region of Cibao, the reputed +land of gold of the island. Its site lay within the +territory of Caonabo, who ruled over a great district, +his capital town or village being on the +southern slope of the Cibao Mountains.</p> + +<p>The first conflict between the Spaniards and the +natives, after the massacre of the garrison of La +Navidad, was in the district of the Vega, where a<pb n="019" /><anchor id="Pg019" /> +fierce fight took place in the spring of 1495, the +natives suffering a severe defeat. The next was at +Fort Santo Tomas, which was commanded by +Alonso de Ojeda, a young man who had come +out with Columbus in his second voyage. He was +a man of great courage and unusual daring, one +of the chief among those dauntless spirits who had +to do with the conquest of the New World.</p> + +<p>A man of his spirit was needed to command this +isolated fort in the mountains, for the cacique, +Caonabo, was not pleased with this invasion of his +territory, and soon marched upon the fort with a +strong force of his warlike race. Santo Tomas was +closely invested and fiercely attacked, Ojeda being +reduced to such an extremity that he owed his +escape only to a rescuing force sent by Columbus +from Fort Isabella, on the coast. Driven off by the +superior arms of his foes, Caonabo withdrew sullenly +to his stronghold in the mountains. But he +was quickly back again, with a larger force than +before. He had never met his equal among the +Indians, but the fire-spouting tubes of the Spaniards +proved too much even for his courage, and he was +a second time forced to withdraw.</p> + +<p>It was evident, however, that Ojeda was perilously +situated, surrounded as he was by warlike +enemies, led by so bold and persistent a chief. In +the face of this peril he adopted an expedient as +daring as any of those shown by Cortez, Pizarro, +or any other of the Spanish caballeros of that age +of conquest, and one whose ingenuity equalled its<pb n="020" /><anchor id="Pg020" /> +daring. It is this striking adventure which it is +our purpose to describe.</p> + +<p>Choosing from his men a few of the bravest and +most trusty, Ojeda set out on horseback over the +mountains, following paths never before traversed +by the Spaniards, until they came to the Carib +town of Maguana, where he found Caonabo surrounded +by a throng of armed warriors. The +Spaniards had bearded the lion in his den, and +were in a position of extreme peril should the +cacique prove hostile. But Ojeda was a past-master +in craftiness, and by professions of friendship +and other arts of duplicity he persuaded the chief +to accompany him alone into the edge of the forest.</p> + +<p>He now took from his pocket a pair of handcuffs, +bright and shining manacles of which the untutored +Indian had no conception of the use, but whose +brightness attracted him. Ojeda told him they +were bracelets, which the King of Spain had graciously +sent him as a present, in recognition of his +fame as a warrior of skill and courage. The poor +Indian probably understood all this very imperfectly, +but he was easily brought to view the manacles +as <hi rend="font-style: italic">Turey</hi> or a gift from Heaven, and willingly +held out his wrists that his guest might adorn them +with those strange and splendid bracelets.</p> + +<p>In a moment his hands were secured, and before +he could recover from his surprise Ojeda, whose +small frame concealed much strength, reached from +his saddle, seized the astonished chief, and by a +great exertion of muscular force lifted him from<pb n="021" /><anchor id="Pg021" /> +the ground and swung him up on the horse. The +warriors, who beheld this act with sudden suspicion, +had no time to use their weapons before the +Spaniards had put spur to their horses and dashed +off into the forest. Two of them rode on each side +of Ojeda, to prevent the captive throwing himself +from the horse. Threatened by their swords and +with his hands clasped in those fatal bracelets, +Caonabo was forced to submit, and was carried by +his captors for many miles through the heart of his +own country to Fort Isabella, a stronghold which +Columbus had built at a site on the sea-coast, fronting +a bay in which all his vessels could ride in +safety. Here the bold Ojeda, as the culmination +of his daring enterprise, delivered his captive to +Columbus, and he was locked up in a secure cell.</p> + +<p>As the story goes, the brave cacique had a +greater admiration for courage than anything else +in the world, and instead of hating Ojeda for the +crafty way in which he had been captured, he +seemed to hold him in high esteem as the bravest +of the Spaniards. Whenever Ojeda appeared in his +cell he would rise and courteously salute him, +while he treated the visits of Columbus with +haughty disregard. So far as the captive cacique +could make himself understood, the high rank of +Columbus was nought to him. He had no proof +that he was a man of courage, while the manner in +which Ojeda had captured him showed him to be +a brave man. To the bold Carib courage was the +first of virtues and the only one worthy of respect.</p> + +<pb n="022" /><anchor id="Pg022" /> + +<p>The poor Indian suffered the fate of most of his +countrymen who had to do with the Spanish invaders. +Put on board ship and sent as a prize of +valor to Spain, the unfortunate chief died on the +voyage, perhaps from a broken heart, or as a result +of the change from his free forest life to the narrow +confines of a fifteenth-century ship.</p> + +<p>The life of Ojeda after that date was one full of +adventure, in which he distinguished himself as +much by rashness as by valor. In 1499 he was put +in command of an exploring expedition and sent +out from Spain, one of his companions being Amerigo +Vespucci, he whose first name gained the immemorial +honor of being given to the great western +continent. In this voyage Ojeda discovered +part of the continent of South America, which he +called Venezuela, or Little Venice, a name suggested +by an Indian village built on piles in the +water. Eight years later Ojeda sought to plant a +colony in New Andalusia, but the natives there +proved too bold and hostile for him, and he failed +to subject them to his authority.</p> + +<p>Many were his adventures, all of them characterized +by a rash daring like that he had shown in +the capture of Caonabo. When at length he died, +he was buried, in response to his own request, in the +doorway of the Franciscan monastery in the city of +Santo Domingo, so that all who entered that place +of worship should walk over his grave.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<pb n="023" /><anchor id="Pg023" /> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>THE EARLY DAYS OF A FAMOUS CAVALIER.</head> + +<p>The island elysium which Columbus had discovered, +and of which he wrote and conversed in the +most glowing terms, seemed like a fairy-land of +promise to the people of Spain, and hundreds of +adventurers soon crossed the seas, hopeful of winning +gold and ready for deeds of peril and daring +in that wonderful unknown land. Some of them +were men of wealth, who were eager to add to +their riches, but the most of them had little beyond +their love of adventure and their thirst for gold to +carry them across the seas, needy but bold soldiers +and cavaliers who were ready for any enterprise, +however perilous, that might promise them reward. +The stories of many of these men are full of romantic +interest, and this is especially the case with one +of them, the renowned Hernando Cortez.</p> + +<p>We propose here to deal with the interesting +early history of this most famous of the New +World conquerors. The son of a Spanish captain, +of good family, his buoyant spirit and frolicsome +humor led him into many wild escapades while +still a boy. The mystery and romance of the +strange land beyond the sea and the chance to +win gold and glory which it offered were fascinating<pb n="024" /><anchor id="Pg024" /> +to a spirit like his, and he was prevented +from taking part in an expedition when but seventeen +years of age only by an unlucky accident. +As he was scaling a wall one night, in an adventure +like that of Romeo and Juliet, the stones gave way +and he was thrown violently to the ground and +buried under the ruins. Before he got out of bed +from his hurts the fleet had sailed.</p> + +<p>Two years longer the ambitious boy remained at +home, engaged, perhaps, in similar pranks, but at +length another chance offered, and in 1504 he set +sail for the land of promise, still a youth of only +nineteen years of age. He did not get across the +sea without adventure. Quintero, the captain of +his ship, bound for Hispaniola and a market, stole +away from the rest of the squadron, hoping to +reach port and sell his cargo before the others +arrived. But fierce gales came to punish him; for +many days the vessel was tossed about, the sailors +not knowing where they were, and furious at the +treachery of their captain. At length, one morning, +hope returned to them, in the form of a white +dove that lighted on the foremast-top. When the +bird had rested it took to flight again, and by following +its course the weary mariners finally came +to the port they sought. But the captain was paid +for his treachery by finding that the other vessels +had arrived before him and sold their cargoes.</p> + +<p>The young adventurer was full of ambitious hope. +When the governor's secretary told him that no +doubt he would be given a good estate to settle on,<pb n="025" /><anchor id="Pg025" /> +he replied, "But I came to get gold; not to till the +soil, like a peasant."</p> + +<p>As no gold offered, however, he was glad enough +to accept the land, but his fondness for active deeds +clung to him, and he took part in the military expeditions +sent out to fight with the rebel natives. He +had his quarrels, too, and his duels about the love +of fair ladies, and received wounds whose scars he +carried to the grave. A nobler opening for his +valor came in 1511, when an expedition set out for +the conquest of Cuba. Cortez enlisted under the +leader, Diego Velasquez, whose favor he won by +his courage and activity, his cordial and lively disposition, +and the good humor and ready wit which +made him a favorite with all he met.</p> + +<p>After the island had been conquered, Velasquez +was made its governor, Cortez still being his close +friend. But for some reason this friendship did not +last, and when at length a party of discontented +men formed a plan to complain of the acts of the +governor to the higher authorities in Hispaniola, +Cortez took part in the conspiracy, and was chosen, +from his fearless spirit, to act as their envoy, it +being necessary to perform the perilous exploit of +crossing an arm of the sea over fifty miles wide in +an open boat.</p> + +<p>In some way the plot got wind, and, before he +could leave the island, Cortez was arrested by order +of the governor and thrown into prison, his limbs +being loaded with fetters. Velasquez even intended +to hang him, as we are told, but was persuaded by<pb n="026" /><anchor id="Pg026" /> +his friends not to go so far. These Spanish governors +had the power to do almost anything they pleased, +their distance from home enabling them to act the +despot at will, and their influence at court saving +them from evil consequences.</p> + +<figure url="images/image03.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>CATHEDRAL OF SAN DOMINGO.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: CATHEDRAL OF SAN DOMINGO.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Cortez did not stay long in his prison cell. In +some way he managed to open one of the bolts of his +fetters and soon had his limbs free. Then, turning +his irons into tools, he used them to force open the +window of his cell. As he was on the second floor +of the building, it was easy for one so agile as he +to reach the ground without injury, and he made +his way to a church near by, where he claimed the +right of sanctuary.</p> + +<p>When Velasquez heard of the escape of his prisoner +he was furious. He did not dare attempt to +take him from the church by force, since the sacred +walls protected all who sought their asylum. But +a guard was stationed close by, with orders to seize +the fugitive if he should leave the sanctuary. With +one so careless as Cortez this was sure to be done. +A few days later, as he stood heedlessly sunning +himself outside the walls of the building, one of +the guards rushed on him from behind, seized his +arms, and held him till his comrades came to his +aid. This man was one of those who afterwards +took part in the conquest of Mexico, during which +he was hung for some offence by Cortez, who perhaps +took this opportunity for revenge.</p> + +<p>Once more the reckless young adventurer found +himself a fettered captive, this time being put on<pb n="027" /><anchor id="Pg027" /> +board a vessel that was to sail the next morning for +Hispaniola, where Velasquez designed he should be +tried for his offence. But he proved a very hard +prisoner to hold. That night, with much pain +and difficulty, he managed to pull his feet out of +the irons that held them, and then stole cautiously +to the deck, where he found a boat floating by +the vessel's side. Slipping down into this, under +cover of the darkness, he cut loose and paddled +silently away.</p> + +<p>When near the shore he met with a rapid current +and rough waters, to which he was afraid to trust +the boat. Being an expert swimmer, he thought +it safest to breast the water himself, and boldly +plunged overboard. He found his task a hard, +almost a fatal one; the current threatened to +sweep him away, but after a long struggle with +the waves he succeeded in reaching the shore, in +a state of almost complete exhaustion. He now +sought the church again, no doubt resolving this +time to keep safely within its sacred shelter.</p> + +<p>The story goes on to state that the governor, +worked upon by friends of the culprit, offered him +forgiveness, which the incensed young cavalier was +too proud to accept. What followed is amusing. +Velasquez was at a distance from the capital, on +a military excursion, when one evening he was +startled in his tent by the appearance of his +enemy, completely armed and threatening in aspect. +In dismay, the governor asked him what +he wanted. Cortez replied, angrily, that he was<pb n="028" /><anchor id="Pg028" /> +tired of being treated like a felon, and that he +must have an explanation or he would know the +reason why. Velasquez answered as angrily, and +a hot altercation followed. But at length their +talk became more friendly, and in the end their +old amicable relations were resumed and they embraced +like a pair of lovers. The amusing part +of the story is this: When a messenger arrived to +tell the governor that Cortez had left the sanctuary +and disappeared, he found the governor and +the culprit both fast asleep in the same bed.</p> + +<p>This story seems doubtful, but at any rate they +became friends again, and Cortez was given a large +estate in Cuba, which he stocked with cattle, and +on which he found gold-mines, which were worked +by Indian labor. He married a beautiful Spanish +girl, and, fast growing rich, spent several years in +happy content.</p> + +<p>This, with some, would have been the end of a +career. It was only the beginning of that of +Cortez, before whom still lay a wonderful history +and a record of undying fame. All we can tell +here is how this came about. It began in expeditions +of discovery. Cordova, a Cuban settler, +seeking Indians for slaves in the Bahamas, was +blown far westward by a storm, and reached an +unknown shore, where the natives lived in stone +buildings, cultivated the soil, and wore delicate +cotton garments and ornaments of gold. In other +ways they showed evidence of civilization. The +land thus reached is that now known as Yucatan.</p> + +<pb n="029" /><anchor id="Pg029" /> + +<p>Velasquez, on seeing the gold which Cordova +brought back, sent out a small fleet under his +nephew, Juan de Grijalva, to visit and explore this +new land. Grijalva found evidence that a great +civilized nation dwelt inland, rich in gold and far +superior in civilization to any Indians whom the +Spaniards had yet met. He named the country +New Spain, and sailed back to Cuba with an account +of his important discoveries.</p> + +<p>The news filled Velasquez with hope and joy. +Here seemed to be the land of gold which the +Spaniards had so long sought. Here he might win +vast wealth and the glory of adding a new and +splendid province to Spain. He at once began to +fit out a much larger expedition, and looked around +for a man fit to command it. Several of the hidalgos, +or gentlemen of Cuba, offered themselves, but +none pleased the governor, and at length he settled +upon Cortez as the best man for his purpose. By +chance, rather than by intention, he had made a +splendid choice. Cortez was the one man in the +New World, and perhaps the one man at that time +in all Spain, fitted by nature for the difficult task +which lay before him. Wild and frivolous as he +had shown himself in youth, all he needed was a +great occasion to prove himself a great man. He +was to develop into one of the ablest military leaders +in all history, a man who, on a small scale, was +to display a genius and achieve a success worthy +of Cæsar or Alexander or any of the famous soldiers +of the world.</p> + +<pb n="030" /><anchor id="Pg030" /> + +<p>But, from another point of view, Velasquez had +made a bad choice. Cortez had disdained his fetters +and his prisons, and would soon disdain his control. +His hope to win gain and glory by the aid of this +young adventurer was likely to prove a mere Will-o'-the-wisp.</p> + +<figure url="images/image04.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>LANDING-PLACE OF CORTEZ, VERA CRUZ.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: LANDING-PLACE OF CORTEZ, VERA CRUZ.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>The very appointment seemed to change the +whole character of the new admiral. He became +a different man. His high spirits now changed to +a tireless energy. He spent his money freely in +fitting out the fleet, and even mortgaged his estate +to raise more, and borrowed all he could. He +worked incessantly, and inspired his companions +and followers to active and enthusiastic toil. He +was so popular in the island that several hundred +recruits soon flocked to his banner, and six ships, +some of them of large size, were rapidly got ready +and stocked with provisions and military stores.</p> + +<p>Yet at the last moment it seemed as if all the +labor and cost of Cortez would go for naught. +Velasquez grew suspicious of him, and decided to +rob him of his command and trust the fleet to +safer hands. But he was not dealing with a man +who could be played with in this fast and loose +fashion. The secret was whispered to Cortez, and +he decided to sail at once, though he was still short +of men, of vessels, and of supplies. That night he +took on board all the meat in the town, weighed +anchor, and got ready to set sail.</p> + +<p>At day-dawn the news came to Velasquez that +the fleet was about to depart. In a panic he sprang<pb n="031" /><anchor id="Pg031" /> +from his bed, threw on his clothes, mounted his +horse, and rode in all haste to the beach. Cortez +entered a boat and rowed near enough to the shore +to speak with him.</p> + +<p>"And is this the way you leave me?" cried the +angry governor; "a courteous leave-taking, truly."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," said Cortez; "time presses, and +there are some things that should be done before +they are even thought of. Has your excellency +any commands?"</p> + +<p>His excellency would have commanded him to +come on shore, if it had been of any use. As it +was he had little to say, and with a polite wave of +the hand Cortez returned to his ships. Soon only +their vanishing hulls were to be seen.</p> + +<p>The fleet stopped for supplies at Macaca and at +Trinidad. At the last place many men, and several +cavaliers who were to prove his ablest officers, +joined him. While there, letters came from Velasquez +to the governor of Trinidad, ordering him ta +arrest Cortez, and hold the fleet for a new admiral +who was to command it. The governor looked at +Cortez and his men and concluded that he had +better let them alone. They were too strong for +him to deal with.</p> + +<p>So once more the bold adventurers escaped from +Velasquez and his schemes and sailed in triumph +away, this time for Havana. Here, also, the governor +of the place had received orders to arrest +Cortez, and here, also, he did not dare attempt it. +Velasquez also wrote to Cortez, asking him to wait<pb n="032" /><anchor id="Pg032" /> +till he could see him. Hernando Cortez was hardly +the fool to pay any heed to such a letter as that. +The lion was hardly likely to trust himself to the +fox. He sent him a very polite and mild answer, +saying that he would not lose sight of the interests +of his excellency, and that he and the fleet, "God +willing, would set sail the next morning."</p> + +<p>Finally, on the 18th of February, 1519, the fleet +lost sight of Cuba at Cape San Antonio, on the +western end of the island. It consisted in all of +eleven vessels, most of them small, and had on +board six hundred and sixty-three soldiers and +sailors. A few of these were armed with cross-bows +and only thirteen with muskets, while the +horses numbered only sixteen. In addition there +were ten heavy guns and four lighter ones, with a +good supply of ammunition.</p> + +<p>Such was the fleet and such the force with which +Hernando Cortez set sail to conquer a powerful +and warlike nation. Fortunately the expedition +had one of the world's great commanders at its +head, or the enterprise would have ended in failure +instead of leading, as it did, to a wonderful success.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<pb n="033" /><anchor id="Pg033" /> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>BALBOA AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE PACIFIC.</head> + +<p>It was a splendid road to fortune which Columbus +opened to the adventurers of Spain, and hundreds +of them soon took that promising path. +Among these was one Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, a +man poor in gold or land, but rich in courage and +ambition, and weary enough of trying to live at +home like a gentleman with the means of a peasant. +In the year 1501 he crossed the seas to Hispaniola, +where, like Cortez, he took up land and began to till +the soil for a living. But he had not the skill or +good luck of Cortez, and after years of labor he +found himself poorer than when he commenced. +He began to see that nature had not meant him for +a farmer, and that if he wanted a fortune he must +seek it in other fields.</p> + +<p>Balboa was not alone in this. There were others, +with better-filled pockets than he, who were ripe for +adventure and eager for gold. A famous one of these +was Alonso de Ojeda, one of the companions of Columbus +and the hero of the adventure with the Carib +chief already described, who in 1509 sailed for South +America and founded a settlement named by him +San Sebastian. He left orders with Enciso, a lawyer +of the town of San Domingo, to fit out two more<pb n="034" /><anchor id="Pg034" /> +vessels and follow him with provisions for his new +settlement.</p> + +<p>Enciso sailed in 1510, his vessels well laden with +casks of bread and other food-stuffs. There was +more in them, indeed, than Enciso dreamed of, for +when far from land there crept out of one of these +casks a haggard, woe-begone, half-starved stowaway, +who looked as if he had not many ounces of life +left in him. It was Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, who +had taken this way to join the expedition and +escape from his creditors, since they would not have +permitted him to go openly. The cask in which +he snugly lay had been carried from his farm to +the ship among others containing provisions.</p> + +<p>Enciso was furious when he saw this unwelcome +addition to his crew. He threatened to throw him +overboard, and on second thought vowed to leave +him to starve on a desert island. The poor fellow +fell on his knees and tearfully begged for mercy. +Others joined him in entreaties, and Enciso at +length softened and spared him his life. He was to +pay bitterly for his kindness before many days.</p> + +<p>The expedition had its adventures on the seas, +ending in a wreck, and when San Sebastian was +reached Ojeda was not to be found, and the settlement +was a ruin. Enciso was in a quandary what +to do, but Balboa had been on that coast before, on +his first voyage out from Spain, and knew of an +Indian village on the Darien River where they +might find food and shelter. He advised Enciso to +go thither, and a journey was made overland,<pb n="035" /><anchor id="Pg035" /> +among hostile Indians and with little food. The +adventurers were half-starved when at length they +reached their goal.</p> + +<p>Here they founded a new settlement named +Santa Maria, no doubt first disposing of the Indians in +the usual Spanish fashion,—killing some and making +slaves of others. But it was not long before there +were bitter quarrels among themselves. Enciso +had forbidden them to have any private trade for +gold with the natives, a ukase which they strongly +resented. The result was that a party rose against +him, with Balboa at its head. Enciso was deprived +of his authority, but when they tried to elect another +in his place it did not prove easy. Diego de Nicuesa, +who had made a settlement near there, was sent for +by some of the settlers, but when he came, Balboa's +party would not receive him, and he, with seventeen +companions, was placed in a crazy old barque +and left to find their way back to Hispaniola as best +they could.</p> + +<p>Balboa had by this time shown himself the ablest +and boldest man in Darien, and his influence and +power grew steadily until the settlers voted him +their governor. Enciso was seized and imprisoned, +and finally was sent to Spain. With him went one +of Balboa's chief supporters, in order to gain for +him from the king the royal right to his new +office.</p> + +<p>Balboa lost no time in showing that he was +worthy of the dignity given him. He made many +incursions into the surrounding country, and succeeded<pb n="036" /><anchor id="Pg036" /> +in collecting much gold, the yellow metal +being more plentiful there than in the West +India islands. In those expeditions he showed a +wise spirit of conciliation and won the friendship +of several of the Indian chiefs. In one of their +excursions a quarrel arose among the Spaniards +about the division of the gold they had obtained. +They were almost at sword's-point when a young +Indian chief, surprised to find them so hot about +what seemed to him a useless substance, upset the +gold out of the balance, and turned to Balboa, +saying,—</p> + +<p>"Why do you quarrel about such stuff as this? +If you value it so highly, I could take you to a +country where it is so common that it is used for +the meanest utensils."</p> + +<p>These significant words filled the Spaniards with +hope and desire, and they eagerly asked where that +rich land lay, and how it might be reached.</p> + +<p>"At the distance of six suns [six days' journey] +from here," said the cacique, "lies another ocean as +great as the one before you. Near its shores is the +kingdom I spoke of. But it is very powerful, and +if you wish to attack it you will need far more +men than you have here."</p> + +<p>This was the first the Spaniards had heard of the +great southern ocean or of the rich land of Peru. +This must be the ocean, thought Balboa, which +Columbus sought for without success, the waters +which border the East Indies, and the great and +rich nation on its shores must be one of the famous<pb n="037" /><anchor id="Pg037" /> +countries of Asia. At once the desire arose in his +mind to gaze on that unknown sea.</p> + +<p>Balboa felt it necessary to do something striking +and do it quickly. He had received letters from +Zamudio, the agent he had sent to Spain, which +were very discouraging. Enciso had complained to +King Ferdinand of the way in which he had been +treated, and the king had not only refused to support +Balboa with a royal warrant for his actions, +but had condemned his course and ordered him to +return to Spain. His hopes of fortune and greatness +were at an end unless he could win the favor +of the king by some great enterprise. Such would +be the discovery of that great ocean, and this he +determined to attempt.</p> + +<p>The Isthmus of Darien, which he would have to +cross, is not over sixty miles wide. But many of +these are miles of mountain, on which grow forests +so dense as to be almost impassable. There, too, +where it rains for more than half the year, the +valleys are converted into marshes, and are so often +overflowed that in many places the natives have to +dwell in the trees, while from the high grounds +rush swollen rivers, fierce and threatening. To +march across an unknown and perilous country like +this, led by treacherous Indian guides, was a bold +and desperate enterprise, surpassing any which the +Spaniards had yet attempted. But Balboa was one +of the most daring and intrepid of them all, and to +win the favor of his sovereign there was no danger +he was not ready to face.</p> + +<pb n="038" /><anchor id="Pg038" /> + +<p>For the perilous expedition he could muster only +one hundred and ninety men. But these were +veterans, hardened to the climate of the isthmus, +and ready to follow him whatever the peril. They +had good reason to trust his courage and readiness +in emergencies, for they had found him always +brave and alert. A thousand Indians were taken +with them, to carry their provisions, and they added +to their force a number of the fierce bloodhounds +which were dreaded by the natives as much as the +fire-arms of the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>Thus equipped, the expedition set out on the 1st +of September, 1513, sailing along the coast to +Coyba, where dwelt a friendly chief. Here half +the men were left to guard their vessels and canoes. +With the remainder the terrible journey across +the rock-ribbed and forest-covered isthmus was +begun.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the Spaniards left the coast than +troubles and perils thickened around them. The +country was difficult to traverse, the people were +bold and hostile. With their poisoned arrows they +proved no feeble antagonists. As the adventurers +left the plain and toiled up the mountains, a warlike +cacique, with a large body of followers, met +them in a narrow pass and boldly disputed the +way. A fierce battle ensued, ending in favor of +the Spaniards, who cut their way through the +savages, leaving hundreds of them dead on the +ground.</p> + +<p>Thus, fighting nature and fighting men, they<pb n="039" /><anchor id="Pg039" /> +toiled onward and upward, until the six days fixed +for their journey had stretched out to twenty-five. +But now hope burned fresh in their hearts, for their +guides assured them that from the top of the next +mountain they could see the ocean they so ardently +sought. Up the steep pass they toiled, until near +the lofty summit, when Balboa bade them halt and +went on alone, that he might be the first to gaze +on the wonderful spectacle.</p> + +<p>Soon he stood on the mountain-top, and there, +to his infinite delight, sparkled and spread before +his eyes the mightiest ocean of the earth, stretching +away to the north, south, and west as far as +human eye could see. Overwhelmed by the stupendous +vision, he fell prostrate on the ground, +like a worshipper before the object of his adoration. +Then, rising to his knees, he thanked God for the +great boon vouchsafed to him.</p> + +<p>His men, gazing eagerly upward, saw him rise +and beckon them, while with his other hand he +pointed wildly westward. With springing steps +they rushed to his side, and joined in his delight +and his thanks to God as the marvellous spectacle +met their eyes. Heaps of stones were piled up to +show that they had taken possession of this spot +for his sovereign, and as they went down the farther +slope they carved on many trees the name +of King Ferdinand of Castile, as the lord of this +new land.</p> + +<p>Let us repeat here the closing lines of Keats's +famous sonnet to Homer, in which a great poet has<pb n="040" /><anchor id="Pg040" /> +admirably depicted the scene, though, by a strange +error, giving the credit to Cortez instead of Balboa:</p> + +<lg> +<l rend="margin-left: 2">"Then felt I like some watcher of the skies</l> +<l rend="margin-left: 4"> When a new planet swims into his ken;</l> +<l rend="margin-left: 2">Or like stout Cortez, when with eagle eyes</l> +<l rend="margin-left: 4"> He stared at the Pacific—and all his men</l> +<l rend="margin-left: 2">Looked at each other with a wild surmise—</l> +<l rend="margin-left: 4"> Silent, upon a peak in Darien."</l> +</lg> + +<p>Twelve men were sent on in advance to seek the +easiest and shortest path to the sea, one of them +a man destined to become still more famous than +Balboa,—Francisco Pizarro, the future conqueror +of Peru. Reaching the shore, they found on it +two stranded canoes, into which stepped two of the +men, Blaze de Atienza and Alousa Martine, calling +on their comrades to witness that they were the +first to embark on that sea.</p> + +<p>For three days the remaining men waited advices +from their pioneers, and then followed the +guides sent them to the shore, Balboa, armed with +his sword and buckler, rushing into the water to +his middle, and claiming possession of that vast sea +and all its shores in the name of his king, for +whom he pledged himself to defend it against all +comers.</p> + +<p>Such was the discovery of the great South Sea, +as Balboa named it, the Pacific Ocean, as Magellan +soon after called it. The people of the coast told +the Spaniards of a rich and mighty kingdom that +lay to the south, and whose people had tame<pb n="041" /><anchor id="Pg041" /> +animals to carry their burdens. The form of these +they drew on the sand, their long necks convincing +Balboa that they were camels, and that the land +indicated must be Asia. They really represented +the llama of Peru, an animal resembling the camel +in form.</p> + +<p>After remaining for some time on the coast, +gathering all the information he could obtain, Balboa +led his travel-worn men back to Darien, resolved +to return with a stronger force next year and +seek that distant land of gold. But this exploit +was left for Pizarro, one of the ablest and bravest +of the men who took part in this pioneer expedition.</p> + +<p>It was the 18th of January, 1514, when the adventurers +reached their starting-point at Santa +Maria, when the people heard of his discovery with +the utmost joy. Messengers were at once sent to +Spain, with an account of the remarkable exploit, +which was received with an enthusiasm little less +than had been the news of the discovery of the +New World. If Columbus had discovered a new +land, Balboa had matched it with the discovery of +a new ocean, added to which was the story of a +land of gold, for whose conquest Balboa asked for +a reinforcement of a thousand men.</p> + +<p>Unfortunate as Columbus had been, the new discovery +was destined to still greater ill-fortune, as +we shall soon see. Before his messengers reached +Spain a new governor, Pedrarias de Avila, had +been appointed and had set sail, with fifteen vessels<pb n="042" /><anchor id="Pg042" /> +and fifteen hundred men. Balboa had nearly +five hundred men under his command, but he at once +submitted to the decision of his king and accepted +Pedrarias as his superior. The fifteen hundred +new men landed in that pestilential climate, in the +unhealthy season, paid bitterly for their imprudence. +A violent disease attacked them; scarcity +of provisions made it worse; and within a month +more than six hundred of them had died, while +others hastened away from that noxious spot.</p> + +<p>At length news came that the king fully appreciated +the splendid discovery of Balboa; letters of +high praise were received, and he was appointed +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Adelantado</hi>, or admiral of the South Sea, Pedrarias +being ordered to support him in all his operations. +The rivals now became reconciled, their union being +made firmer by Pedrarias giving his daughter in +marriage to Balboa.</p> + +<p>The adventurer now began active preparations +for an exploration of the South Sea, materials for +ship-building being conveyed, with the greatest +labor, across the isthmus, and two brigantines constructed. +There was no lack of volunteers for the +expedition, and the vessels were launched and sailed +to the Pearl Islands, the inclement weather alone +preventing them from going on to the coast of Peru.</p> + +<p>Thus there seemed a great career opening before +Balboa at the very moment when adverse fate was +gathering darkly around him. Pedrarias had +grown jealous of his daring exploits and the fame +that seemed his coming meed, and, cherishing<pb n="043" /><anchor id="Pg043" /> +treacherous designs, by a crafty message induced +him to return to Acla, his new capital.</p> + +<p>On arriving there, Balboa was at once seized by +order of the governor, thrown into prison, and put +on trial on a charge of disloyalty to the king and +an intention to revolt against his superior. The +judge was forced to condemn him to death, and the +fatal sentence was at once carried into effect, the +great discoverer being beheaded on the public +square of Acla. Thus, in blood and treachery, +ended the career of one of the ablest of the bold +adventurers of Spain.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="044" /><anchor id="Pg044" /> +<head>THE ROMANTIC STORY OF THE PRINCE OF TEZCUCO.</head> + +<p>About a hundred years before the Spanish conquest +of the Aztecs, there reigned over the kingdom +of Tezcuco, in the valley of Mexico, a monarch +whose history is as interesting and romantic as any +that can be found in the annals of Europe. His +story was preserved by his descendants, and its +principal events are as follows:</p> + +<figure url="images/image05.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>FLOATING GARDENS ON THE CHENAMPAS.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: FLOATING GARDENS ON THE CHENAMPAS.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>The city of Tezcuco, the capital of the Acolhuans, +stood on the eastern borders of the lake on +whose opposite side was Mexico, the Aztec capital. +About the year 1418 the Acolhuans were attacked +by a kindred race, the Tepanecs, who, after a desperate +struggle, captured their city, killed their +monarch, and subjugated their kingdom. The heir +to the crown, the young Prince Nezahualcoyotl, +concealed himself in the foliage of a tree when the +triumphant foe broke into the palace, and from his +hiding-place saw his father killed before his eyes. +This was the opening event in a history as full of +deeds of daring and perilous escapes as that of the +"Young Chevalier of English history."</p> + +<p>The young prince did not long remain at liberty. +Soon after his flight from the city he fell into the +hands of his foes, and was brought back and thrown +into a dungeon. This led to the first romantic<pb n="045" /><anchor id="Pg045" /> +incident in his career. The governor of the fortress +prison was an old servant of the royal family of +Tezcuco, and aided the little captive to escape in +disguise, taking his place in the dungeon. He paid +for his loyalty with his life, but he willingly gave it +in exchange for the liberty of the heir to the throne.</p> + +<p>The royal boy had friends in the Mexican capital. +He was, in fact, closely related to the Aztec monarch, +and through his good offices he was at length permitted +to reside in that city. Afterwards he was +allowed to return to Tezcuco, where for eight years +he dwelt in privacy, studying under the teachers of +his early youth, and unheeded by the party in power. +Thus the boy grew to manhood, cherishing in his +soul ardent hopes of regaining the throne of his +ancestors.</p> + +<p>A change came when the Tepanec conqueror died +and his son, Maxtla, succeeded to the throne. +The new king was of a suspicious disposition, and +when Nezahualcoyotl sought his capital to render +him homage on his accession, Maxtla treated with +disdain the little gift of flowers which the young +prince laid at his feet, and turned his back on him +in the presence of his chieftains. Evidently the +palace was no place of safety for the Tezcucan +prince, and, warned by a friend among the courtiers, +he hastened to withdraw from the court and seek a +refuge in his native city of Tezcuco. Here the +tyrant dared not proceed openly against him. His +popular manners had won him many friends, and +the ancient subjects of his family looked upon him<pb n="046" /><anchor id="Pg046" /> +as a coming leader who might win back for them +their lost liberty. The prince had given evidence +of the possession of talent and energy, and Maxtla, +fearful of his growing popularity, resolved to +make away with him by stratagem. He accordingly +invited him to an evening's entertainment, +where he had assassins ready to murder him. Fortunately, +the tutor of the prince suspected the +plot, and contrived to replace the youth by a person +who strongly resembled him, and who became the +victim of the fate intended for him.</p> + +<p>Maxtla, baffled in his murderous stratagem, now +resolved to kill him openly, and sent a party of +soldiers to the city, who were instructed to enter +the palace, seize the prince, and slay him on the +spot. Again the watchfulness of his old teacher +saved him. Warned of his danger, and advised to +flee, the prince refused to do so, but boldly awaited +the assassins.</p> + +<p>When they reached the palace in which he resided, +they found him playing at ball in the court-yard. +He received them courteously, showing no +suspicion of their errand, and invited them in to +take some refreshment after their journey. While +they were thus engaged, he strolled carelessly into +an adjoining saloon; but the doors being open and +the soldiers able to see through both apartments, +his movements gave them no concern. It was the +custom, however, when any one entered the presence +of a great lord, for the servants to throw aromatics +into a burning censer. This the prince's<pb n="047" /><anchor id="Pg047" /> +attendants did, and such clouds of incense arose as +to hide him from the unsuspecting soldiers. Thus +obscured, he entered a secret passage which led to +a large earthen pipe, formerly employed to bring +water to the palace. In this he concealed himself +until nightfall, and then made his way into the +suburbs, where he found shelter in the house of one +of his father's former vassals.</p> + +<p>Maxtla, enraged to find that his proposed victim +had twice escaped him, grew more determined on +his death, and ordered immediate and thorough +pursuit, promising to reward whoever should take +him, dead or alive, with the hand of a noble lady +and an ample domain. Troops of armed men +scoured the country in every direction, searching +all suspected places, and some of them entered the +cottage in which he had taken refuge. Here there +was a heap of the maguey fibres used in the manufacture +of cloth, and hid beneath this the fugitive +escaped capture. But the chase soon grew so hot +that he left this place for the wooded hill country +between his state and the neighboring one of +Tlascala, hoping to find safety in its thickets and +caverns.</p> + +<p>The royal fugitive now led a wretched life, wandering +from place to place, exposed to all the inclemencies +of the weather, remaining concealed by +day, and stealing out at night in search of food. +His pursuers, eager to win the enticing reward, +kept up an active search, more than once coming +dangerously near to his retreat.</p> + +<pb n="048" /><anchor id="Pg048" /> + +<p>Very interesting stories are told of his adventures +in this period of peril. The high rewards offered +did not suffice to wean from him the attachment +of the people, and more than once he owed his +safety to their loyalty. Some of them submitted +to torture, and even to loss of life, rather than +betray his place of retreat to his enemies. Even +many of the soldiers were his friends, and once, +when hotly pursued, he took refuge among a small +party of these, who were dancing around a large +drum. To conceal him from his enemies they +placed him in the drum and continued their dance +around it.</p> + +<p>At another time the pursuers were so close to him +that he just succeeded in turning the crest of a hill +when they began to climb it on the other side. Here +he fortunately found a girl who was reaping <hi rend="font-style: italic">chia</hi>, a +plant whose seeds were used in making palatable +drinks. Telling her who he was and of his great +danger, he got her to cover him up with a heap of +the plants she had cut, and when the pursuers came +up and asked if she had seen him, the faithful girl +coolly replied that she had, and pointed out a path +which she said he had taken.</p> + +<p>None of the natives showed any inclination to +betray him, despite the richness of the promised +rewards.</p> + +<p>"Would you not deliver up the prince if he +came in your way?" he asked of a peasant who did +not recognize him.</p> + +<p>"Not I," was the reply.</p> + +<pb n="049" /><anchor id="Pg049" /> + +<p>"What! not for a fair lady's hand, and a rich +domain as dowry?"</p> + +<p>The peasant shook his head decisively and laughed +in disdain.</p> + +<p>But, in spite of the loyalty of the people, the +prince was in constant danger, and his situation, +in the rough fastnesses of the hills and forests, +became very distressing.</p> + +<p>"Leave me," he said to the faithful few who +kept with him in his wanderings and shared his sufferings. +"Leave me to my fate. Why should you +throw away your lives for one whom fortune steadily +persecutes?"</p> + +<p>But they clung to his fortunes still, despite their +danger and the fact that most of the great nobles +of the land had sought safety and reward by an +adhesion to the usurper.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, events were working in favor of the +fugitive. Maxtla had shown himself an oppressor, +and his ambition and military successes had caused +much alarm in the surrounding states, where his +tyranny was contrasted with the mild rule of the +former monarchs of Tezcuco. The friends of the +young prince took advantage of this feeling, and +succeeded in forming a coalition against his enemy. +A day was fixed for a general rising, and on the +date appointed Nezahualcoyotl found himself at +the head of an army strong enough to face that of +Maxtla and the Tepanecs.</p> + +<p>The two armies soon met and victory rested on +the banner of the young prince, the forces of Maxtla<pb n="050" /><anchor id="Pg050" /> +being badly beaten. No longer a hunted fugitive, +but at the head of a victorious army, he marched in +triumph to the capital which he had left with a +price on his head, his joyful subjects crowding to +the route of march to render homage to their rightful +sovereign. The Mexicans, who were angry at +the tyrannic conduct of Maxtla, readily allied themselves +with the young victor, and a series of bloody +battles followed, the usurper being at length defeated +under the walls of his own capital. He was dragged +from the baths, to which he had fled for concealment, +and sacrificed to the cruel gods of the Aztecs; +his royal city was razed to the ground, and its site +was reserved as the great slave-market of the surrounding +nations.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that Nezahualcoyotl came to the +throne of his ancestors, where he was to prove +himself the greatest monarch of whom we have +any record in the American annals. The story of +his reign is far too full of detail for the space we +can give to it, but is of such interest that we may +venture on a concise account of it, as an example +of the career of the most illustrious of the ancient +American sovereigns.</p> + +<p>The first thing the new monarch did was to proclaim +a general amnesty. He not only pardoned +the rebel nobles, but raised some of them to posts +of honor and confidence. This was not only politic +but just, since their offences were mainly due to fear +of the usurper. Under the circumstances he could +safely treat them with magnanimity.</p> + +<pb n="051" /><anchor id="Pg051" /> + +<p>He next remodelled the government of the kingdom, +and framed a code of laws which seemed so +wise that it was adopted by his allies, the Aztecs +and Tlacopans. Councils of war, of finance, and +of justice were established, and also a council of +state, whose members acted as the immediate advisers +of the king, and aided him in the despatch of +business. But the most remarkable of these new +departments was the "council of music," which was +devoted to the encouragement of science and art, +and served as a general board of education for the +country. Historical compositions and poems were +recited before it, and altogether it indicated a degree +of civilization which we would scarcely look for in +any part of ancient America. Its historians, orators, +and poets became celebrated throughout the country, +the allied monarchs presided over its deliberations, +and among its chief bards was the king himself, who +entered into impartial competition with his subjects +for the prizes given for the best poems. Many of his +odes were long preserved, and may perhaps still rest +in the dusty archives of Mexico or Spain.</p> + +<p>The far-seeing monarch did not content himself +with writing poetry, or encouraging historians,—who +wrote subject to the penalty that any one who +wilfully lied should be punished with death,—but +he sought to develop all the arts. Agriculture was +greatly encouraged, the population rapidly increased, +new towns and cities sprang up, and the +borders of the nation were extended by successful +wars. He made his capital the most stately city<pb n="052" /><anchor id="Pg052" /> +of the land. Special edifices were built for his nobles, +whom he wished to reside at the court. There +were more than four hundred of these palatial mansions, +but far exceeding them in magnificence was +the grand palace he built for himself. This covered +a space of three thousand seven hundred feet in +length and nearly three thousand feet in width. A +wall surrounded it, enclosing an outer court which +formed the great market-place of the city, and an +inner one surrounded by the council chambers and +halls of justice. There were apartments for ambassadors +from other states, and a spacious saloon in +which the poets and men of science met to study +and converse. Here also were kept the public +archives.</p> + +<p>The royal apartments adjoined this inner court, +and rivalled in beauty those of Oriental lands. Alabaster +or stucco of rich tints covered some of the +walls, while others were hung with tapestries of +the gorgeous Indian feather-work. Long arcades +and winding pathways bordered with verdure led to +gardens where were baths and sparkling fountains +shadowed by lofty trees. Fish of various kinds +stocked the basins, and in rich aviaries were birds +of glowing tropical plumage. Many birds and +animals were reproduced in gold and silver with +wonderful fidelity to nature. In the inner apartments +dwelt the wives and children of the monarch, +who were as numerous as those of an Eastern +sultan. Such was the famous palace, in which +were three hundred apartments, some of them fifty<pb n="053" /><anchor id="Pg053" /> +yards square. It is said that two hundred thousand +workmen were employed in building it. In +this splendid residence dwelt a monarch who in his +youthful days had been glad to share with wild animals +a shelter in the thickets and caverns of the +mountains.</p> + +<p>Nezahualcoyotl did not confine his love for magnificence +to this palatial residence. Beautiful villas +were built in various picturesque localities and +adorned with all the requisites of pleasure and +comfort. His favorite retreat from the cares of +office was built on a rounded hill about six miles +from the city. Here were terraced gardens reached +by a stairway of five hundred and twenty steps, +many of them hewn in the native rock. In the +summit garden was a reservoir kept filled with +water by an aqueduct carried on masonry buttresses +for several miles over hill and valley. In its centre +was a large rock, on which were carved in hieroglyphics +the principal events of each year of the +king's reign.</p> + +<p>Lower down were other reservoirs, adorned with +statuary, and yielding water to channels that ran +through the gardens or to cascades that tumbled +riotously over the rocks. Here were marble porticoes +and pavilions, and baths cut in the solid rock, +which the natives still show to visitors under the +title of the "Baths of Montezuma." Near the +base of the hill, amid lofty groves of cedar, rose +the royal villa, with its light arcades and airy halls, +affording a delightful relief to the monarch from<pb n="054" /><anchor id="Pg054" /> +the duties of the court. Relics of this villa and +garden still remain to attest their former beauty, +and indicate that this Indian king lived in a magnificence +resembling that of the far-famed court of +the caliph Haroun-al-Raschid.</p> + +<p>He was like the celebrated caliph of the "Arabian +Nights" in another way, for it was his custom +to wander about the streets, conversing with +the humblest of his people and learning their condition +and needs from their own words. Many anecdotes +are told of this kind, in which it was his delight +to reward merit and relieve distress. Some +of these may be read with interest.</p> + +<p>On one occasion he met a boy who was gathering +sticks in a field for fuel, and asked him why he did +not go into the neighboring forest, where he would +find plenty of them.</p> + +<p>"I dare not do that," said the boy. "It's the +king's wood, and he would punish me with death +if I took sticks from there."</p> + +<p>"What kind of man is your king?"</p> + +<p>"He is a very hard man," answered the boy, +"for he takes from his people what God has given +them."</p> + +<p>The boy was right; the forest laws in Tezcuco +were as severe as those of Norman England. The +king advised the boy not to heed such cruel laws +but to help himself in the forest, for there was no +one who would betray him. But the lad sturdily +refused, and told his tempter that he was a traitor +who wished to bring him into trouble.</p> + +<pb n="055" /><anchor id="Pg055" /> + +<p>The next day the boy and his parents were sent +for to come to the palace. They obeyed with wonder +and dread, and the boy was filled with terror +on seeing the king and recognizing him as the man +with whom he had talked so freely. But the good-natured +monarch bade him not to fear, and thanked +him for the lesson he had given his king, praising +his respect for the laws and commending his parents +for bringing up their son so wisely. He dismissed +them with liberal presents, and afterwards gave +orders that any one might gather fallen wood in the +forest, if they did not interfere with the standing +timber.</p> + +<p>Another adventure was with a poor woodman +and his wife. The man, as he stood in the marketplace +with his little store, complained bitterly of his +lot, as compared with that of those who lived idly +amid luxuries in the palace. The wife bade him be +careful, as he might be overheard in his complaints. +The king, looking down on the market from a latticed +window, and amusing himself with the chatter +of the market people, heard the words of the couple, +and ordered them to be brought into his presence.</p> + +<p>He asked the frightened pair what they had said, +and was pleased to find that they answered him +truly. Then he bade them reflect that if he had +great wealth, he had great demands upon it; that he +who had a nation to govern could not lead an idle +life; and told them "to be more cautious in future, +as walls had ears." He then dismissed them, after +giving them a quantity of cloth and a good supply<pb n="056" /><anchor id="Pg056" /> +of cacao,—the coin of the country. "Go," he said; +"with the little you now have, you will be rich; +while, with all my riches, I shall still be poor."</p> + +<p>Of all the stories told of this famous monarch, +there is only one not to his credit, and of this we +may speak in passing, as it bears a remarkable +resemblance to that told in the Bible of David and +Uriah. He fell in love with a beautiful maiden, +who was betrothed to an old lord of his kingdom, +and to obtain her hand he bade the old man take +command of a warlike expedition against the Tlascalans. +Two chiefs were bidden to keep near him +and bring him into the thick of the fight, that he +might lose his life, which the king said he had forfeited +by a great crime. The old man suspected +what was meant, and said so in a farewell entertainment +to his friends. He was correct in his +prophecy; like Uriah, he soon fell in battle, and the +royal lover's path was clear.</p> + +<p>The king now secretly offered his hand and heart +to the maiden, who was by no means inconsolable +for the loss of her old lover, and willingly accepted. +To prevent any suspicion of what he had done, he +had the maiden brought to his villa to witness some +ceremony there. Standing on a balcony of the +palace, the king pretended to be struck with her +beauty, and asked, "Who is the lovely young +woman, yonder in the garden?" Some of those +present soon learned her name and rank, which was +that of a princess of the royal house of Mexico. +She was asked to enter the palace and receive the<pb n="057" /><anchor id="Pg057" /> +attention due to her station, and the king was not +long in publicly declaring his love. The marriage +soon after took place, in the presence of his brother +monarchs of Mexico and Tlacopan, and with great +pomp and ceremony.</p> + +<p>Such was the one blot in the history of this +famous monarch. Aside from this act of treachery, +it is remarkable to find so great and high-minded +a monarch in the early annals of the nations of +Mexico, and one whose history is so full of romantic +adventure.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="058" /><anchor id="Pg058" /> +<head>THE FAMOUS RETREAT OF CORTEZ AND THE SPANIARDS.</head> + +<p>There is no chapter in all history more crowded +with interesting and romantic events than the story +of the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards under +Cortez. And of all these records of desperate daring +and wonderful success, the most extraordinary is +the tale of the <hi rend="font-style: italic">Noche Triste</hi>, the terrible night-retreat +of the Spaniards from the Aztec capital. +No one can read this story, and that of the remarkable +victory of Otumba which followed it, without +feeling that Cortez and his men were warriors +worthy of the most warlike age. This oft-told +story we shall here again relate.</p> + +<p>In a preceding tale we described how Cortez set +out from Cuba on his great expedition, with a few +hundred soldiers and a small number of cannon, muskets, +and horses. It may briefly be stated here that +he sought to conquer a warlike and powerful nation +with this insignificant force, less than a modern +regiment. We might relate how he landed in Mexico; +won, with the terror of his horses and guns +and the valor of his men, victory in every battle; +gained allies among the foes of the Aztecs; made +his way into their capital; seized and held prisoner +their emperor, Montezuma, and for a time seemed +to be full master of the land. We might go on to<pb n="059" /><anchor id="Pg059" /> +tell how at length the Mexicans rose in fury, attacked +the Spaniards with the courage of desperation, +mortally wounded their own emperor, and at +length brought the invaders into such terrible straits +that they were forced to fight their way out of the +city as their last hope of life.</p> + +<p>To understand what followed, it must be stated +that the city of Mexico lay, not in the open country, +but on an island in the centre of a large lake, and +that all the roads leading to it passed over narrow +causeways of earth across this lake. Each of these +causeways was broken at intervals by wide ditches, +with bridges crossing them. But the Aztecs had +removed these bridges, and thus added immensely +to the difficulty of the night-march which the desperate +Spaniards were obliged to make.</p> + +<p>It was at midnight on the 1st of July, 1520, that +Cortez and his men threw open the gates of the +palace fortress in which they had long defended +themselves against the furious assaults of thousands +of daring foes. The night was dark and cloudy, +and a drizzling rain was falling. Not an enemy +was to be seen, and as they made their way with as +little noise as possible along the great street of +Tlacopan, all was hushed in silence, Hope rose in +their hearts. The tramp of the horses and the +rumble of the guns and baggage-wagons passed unheard, +and they reached the head of the causeway +without waking a sleeping Aztec warrior.</p> + +<p>Here was the first break in the causeway, and +they had brought with them a bridge to lay across<pb n="060" /><anchor id="Pg060" /> +it. But here also were some Indian sentinels, who +fled in haste on seeing them, rousing the sleeping city +with their cries. The priests on the summit of the +great temple pyramid were also on the watch, and +when the shouts of alarm reached their ears from +below, they sounded their shells and beat their huge +drum, which was only heard in times of peril or +calamity. Instantly the city broke from its slumber, +and as the leading Spaniards crossed the bridge a +distant sound was heard, which rapidly approached. +Soon from every street and lane poured enemies, +flinging stones and arrows into the crowded ranks +of the Spaniards as they came. On the lake was +heard a splashing sound, as of many oars, and the +war-cry of a host of combatants broke on the air. +A brief interval had sufficed to change the silence +into a frightful uproar of sound and the restful +peace into the fast growing tumult of furious battle.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards pushed steadily along the causeway, +fighting only to drive back the assailants who +landed from their canoes and rushed in fury upon +the marching ranks. The horsemen spurred over +them, riding them down; the men on foot cut them +down with their swords, or hurled them backward +with the butts of their guns; the Indian allies of +the Spaniards attacked them fiercely, and the roar +of war spread far through the gloom of the night.</p> + +<p>Onward marched the Spaniards, horse and foot; +onward creaked and rumbled the artillery and the +wagons; and the second canal in the causeway was +reached while the rear files were not yet across the<pb n="061" /><anchor id="Pg061" /> +first. The Spaniards had made a fatal mistake in +bringing with them only one bridge. When the +last of the retreating force was across this, a vigorous +effort was made to raise it and carry it to +the canal in front, but in vain. The weight of men, +horses, and cannon had wedged it so firmly in the +earth and stones that it could not be moved. Every +nerve was strained to lift the heavy mass, until, +many of the workmen being killed and all wounded +by the torrent of Aztec missiles, they were forced +to abandon it.</p> + +<p>When the dread tidings that the bridge could not +be raised spread through the crowded host, a cry +of despair arose that almost drowned the sounds of +conflict. All means of retreat were cut off. Before +them lay a deep and yawning ditch. Behind them +pressed an army of assailants. On each side hundreds +of canoes dashed on the causeway, yielding +foes who rushed in fury upon their crowded ranks. +All hope seemed lost. All discipline was at an end. +Every one thought only of saving his own life, +without regard to the weak or wounded. The +leading files, gathered on the brink of the gulf, were +pressed forward by the rear. The horsemen in +front dashed into the water and swam across, but +some of the horses failed to climb the steep and +slippery bank, and rolled back with their mail-clad +riders headlong into the lake.</p> + +<p>After them pell mell came the infantry, some +seeking to swim, others forced into the water to +sink to a muddy death; many of them slain by the<pb n="062" /><anchor id="Pg062" /> +arrows and war-clubs of the Aztecs; others, wounded +or stunned, dragged into the canoes and carried +away to be sacrificed to the terrible war-god of the +pagan foe. Along the whole length of the causeway, +from ditch to ditch, the contest raged fearfully. +The Aztecs, satisfied that they had now got their +detested foes in their power, fought like demons, +grappling with the Christians and rolling with them +down the sloping way together; seeking to take +their enemies alive that they might be kept for the +bloody sacrifice.</p> + +<p>With the horrid shouts of the combatants, the +cries of vengeance and groans of agony, the prayers +to the saints and the blessed Virgin, mingled the +screams of women, of whom there were several, +both Spaniard and Indian, in the Christian ranks. +One of these, Maria de Estrada, fought as valiantly +as any of the warriors, battling staunchly with broadsword +and target in the thickest of the fray, and +proving herself as valiant a soldier as the best.</p> + +<p>During this terrible contest, Cortez was not at +rest. He was everywhere, ordering, fighting, inspiring, +seeking to restore the lost discipline to his +ranks. Conscious that all was lost unless the fatal +ditch could be crossed, and feeling that life must be +considered before wealth, he hurried forward everything, +heavy guns, ammunition-wagons, baggage-vans, +and hurled them into the water along with +the spoil of the Spaniards, bales of costly goods, +chests of solid ingots, everything that would serve +to fill the fatal gap. With these were mingled<pb n="063" /><anchor id="Pg063" /> +bodies of men and horses, drowned in that deadly +ditch, the whole forming a terrible pathway across +which the survivors stumbled and clambered until +they reached the other side.</p> + +<p>Cortez, riding forward, found a spot in the ditch +that was fordable, and here, with the water up to +his saddle-girths, he tried to bring order out of confusion, +and called his followers to this path to safety. +But his voice was lost in the turmoil, and with a +few cavaliers who kept with him, he pressed forward +to the van, doubly saddened by seeing his favorite +page, Juan de Salazar, struck down in death by his +side.</p> + +<p>Here he found the valiant Gonzalo de Sandoval, +who, with about twenty other cavaliers, had led the +van, composed of two hundred Spanish foot-soldiers. +They were halted before the third and final breach +in the causeway, a ditch as wide and deep as those +which had been passed. Fortunately it was not so +closely beset by the enemy, who were still engaged +with the centre and rear, and the gallant cavaliers +plunged without hesitation into the water, followed +by the foot, some swimming, some clinging desperately +to the manes and tails of the horses, some +carried to the bottom by the weight of the fatal +gold with which they were heavily laden. On +leaving the fortress in which they had so long defended +themselves, much of the gold which they +had gathered was necessarily abandoned. Cortez +told the soldiers to take what they wished of it, +but warned them not to overload themselves, saying,<pb n="064" /><anchor id="Pg064" /> +"He travels safest in the dark night who +travels lightest." Many of those who failed to +regard this wise counsel paid for their cupidity +with their death.</p> + +<p>Those who safely passed this final ditch were at +the end of their immediate peril. Soon they were +off the causeway and on solid ground, where the roar +of the battle came more faintly to their ears. But +word came to them that the rear-guard was in +imminent danger and would be overwhelmed unless +relieved. It seemed an act of desperation to return, +but the valiant and warm-hearted cavaliers did not +hesitate when this cry for aid was heard. Turning +their horses, they galloped back, pushed through +the pass, swam the canal again, and rode into the +thick of the fight on the opposite section of the +causeway.</p> + +<p>The night was now passing, and the first gray +light of day was visible in the east. By its dim +illumination the frightful combat could be seen in +all its horrid intensity. Everywhere lay dead +bodies of Christian or pagan; the dark masses of +the warriors could be seen locked in deadly struggle +crowding the blood-stained causeway; while the +lake, far and near, was crowded with canoes, filled +with armed and ardent Aztec warriors, yelling their +triumphant war-cry.</p> + +<p>Cortez and his companions found Alvarado, who +led the rear, unhorsed and wounded, yet fighting +like a hero. His noble steed, which had borne him +safely through many a hard fight, had fallen under<pb n="065" /><anchor id="Pg065" /> +him. With a handful of followers he was desperately +striving to repel the overwhelming tide of +the enemy which was pouring on him along the +causeway, a dozen of the Indians falling for every +Spaniard slain. The artillery had done good work +in the early part of the contest, but the fury of the +assault had carried the Aztecs up to and over the +guns, and only a hand-to-hand conflict remained. +The charge of the returning cavaliers created a +temporary check, and a feeble rally was made, but +the flood of foes soon came on again and drove +them resistlessly back.</p> + +<p>Cortez and the cavaliers with him were forced to +plunge once more into the canal, not all of them +this time escaping. Alvarado stood on the brink +for a moment, uncertain what to do, death behind +him and deadly peril before. He was a man of +great strength and agility, and despair now gave +him courage. Setting his long lance firmly on the +wreck that strewed the bottom, he sprang vigorously +forward and cleared the wide gap at a bound, +a feat that filled all who saw it with amazement, +the natives exclaiming, as they beheld the seemingly +impossible leap, "This is truly the <hi rend="font-style: italic">Tonatiuh</hi>,—the +child of the Sun!" This name they had given Alvarado +from his fair features and flaxen hair. How +great the leap was no one has told us, though the +name of "Alvarado's leap" still clings to the spot.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the frightful <hi rend="font-style: italic">noche triste</hi>, or "doleful +night." Cortez led the remnant of his men off +the causeway, a feeble, wounded, straggling few,<pb n="066" /><anchor id="Pg066" /> +faltering from weariness and loss of blood. Fortunately, +the Aztecs, attracted by the rich spoil that +strewed the ground, did not pursue, or it is doubtful +if a man of the Spaniards, in their worn and +wounded state, would have survived. How many +perished in that night of dread no one knows. A +probable estimate is about five hundred Spaniards +and four thousand natives, nearly all the rear-guard +having fallen. Of forty-six horses, half had been +slain. The baggage, the guns, the ammunition, the +muskets, and nearly all the treasure were gone. +The only arms left the warriors were their swords +and a few damaged cross-bows, while their mail was +broken, their garments were tattered, their proud +crests and banners gone, their bright arms soiled, +and only a miserable and shattered fragment of +their proud force was left, these dragging themselves +along with pain and difficulty.</p> + +<figure url="images/image06.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>AZTEC IDOLS CARVED IN STONE.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: AZTEC IDOLS CARVED IN STONE.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Day after day passed as the Spaniards and their +allies, the Tlascalans,—inveterate enemies of the +Aztecs,—slowly moved away from that blood-stained +avenue of death, now little molested by +their foes, and gradually recovering from their +fatigue. On the seventh morning they reached the +mountain height which overlooks the plain of +Otumba, a point less than thirty miles from the +capital. This plain they were obliged to traverse on +their way to Tlascala, their chosen place of retreat.</p> + +<p>As they looked down on the broad level below +them they saw with shrinking hearts why they had +not been as yet molested. A mighty host filled the<pb n="067" /><anchor id="Pg067" /> +whole valley from side to side, their arms and standards +glistening in the sun, their numbers so great +that the stoutest heart among the Spaniards viewed +them with dismay, and Cortez, daring and hopeful +as he was, felt that his last hour had now surely +come.</p> + +<p>But this stout leader was not the man to give way +to despair. There was nothing to do but to cut +their way through this vast array or perish in the +attempt. To retreat would have been to invite sure +destruction. Fortunately, they had rested for two +nights and a day, and men and horses had regained +much of their old strength. Without hesitation, +Cortez prepared for the onset, giving his force as +broad a front as possible, and guarding its flanks +with his little body of horse, now twenty in all. +Then, with a few words of encouragement, in which +he told them of the victories they had won, and +with orders to his men to thrust, not strike, with +their swords, and to the horsemen on no account to +lose their lances, and to strike at the faces of the foe, +he gave the word to advance.</p> + +<p>At first the natives recoiled from the stern and +fierce onset, rolling back till they left a wide lane for +the passage of their foes. But they quickly rallied +and poured on the little band in their midst, until it +seemed lost in the overwhelming mass. A terrible +fray followed, the Christians, as one writer says, +standing "like an islet against which the breakers, +roaring and surging, spend their fury in vain." +The struggle was one of man to man, the Tlascalans<pb n="068" /><anchor id="Pg068" /> +and Spaniards alike fighting with obstinate courage, +while the little band of horsemen charged deep into +the enemy's ranks, riding over them and cutting +them down with thrust and blow, their onset giving +fresh spirit to the infantry.</p> + +<p>But that so small a force could cut their way +through that enormous multitude of armed and +valiant enemies seemed impossible. As the minutes +lengthened into hours many of the Tlascalans and +some of the Spaniards were slain, and not a man +among them had escaped wounds. Cortez received +a cut on the head, and his horse was hurt so badly +that he was forced to dismount and exchange it for +a strong animal from the baggage-train. The fight +went on thus for several hours, the sun growing +hotter as it rose in the sky, and the Christians, weak +from their late wounds, gradually losing strength and +spirit. The enemy pressed on in ever fresh numbers, +forcing the horse back on the foot, and throwing +the latter into some disorder. With every +minute now the conflict grew more hopeless, and it +seemed as if nothing were left but to sell their lives +as dearly as possible.</p> + +<p>At this critical juncture a happy chance changed +the whole fortune of the day. Cortez, gazing with +eagle eye around the field in search of some vision +of hope, some promise of safety, saw at no great +distance in the midst of the throng a splendidly +dressed chief, who was borne in a rich litter and surrounded +by a gayly attired body of young warriors. +A head-dress of beautiful plumes, set in gold and<pb n="069" /><anchor id="Pg069" /> +gems, rose above him, and over this again was a +short staff bearing a golden net, the standard of the +Aztecs.</p> + +<p>The instant Cortez beheld this person and his +emblem his eye lighted with triumph. He knew +him for the commander of the foe, and the golden +net as its rallying standard. Turning to the cavaliers +beside him, he pointed eagerly to the chief, +exclaiming, "There is our mark! Follow me!" +Then, shouting his war-cry, he spurred his steed into +the thick of the foe. Sandoval, Alvarado, and others +spurred furiously after him, while the enemy fell +back before this sudden and fierce assault.</p> + +<p>On swept the cavaliers, rending through the solid +ranks, strewing their path with the dead and dying, +bearing down all who opposed them. A few minutes +of this furious onset carried them to the elevated spot +on which were the Aztec chief and his body-guard. +Thrusting and cutting with tiger-like strength and +ferocity, Cortez rent a way through the group of +young nobles and struck a furious blow at the Indian +commander, piercing him with his lance and hurling +him to the ground. A young cavalier beside him, +Juan de Salamanca, sprang from his horse and +despatched the fallen chief. Then he tore away the +banner and handed it to Cortez.</p> + +<p>All this was the work almost of a moment. Its +effect was remarkable. The guard, overwhelmed +by the sudden onset, fled in a panic, which was +quickly communicated to their comrades. The +tidings spread rapidly. The banner of the chief<pb n="070" /><anchor id="Pg070" /> +had disappeared. He had been slain. The blindness +of panic suddenly infected the whole host, +which broke and fled in wild terror and confusion. +The Spaniards and Tlascalans were not slow in +taking advantage of this new aspect of affairs. +Forgetting their wounds and fatigue, they dashed +in revengeful fury on the flying foe, cutting them +down by hundreds as they fled. Not until they had +amply repaid their losses on the bloody causeway +did they return to gather up the booty which +strewed the field. It was great, for, in accordance +with Cortez's instructions, they had struck especially +at the chiefs, and many of these were richly +ornamented with gold and jewels.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the famous battle of Otumba, the +most remarkable victory, in view of the great disparity +of forces, ever won in the New World. +Chance gave the Spaniards victory, but it was a +chance made useful only by the genius of a great +commander. The following day the fugitive army +reached the soil of Tlascala and were safe among +their friends. History has not a more heroic story +to tell than that of their escape from the Aztec capital, +nor a more striking one than that of their subsequent +return and conquest.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="071" /><anchor id="Pg071" /> +<head>PIZARRO AND THE INCA'S GOLDEN RANSOM.</head> + +<p>The great expedition to the land of gold, which +Vasco Nuñez de Balboa had planned to make, was +left by his death to be carried out by one of his +companions in the discovery of the South Sea, the +renowned Francisco Pizarro. It was an expedition +full of romantic adventure, replete with peril and +suffering, crowded with bold ventures and daring +deeds. But we must pass over all the earlier of +these and come at once to the climax of the whole +striking enterprise, the story of the seizure of the +Inca of Peru in the midst of his army and the tale +of his incredible ransom.</p> + +<p>Many and strange were the adventures of Pizarro, +from the time when, with one small vessel and +about one hundred desperate followers, he sailed +from Panama in 1524, and ventured on the great +unknown Pacific, to the time when, in 1531, he +sailed again with one hundred and eighty men and +about thirty horses and landed on the coast of Peru, +which he designed to conquer as Cortez had conquered +Mexico. A faithless and cruel wretch was +this Francisco Pizarro, but he had the military +merits of courage, enterprise, daring and persistency, +and these qualities carried him through sufferings +and adversities that would have discouraged<pb n="072" /><anchor id="Pg072" /> +almost any man and brought him to magical success +in the end. It was the beacon of gold that lured +him on through desperate enterprises and deadly +perils and led him to the El Dorado of the Spanish +adventurers.</p> + +<p>Landing and capturing a point on the coast of +Peru, he marched with his handful of bold followers, +his horses and guns, eastward into the empire, +crossed the vast and difficult mountain wall of the +Andes, and reached the city of Caxamalca. Close +by this city the Inca, Atahualpa, lay encamped +with an army, for a civil war between him and his +brother Huascar had just ended in the defeat and +imprisonment of the latter.</p> + +<p>Desperate was the situation of the small body of +Spanish soldiers, when, in the late afternoon of the +15th of November, 1532, they marched into Caxamalca, +which they found empty of inhabitants. +About one hundred more men, with arms and horses, +had joined them, but in a military sense they were +but a handful still, and they had every reason to +dread the consequences of their rash enterprise.</p> + +<p>All seemed threatening,—the desertion of the city +by its people, the presence of the Inca, with a +powerful army, within a league's distance, the +probable hostility of the Indian emperor. All the +Spaniards had to rely on were their arms,—cannon, +muskets and swords of steel,—new and terrible +weapons in that land, and their war-horses, whose +evolutions had elsewhere filled the soul of the Indian +with dismay. Yet what were these in the hands of<pb n="073" /><anchor id="Pg073" /> +less than three hundred men, in the presence of a +strong and victorious army? Filled with anxiety, +Pizarro at once despatched a body of horsemen, led +by his brother Hernando and the famous cavalier +Hernando de Soto, to visit the Inca in his camp.</p> + +<p>Great was the astonishment of the Indian soldiers +as this strange cavalcade, with clang of arms and +blast of trumpet, swept by, man and horse seeming +like single beings to their unaccustomed eyes. +De Soto, the best mounted of them all, showed his +command of his steed in the Inca's presence, by +riding furiously over the plain, wheeling in graceful +curves, and displaying all the vigor and beauty of +skilled horsemanship, finally checking the noble +animal in full career when so near the Inca that +some of the foam from its lips was thrown on the +royal garments. Yet, while many of those near +drew back in terror, Atahualpa maintained an +unflinching dignity and composure, hiding every +show of dread, if any such inspired him.</p> + +<p>To the envoys he said, through an interpreter the +Spaniards had brought, "Tell your captain that I +am keeping a fast, which will end to-morrow morning. +I will then visit him with my chieftains. +Meanwhile, let him occupy the public buildings on +the square, and no other."</p> + +<p>Refreshments were now offered the Spaniards, +but these they declined, as they did not wish to +dismount. Yet they did not refuse to quaff the +sparkling drink offered them in golden vases of +great size brought by beautiful maidens. Then they<pb n="074" /><anchor id="Pg074" /> +rode slowly back, despondent at what they had seen,—the +haughty dignity of the Inca and the strength +and discipline of his army.</p> + +<p>That night there were gloomy forebodings throughout +the camp, which were increased as its occupants +saw the watch-fires of the Peruvian army, glittering +on the hill-sides, as one said, "as thick as the stars +in heaven." Scarcely a man among them except +Pizarro retained his courage; but he went round +among his men, bidding them to keep up their +spirits, and saying that Providence would not +desert them if they trusted to their strength and +their cause, as Christians against pagans. They +were in Heaven's service and God would aid them.</p> + +<p>He then called a council of his officers and unfolded +to them a desperate plan he had conceived. +This was no less than to lay an ambuscade for the +Inca and seize him in the face of his army, holding +him as a hostage for the safety of the Christians. +Nothing less decisive than this would avail them, +he said. It was too late to retreat. At the first +sign of such a movement the army of the Inca +would be upon them, and they would all be destroyed, +either there or in the intricacies of the +mountain-passes. Nor could they remain inactive +where they were. The Inca was crafty and hostile, +and would soon surround them with a net-work of +peril, from which they could not escape. To fight +him in the open field was hazardous, if not hopeless. +The only thing to do was to take him by surprise +on his visit the next day, drive back his followers<pb n="075" /><anchor id="Pg075" /> +with death and terror, seize the monarch, +and hold him prisoner. With the Inca in their +hands his followers would not dare attack them, and +they would be practically masters of the empire.</p> + +<p>No doubt Pizarro in this plan had in mind that +which Cortez had pursued in Mexico. He would +take care that Atahualpa should not be killed by +his own people, as Montezuma had been, and while +the monarch remained alive they would have the +strongest guarantee of safety. This bold plan +suited the daring character of Pizarro's officers. +They agreed with him that in boldness lay their +only hope of success or even of life, and they left +the council with renewed confidence to prepare for +the desperate enterprise.</p> + +<p>It was noon the next day before the Inca appeared, +his litter borne on the shoulders of his chief nobles +and surrounded by others, so glittering with ornaments +that, to quote from one of the Spaniards, +"they blazed like the sun." A large number of +workmen in front swept every particle of rubbish +from the road. Behind, and through the fields that +lined the road, marched a great body of armed men. +But when within half a mile of the city the procession +halted, and a messenger was sent to the +Spaniards to say that the Inca would encamp there +for that night and enter the city the following +morning.</p> + +<p>These tidings filled Pizarro with dismay. His +men had been under arms since daybreak, the +cavalry mounted, and the infantry and artillerymen<pb n="076" /><anchor id="Pg076" /> +at their posts. He feared the effect on their spirits +of a long and trying suspense in such a critical situation, +and sent word back to the Inca begging +him to come on, as he had everything ready for his +entertainment and expected to sup with him that +night. This message turned the monarch from his +purpose, and he resumed his march, though the +bulk of his army was left behind, only a group of +unarmed men accompanying him. He evidently +had no fear or suspicion of the Spaniards. Little +did he know them.</p> + +<p>It was near the hour of sunset when the procession +reached the city, several thousand Indians +marching into the great square, borne high above +whom was the Inca, seated in an open litter on a +kind of throne made of massive gold, while a collar +of emeralds of great size and beauty encircled his +neck and his attire was rich and splendid. He +looked around him with surprise, as there was not +a Spaniard to be seen, and asked, in tones of annoyance, +"Where are the strangers?"</p> + +<p>At this moment Pizarro' s chaplain, a Dominican +friar, came forward, with Bible and crucifix in hand, +and began to expound to him the Christian doctrines, +ending by asking him to acknowledge himself +a vassal of the king of Spain. The Inca, when +by aid of the interpreter he had gained a glimpse +of the priest's meaning, answered him with high +indignation, and when the friar handed him the +Bible as the authority for his words, he flung it +angrily to the earth, exclaiming,—</p> + +<pb n="077" /><anchor id="Pg077" /> + +<p>"Tell your comrades that they shall give me an +account of their doings in my land. I will not go +from here till they have made me full satisfaction +for all the wrongs they have committed."</p> + +<p>Picking up the sacred volume, the friar hastened +to Pizarro, told him what had been said, and cried +out,—</p> + +<p>"Do you not see that while we stand here +wasting our breath in talking with this dog, full of +pride as he is, the fields are filling with Indians? +Set on, at once; I absolve you."</p> + +<p>Pizarro waved a white scarf in the air, the signal +agreed upon. A gun was fired from the fortress. +Then, with the Spanish war-cry of "St. Jago and at +them!" Pizarro and his followers sprang out into +the square. From every avenue of the great building +they occupied poured armed men, horse and +foot, and rushed in warlike fury upon the Indians. +Taken utterly by surprise, the latter were hurled +back in confusion. Their ranks rent by the balls +from cannon and musketry, hundreds of them trampled +under foot by the fierce charges of the cavalry, +pierced by lances or cut down by swords, they were +driven resistlessly back, falling in multitudes as +they wildly sought to escape.</p> + +<p>The massacre went on with especial intensity +around the Inca, his nobles, none of them armed, +struggling with what strength they could in his +defence. "Let no one who values his life strike at +the Inca!" shouted Pizarro, fearing his valued +prize might be slain in the wild tumult. Fiercer<pb n="078" /><anchor id="Pg078" /> +still grew the struggle around him. The royal litter +swayed back and forth, and, as some of its bearers +were slain, it was overturned, the monarch being +saved from a fall to the ground by Pizarro and some +others, who caught him in their arms. With all +haste they bore him into the fortress and put him +under close guard.</p> + +<p>With the capture of the Inca all resistance was at +an end. The unarmed Peruvians fled in terror from +the fearful massacre. The soldiers in the fields were +seized with panic on hearing the fatal news, and +dispersed in all directions, pursued by the Spanish +cavalry, who cut them down without mercy. Not +till night had fallen did Pizarro's men cease the +pursuit and return at the call of the trumpet to +the bloody square of Caxamalca. In that frightful +massacre not less than two thousand victims, perhaps +many more, were slain, the most of them +unarmed and helpless. That night Pizarro kept his +word, that he would sup with Atahualpa, but it +was a supper at which he might well have drunk +blood. The banquet was served in one of the halls +facing the great square, then thickly paved with +the dead, the monarch, stunned by the calamity, +sitting beside his captor at the dread meal.</p> + +<p>Let us now go forward to a still more spectacular +scene in that strange drama, one which proved that +the Spaniards had truly at length reached the +"land of gold." The Inca was not long a prisoner +before he discovered the besetting passion of the +Spaniards, their thirst for gold. A party was sent<pb n="079" /><anchor id="Pg079" /> +to pillage his pleasure-house, and brought back a +rich booty in gold and silver, whose weight and +value filled the conquerors with delight.</p> + +<p>Thinking that he saw in this a hope of escaping +from his captivity, the Inca one day said to Pizarro +that if he would agree to set him free, he would +cover the floor of the room in which they stood +with gold. Pizarro listened with a smile of doubt. +As he made no answer, the Inca said, earnestly, +that "he would not merely cover the floor, but +would fill the room with gold as high as he could +reach," and he stood on tiptoe as he put his uplifted +hand against the wall. This extraordinary offer +filled Pizarro with intense astonishment. That such +a thing could be done seemed utterly incredible, +despite all they had learned of the riches of Peru. +The avaricious conqueror, dazzled by the munificent +offer, hastened to accept it, drawing a red line +along the wall at the height the Inca had touched. +How remarkable the ransom was may be judged +from the fact that the room was about seventeen +feet wide and twenty-two feet long and the mark on +the wall nine feet high. To add to its value, the Inca +offered to fill an adjoining but smaller room twice +full with silver, and to do all this in the short time +of two months. It would seem that he would need +Aladdin's wonderful lamp to accomplish so vast and +surprising a task.</p> + +<p>As soon as the offer was made and accepted, the +Inca sent messengers to Cuzco, his capital city, and +to the other principal places in his kingdom, with<pb n="080" /><anchor id="Pg080" /> +orders to bring all the gold ornaments and utensils +from his palaces and from the temples and other +public buildings, and transport them in all haste to +Caxamalca. While awaiting the golden spoil the +monarch was treated with the fullest respect due to +his rank, having his own private apartments and +the society of his wives, while his nobles were permitted +to visit him freely. The only thing the +Spaniards took good care of was that he should be +kept under close guard.</p> + +<p>He took one advantage of his measure of liberty. +His brother and rival, Huascar, though a captive, +might escape and seize the control of the state, and +he learned that the prisoner had sent a private message +to Pizarro, offering to pay for his liberty a +much larger ransom than that promised by Atahualpa. +The Inca was crafty and cruel enough to +remove this danger from his path, if we may accept +the evidence of his captors. At any rate the royal +captive was soon after drowned, declaring with his +dying breath that his rival would not long survive +him, but that the white men would avenge his +murder. Atahualpa told Pizarro, with a show of +great sorrow and indignation, of his brother's death, +and when the Spaniard threatened to hold him +responsible for it, the Inca protested that it had +been done without his knowledge or consent by +Huascar's keepers, who feared that their captive +might escape. However it occurred, Pizarro soon +afterward learned that the news was true. It may +be that he was well satisfied with the fact, as it<pb n="081" /><anchor id="Pg081" /> +removed a leading claimant for the throne from his +path.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the ransom began to come in—slowly, +for the distances were great, and the treasure had +to be transported on foot by carriers. Most of it +consisted of massive pieces of gold and silver plate, +some of them weighing from fifty to seventy-five +pounds. The Spaniards beheld with gleaming eyes +the shining heaps of treasure, brought in on the +shoulders of Indian porters, and carefully stored +away under guard. On some days articles to the +value of half a million dollars are said to have been +brought in.</p> + +<p>Yet the vast weight in gold which was thus +brought before them did not satisfy the avaricious +impatience of the Spaniards. They made no allowance +for distance and difficulty, and began to suspect +the Inca of delaying the ransom until he could +prepare a rising of his subjects against the strangers. +When Atahualpa heard of these suspicions he was +filled with surprise and indignation. "Not a man +of my subjects would dare raise a finger without +my orders," he said to Pizarro. "Is not my life at +your disposal? What better security would you +have of my good faith?" He ended by advising +him to send some of his own men to Cuzco, where +they could see for themselves how his orders were +being obeyed. He would give them a safe-conduct, +and they could superintend the work themselves.</p> + +<p>The three envoys sent were carried the whole +distance of more than six hundred miles in litters<pb n="082" /><anchor id="Pg082" /> +by relays of carriers, their route laying along the +great military road of Peru and through many +populous towns. Cuzco they found to be a large +and splendid city. The great temple of the Sun +was covered with plates of gold, which, by the +Inca's orders, were being torn off. There were +seven hundred of these plates in all, and a cornice +of pure gold ran round the building. But this was +so deeply set in the stone that it could not be removed. +On their return, these messengers brought +with them full two hundred loads of gold, besides +great quantities of silver.</p> + +<p>Gradually the vast ransom offered by the Inca, +far surpassing any paid by any other captive in the +world's history, was gathered in. The gold received +came in a great variety of shapes, being wrought +into goblets, ewers, salvers, vases, and other forms +for ornament or use, utensils for temple or palace, +tiles and plate used to decorate the public edifices, +and curious imitations of plants and animals. The +most beautiful and artistic of these was the representation +of Indian corn, the ear of gold being +sheathed in broad leaves of silver, while the rich +tassels were made of the same precious metal. +Equally admired was a fountain which sent up a +sparkling jet of gold, with birds and animals of the +same metal playing in the waters at its base. Some +of these objects were so beautifully wrought as to +compare favorably with the work of skilled European +artists.</p> + +<p>The treasure gathered was measured in the room<pb n="083" /><anchor id="Pg083" /> +in its original form, this being the compact, but +even in this loose form the gold amounted to a sum +equal, in modern money, to over fifteen millions of +dollars, with a large value in silver in addition. All +this was melted down into ingots and divided among +the conquerors, with the exception of the royal +fifth, reserved for the King of Spain. The latter +included many of the most curious works of art. +The share of Pizarro probably amounted to not less +than a million dollars, and even the common soldiers +received what was wealth to them.</p> + +<p>The ransom paid, what was the benefit to the +Inca? Was he given his liberty, in accordance +with the compact? Yes, the liberty which such +men as Francisco Pizarro give to those whom they +have injured and have reason to fear. The total +ransom offered by Atahualpa had not been brought +in, but the impatient Spaniards had divided the +spoil without waiting for the whole, and the Inca +demanded his freedom. De Soto, who was his chief +friend among the Spaniards, told Pizarro of his +demand, but could get from him no direct reply. +His treacherous mind was brooding deeply over +some dark project.</p> + +<p>Soon rumors became current among the soldiers +of a design of revolt entertained by the natives. +These spread and grew until an immense army was +conjured up. The Inca was looked upon as the +instigator of the supposed rising, and was charged +with it by Pizarro. His denial of it had little +effect, and the fortress was put in a state of defence,<pb n="084" /><anchor id="Pg084" /> +while many of the soldiers began to demand the life +of the Inca. To those demands Pizarro did not +turn a deaf ear. Possibly they arose at his own +instigation.</p> + +<figure url="images/image07.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>DEATH OF ATAHUALPA, FROM A PAINTING IN THE CATHEDRAL AT CALLAO.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: DEATH OF ATAHUALPA, FROM A PAINTING IN THE CATHEDRAL AT CALLAO.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Hernando Pizarro, who had shown himself a +strong friend of the captive, was absent. De Soto, +another of his friends, was sent at the head of an +expedition to Huamachuco, a town a hundred miles +away, where it was said the natives were in arms. +Scarcely had he gone when Pizarro, seeming to +yield to the demands of the soldiers, decided to +bring Atahualpa to trial on the charges against him.</p> + +<p>A court was held, with Pizarro and his fellow-captain +Almagro as the judges, an attorney-general +being appointed for the crown and counsel for the +prisoner. The crimes charged against the Inca +were chiefly of a kind with which the Spaniards +had nothing to do, among them the assassination +of Huascar and the guilt of idolatry. These were +simply to bolster up the only real charge, that of +exciting an insurrection against the Spaniards. The +whole affair was the merest show of a trial, and +was hurried through without waiting for the return +of De Soto, who could have given useful evidence +about the insurrection. The culprit was adjudged +guilty, and sentenced to be burnt alive that very +night in the great square of Caxamalca!</p> + +<p>It was a sentence that might well have been expected +as the termination of such a trial by such +men. Pizarro, in fact, did not dare to set his captive +at liberty, if he proposed to remain in the<pb n="085" /><anchor id="Pg085" /> +country, and the cruel sentence, which was common +enough at that day, was carried out except in one +particular. As the poor Inca stood bound to the +stake, with the fagots of his funeral pile heaped +around him, Valverde, the Dominican friar, made +a last appeal to him to accept the cross and be baptized, +promising him a less painful death if he would +consent. The Inca, shrinking from the horror of +the flames, consented, and was duly baptized under +the name of Juan de Atahualpa. He was then put +to death in the Spanish manner, by the <hi rend="font-style: italic">garrote</hi>, or +strangulation.</p> + +<p>Thus died the Inca of Peru, the victim of +Pizarro's treachery. Great was the indignation of +De Soto, on his return a day or two later from +an expedition in which he had found no rebels, at +what had been done. Pizarro tried to exculpate +himself and blame others for deceiving him, but +these told him to his face that he alone was responsible +for the deed. In all probability they told +the truth.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="086" /><anchor id="Pg086" /> +<head>GONZALO PIZARRO AND THE LAND OF CINNAMON.</head> + +<p>We have now to relate the most remarkable +adventure in the story of the conquest of Peru, +and one of the most remarkable in the history of +the New World,—the expedition of Gonzalo Pizarro +to the upper waters of the Amazon and the pioneer +voyage down that mighty river.</p> + +<p>Francisco Pizarro was well aided by his brothers +in his great work of conquest, three of them—Hernando, +Juan, and Gonzalo—accompanying him to +Peru, and all of them proving brave, enterprising, +and able men. In 1540, eight years after the conquest, +Gonzalo was appointed by his brother governor +of the territory of Quito, in the north of the +empire, with instructions to explore the unknown +country lying to the east, where the cinnamon tree +was said to grow. Gonzalo lost no time in seeking +his province, and made haste in starting on his +journey of exploration to the fabled land of spices.</p> + +<p>It was early in the year that he set out on this +famous expedition, with a force of three hundred +and fifty Spaniards and four thousand Indians, one +hundred and fifty of the whites being mounted. +They were all thoroughly equipped and took with +them a large supply of provisions and a great drove +of hogs, five thousand in number, as some writers<pb n="087" /><anchor id="Pg087" /> +say. Yet with all this food they were to suffer +from the extremes of famine.</p> + +<p>We can but briefly tell the incidents of this extraordinary +journey. At first it was easy enough. +But when they left the land of the Incas and began +to cross the lofty ranges of the Andes, they found +themselves involved in intricate and difficult passes, +swept by chilling winds. In this cold wilderness +many of the natives found an icy grave, and during +their passage a terrible earthquake shook the mountains, +the earth in one place being rent asunder. +Choking sulphurous vapors issued from the cavity, +into whose frightful abyss a village of several hundred +houses was precipitated.</p> + +<p>After the heights were passed and they descended +to the lower levels, tropical heats succeeded the +biting cold, and fierce storms of rain, accompanied +by violent thunder and lightning, descended almost +ceaselessly, drenching the travellers day after day. +It was the rainy season of the tropics, and for more +than six weeks the deluge continued, while the +forlorn wanderers, wet and weary, could scarce drag +themselves over the yielding and saturated soil.</p> + +<p>For several months this toilsome journey continued, +many a mountain stream and dismal morass +needing to be crossed. At length they reached the +Land of Cinnamon, the <hi rend="font-style: italic">Canelas</hi> of the Spaniards, +where were forests of the trees supposed by them +to bear the precious bark. Yet had it been the +actual cinnamon of the East Indies, it would have +been useless to them in that remote and mountain-walled<pb n="088" /><anchor id="Pg088" /> +wilderness. Here their journey, as originally +laid out, should have ended, but they were +lured on by the statements of the wild tribes they +met, they being told of a rich and populous land at +ten days' journey in advance, in which gold could +be found in abundance.</p> + +<p>Gold was a magic word to the Spaniards, and +they went eagerly onward, over a country of broad +savannahs which led to seemingly endless forests, +where grew trees of stupendous bulk, some so large +that the extended arms of sixteen men could barely +reach around them. A thick net-work of vines and +creepers hung in bright-colored festoons from tree +to tree, beautiful to look at but very difficult to +pass. The axe was necessary at every step of the +way, while their garments, rotted with the incessant +rains, were torn into rags by the bushes and brambles +of the woodland. Their provisions had been long +since spoiled by the weather, and their drove of +swine had vanished, such of the animals as were not +consumed having strayed into the woods and hills. +They had brought with them nearly a thousand +dogs, many of them of the ferocious bloodhound +breed, and these they were now glad enough to kill +and eat. When these were gone no food was to be +had but such herbs and edible roots and small +animals as the forest afforded.</p> + +<p>At length the disconsolate wanderers emerged on +the banks of a broad river, the Napo, one of the +great tributaries of the Amazon, issuing from the +northern Andes to seek a home in the bosom of<pb n="089" /><anchor id="Pg089" /> +that mighty stream. Gladdened by the sight, they +followed its banks downward, hoping in this way to +find an easier route. Thickets still beset their way, +through which it needed all their strength to open +a passage, and after going a considerable distance a +loud and increasing noise met their ears. For miles +they followed it as it gradually rose into a roar, and +at length they reached a place where the stream +rushed furiously down steep rapids, and at the end +poured in a vast volume of foam down a magnificent +cataract, twelve hundred feet in depth.</p> + +<p>This was the height of the fall as measured by +the eyes of the wanderers, a guide not much to be +relied on. The stream itself had narrowed until it +was at this point not more than twenty feet wide, +and the hungry wanderers determined to cross it, +with the hope of finding beyond it a country yielding +more food. A bridge was constructed by felling +great trees across the chasm, the water here running +through vertical walls several hundred feet in depth. +Over this rude bridge men and horses made their +way, only one Spaniard being lost by tumbling +down the giddy depth.</p> + +<p>The country beyond the stream proved no better +than that they had left, and the only signs of inhabitants +they met were savage and hostile tribes +of Indians, with whom they kept up a steady +skirmish. Some of the more friendly told them +that the fruitful land they sought was but a few +days' journey down the river, and they went wearily +on, day by day, as the promised land still fled before<pb n="090" /><anchor id="Pg090" /> +their feet. Doubtless they were led by their own +desires to misinterpret the words of the Indians.</p> + +<p>In the end Gonzalo Pizarro decided on building a +vessel large enough to carry the baggage and the +men too weak to walk. Timber was superabundant. +The shoes of horses that had died or had +been killed for food were wrought into nails. Pitch +was obtained from gum-yielding trees. In place of +oakum the tattered garments of the soldiers were +used. It took two months to complete the difficult +task, at the end of which time a rude but strong +brigantine was ready, the first vessel larger than an +Indian canoe that ever floated on the mighty waters +of Brazil. It was large enough to carry half the +Spaniards that remained alive after their months +of terrible travel.</p> + +<p>Pizarro gave the command of the vessel to Francisco +de Orellana, a man in whose courage and fidelity +he put full trust. The company now resumed +its march more hopefully, following the course of +the Napo for weeks that lengthened into months, +the brigantine keeping beside them and transporting +the weaker whenever a difficult piece of country +was reached. In this journey the last scraps of +provisions were consumed, including their few remaining +horses, and they were so pressed by hunger +as to eat the leather of their saddles and belts. +Little food was yielded by the forest, and such +toads, serpents, and other reptiles as they found +were greedily devoured.</p> + +<p>Still the story of a rich country, inhabited by<pb n="091" /><anchor id="Pg091" /> +a populous nation, was told by the wandering +Indians, but it was always several days ahead. +Pizarro at length decided to stop where he was +and feed on the scanty forest spoil, while Orellana +went down the stream in his brigantine to +where, as the Indians said, the Napo flowed into +a greater river. Here the nation they sought was +to be found, and Orellana was bidden to get a supply +of provisions and bring them back to the half-starved +company. Taking fifty of the adventurers +in the vessel, he pushed off into the swift channel +of the river and shot onward in a speedy voyage +which quickly took him and his comrades out of +sight.</p> + +<p>Days and weeks passed, and no sign of the return +of the voyagers appeared. In vain the waiting +men strained their eyes down the stream and +sent out detachments to look for the vessel farther +down. Finally, deeming it useless to wait longer, +they resumed their journey down the river, spending +two months in advancing five or six hundred +miles—those of them who did not die by the way. +At length they reached the point they sought, +where the Napo plunged into a much larger stream, +that mighty river since known as the Amazon, +which rolls for thousands of miles eastward through +the vast Brazilian forest.</p> + +<p>Here they looked in vain for the brigantine and +the rich and populous country promised them. +They were still in a dense forest region, as unpromising +as that they had left. As for Orellana<pb n="092" /><anchor id="Pg092" /> +and his companions, it was naturally supposed that +they had perished by famine or by the hands of the +ferocious natives. But they learned differently at +length, when a half-starved and half-naked white +man emerged from the forest, whom they recognized +as Sanches de Vargas, one of Orellana's companions.</p> + +<p>The tale he told them was the following: The +brigantine had shot so swiftly down the Napo as to +reach in three days the point it had taken them two +months to attain. Here, instead of finding supplies +with which to return, Orellana could obtain barely +enough food for himself and his men. To attempt +to ascend against the swift current of the river was +impossible. To go back by land was a formidable +task, and one that would add nothing to the comfort +of those left behind. In this dilemma Orellana +came to the daring decision to go on down the Amazon, +visiting the populous nations which he was told +dwelt on its banks, descending to its mouth, and +sailing back to Spain with the tidings and the glory +of a famous adventure and noble discovery.</p> + +<p>He found his reckless companions quite ready to +accept his perilous scheme, with little heed of the +fate of the comrades left behind them in the wilderness. +De Vargas was the only one who earnestly +opposed the desertion as inhuman and dishonorable, +and Orellana punished him by abandoning +him in the wilderness and sailing away without +him.</p> + +<p>The story of Orellana's adventure is not the least<pb n="093" /><anchor id="Pg093" /> +interesting part of the expedition we have set out +to describe; but, as it is a side issue, we must deal +with it very briefly. Launched on the mighty and +unknown river, in a rudely built barque, it is a +marvel that the voyagers escaped shipwreck in the +descent of that vast stream, the navigation being +too difficult and perilous, as we are told by Condamine, +who descended it in 1743, to be undertaken +without the aid of a skilful pilot. Yet the daring +Spaniards accomplished it safely. Many times their +vessel narrowly escaped being dashed to pieces on +the rocks or in the rapids of the stream. Still +greater was the danger of the voyagers from the +warlike forest tribes, who followed them for miles +in canoes and fiercely attacked them whenever they +landed in search of food.</p> + +<p>At length the extraordinary voyage was safely +completed, and the brigantine, built on the Napo, +several thousand miles in the interior, emerged on +the Atlantic. Here Orellana proceeded to the island +of Cubagna, from which he made his way, with his +companions, to Spain. He had a wonderful story +to tell, of nations of Amazons dwelling on the banks +of the great river, of an El Dorado said to exist in +its vicinity, and other romances, gathered from the +uncertain stories of the savages.</p> + +<p>He found no difficulty, in that age of marvels and +credulity, in gaining belief, and was sent out at the +head of five hundred followers to conquer and colonize +the realms he had seen. But he died on the +outward voyage, and Spain got no profit from his<pb n="094" /><anchor id="Pg094" /> +discovery, the lands of the Amazon falling within +the territory assigned by the Pope to Portugal.</p> + +<p>Orellana had accomplished one of the greatest +feats in the annals of travel and discovery, though +his glory was won at the cost of the crime of deserting +his companions in the depths of the untrodden +wilderness. It was with horror and indignation +that the deserted soldiers listened to the story of +Vargas, and found themselves deprived of their only +apparent means of escape from that terrible situation. +An effort was made to continue their journey +along the banks of the Amazon, but after some +days of wearying toil, this was given up as a hopeless +task, and despair settled down upon their +souls.</p> + +<p>Gonzalo Pizarro now showed himself an able +leader. He told his despairing followers that it was +useless to advance farther, and that they could not +stay where they were, their only hope lying in a +return to Quito. This was more than a thousand +miles away, and over a year had passed since they +left it. To return was perilous, but in it lay their +only hope.</p> + +<p>Gonzalo did all he could to reanimate their spirits, +speaking of the constancy they had shown, and +bidding them to show themselves worthy of the +name of Castilians. Glory would be theirs when +they should reach their native land. He would +lead them back by another route, and somewhere +on it they would surely reach that fruitful land of +which so much had been told them. At any rate,<pb n="095" /><anchor id="Pg095" /> +every step would take them nearer home, and nothing +else was left them to do.</p> + +<p>The soldiers listened to him with renewed hope. +He had proved himself so far a true companion, +sharing all their perils and privations, taking his +lot with the humblest among them, aiding the sick +and cheering up the despondent. In this way he +had won their fullest confidence and devotion, and +in this trying moment he reaped the benefit of his +unselfish conduct.</p> + +<p>The journey back was more direct and less difficult +than that they had already taken. Yet though +this route proved an easier one, their distress was +greater than ever, from their lack of food beyond +such scanty fare as they could pick up in the forest +or obtain by force or otherwise from the Indians. +Such as sickened and fell by the way were obliged +to be left behind, and many a poor wretch was +deserted to die alone in the wilderness, if not devoured +by the wild beasts that roamed through it.</p> + +<p>The homeward march, like the outward one, took +more than a year, and it was in June, 1542, that +the survivors trod again the high plains of Quito. +They were a very different looking party from the +well-equipped and hope-inspired troop of cavaliers +and men-at-arms who had left that upland city +nearly two and a half years before. Their horses +were gone, their bright arms were rusted and +broken, their clothing was replaced by the skins of +wild beasts, their hair hung long and matted down +their shoulders, their faces were blackened by the<pb n="096" /><anchor id="Pg096" /> +tropical sun, their bodies were wasted and scarred. +A gallant troop they had set out; a body of meagre +phantoms they returned. Of the four thousand +Indians taken, less than half had survived. Of the +Spaniards only eighty came back, and these so +worn and broken that many of them never fully +recovered from their sufferings. Thus in suffering +and woe ended the famous expedition to the Land +of Cinnamon.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="097" /><anchor id="Pg097" /> +<head>CORONADO AND THE SEVEN CITIES OF CIBOLA.</head> + +<p>The remarkable success of Cortez and Pizarro in +Mexico and Peru went far to convince the Spaniards +that in America they had found a veritable land of +magic, filled with wonders and supremely rich in +gold and gems. Ponce de Leon sought in Florida +for the fabled Fountain of Youth. Hernando de +Soto, one of the companions of Pizarro, attempted +to find a second Peru in the north, and became the +discoverer of the Mississippi. From Mexico other +adventurers set out, with equal hopes, in search of +empire and treasure. Some went south to the conquest +of Central America, others north to California +and New Mexico. The latter region was the seat +of the fancied Seven Cities of Cibola, the search for +which it is here proposed to describe.</p> + +<p>In 1538 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was appointed +governor of New Galicia, as the country +lying north of Mexico was named, and sent out a +certain Fray Marcos, a monk who had been with +Pizarro in Peru, on a journey of exploration to the +north. With him were some Indian guides and a +negro named Estevanico, or Stephen, who had been +one of the survivors of the Narvaez expedition to +Florida and had travelled for years among the +Indians of the north. He was expected to be of<pb n="098" /><anchor id="Pg098" /> +great assistance. As the worthy friar went on he +was told of rich regions beyond, where the people +wore ornaments of gold, and at length he sent the +negro in advance to investigate and report. Stephen +was to send back by the Indians a cross, the size of +which would indicate the importance of what he +had learned. Within four days messengers returned +with a great cross the height of a man, significant +of great and important discoveries.</p> + +<p>One of the Indians told the friar that thirty days' +journey from the point they had reached was a +populous country called Cibola, in which were seven +great cities under one lord, peopled by a civilized +nation that dwelt in large houses well built of stone +and lime, some of them several stories in height. +The entrances to the principal houses were richly +wrought with turquoise, which was there in great +abundance. Farther on they had been told were +other provinces, each of them much greater than +that of the seven cities.</p> + +<p>Two days after Easter, 1539, Fray Marcos set out +on the track of his pioneer, eager to reach the land +of wonders and riches of which he had been told. +Doubtless there rose in his mind dreams of a second +Mexico or Peru. The land through which lay his +route was strange and picturesque. Here were +fertile valleys, watered by streams and walled in by +mountains; there were narrow cañons through +which ran rapid streams, with rock-walls hundreds +of feet high and cut into strange forms of turrets +and towers.</p> + +<pb n="099" /><anchor id="Pg099" /> + +<p>As he went on he heard more of the seven cities +and the distant kingdoms, and of the abundance of +turquoises with which the natives adorned their +persons and their doorways. But nothing was seen +of Stephen, though shelter and provisions were +found which he had left at points along the route. +As for the dusky pioneer, Fray Marcos was never +to set eyes on him again.</p> + +<p>At length the good monk reached a fertile region, +irrigated like a garden, where the men wore three +or four strings of turquoises around their necks; +and the women wore them in their ears and noses. +But Cibola lay still beyond, the tales of the natives +magnifying its houses till some of them were ten +stories in height. Ladders, they said, were used in +place of stairways. Reaching at length the Gila +River, a stream flowing through deep and rugged +valleys, he heard again of the negro, who was +crossing the wilderness to the northeast, escorted +like a prince by some three hundred natives. Fifteen +days journey still lay between Fray Marcos +and Cibola, and he went on into the wilderness, escorted, +like his pioneer, by a large train of natives, +who volunteered their services.</p> + +<p>For twelve days the journey continued through a +rough mountain region, abundantly supplied with +game, consisting of deer, rabbits, and partridges, +which was brought in by the Indian hunters. But +now there came back startling news, for one of the +negro's guides appeared, pallid with fright, telling +how Stephen had reached Cibola, where he had<pb n="100" /><anchor id="Pg100" /> +been seized, plundered, and imprisoned. Farther +on two more Indians were met, covered with blood +and wounds, who said that they had escaped from +the slaughter of all their comrades by the warlike +people of Cibola.</p> + +<p>The bold monk had now much trouble in getting +his frightened followers to go on with him, but by +means of abundant presents he induced two of the +chiefs to proceed. He was determined to gain at +least a sight of the land of wonders, and with the +chiefs and his own followers he cautiously proceeded. +At length, from a hill summit, he looked +down on a broad plain on which he saw the first of +the famous seven cities. To his excited fancy it +was greater than the city of Mexico, the houses of +stone in many stories and with flat roofs. This was +all he could tell from his distant view, in which the +mountain hazes seem to have greatly magnified his +power of vision.</p> + +<p>That was the end of Fray Marcos's journey. He +did not dare to approach nearer to that terrible +people, and, as he quaintly says, "returned with +more fear than victuals;" overtaking his escort, +which, moved by still greater fear, had not waited +for him. Back to Coronado he went with his story, +a disappointing one, since he had seen nothing of +either gold, silver, or precious stones, the nearest +approach to treasure being the greenish turquoise.</p> + +<p>The story of the negro pioneer, as afterwards +learned, was one that might have fitted the Orient. +He advanced with savage magnificence, bells and<pb n="101" /><anchor id="Pg101" /> +feathers adorning his sable arms and legs, while he +carried a gourd decorated with bells and with white +and red feathers. This he knew to be a symbol of +authority among the Indians. Two Spanish greyhounds +followed him, and a number of handsome +Indian women, whom he had taken up on the way, +attended him. He was followed with a large escort +of Indians, carrying his provisions and other effects, +among them gifts received, or plunder taken, from +the natives.</p> + +<p>When near Cibola, he, in disobedience of the +orders given him, sent messengers to the city bearing +his gourd, and saying that he came to treat for +peace and to cure the sick. The chief to whom the +gourd was presented, on observing the bells, cast it +angrily to the ground, exclaiming,—</p> + +<p>"I know not those people; their bells are not of +our fashion; tell them to return at once, or not a +man of them will be left alive."</p> + +<p>In despite of this hostile message, the vain-glorious +negro went on. He and his company were +not permitted to enter the city, but were given a +house outside of it, and here they were stripped of +all their possessions and refused food and drink. +The next morning they left the house, where they +were quickly surrounded and attacked by a great +number of the townspeople, all of them being killed +except the two Indians who had brought the news +to Fray Marcos.</p> + +<p>Why they were treated in this manner is not +known. They seem to have been looked on as spies<pb n="102" /><anchor id="Pg102" /> +or enemies. But it is interesting that the legend of +the killing of a Black Mexican still lingers in a +pueblo of the Zuñi Indians, though three centuries +and a half have since then elapsed.</p> + +<p>The story of the discovery of the Seven Cities, as +told by the worthy Fray Marcos, when repeated in +the city of Mexico gave rise to high hopes of a new +El Dorado; and numbers were ready to join in an +expedition to explore and conquer Cibola. The city +was then well filled with adventurers eager for fame +and fortune, many of them men of good family, +cavaliers of rank "floating about like corks on +water," and soldiers ready to enlist in any promising +service. It is no wonder that in a few weeks a +company of over three hundred were enlisted, a +large proportion of them mounted. The Indians of +the expedition numbered eight hundred, and some +small field-pieces were taken along, while sheep and +cows were to be driven to supply the army with +fresh meat.</p> + +<p>Francisco de Coronado was given the command, +and so distinguished was the cavalcade that the +viceroy would have appointed each of the gentlemen +a captain but for fear of making the command +top-heavy with officers. It was early in 1540 that +the gallant expedition set out, some of the horsemen +arrayed in brilliant coats of mail and armed with +swords and lances, others wearing helmets of iron +or tough bullhide, while the footmen carried cross-bows +and muskets, and the Indians were armed +with bows and clubs. Splendid they were—but woe-befallen<pb n="103" /><anchor id="Pg103" /> +were they to be on their return, such of +them as came back. An accessory party was sent +by sea, along the Pacific coast, under Hernando de +Alarcon, to aid, as far as it could, in the success of +the army. But in spite of all Alarcon's efforts, he +failed to get in communication with Coronado and +his men.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of July, after following the monk's +route through the mountain wilderness, the expedition +came within two days' march of the first city +of Cibola. It was evident from the signal-fires on +the hills and other signs of hostility that the Spaniards +would have to fight; but for this the cavaliers +of that day seem to have been always ready, and +the next day Coronado moved forward towards the +desired goal.</p> + +<p>At length the gallant little army was before +Hawaikuh, the city on which Fray Marcos had +gazed with such magnifying eyes, but which now +was seen to be a village of some two hundred houses. +It lay about fifteen miles southwest of the present +Zuñi. The natives were ready for war. All the +old men, with the women and children, had been +sent away, and the Spaniards were received with +volleys of arrows.</p> + +<p>The houses were built in retreating terraces, each +story being smaller than that below it, and from +these points of vantage the arrows of the natives +came in showers. Evidently the place was only to +be taken by assault, and the infantry was posted so +as to fire on the warriors, while a number of dismounted<pb n="104" /><anchor id="Pg104" /> +horsemen sought to scale the walls by a +ladder which they had found. This proved no easy +task. Coronado's glittering armor especially made +him a shining mark, and he was so tormented with +arrows and battered with stones as he sought to +ascend that he was wounded and had to be carried +from the field. Others were injured and three horses +were killed, but in less than an hour the place was +carried, the warriors retreating in dismay before +the impetuous assault.</p> + +<p>Glad enough were the soldiers to occupy the deserted +houses. Their food had given out and they +were half starved, but in the store-rooms they found +"that of which there was greater need than of gold +or silver, which was much corn and beans and +chickens, better than those of New Spain, and +salt, the best and whitest I have seen in all my +life." The chickens seem to have been wild turkeys, +kept by the natives for their plumage. But +of the much-desired gold and silver there was not +a trace.</p> + +<p>The story of all the adventures of the Spaniards +in this country is too extended and not of enough +interest to be given here. It must suffice to say +that before their eyes the Seven Cities of Cibola faded +into phantoms, or rather contracted into villages of +terraced houses like that they had captured. Food +was to be had, but none of the hoped-for spoil, +even the turquoises of which so much had been +told proving to be of little value. Expeditions +were sent out in different directions, some of them<pb n="105" /><anchor id="Pg105" /> +discovering lofty, tower-like hills, with villages on +their almost inaccessible summits, the only approach +being by narrow steps cut in the rock. +Others came upon deep cañons, one of them discovering +the wonderful Grand Cañon of the Colorado +River. In the country of Tiguex were twelve +villages built of adobe, some on the plain and some +on the lofty heights. The people here received the +Spaniards peaceably and with much show of welcome.</p> + +<p>In Tiguex was found an Indian slave, called by +the Spaniards El Turco, from his resemblance to +the Turks, who said he had come from a rich country +in the east, where were numbers of great animals +with shaggy manes,—evidently the buffalo or +bison, now first heard of. Some time later, being +brought into the presence of Coronado, El Turco +had a more wonderful story to tell, to the effect +that "In his land there was a river in the level +country which was two leagues wide, in which were +fishes as big as horses, and large numbers of very +big canoes with more than twenty rowers on a side, +and carrying sails; and their lords sat on the poop +under awnings, and on the prow they had a great +golden eagle. He said also that the lord of that +country took his afternoon nap under a great tree +on which were hung a large number of little gold +bells, which put him to sleep as they swung in the +air. He said also that every one had his ordinary +dishes made of wrought plate, and the jugs, plates, +and bowls were of gold."</p> + +<p>No doubt it was the love of the strangers for the<pb n="106" /><anchor id="Pg106" /> +yellow metal that inspired El Turco to these alluring +stories, in the hope of getting rid of the +unwelcome visitors. At any rate, this was the +effect it had. After wintering in the villages of the +Tiguas, which the Spaniards had assailed and taken, +they set out in the following April in search of +Quivira, the land of gold, which El Turco had +painted in such enticing colors. Against the advice +of El Turco, they loaded the horses with provisions, +the imaginative Indian saying that this was useless, +as the laden animals could not bring back the gold +and silver. Scarcely to his liking, the romancing +Indian was taken with them as a guide.</p> + +<p>On for many leagues they went until the Pecos +River was crossed and the great northern plains +were reached, they being now in a flat and treeless +country, covered with high grasses and peopled by +herds of the great maned animals which El Turco +had described. These strange creatures were seen +in extraordinary numbers, so abundant that one +day, when a herd was put to flight, they fell in +such a multitude into a ravine as nearly to fill it up, +so that the remainder of the herd crossed on the +dead bodies.</p> + +<p>Various tribes of Indians were met, the story they +told not at all agreeing with that of El Turco, who +accordingly was now put in chains. Coronado, not +wishing to subject all his companions to suffering, +but eager still to reach the fabled Quivira, at length +sent all his followers back except thirty horsemen +and six foot-soldiers, with whom he continued his<pb n="107" /><anchor id="Pg107" /> +journey to the north, the bisons supplying them +with abundance of food.</p> + +<p>For six weeks they marched onward, crossing at +the end of thirty days a wide stream, which is +thought to have been the Arkansas River, and at +last reached Quivira, which seems to have lain in +the present State of Kansas. A pleasing land it +was of hills and dales and fertile meadows, but in +place of El Turco's many-storied stone houses, only +rude wigwams were to be seen, and the civilized +people proved to be naked savages. The only +yellow metal seen was a copper plate worn by one +of the chiefs and some bells of the same substance. +The utmost Coronado could do was to set up a cross +and claim this wide region in the name of his +master; and his chief satisfaction was in strangling +El Turco for his many embellished lies.</p> + +<p>We shall not describe the return journey, though +it was not lacking in interesting incidents. Finally, +having lost many of their horses, being harassed by +the Indians, and suffering from want of provisions, +the way-worn army reached known soil in the +valley of Culiacan. Here all discipline was at an +end, and the disorganized army straggled for leagues +down the valley, all Coronado's entreaties failing to +restore any order to the ranks.</p> + +<p>At length the sorely disappointed commander +presented himself before the viceroy Mendoza, with +scarcely a hundred ragged followers who alone remained +with him of the splendid cavalcade with +which he had set out.</p> + +<pb n="108" /><anchor id="Pg108" /> + +<p>Thus ends the story of the last of the conquistadores, +who had found only villages of barbarians +and tribes of half-naked savages, and returned +empty-handed from his long chase after the Will-o' +the-wisp of Quivira and its fleeting treasures. Little +did he dream that Quivira would yet become the +central region of one of the greatest civilized nations +of the world, and rich in productions beyond his +most avaricious vision.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="pdf" /> +<index index="toc" /> +<pb n="109" /><anchor id="Pg109" /> +<head>THE FAITHFUL MIRANDA AND THE LOVERS OF ARGENTINA.</head> + +<p>The early history of America has few romantic +tales of love and devotion, but there is one woven +in with the history of the settlement of Buenos +Ayres, the modern Argentina, which is told by all +the historians of the time, and which exists as the +one striking love romance of the Spanish conquest. +It has been doubted, it is true, but it will not to do +to dismiss all the chivalrous tales of the past on the +plea that historical critics have questioned them.</p> + +<p>It may not be generally known to our readers +that the man who explored and took possession of +the great rivers of Buenos Ayres for Spain was +Sebastian Cabot, he who, many years before, had +with his father discovered North America in the +service of England. It was in the year 1526 that +he sailed up the noble river which he named the +Rio de la Plata, a name suggested by the bars of +silver which he obtained from the Indians on its +banks. Sailing some hundred miles up the Paraguay +River, he built at the mouth of the river Zarcaranna +a stronghold which he named the Fort of +the Holy Ghost. Some three years later Cabot set +sail for Spain, leaving Nuno de Lara as commander +of this fort, with a garrison of one hundred and +twenty men.</p> + +<pb n="110" /><anchor id="Pg110" /> + +<p>These historical details are important, as a necessary +setting for the love-romance which followed +the founding of this fort. Lara, being left with his +handful of men as the only whites in a vast territory +peopled with Indians, felt strongly that in his +situation prudence was the better part of valor, and +strove to cultivate friendly relations with the nearest +and most powerful of these tribes, the Timbuez. +His success in this brought about, in an unexpected +manner, his death and the loss of the fort, with +other evils in their train.</p> + +<figure url="images/image08.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>COFFEE PLANT IN BLOSSOM.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: COFFEE PLANT IN BLOSSOM.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>The tragedy came on in this way: Sebastian Hurtado, +one of Lara's principal officers, had brought +with him his wife, Lucia Miranda, a Spanish lady +of much beauty and purity of soul. During the +frequent visits which Mangora, the cacique of the +Timbuez, paid to the fort, he saw this lady and +became enamoured of her charms, so deeply that +he could not conceal the evidence of his love.</p> + +<p>Miranda was not long in observing the ardent +looks of the Indian chief and in understanding their +significance, and the discovery filled her with dread +and alarm. Knowing how important it was for the +commandant to keep on good terms with this powerful +chief, and fearing that she might be sacrificed to +this policy, she did her utmost to keep out of his +sight, and also to guard against any surprise or +violence, not knowing to what extremes the passion +of love might lead an Indian.</p> + +<p>Mangora, on his part, laid covert plans to get the +fair lady out of the fort, and with this in view<pb n="111" /><anchor id="Pg111" /> +pressed Hurtado to pay him a visit and bring his +wife with him. This the Spaniard was loath to do, +for Miranda had told him of her fears, and he suspected +the Indian's design. With a policy demanded +by the situation, he declined the invitations of the +chief, on the plea that a Castilian soldier could not +leave his post of duty without permission from his +commander, and that honor forbade him to ask that +permission except to fight his enemies.</p> + +<p>The wily chief was not duped by this reply. He +saw that Hurtado suspected his purpose, and the +removal of the husband seemed to him a necessary +step for its accomplishment. While seeking to +devise a plan for this, he learned, to his great satisfaction, +that Hurtado and another officer, with fifty +soldiers, had left the fort on an expedition to collect +provisions, of which a supply was needed.</p> + +<p>Here was the opportunity which the treacherous +chief awaited. It not only removed the husband, +but weakened the garrison, the protectors of the +wife in his absence. Late one day the chief placed +four thousand armed men in ambush in a marsh +near the fort, and then set out for it with thirty +others, laden with provisions. Reaching the gates, +he sent word to Lara that he had heard of his want +of food, and had brought enough to serve him until +the return of Hurtado and his men. This show of +friendship greatly pleased Lara. He met the chief +with warm demonstrations of gratitude, and insisted +on entertaining him and his followers.</p> + +<p>So far the scheme of the treacherous Indian had<pb n="112" /><anchor id="Pg112" /> +been successful. The men in the marsh had their +instructions and patiently awaited the fixed signals, +while the feast in the fort went on till the night +was well advanced. When it broke up the Spaniards +were given time to retire; then the food-bearing +Indians set fire to the magazines, and the +ambushed savages, responding to the signal, broke +into the fort and ruthlessly cut down all the Spaniards +they met. Those who had gone to bed were +killed in their sleep or slain as they sprang up in +alarm. The governor was severely wounded, but +had strength enough to revenge himself on the +faithless Mangora, whom he rushed upon and ran +through the body with his sword. In a moment +more he was himself slain.</p> + +<p>At the close of the attack, of all the Spaniards in +the fort only the women and children remained +alive—spared, no doubt, by order of the chief. +These consisted of the hapless Miranda, the innocent +cause of this bloody catastrophe, four other women, +and as many children. The weeping captives were +bound and brought before Siripa, the brother of +Mangora, and his successor as cacique of the tribe.</p> + +<p>No sooner had the new chief gazed on the woman +whom his brother had loved, her beauty heightened +in his eyes by her grief and woe, than a like passion +was born in his savage soul, and he at once ordered +his men to remove her bonds. He then told her +that she must not consider herself a captive, and +solicited her favor with the gentleness and address +that love can implant in the breast of the savage as<pb n="113" /><anchor id="Pg113" /> +well as of the son of civilization. Her husband, he +told her, was a forlorn fugitive in the forests of a +hostile country; he was the chief of a powerful +nation and could surround her with luxuries and +wealth. Could she hesitate to accept his love in +preference to that of a man who was lost to her.</p> + +<p>These persuasions excited only horror and anguish +in the soul of the faithful wife. Her love for her +husband was proof against all that Siripa could say, +and also against the fear of slavery or death, which +might follow her rejection of his suit. In fact, +death seemed to her a smaller evil than life as the +wife of this savage suitor, and she rejected his offers +with scorn and with a bitter contempt which she +hoped would excite his rage and induce him to put +her to instant death.</p> + +<p>Her flashing eyes and excited words, however, +had a very different effect from that she intended. +They served only to heighten her charms in the eyes +of the cacique, and he became more earnest than ever +in his persuasions. Taking her to his village, he +treated her with every mark of kindness and gentleness, +and showed her the utmost respect and civility, +doubtless hoping in this way to win her esteem and +raise a feeling in her breast corresponding to his own.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Hurtado and his men returned with +the provisions they had collected, and viewed with +consternation the ruins of the fort which they had +so lately left. Their position was a desperate one, +alone and undefended as they were, in the midst of +treacherous tribes; but the fears which troubled the<pb n="114" /><anchor id="Pg114" /> +minds of his comrades did not affect that of Hurtado. +He learned that his wife was a captive in the hands +of the cacique of Timbuez, and love and indignation +in his soul suppressed all other feelings. With a +temerity that seemed the height of imprudence, he +sought alone the village of the chief and demanded +the release of his wife.</p> + +<p>Siripa heard his request with anger at his presumption +and savage joy at having at his mercy the +man who stood between him and the object of his +affections. Determined to remove this obstacle to +his suit, he at once ordered him to be seized, bound +to a tree, and pierced with arrows.</p> + +<p>This was not unseen by Miranda, and, filled with +anguish, she rushed out, cast herself at the Indian's +feet and pitifully pleaded with him for her husband's +life. The force of beauty in grief prevailed. Hurtado +was unbound, but he was still kept in captivity.</p> + +<p>Lover as Siripa was, he had all the undisciplined +passions of a savage, and the fate of husband and +wife alike was at constant risk in his hands. Now, +tormented with the fury of jealousy, he seemed +bent on sacrificing the husband to his rage. Again, +the desire of winning the esteem of Miranda softened +his soul, and he permitted the husband and +wife to meet.</p> + +<p>As the days of captivity passed the strictness of +their detention was relaxed and they were permitted +greater freedom of action. As a result they met each +other more frequently and under less restraint. +But this growing leniency in the cacique had its<pb n="115" /><anchor id="Pg115" /> +limits: they might converse, but they were warned +against indulging in any of the fond caresses of love. +Jealousy still burned in his soul, and if Miranda +would not become his, he was resolved that no one +else should enjoy the evidence of her affection.</p> + +<p>The situation was a painful one. Husband and +wife, as Hurtado and Miranda were, they continued +lovers as well, and it was not easy to repress the +feelings that moved them. Prudence bade them +avoid any show of love, and they resolved to obey +its dictates; but prudence is weak where love commands, +and in one fatal moment Siripa surprised +them clasped in each other's arms and indulging in +the ardent kisses of love.</p> + +<p>Filled with wild jealousy at the sight and carried +away by ungovernable fury at their contempt of his +authority and their daring disregard of his feelings, +he ordered them both to instant execution. Hurtado's +old sentence was renewed: he was bound to +a tree and his body pierced with arrows. As for +Miranda, she was sentenced by the jealous and +furious savage to a more painful death, that of the +flames. Yet painful as it was, the loyal wife doubtless +preferred it to yielding to the passion of the +chief, and as a quick means of rejoining in soul life +her lover and husband.</p> + +<p>Thus ends the most romantic and tragical story +of love and faith that the early annals of America +have to show, and the fate of the faithful Miranda +has become a classic in the love-lore of the America +of the south.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="116" /><anchor id="Pg116" /> +<head>LANTARO, THE BOY HERO OF THE ARAUCANIANS.</head> + +<p>The river Biobio, in Southern Chili, was for centuries +the boundary between liberty and oppression +in South America. South of it lay the land of the +Araucanians, that brave and warlike people who +preserved their independence against the whites, +the only Indian nation in America of which this +can be said. Valorous and daring as were the +American Indians, their arms and their arts were +those of the savage, and the great multitude of +them were unable to stand before the weapons and +the discipline of their white invaders. But such was +not the case with the valiant Araucanians. From +the period of Almagro, the companion of Pizarro +and the first invader of Chili, down to our own +days these bold Americans fought for and retained +their independence, holding the Biobio as their +national frontier, and driving army after army +from their soil. Not until 1882 did they consent +to become citizens of Chili, and then of their own +free will, and they still retain their native habits +and their pride in their pure blood.</p> + +<p>The most heroic and intrepid of the Indian races, +they defied the armies of the Incas long before the +Spaniards came, and the armies of the Spaniards +for centuries afterwards, and though they have now<pb n="117" /><anchor id="Pg117" /> +consented to become a part of the Chilian nation, +this has not been through conquest, and they are +as independent in spirit to-day as in the warlike +years of the past. Their hardy and daring character +infects the whole of Chili, and has given that +little republic, drawn out like a long string between +the Andes and the sea, the reputation of being one +of the most warlike and unyielding of countries, +while to its people has been applied the suggestive +title of "the Yankees of the South."</p> + +<p>It would need a volume to tell the deeds of the +heroes who arose in succession to defend the land +of Araucania from the arms of those who so easily +overturned the mighty empire of Peru. We shall, +therefore, confine ourselves to the exploits of one +of the earliest of these, a youthful warrior with a +genius for war that might have raised him to the +rank of a great commander had not death early +cut short his career. The second Spaniard who +attempted the conquest of this valiant people was +Pedro de Valdivia, the quartermaster of Pizarro, an +able soldier, but one of those who fancied that a +handful of Spanish cavaliers were a match for the +strongest of the Indian tribes. He little knew the +spirit of the race with which he would have to +deal.</p> + +<p>Southward from Peru marched the bold Valdivia +with two hundred Spaniards at his back. With +them as aids to conquest was brought a considerable +force of Peruvians; also priests and women, for he +proposed to settle and hold the land as his own<pb n="118" /><anchor id="Pg118" /> +after he had conquered it. Six hundred miles southward +he went, fighting the hostile natives at every +step, and on the 14th of February, 1541, stopped +and laid the foundations of a town which he named +St. Jago. This still stands as the modern Santiago, +a city of three hundred thousand souls.</p> + +<p>We do not propose to tell the story of Valdivia's +wars with the many tribes of Chili. He was in that +land nine years before his conquests brought him to +the Biobio and the land of the Araucanians, with +whom alone we are concerned. On the coast near +the mouth of this river he founded a new town, +which he named Concepcion, and made this the +basis of an invasion of the land of the Araucanians, +whom he proposed to subdue.</p> + +<p>As it happened, the Araucanian leader at this +time was a man with the body of a giant and the +soul of a dwarf. He timidly kept out of the way of +the Spaniards until they had overrun most of the +country, built towns and forts, and had reason to +believe that the whole of Chili was theirs. Valdivia +went on founding cities until he had seven in +all, and gave himself the proud title of the Marquis +of Arauco, fancying that he was lord and master of +the Araucanians. He was too hasty; Arauco was +not yet his.</p> + +<p>A new state of affairs began when the Araucanians, +disgusted with the timid policy of their +leader, chose a bolder man, named Caupolican, as +their toqui, or head chief. A daring and able man, +the new toqui soon taught the Spaniards a lesson.<pb n="119" /><anchor id="Pg119" /> +He began with an attack on their forts. At one of +these, named Arauco, the invaders had eighty +Indians employed in bringing them forage for their +horses. The wily Caupolican replaced these laborers +by eighty of his own warriors, who hid their +arms in the bundles of hay they carried. On reaching +the fort they were to attack the guards and +hold the gates till their ambushed comrades could +come to their aid.</p> + +<p>This device failed, the garrison attacking and +driving back the forage-bearers before Caupolican +could reach the place. Foiled in this, he made a +fierce assault upon the fort, but the fire of eighty +cannons proved too much for Indian means of +defence, and the assailants were forced to draw back +and convert their assault into a siege. This did not +continue long before the Spaniards found themselves +in peril of starvation. Vainly they sallied out on +their assailants, who were not to be driven off; and +finally, hopeless of holding the fort, the beleaguered +garrison cut its way by a sudden night attack +through the besieging lines and retired to the +neighboring fort of Puren. A similar result took +place at another fort called Tucapel, its garrison +also seeking a refuge at Puren.</p> + +<p>When news of these events reached Valdivia, he +saw that his conquests were in peril, and at once +set out for the seat of war with all his forces, +amounting to about two hundred Spaniards and four +or five thousand Indians. A small party of cavalry +were despatched in advance to reconnoitre the<pb n="120" /><anchor id="Pg120" /> +enemy, but they were all killed by the Araucanians +and their heads were hung on roadside trees as a +warning to their approaching comrades. This gruesome +spectacle had much of the effect intended. On +seeing it many of the Spaniards were dismayed and +clamored to return. But Valdivia insisted on advancing, +and on the 3d of December, 1553, the two +armies came in sight of each other at Tucapel.</p> + +<p>Valdivia soon found that he had no ordinary +Indians to deal with. These were not of the kind +that could be dispersed by a squadron of cavalry. +A fierce charge was made on his left wing, which +was cut to pieces by the daring warriors of Caupolican. +The right wing was also vigorously attacked. +But the artillery and musketry of the Spaniards +were mowing down the ranks of the Araucanians, +whose rude war-clubs and spears were ill-fitted to +cope with those death-dealing weapons. Driven +back, and hundreds of them falling, they returned +with heroic courage three times to the assault. But +at length the slaughter became too great to bear and +the warriors were ready to flee in dismay.</p> + +<p>At this critical moment the first great hero of the +Araucanians appeared. He was a boy of only sixteen +years of age, a mere lad, who some time before +had been captured by Valdivia, baptized, and made +his page. But young as he was, he loved his +country ardently and hated the invaders with a +bitter hate, and it was this youthful hero who saved +the day for his countrymen and snatched victory +out of defeat.</p> + +<pb n="121" /><anchor id="Pg121" /> + +<p>Leaving the Spanish ranks at the moment the +Araucanians were shrinking in dismay, he rushed +into their ranks, called loudly on them to turn, +accused them of cowardice, and bade them to face +their foes like men. Seizing a lance, he charged +alone on the Spaniards, calling on his countrymen to +follow him. Inspired by his example and his cries, +the Araucanians charged with such fury that the +ranks of the Spaniards and their allies were broken, +and they were cut down until the whole force was +annihilated. It is said that of the entire expedition +only two Indians escaped.</p> + +<p>Valdivia, who had retired with his chaplain to +pray, on seeing the fortune of war turning against +him, was seized by a party of the victors and +brought before Caupolican. The dismayed captive +begged the chief for his life, promising to leave +Chili with all his Spaniards. Seeing Lantaro, his +late page, he asked him to intercede with the chief, +and this the generous boy did. But the Araucanians +had little faith in Spanish promises, and an old +warrior who stood near ended the matter by raising +his war-club and dashing out the captive's brains. +Thus tragically ended the career of one of the least +cruel of the Spanish conquerors. He paid the penalty +of his disdain of Indian courage.</p> + +<p>Lantaro, the boy hero, had the blood of chiefs in +his veins, and was endowed by nature with beauty +of person, nobleness of character, and intrepidity of +soul. His people honored him highly in the festival +with which they celebrated their victory, and Caupolican<pb n="122" /><anchor id="Pg122" /> +appointed him his special lieutenant, raising +him to a rank in the army nearly equal to his own.</p> + +<p>There was fighting still to be done. The leader +of the Spaniards was dead, but he had left many +behind him, and there were still strongholds in the +Indian country held by Spanish arms. On hearing +of the terrible disaster to their cause, the Spaniards +hastily evacuated their forts beyond the Biobio and +retired to the towns of Imperial and Valdivia. +Here they were besieged by Caupolican, while Lantaro +was given the difficult task of defending the +border-land about the frontier stream. The youthful +general at once fortified himself on the steep +mount of Mariguenu, a fort made very strong by +nature.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the two Indians who had escaped +from Tucapel brought the news of the disaster to +Concepcion, filling the minds of the people with +terror. The tidings of an attack on a party of +fourteen horsemen, of whom seven were slain, added +to the dismay. The fact that they were now dealing +with a foe to whom artillery and cavalry had lost +their terrors was not reassuring to the invaders of +the land. Evidently their position was hazardous; +they must fight to win or retreat.</p> + +<p>Villagrau, who was chosen to succeed Valdivia, +decided to fight. With a small army of Spaniards +and a strong body of Indians he crossed the Biobio +and marched upon Lantaro and his men, ascending +Mount Mariguenu to attack the stronghold on its +top.</p> + +<pb n="123" /><anchor id="Pg123" /> + +<p>Boy as Lantaro was, he showed the skill of an +old soldier in dealing with his well-armed foe. +While the Spaniards were toiling up a narrow pass +of the mountain a strong force of Araucanians fell +upon them, and for three hours gave them as sharp +a fight as they had yet encountered. Then the +Indians withdrew to the strong palisade, behind +which Lantaro awaited the foe.</p> + +<p>Up the side of the steep mountain rode a party +of Spanish horsemen, with the purpose of forcing a +passage, but near the summit they were met with +such a storm of arrows and other missiles that it +became necessary to support them with infantry +and artillery. Lantaro, vigilant in the defence, +endeavored to surround the Spaniards with a body +of his warriors, but the success of this stratagem +was prevented by the advance of Villagrau to their +support. The battle now grew hot, the artillery in +particular sweeping down the ranks of the Indians.</p> + +<p>At this critical juncture Lantaro showed that he +was a born captain. Calling to him one of his +officers, named Leucoton, he said, "You see those +thunder-tubes. It is from them our trouble comes. +There is your work. Do not dare show your face +to me until you have made them your own."</p> + +<p>Leucoton at once rushed forward with his company +and fell in fury upon the battery, driving back +the gunners and capturing their cannon. This successful +charge was followed by Lantaro with a fierce +attack on the Spanish front, which broke their +ranks, throwing them into confusion and putting<pb n="124" /><anchor id="Pg124" /> +them to flight. The defeat was ruinous, three +thousand of the Spaniards and their allies being +slain, while Villagrau was saved with difficulty and +at the risk of their lives by three of his men, who +picked him up where he lay wounded and carried +him off on his horse.</p> + +<p>In their flight the Spaniards had to traverse again +the defile by which they had ascended. Lantaro +had sent men to obstruct it by felled trees, and the +few remaining Spaniards had a severe fight before +they could escape. The Araucanians pursued them +to the Biobio, fatigue preventing their following +beyond that stream. The fugitives continued their +flight until Concepcion was reached, and here the +old men and women were speedily sent north in +ships, while the other inhabitants fled from the +city in a panic, and started for Santiago by land. +All their property was left, and the victors found a +rich prize when they entered the city. Lantaro, +after destroying the place, returned home, to be +greeted with the acclamations of his people.</p> + +<p>We must deal more rapidly with the remaining +events of the boy hero's career. Some time after this +defeat the Spaniards attempted to rebuild Concepcion, +but while thus employed they were attacked +and defeated by Lantaro, who pursued them through +the open gates of their fortress and took possession +of the stronghold, the people again fleeing to the +woods and the ships in the harbor. Once more +burning the city, Lantaro withdrew in triumph.</p> + +<p>The "Chilian Hannibal," as Lantaro has been<pb n="125" /><anchor id="Pg125" /> +with much justice called, now advanced against +Santiago with six hundred picked men, as an aid +to Caupolican in his siege of Imperial and Valdivia. +Reaching the country of the Indian allies of the +Spanish, the youthful general laid it waste. He +then fortified himself on the banks of the Rio +Claro and sent out spies into the country of the +enemy. At the same time a body of Spanish +horsemen were sent from the city to reconnoitre +the position of their enemies, but they were met +and driven back in dismay, being severely handled +by the Araucanians. The news of their repulse +filled the people of Santiago with consternation.</p> + +<p>Villagrau being ill, he despatched his son Pedro +against Lantaro, and ordered the roads leading to +the city to be fortified. Young Pedro proved no +match for his still younger but much shrewder opponent. +When the Spaniards attacked him, Lantaro +withdrew as if in a panic, the Spaniards following +tumultuously into the fortifications. Once +inside, the Indians turned on them and cut them +down so furiously that none but the horsemen +escaped.</p> + +<p>Three times Pedro attacked Lantaro, but each +time was repulsed. The young Spanish leader then +withdrew into a meadow, while Lantaro encamped +on a neighboring hill, with the design in mind of +turning the waters of a mountain stream on Pedro's +camp. Fortunately for the latter, a spy informed +him of the purpose to drown him out, and he +hastily retired to Santiago.</p> + +<pb n="126" /><anchor id="Pg126" /> + +<p>Villagrau had now got well again, and relieved his +son of the task which had proved too much for him. +At the head of a strong force, he took a secret route +by the sea-shore, with the purpose of surprising the +Araucanian camp. At daybreak the cries of his +sentinels aroused Lantaro to the impending danger, +and he sprang up and hurried to the side of his +works to observe the coming enemy. He had +hardly reached there when an arrow from the bow +of one of the Spanish allies pierced him with a +mortal wound, and the gallant boy leader fell dead +in the arms of his followers.</p> + +<p>A fierce combat followed, the works being stormed +and the fight not ending till none of the Araucanians +remained alive. The Spaniards then withdrew +to Santiago, where for three days they celebrated +the death of their foe; while his countrymen, +dismayed by his fall, at once abandoned the siege +of the invested cities and returned home.</p> + +<p>A remarkable career was that of this young captain, +begun at sixteen and ending at nineteen. +History presents no rival to his precocious military +genius, though in the centuries of war for independence +in his country many older heroes of equal +fame and daring arose for the defence of their native +land against the Spanish foe.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="127" /><anchor id="Pg127" /> +<head>DRAKE, THE SEA-KING, AND THE SPANISH TREASURE-SHIPS.</head> + +<p>At the end of October, 1578, Sir Francis Drake, +the Sea-King of Devon, as he was called, and the +most daring and persistent of the enemies of the +Spanish settlements in America, sailed from Cape +Horn, at the southern extremity of the continent, +and steered northward into the great Pacific, with +the golden realm of Peru for his goal. A year +before he had left the harbor of Plymouth, England, +with a fleet of five well-armed ships. But +these had been lost or left behind until only the +"Golden Hind," a ship of one hundred tons burden, +was left, the flag-ship of the little squadron. +Of the one hundred and sixty men with whom +he started only about sixty remained.</p> + +<p>The bold Drake had previously made himself +terrible to the Spaniards of Mexico and the West +Indies, and had won treasure within sight of the +walls of Panama. Now for the first time the foot +of a white man trod the barren rocks of Cape +Horn and the keel of an English ship cut the Pacific +waves. Here were treasure-laden Spanish galleons +to take and rich Spanish cities to raid, and +the hearts of the adventurers were full of hope +of a golden harvest as they sailed north into that +unknown sea.</p> + +<pb n="128" /><anchor id="Pg128" /> + +<p>Onward they sailed, nearing the scene of the +famous adventures of Pizarro, and about the 1st of +December entered a harbor on the coast of Chili. +Before them, at no great distance, lay sloping hills +on which sheep and cattle were grazing and corn +and potatoes growing. They landed to meet the +natives, who came to the shore and seemed delighted +with the presents which were given them. But +soon afterwards Drake and a boatload of his men, +who had gone on shore to procure fresh water, +were fiercely attacked by ambushed Indians, and +every man on board was wounded before they could +pull away. Even some of their oars were snatched +from them by the Indians, and Drake was wounded +by an arrow in the cheek and struck by a stone +on the side of his face.</p> + +<figure url="images/image09.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>THE HARBOR OF VALPARAISO.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: THE HARBOR OF VALPARAISO.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Furious at this unprovoked assault, the crew +wished to attack the hostile natives, but Drake +refused to do so.</p> + +<p>"No doubt the poor fellows take us for Spaniards," +he said; "and we cannot blame them for +attacking any man from Spain."</p> + +<p>Some days later a native fisherman was captured +and brought on board the ship. He was in a terrible +fright, but was reassured when he learned that +his captors were not Spaniards, but belonged to a +nation whose people did not love Spain. He was +highly pleased with a chopping-knife and a piece of +linen cloth that were given him, and was sent +ashore, promising to induce his people to sell some +provisions to the ship's crew. He kept his word,<pb n="129" /><anchor id="Pg129" /> +and a good supply of fowls and eggs and a fat hog +were obtained.</p> + +<p>With the boat came off an Indian chief, glad to +see any white men who hated the Spaniards as +deeply as he did himself. He was well received +and served to the best the ship could afford. Then +he said to his entertainer in Spanish, a language he +spoke fairly well,—</p> + +<p>"If you are at war with the Spaniards, I will be +glad to go with you, and think I can be of much +use to you. The city of Valparaiso lies not far +south of here, and in its harbor is a large galleon, +nearly ready to sail with a rich treasure. We +should all like much to have you capture that +vessel."</p> + +<p>This was good news to Drake. The next day the +"Golden Hind" turned its prow down the coast +under full sail, with the friendly native on board. +When Valparaiso was reached, Drake saw to his delight +that his dusky pilot had told the truth. There +lay a great galleon, flying a Spanish flag. Not +dreaming of an enemy in those waters, the Spaniards +were unsuspicious until the "Golden Hind" had +been laid alongside and its armed crew were clambering +over the bulwarks. The rich prize was captured +almost without a blow.</p> + +<p>The crew secured, Drake searched for the expected +treasure, and to his joy found that she was +laden with over one hundred and twenty thousand +dollars in gold coin, and with other costly goods, +including about two thousand jars of Chili wine.<pb n="130" /><anchor id="Pg130" /> +This rich plunder was transferred to the hold of the +"Golden Hind," and the Spanish ship left to her +disconsolate captain and crew.</p> + +<p>After celebrating this victory with a gleeful feast, +in which the rich viands obtained were washed +down freely with the captured wine, an armed +force was sent ashore to raid the town, whose +people fled hurriedly to the fields when they saw +the hostile strangers approaching. In the deserted +houses and the church a fair supply of gold and +silver spoil was found, and what was equally welcome, +an abundant addition to their scanty store of +provisions. Greatly the richer for her raid, the +"Golden Hind" set sail again up the coast, putting +the native pilot ashore at the place where he wished +to land, and enriching him in a way that drew from +him eager protestations of joy and gratitude.</p> + +<p>Good and bad fortune attended the adventurers +in this voyage up the South American coast. One +of the examples of good fortune came at a place +called Tarapaza, where a boatload of men, who +had gone ashore, came upon a Spaniard lying fast +asleep on the bank of a small stream. By his side, +to their surprise, were thirteen heavy bars of solid +silver. The sleepy treasure-bearer and his silver +were speedily secured. Farther inland the party +met with another Spaniard and an Indian boy, who +were driving some sheep, with bulging bags upon +their backs. On opening those they were found also +to contain silver bars. It was a joyous party that +returned to the "Golden Hind" with the treasure<pb n="131" /><anchor id="Pg131" /> +thus unexpectedly obtained, and it began to look +almost as if the country grew silver.</p> + +<p>The next raid of the adventurers was at a place +called Arica, a small seaport town at the output of +a beautiful and fertile valley. Here lay two or +three Spanish vessels which were quickly captured +and searched for goods of value. The town was +not taken, for a native whom Drake met here told +him of a Spanish galleon, heavily laden with a +valuable cargo, which had recently passed up the +coast. Here was better hope for spoil than in a +small coastwise town, and the "Golden Hind" was +speedily under sail again.</p> + +<p>"A great galleon is ahead of us," said Drake to +his men. "I am told she is richly laden. The +first man of you who sets eyes on her will win my +hearty thanks and a heavy gold chain into the +bargain."</p> + +<p>It may well be imagined that the eyes of the +sailors were kept wide open in the days that followed. +The man to win the golden chain was John +Drake, the admiral's brother, who rushed to him +one morning, as he came on deck, with the glad +tidings,—</p> + +<p>"Yonder is the galleon!"</p> + +<p>He pointed to the far northern horizon, where +the sails of a great ship were just becoming visible +through the morning haze. "Make all sail!" was +the cry, and the English cruiser glided swiftly forward +before the fresh breeze towards the slow-moving +Spanish ship.</p> + +<pb n="132" /><anchor id="Pg132" /> + +<p>Not dreaming of such an unlikely thing as an +English ship in those waters, as yet never broken +except by a Spanish keel, the captain of the galleon +took the stranger for a craft of his own nation, and +shortened sail as the "Golden Hind" came up, signalling +for its officers to come on board. Drake did +so, with a strong body of armed sailors, and when +the Spanish captain learned his mistake it was too +late to resist. The crew of the galleon were put +under hatches, and her cargo, which proved to be +rich in gold and silver, was quickly transferred to +the "Golden Hind." Then captain and crew of +the galleon were put ashore, and the captured ship +was set adrift, to try her chances without pilot or +helmsman in those perilous seas. The next storm +probably made her a grave in the breakers.</p> + +<p>Great had been the spoil gathered by the English +rovers, a rich wealth of treasure being within the +coffers of the "Golden Hind," while she was abundantly +supplied with provisions. Drake now thought +of returning home with the riches he had won for +himself and his comrades. But the port of Lima, +Pizarro's capital, lay not far up the coast, and here +he hoped for a rich addition to his spoil. Though +satisfied that a messenger had been sent from Valparaiso +to warn the people of the presence of an +armed English ship on the coast, he had no doubt +of reaching Lima in advance of news brought +overland.</p> + +<p>On reaching the port of Lima a number of Spanish +vessels were found, and, their captains being<pb n="133" /><anchor id="Pg133" /> +unsuspicious, were easily taken. But they contained +no cargoes worth the capture. Lima lay +several miles inland from the port, and the governor, +on hearing of these depredations, imagined +that the stranger must be a Spanish vessel that had +fallen into the hands of pirates and was on a freebooting +cruise. While he was making preparations +for her capture the messenger from Valparaiso +arrived and told him the real character of the +unwelcome visitor.</p> + +<p>This news spurred the governor to increased exertions. +An armed English war-ship on their coast +was a foe more to be dreaded than a pirate, and the +wealth it had taken at Valparaiso was amply worth +recapture. With all haste the governor got together +a force of two thousand men, horse and foot, and at +their head hurried to the port. There in the offing +was the dangerous rover, lying motionless in a calm, +and offering a promising chance for capture.</p> + +<p>Hastily getting ready two Spanish ships and +manning them heavily from his forces, he sent them +out, favored by a land-breeze which had not reached +Drake's sails. But before they had gone far the +"Golden Hind" felt the welcome wind and was +soon gliding through the water. With his small +force it was hopeless for the English captain to face +the strongly armed Spaniards, and his only hope for +safety lay in flight.</p> + +<p>The pursuit went on hour after hour, the Spaniards +at times coming near enough to reach the +"Golden Hind" with their shots. As the wind<pb n="134" /><anchor id="Pg134" /> +varied in strength, now the chase, now the pursuers, +gained in speed. The Spanish ships proved fair +sailers and might in the end have overhauled the +Englishman but for a precaution the governor had +neglected in his haste. Expecting to capture the +English ship in a short run, he had not thought of +provisioning his vessels, and as the chase went on +their small food supply gave out and the soldiers +were nearly famished. In the end the governor, +who was on board, was reluctantly forced to order +a return to port.</p> + +<p>Yet he did not give up hope of capturing the +English rovers. On reaching Lima he sent out +three more ships, this time fully provisioned. But +Drake and his men had won too good a start to be +overtaken, and the new pursuers never came within +sight of him.</p> + +<p>Homeward bound with an abundant treasure, +the rovers pressed merrily on. To return by the +Straits of Magellan seemed too risky a venture with +the Spaniards keenly on the alert, and the adventurous +Englishman decided to sail north, expecting +to be able to find a passage through the seas north +of the American continent. The icy and impassable +character of these seas was at that early date +quite unknown.</p> + +<p>Onward through the Spanish waters they went, +taking new prizes and adding to their store of +treasure as they advanced. The coastwise towns +were also visited and booty obtained from them. +At length the South American continent was left<pb n="135" /><anchor id="Pg135" /> +behind and the "Golden Hind" was off the coast +of Central America. About mid April they left the +shore and stood out to sea, at last bound definitely +for home.</p> + +<p>Drake fancied that the Pacific coast stretched +due northward to the limit of the continent, where +he hoped to find an easy passage back to the Atlantic, +but after more than five weeks of a north-westward +course, gradually verging to due north, +he was surprised to see land again to his right. At +first taking it for a large island, he soon learned +that he had met the continent again and that America +here stretched to the northwest.</p> + +<p>He was off the coast of the country now called +California, in a new region which English eyes had +never seen, though Spaniards had been there before. +The land seemed well peopled with Indians, very +different in character and degree of civilization +from those of Peru. They were simple-minded +savages, but very friendly; fortunately so, since, +as they lay in harbor, the ship sprang a leak, and +it became necessary to take measures to repair the +damage.</p> + +<p>The ship was anchored in shallow water near the +shore, her cargo and provisions were landed and +stored, and steps taken to make the necessary repairs. +While this was going on the mariners were +visited by the savages in large numbers, occasionally +with what were thought to be signs of hostility. +But their friendliness never ceased, and when at +length their visitors, with whom they had established<pb n="136" /><anchor id="Pg136" /> +very amicable relations, were ready to depart +they manifested the greatest grief, moaning, +wringing their hands, and shedding tears.</p> + +<p>The harbor of the "Golden Hind" was in or +near what is now called the Golden Gate, the entrance +to the magnificent bay of San Francisco. +On the 23d of July, 1579, the ship weighed anchor +and sailed out of the harbor. On the hill-side in +the rear was gathered a large body of Indians, +some of them fantastically attired in skins and +adorned with feathers, others naked but for the +painted designs which covered their bodies. They +built bonfires in all directions in token of farewell, +and Drake and his officers stood on deck, waving +their hats to their new-made friends. Slowly the +hill with its fires of friendship disappeared from +view, and they were on the open ocean again.</p> + +<p>From this point the ship sailed northward, skirting +the coast. But the farther they went the +colder the weather became, until it grew so bleak +that it was deemed necessary to give up the hope +of reaching home by the northern route. Yet to +return by the way they had come would be very +dangerous with their small force, as the Spaniards +would probably be keenly on the lookout for them. +Only one course remained, which was to follow the +route taken by Magellan, sixty years before, across +the vast Pacific, through the islands of Asia, and +around the Cape of Good Hope. Drake had with +him the narratives and copies of the charts of the +first circumnavigator of the globe, and it struck<pb n="137" /><anchor id="Pg137" /> +him that it would be a great and glorious thing to +take the "Golden Hind" around the earth, and +win him the credit of being the first Englishman to +accomplish this wonderful task.</p> + +<p>The prow of the "Golden Hind" was thereupon +turned to the west. Quick and prosperous was the +voyage, the sea being almost free from storms, and +after sixty-eight days in which land had not been +seen a green shore came in view. It was the last +day of September, 1579.</p> + +<p>The voyagers had many interesting experiences +in the eastern archipelago, but no mishaps except +that the ship grounded on a rocky shoal near one +of the islands. Fortunately there was no leak, and +after throwing overboard eight of their cannon, +three tons of cloves they had gathered in their voyage +through the isles of spices, and many bags of +meal, the "Golden Hind" was got afloat again, +none the worse for her dangerous misadventure.</p> + +<p>Stocking their vessel once more with spices and +sago at the island of Booten, and meeting with a +hospitable reception at the large island of Java, +they sailed to the south, doubling the stormy Cape +of Good Hope without mishap and entering the +Atlantic again. Finally, on the 26th of September, +1580, the "Golden Hind" dropped anchor in Plymouth +harbor, from which she had sailed nearly +three years before, and with wealth enough to make +all on board rich.</p> + +<p>Never had England been more full of joy and +pride than when the news of the wonderful voyage<pb n="138" /><anchor id="Pg138" /> +of the "Golden Hind" round the world was received +and its strange adventures told. Queen +Elizabeth was glad to make a knight of the bold +sea-rover, changing his name from plain Francis +Drake to Sir Francis Drake, and the people looked +on him as their greatest hero of the sea. In our +days acts like his would have been called piracy, for +England was not at war with Spain. But Drake +was made a hero all the same, and in the war that +soon after began he did noble work in the great sea +fight with the Spanish Armada.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="139" /><anchor id="Pg139" /> +<head>SIR WALTER RALEIGH AND THE QUEST FOR EL DORADO.</head> + +<p>Gold was the beacon that lured the Spaniards to +America, and dazzling stories were told by them of +the riches of the countries they explored, stories +illustrated by the marvellous wealth of Peru. It +was well known that Cortez had not obtained all +the treasures of Montezuma, or Pizarro all those of +Atahualpa, and many believed that these treasures +had been carried far away by the servants of those +unhappy monarchs. Guiana, the northeastern section +of South America, was looked upon by the +Spanish adventurers as the hiding-place of this fabulous +wealth. Others fancied that Guiana was the +true El Dorado in itself, a land marvellously rich in +gold, silver, and precious stones. Gonzalo Pizarro, +in his expedition in 1540, had heard much from the +Indians of this land of wealth, and Orellana brought +back from his famous descent of the Amazon marvellous +stories of the riches in gold, silver, and precious +stones of the land of the north.</p> + +<p>These stories, once set afloat, grew in wonder +and magnitude through pure love of the marvellous +or wild expansion of the fanciful tales of the Indians. +Far inland, built on a lofty hill, so the fable ran, +was a mighty city, whose very street watering-troughs +were made of solid gold and silver, while<pb n="140" /><anchor id="Pg140" /> +"billets of gold lay about in heaps, as if they were +logs of wood marked out to burn."</p> + +<p>In this imperial city dwelt in marvellous magnificence +a mighty king. The legend went that it was +a habit of his to cover his body with turpentine and +then roll in gold-dust till he gleamed like a veritable +golden image. Then, entering his barge of state, +with a retinue of nobles whose dresses glittered with +gems, they would sail around a beautiful lake, ending +their tour by a bath in the cooling waters.</p> + +<p>Where was this city? Who had seen its gold-emblazoned +king? Certainly none of those who +went in search of it or its monarch. Of the Spanish +adventurers who sought for that land of treasure, +the most persistent was a bold explorer named +Berreo, who landed in New Granada, and set out +thence with a large body of followers—seven hundred +horsemen, the story goes. His route lay along +the river Negro, and then down the broad Orinoco. +Boats were built for the descent of this great stream. +But the route was difficult and exhausting and the +natives usually hostile, and as they went on many +of the men and horses died or were slain.</p> + +<p>For more than a year these sturdy explorers +pushed on, reaching a point from which, if they +could believe the natives, the city they sought was +not far away, and Guiana and its riches were near +at hand. As evidence, the Indians had treasure of +their own to show, and gave Berreo "ten images +of fine gold, which were so curiously wrought, as +he had not seen the like in Italy, Spain, or the Low<pb n="141" /><anchor id="Pg141" /> +Countries." But as they went on the gallant seven +hundred became reduced to a weary fraction, and +these so eager to return home that their leader was +forced to give up the quest. He sought the island +of Trinidad, near the coast of South America, and +there, as governor, he dwelt for years, keeping +alive in his soul the dream of some day going again +in search of El Dorado.</p> + +<p>While Berreo was thus engaged, there dwelt in +England a man of romantic and adventurous nature +named Walter Raleigh. He became afterwards famous +as Sir Walter Raleigh, and for many years +devoted himself to the attempt to plant an English +colony on the coast of North America. On this +project he spent much time and money, but ill-fortune +haunted him and all his colonies failed. +Then he concluded to cross the ocean himself and +restore his wasted wealth by preying on the Spanish +treasure-ships, after the fashion of the bold Sir +Francis Drake. But Queen Elizabeth put an end +to this project by clapping him in prison, on a +matter of royal jealousy. While one of the queen's +lovers, he had dared to marry another woman.</p> + +<p>While Raleigh lay in prison, some of the ships of +the fleet he had fitted out came back with a Spanish +galleon they had taken, so richly laden with costly +goods that the whole court was filled with delight. +Part of the spoils went to the queen and another +part to Raleigh, and when at length he was released +from his prison-cell his mind was set on winning +more of the American gold. The stories of El<pb n="142" /><anchor id="Pg142" /> +Dorado and its marvellous city were then in great +vogue, for Berreo had but lately returned from his +expedition—with no gold, indeed, but with new +tales of marvel he had gathered from the Indians.</p> + +<p>It was now the year 1594. Raleigh was but +forty-two years of age, in the prime of life and +full of activity and energy. His romantic turn of +mind led him to a full belief in the stories that +floated about, and he grew eager to attempt the +brilliant and alluring adventure which Berreo had +failed to accomplish. Though the Spaniard had +failed, he had opened up what might prove the +track to success. Raleigh had sent various expeditions +to the New World, but had never crossed +the ocean himself. He now decided to seek Guiana +and its fairyland of gold.</p> + +<p>A small vessel was sent in advance, under command +of Raleigh's friend, Jacob Whiddon, to feel +the way and explore the mouth of the Orinoco, +which was deemed to be the gateway to the golden +realm. Whiddon stopped at Trinidad, and found +Berreo, then its governor, very kindly and cordial. +But, on one pretext or another, the treacherous +Spaniard had the English sailors arrested and put +in prison, until Whiddon found his crew so small +that he was obliged to go back to England without +seeing the Orinoco.</p> + +<p>Whiddon's report made Raleigh more eager than +ever. He believed that Berreo was getting ready +to go back to Guiana himself, and was seeking to +rid himself of rivals. He hastened his preparations<pb n="143" /><anchor id="Pg143" /> +accordingly, and in February, 1595, set sail from +Plymouth with a fleet of five well-supplied vessels, +taking with him about one hundred gentlemen +adventurers in addition to the crews. A number +of small and light boats were also taken for use on +the rivers of Guiana. Many of their friends came +to see the voyagers off, flags floated on all the +vessels in the harbor, and Raleigh and his companions, +dressed in their best array, stood on the +decks, as, with set sails and flying pennons, the +stout ships moved slowly away on their voyage of +chance and hope.</p> + +<p>Raleigh followed the example of the sea-rovers +of his day, committing what would now be called +piracy on the high seas. Not long had the fleet +left the Canary Islands before a Spanish ship was +seen and captured. It was quickly emptied of its +cargo,—a welcome one, as it consisted of fire-arms. +Very soon after a second ship was captured. This +was a Flemish vessel, laden with wines. These +were taken also, twenty hogsheads of them. About +two months out from Plymouth the hills of Trinidad +were sighted, and Raleigh's eyes rested for the first +time on the shores of that New World in which he +had so long taken a warm interest.</p> + +<p>Governor Berreo tried to treat Raleigh as he had +done his agent, forbidding any of the Indians to go +on his ships on peril of death. But they went on +board, for all that, and were delighted with the +kind treatment they received. They told Raleigh +that several of their chiefs had been seized and<pb n="144" /><anchor id="Pg144" /> +imprisoned in the town of St. Joseph, and begged +him to rescue them. No Englishman of that day +hesitated when the chance came to deal the Spaniards +a blow, and a vigorous attack was soon made +on the town, it being captured, the chiefs set free, +and the governor himself made a prisoner.</p> + +<figure url="images/image10.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>A TROPICAL BUNGALOW AND PALMS.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: A TROPICAL BUNGALOW AND PALMS.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Raleigh, while holding the Spaniard as a captive +on his flag-ship, treated him with every courtesy, +and had him to eat at his own table. Here Berreo, +who did not suspect the purpose of the English, +talked freely about his former expedition and gave +his captor a good deal of very useful information. +One thing Raleigh learned was that his ships could +not be taken up the Orinoco, on account of the +sand-banks at its mouth and its dangerous channels. +He therefore felt it necessary to leave the ships at +Trinidad and cross to the mainland in the boats he +had brought with him.</p> + +<p>One hundred men were chosen for the journey, +the others being left to guard the fleet. An old +galley, a barge, a ship's-boat, and two wherries +carried them, and a young Indian pilot, who +claimed to be familiar with the coast, was taken +along. Trinidad lies at no great distance from the +mainland, but stormy weather assailed the voyagers, +and they were glad enough to enter one of the +mouths of the river and escape the ocean billows. +But here new troubles surrounded them, the nature +of which Raleigh described later, in his account of +the expedition. He wrote:</p> + +<p>"If God had not sent us help, we might have<pb n="145" /><anchor id="Pg145" /> +wandered a whole year in that labyrinth of rivers, +ere we had found any way. I know all the earth +does not yield the like confluence of streams and +branches, the one crossing the other so many times, +and all so fair and large, and so like one another +as no man can tell which to take. And if we +went by the sun or compass, hoping thereby to go +directly one way or the other, yet that way also +we were carried in a circle among multitudes of +islands. Every island was so bordered with big +trees as no man could see any farther than the +breadth of the river or length of the branch."</p> + +<p>The Indian pilot proved to be useless in this +medley of water-ways, and only chance extricated +the voyagers from the labyrinth in which they were +involved. This chance was the meeting and capturing +a canoe with three natives, who became friendly +when they found they had nothing to fear from the +strange white men. One of them was an old man +who knew the river thoroughly, and whom presents +and kind words induced to guide them past their +difficulties.</p> + +<p>Resting that night on a little knoll on the wooded +banks of the stream, they were off again early the +next morning. The river was still swift and violent, +broken here and there with rapids, where they +had to land and pull the boats. There were shoals +also, which they had much trouble in getting over. +And the banks were so crowded with trees and high +reeds that they could not land, and were almost +stifled from the closeness of the air.</p> + +<pb n="146" /><anchor id="Pg146" /> + +<p>After four hard and weary days of this kind +they reached a smoother channel and could proceed +more easily. But their work was still far from +easy, for the inflowing tidal waters had left them +and they had the swift current of the river to +breast, while the tropic heat grew more oppressive +day by day. It was hard work for the gentlemen +rovers in that tropical climate, where the dense forest +growth cut off every breath of air and their +diminishing bread forced them to be put on short +allowance. They began to complain bitterly, and +Raleigh had to use all his powers of persuasion to +induce them to go on.</p> + +<p>Yet the country was in many ways beautiful. +Here and there the woods ceased and broad plains +spread out, covered with luxuriant herbage, amid +which rose at intervals groves of beautiful trees. +Graceful deer would come down to the water's +edge and gaze fearlessly on the travellers with their +big, soft eyes. "On the banks of these rivers," +says Raleigh, "were divers sorts of fruits good to +eat; flowers, too, and trees of such variety as were +sufficient to make two volumes of travels. We refreshed +ourselves many times with the fruits of the +country, and sometimes with fowls and fish. We +saw birds of all colors: some carnation, some crimson, +orange, tawny, purple, and so on; and it was +unto us a great good passing time to behold them, +besides the relief we found by killing some store of +them with our fowling-pieces."</p> + +<p>The adventurers at length reached an Indian<pb n="147" /><anchor id="Pg147" /> +village of which their old guide had told them, and +here, after the natives had got over their fright and +learned that the strangers meant them no harm, +they were very hospitably entertained. Thence +they went onward, day after day, seeing many +canoes on the river and landing at various villages. +One of the canoes contained three Spaniards, who +escaped from the effort to capture them, and Raleigh +soon learned that the Spaniards had told the +natives that the English were robbers and cannibals. +To overcome the effect of this story, the +greatest care was taken to treat the Indians with +kindness and gentleness, and to punish in their +presence any of the men who maltreated them. +This quickly had its effect, for the news spread +that the new-comers were the friends of the red +men, and they were rewarded by every attention +the natives could bestow on them. Provisions +were brought them in profusion,—fish, fowl, and +fruit, great roasted haunches of venison, and other +viands. Among these were sweet and delicious +pineapples of enormous size, "the prince of fruits," +as Raleigh called them.</p> + +<p>Finally, after they had gone about one hundred and +fifty miles up the Orinoco, they reached the point +where another great river, the Caroni, empties into +it. The country here was more beautiful than they +had yet seen, and prosperous Indian villages were +numerous on the bordering plains. The natives had +heard of the amicable character of the new-comers, +and greeted them with great friendliness, doing all<pb n="148" /><anchor id="Pg148" /> +they could to show how they trusted and admired +them. With one old chief, named Topiawara, Raleigh +held many interesting talks and learned from +him much about the country and the people. In +return he told him about his own country and its +great queen, and one day showed him a portrait of +Queen Elizabeth, before which the simple natives +bowed themselves as if it were the figure of a +goddess they saw.</p> + +<p>Many days were spent with these people, in +hunting, fishing, and exploring, but, ask as they +would, they could learn nothing about the land of +gold and the marvellous city they had come so far +to seek. The old chief told him that Guiana had +many fertile plains and valleys and had mines of +silver and gold, but the gold-dust king he knew +nothing about. Finally, Raleigh decided to go up +the Caroni, three parties being sent to explore its +vicinity, while he with a fourth rowed up the +stream. He had been told of a mighty cataract, +which he was very anxious to see, and this was at +length reached, after a long struggle with the strong +current of the river.</p> + +<p>The cataract proved to be a series of giant cascades, +ten or twelve in number, in the words of +Raleigh, "every one as high above the other as a +church tower, which fell with that fury that the +rebound of waters made it seem as if it had been +all covered over with a great shower of rain. And +in some places we took it at first for a smoke that +had risen over some great town.</p> + +<pb n="149" /><anchor id="Pg149" /> + +<p>"I never saw a more beautiful country," he continues, +"or more lively prospects; hills so raised, +here and there, over the valleys; the river winding +into divers branches; the plains adjoining all green +grass without bush or stubble; the ground of hard +sand, easy to march on, either for horses or foot; +the birds, towards evening, singing on every tree +with a thousand sweet tunes; cranes and herons +of white, crimson, and carnation, perching on the +river's side; the air fresh, with a gentle, easterly +wind; and every stone we stooped to pick up promising +either gold or silver by its complexion."</p> + +<p>On the return to the junction of the rivers, the +land parties had similar stories to tell, and had +pieces of golden ore to show, of which they claimed +to have found plentiful indications. This story +filled the whole party with dazzling hopes. Here, +in the rocks at least, were the riches of which they +had heard so much. If El Dorado did not exist, +here was the native wealth that might well bring it +into existence.</p> + +<p>The prospectors had done all that lay in their +power, and now felt it necessary to return to their +ships, taking with them, at his request, the son of +the aged chief, who wished him to see England, and +perhaps to return at some time to succeed him, +with the aid of the valiant English.</p> + +<p>We must briefly close the story of Raleigh and +his quest. After various adventures, the party +reached Plymouth again in August, 1595, and the<pb n="150" /><anchor id="Pg150" /> +narrative of their discoveries was read everywhere +with the utmost interest.</p> + +<p>But many years passed before the explorer could +return again. He became engaged in the wars +against Spain, and after the death of the queen was +arrested for treason by order of James I. and imprisoned +for thirteen years. In 1617, twenty-two +years after his first expedition, he returned to the +Orinoco, this time with a fleet of thirteen vessels.</p> + +<p>His release from prison had been gained by bribery +and the promise to open a rich mine of gold in +Guiana, but the expedition proved a failure. There +was a sharp fight with a party of Spaniards at St. +Thomas, in which Raleigh's son was killed. As for +the gold mine, it could not be found, and the expedition +was forced to return with none of the hoped-for +wealth to show.</p> + +<p>And now Raleigh's misfortunes culminated. He +had been sentenced to death for treason in 1603, but +had been reprieved. The king had him arrested +again on the old charge, and the king of Spain demanded +that he should be punished for the attack +on St. Thomas in times of peace. James I. did not +like Raleigh, and wished to stand well with Spain, +so the famous explorer fell a victim to the royal +policy and dislike and was beheaded under the old +sentence in October, 1618. Since then El Dorado +has lain concealed in the mists of legend and romance, +though mines of gold have been worked in +the region which Raleigh explored.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="151" /><anchor id="Pg151" /> +<head>MORGAN, THE FREEBOOTER, AND THE RAID ON PANAMA.</head> + +<p>During the seventeenth century the Spanish Main +was beset with a horde of freebooters or buccaneers, +as they called themselves, to whose fierce attacks +the treasure-ships bound for Spain were constantly +exposed, and who did not hesitate to assail the +strongholds of the Spaniards in quest of plunder. +They differed from pirates only in the fact that +their operations were confined to Spain and her +colonies, no war giving warrant to their atrocities. +Most ferocious and most successful among these +worthies was Henry Morgan, a man of Welsh birth, +who made his name dreaded by his daring and cruelty +throughout the New-World realms of Spain. +The most famous among the deeds of this rover +of the seas was his capture of the city of Panama, +which we shall here describe.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of October, 1670, there set sail from +the island haunts of the freebooters the greatest +fleet which these lawless wretches had ever got together. +It consisted of thirty-seven ships, small +and large, Morgan's flag-ship, of thirty-two guns, +being the largest, and flying the English standard. +The men had gathered from all the abiding-places +of their fraternity, eager to serve under so famous +a leader as Morgan, and looking for rich spoil under<pb n="152" /><anchor id="Pg152" /> +a man whose rule of conduct was, "Where the +Spaniards obstinately defend themselves there is +something to take, and their best fortified places +are those which contain the most treasure."</p> + +<figure url="images/image11.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>THE CITY OF PANAMA.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: THE CITY OF PANAMA.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Not until they reached the vicinity of the isthmus +did Morgan announce to his followers the plan +he had conceived, which was to attack the important +and opulent city of Panama, in which he +expected to find a vast wealth of gold and silver. +It was no trifling adventure. This city lay on +the Pacific side of the Isthmus of Panama, and +could be reached only by a long and toilsome land +journey, the route well defended by nature and +doubtless by art, while not a man on board the fleet +had ever trod the way thither. To supply themselves +with a guide the island of St. Catharine, +where the Spaniards confined their criminals, was +attacked and taken, and three of the convicts were +selected for guides, under promise of liberty and +reward.</p> + +<p>Panama was at that time one of the largest and +wealthiest cities in America. It contained some +seven thousand houses, one-third the number being +large and handsome dwellings, many of them +strongly built of stone and richly furnished. Walls +surrounded the city, which was well prepared for +defence. It was the emporium for the precious +metals of Peru and Mexico, two thousand mules +being kept for the transportation of those rich ores. +It was also the seat of a great trade in negro slaves, +for the supply of Chili and Peru. The merchants<pb n="153" /><anchor id="Pg153" /> +of the place lived in great opulence and the churches +were magnificently adorned, the chief among them +being a handsome cathedral. Beautiful paintings +and other costly works of art ornamented the principal +dwellings, and everything concurred to add +to the importance and beauty of the place.</p> + +<p>A century earlier Sir Francis Drake had led his +men near enough to Panama to behold the distant +sea from the top of a high tree. But he had contented +himself with waylaying and plundering a +mule-train laden with treasure, and in 1670 it +seemed the act of madness for a horde of freebooters +to attack the city itself. Yet this was +what the daring Morgan designed to do.</p> + +<p>The first thing to be done was to capture Fort +St. Laurent, a strong place on an almost inaccessible +hill, near the banks of the Chagres River. +Four ships, with four hundred men, were sent +against this fort, which was vigorously defended +by its garrison, but was taken at length by the expedient +of firing the palisades and buildings of the +fort—composed of light wood—by means of burning +arrows. The assailants suffered heavily, losing +more than half their force, while of the garrison +only twenty-four were taken, many of the others +having leaped from the walls into the river, preferring +death to capture by their ferocious foes. +From the prisoners it was learned that the people +of Panama were not ignorant of Morgan's purpose, +and that the threatened city was defended by more +than three thousand men.</p> + +<pb n="154" /><anchor id="Pg154" /> + +<p>As the remainder of the fleet drew near, the +freebooters, seeing the English flag flying on the +fort, manifested their joy by the depths of their +potations, getting so drunk, in fact, that they managed +to run four of the ships on the rocks at the +mouth of the Chagres, among them the admiral's +ship. The crews and cargoes were saved, but the +vessels were total wrecks, much to Morgan's chagrin.</p> + +<p>At length, on the 18th of January, 1671, the +march on Panama actually began, with a force of +thirteen hundred picked men, five hundred being +left to garrison the fort and one hundred and fifty +to seize some Spanish vessels that were in the river. +The means of conveyance being limited, and the +need of marching light important, a very small +supply of provisions was taken, it being expected +to find an abundance on the route. But in this +the raiders were seriously at fault, the Spaniards +fleeing with all their cattle and cutting all the growing +grain, so that the buccaneers soon found themselves +almost destitute of supplies.</p> + +<p>The journey was made in boats up the river as +far as practicable, five small vessels carrying the +artillery. At the end of the second day most of +the men were forced to abandon the boats and +prosecute their journey on foot. On the third day +they found themselves in a marshy forest, which +they traversed with difficulty and reached the town +of Cedro Bueno. Here they had hoped to find food, +but the place was deserted and not a scrap of provisions +left.</p> + +<pb n="155" /><anchor id="Pg155" /> + +<p>The affair was now growing very serious, all their +food having been consumed and they left in imminent +danger of starvation. Many of them were +reduced to eat the leaves of the trees in their extremity. +They found themselves also benumbed +with cold as they spent the night unsheltered on +the chilly river-bank. During the next day their +route followed the stream, the canoes being dragged +along, or rowed where the water was of sufficient +depth. The Spaniards still carried away all food +from the country before them, the only things they +found being some large sacks of hides. These, in +their extremity, were used as food, the leather being +scraped, beaten, and soaked in water, after which it +was roasted. Even then it could not be swallowed +without the aid of copious draughts of water.</p> + +<p>Only the courage and determination of the chiefs +induced the men to go on under such severe privations. +The fifth day's journey ended as badly as +the previous ones, the only food found being a little +flour, fruit, and wine, so small in quantity that +Morgan had it distributed among the weaker members +of his troop, some of whom were so faint as to +seem on the point of death. For the rest of the +men there was nothing to eat but leaves and the +grass of the meadows.</p> + +<p>The feebler men were now put on board the +boats, the stronger continuing to travel by land, +but very slowly, frequent rests being needed on account +of their great exhaustion. It seemed, indeed, +as if the expedition would have to be abandoned, +<pb n="156" /><anchor id="Pg156" />when, to their delirious joy, they found a great +supply of maize, which the Spaniards by some +oversight had abandoned in a granary. Many of +them, in their starving condition, devoured this +grain raw. Others roasted it wrapped in banana +leaves. The supply was soon exhausted, but for a +time it gave new vigor to the famished men.</p> + +<p>On the following day all the food they found was +a sack of bread and some cats and dogs, all of which +were greedily devoured; and farther on, at the +town of Cruces, the head of navigation on the +Chagres, a number of vessels of wine were discovered. +This they hastily drank, with the result +that all the drinkers fell ill and fancied they were +poisoned. Their illness, however, was merely the +natural effect of hasty drinking in their exhausted +state, and soon left them.</p> + +<p>At this point a number of the men were sent +back with the boats to where the ships had been +left, the force that continued the march amounting +to eleven hundred. With these the journey proceeded, +the principal adventure being an attack +by a large body of Indians, who opposed the invaders +with much valor, only retreating when their +chief was killed.</p> + +<p>About noon of the ninth day a steep hill was ascended, +from whose summit, to their delight, the +buccaneers beheld the distant Pacific. But what +gave them much livelier joy was to see, in a valley +below them, a great herd of bulls, cows, horses, +and asses, under the care of some Spaniards, who +<pb n="157" /><anchor id="Pg157" />took to flight the moment they saw the formidable +force of invaders. Only an utter lack of judgment, +or the wildness of panic in the Spaniards, could +have induced them to leave this prey to their nearly +starved foes. It was an oversight which was to +prove fatal to them. Then was the time to attack +instead of to feed their ruthless enemies.</p> + +<p>The freebooters, faint with famine and fatigue, +gained new strength at the sight of the welcome +herd of food animals. They rushed hastily down +and killed a large number of them, devouring the +raw flesh with such a fury of hunger that the +blood ran in streams from their lips. What could +not be eaten was taken away to serve for a future +supply. As yet Panama had not been seen, but +soon, from a hill-top, they discerned its distant +towers. The vision was hailed with the blare of +trumpets and shouts of "victory!" and the buccaneers +encamped on the spot, resolved to attack the +city the next day.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards, meanwhile, were not at rest. A +troop of fifty horsemen was sent to reconnoitre, +and a second detachment occupied the passes, to +prevent the escape of the enemy in case of defeat. +But the freebooters were not disturbed in their +camp, and were allowed a quiet night's rest after +their abundant meal of raw flesh.</p> + +<p>The next day Morgan led his men against the +city, skilfully avoiding the main road, which was +defended by batteries, and passing through a thick +and pathless wood. Two hours of this flanking +<pb n="158" /><anchor id="Pg158" />march brought them in sight of the Spanish forces, +which were very numerous, consisting of four regiments +of the line and nearly three thousand other +soldiers. They had with them also a great herd of +wild bulls under the charge of Indians and negroes, +from which much was hoped in the assault.</p> + +<p>Morgan and his men were much discouraged by +the multitude and military array of their foes, but +nothing remained for them but a desperate fight, +and, with two hundred of their best marksmen in +front, they descended to the broad plain on which +the Spaniards awaited them. They had no sooner +reached it than the Spanish cavalry charged, while +the bulls were driven tumultuously upon them.</p> + +<p>This carefully devised assault proved a disastrous +failure. The horsemen found themselves in marshy +ground, where they were exposed to a hot and +well-directed fire, numbers of them falling before +they could effect a retreat. The charge of the +bulls, on which so much reliance had been placed, +proved an equal failure, and with wild shouts the +freebooters advanced, firing rapidly and with an +accuracy of aim that soon strewed the ground with +the dead.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards, driven back by this impetuous +charge, now turned the bulls against the rear of +their enemy. But many of these had been cattle-raisers +and knew well how to act against such a +foe, driving them off with shouts and the waving +of colored flags and killing numbers of them. In +the end, after a battle of two hours' duration, the +<pb n="159" /><anchor id="Pg159" />Spaniards, despite their great superiority of numbers, +were utterly defeated, a great many being +killed on the field and others in the panic of +flight.</p> + +<p>But the freebooters had lost heavily, and Panama, +a city defended by walls and forts, remained to be +taken. Morgan knew that success depended on +taking instant advantage of the panic of the enemy, +and he advanced without delay against the town. +It was strongly defended with artillery, but the +impetuous assault of the freebooters carried all +before it, and after a three hours' fight the city was +in their hands.</p> + +<p>The scenes that followed were marked by the +most atrocious ferocity and vandalism. The city +was given up to indiscriminate pillage, attended by +outrages of every kind, and in the end was set on +fire by Morgan's orders and burned to the ground, +much of its great wealth being utterly consumed +through the sheer instinct of destruction.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for the people of Panama, the majority +of them had sought safety in flight, taking +their women and all their portable wealth. In +pursuit of those that had fled by water Morgan +sent out a well-manned ship, which returned after a +two days' cruise with three prizes. It also brought +back news that a large galleon, deeply laden with +treasure in gold and silver and carrying away the +principal women of the town, with their jewels, +had escaped. It was poorly manned and defended +and for days Morgan made strenuous efforts to +<pb n="160" /><anchor id="Pg160" />discover and capture it, but fortunately this rich +prize eluded his grasp.</p> + +<p>For three weeks the freebooters occupied the site +of the burned city, many of them engaged in +searching the ruins for gold and silver, while some, +who were discontented with the acts of their leader, +conspired to seize the largest ship in the harbor +and start on a piratical cruise of their own down +the Pacific. This coming to Morgan's ears on the +eve of its execution, he defeated it by causing the +main-mast of the ship to be cut down, and afterwards +by setting fire to all the ships in the harbor.</p> + +<p>The return of the freebooters had its items of +interest. The booty, consisting of gold, silver, and +jewels, was laden on a large number of animals, +beside which disconsolately walked six hundred +prisoners, men, women, and children, Morgan refusing +them their liberty except on payment of a +ransom which they could not procure. Some of +them succeeded in obtaining the ransom on the +march, but the majority were taken to Chagres. +From there they were sent in a ship to Porto Bello, +a neighboring coast town, Morgan threatening that +place with destruction unless a heavy ransom was +sent him. The inhabitants sent word back that not +a half-penny would be paid, and that he might do +what he pleased. What he pleased to do was to +carry out his threat of destroying the town.</p> + +<p>The final outcome of this frightful raid remains +to be told. It demonstrated that Morgan was as +faithless to his companions as he was ferocious to +<pb n="161" /><anchor id="Pg161" />his victims. On their way back from Panama he +ordered that every man should be searched and +every article they had secreted be added to the +general store. To induce them to consent he offered +himself to be searched first. In the final division, +however, of the spoil, which was valued at four hundred +and forty-three thousand two hundred pounds +weight of silver, he played the part of a traitor, +many of the most precious articles disappearing +from the store and the bulk of the precious stones +especially being added by Morgan to his share.</p> + +<p>This and other acts of the leader created such a +hostile feeling among the men that a mutiny was +imminent, to avoid which Morgan secretly set sail +with his own and three other vessels, whose commanders +had shared with him in the unequal division +of the spoil. The fury of the remaining freebooters, +on finding that they had been abandoned, +was extreme, and they determined to pursue and +attack Morgan and his confederates, but lack of +provisions prevented them from carrying this into +effect.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, events were taking place not much to +the comfort of the freebooting fraternity. An English +ship-of-the-line arrived at Jamaica with orders +to bring home the governor to answer for the protection +he had given "these bloodthirsty and plundering +rascals," while the governor who succeeded +him issued the severest orders against any future +operations of the freebooters.</p> + +<p>From this time Morgan withdrew from his career +<pb n="162" /><anchor id="Pg162" />of robbery, content to enjoy the wealth which he +had so cruelly and treacherously obtained. He +settled in Jamaica, where he was permitted to enjoy +in security his ill-gotten wealth. In fact, the British +government showed its real sentiment concerning +his career by promoting him to high offices and +giving him the honor of knighthood. As a result +this faithless and cruel pirate bore during the remainder +of his life the distinction of being addressed +as Sir Henry Morgan.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="163" /><anchor id="Pg163" /> +<head>A DRAMA OF PLUNDER, MURDER, AND REVENGE</head> + +<p>A famous story of American history is that which +tells of the massacre of the French settlers in Florida +by the Spaniards of St. Augustine, and of the +signal revenge taken on the murderers by the French +chevalier Dominique de Gourgues. There is a parallel +tale to tell about Brazil, not so full of the element +of romance, yet for all that an interesting +story and well worth the telling.</p> + +<p>The great Portuguese colony of Brazil, like many +of the Spanish colonies, was open to the attacks of +buccaneers and of free lances of the seas bearing +the flags of various countries of Europe. There +was not an important port of the country, except +its capital, Rio Janeiro, that escaped attack by hostile +fleets, eager for spoil, during the seventeenth +century, and early in the eighteenth Rio itself was +made the victim of assault. A city of over twelve +thousand people, and the gateway to a rich gold-mining +country in the rear, its wealth invited a +visit from the prize-seekers, though the strength +of its population and garrison long kept these +away. Its turn for assault came in 1710.</p> + +<p>In that year a squadron appeared in the waters +outside the harbor on which the people looked with +doubt. It flew the French flag, and that standard<pb n="164" /><anchor id="Pg164" /> +had not been a welcome visitor in the past. In +fact, it was commanded by a daring Frenchman +named Duclerc, who was on the seas for spoil. But +a look at the strong defences of the harbor entrance, +and some exchange of shots, warned him of the perils +that would attend an attempt to pass them by force, +and he sailed on to a point some forty miles down +the coast, where he landed a party of a thousand +marines.</p> + +<p>His design to attack the city with this small +party seemed folly. The governor, Francisco de +Castro, had a force of eight thousand Portuguese +troops, besides five thousand armed negroes and +several hundred Indian bowmen. But he lacked +the heart of a soldier, and Duclerc's marines +marched like so many buccaneers through the +forest for seven days without meeting a foeman. +Even when near the city the only enemies in sight +were a handful of men led by a friar, who attacked +them boldly in defence of his church. After capturing +this, the daring French charged into the city +in the face of the fire from the forts on the surrounding +hills, to which the governor's troops had +been withdrawn.</p> + +<p>The very boldness of the assault, and the failure +of the governor to guard the streets with troops, +nearly led to success. Little resistance was made +by the few soldiers in the city, and the French traversed +the narrow streets until the central square +was reached. Here they met their first check +from a party of fifty students, who had entered the<pb n="165" /><anchor id="Pg165" /> +palace of the governor and fired upon them from +the windows. The first French assailants who +forced their way in were taken prisoners and tied +to the furniture. In the custom-house adjoining +was the magazine. Here, as the storekeeper was +hastily giving out ammunition, a fellow with a +lighted match approached and carelessly set fire to +the powder. In a moment the building was blown +into the air, and the palace, which the French were +still assailing, was set on fire.</p> + +<p>The people were now rising, and the several detachments +into which the attacking force had divided +found themselves fiercely assailed. Duclerc, +at the head of the main body, after losing heavily, +barricaded himself in a stone warehouse on the +quay, round which his foes gathered thickly. +While there the bells of the city rang out merrily, +a sound which he fancied to be made by his own +men, who he thought were thus celebrating their +victory. In reality it signified the victory of the +Portuguese, who had fallen upon, defeated, and +slaughtered one of his detachments. A second +detachment, which had entered and begun to plunder +the magazine, was set upon by the rabble and +completely butchered. Duclerc's defence soon grew +hopeless, and he was forced to surrender at discretion. +The Portuguese sullied their victory by +acts of cruel reprisal, many of the prisoners in +their hands being murdered. In all nearly seven +hundred of the French were killed and wounded. +Six hundred, including the wounded, were taken<pb n="166" /><anchor id="Pg166" /> +prisoners, and of these many died through bad treatment +in the prisons. Duclerc was murdered some-months +after being taken. Soon after the fight the +squadron appeared off the port, where its officers, +learning of the loss of the assailants, squared their +yards and sailed away for France. Thus ended the +first act in our tragedy of plunder.</p> + +<p>The second act was one of revenge. In France +was found a second Dominique de Gourgues to call +to a harsh account the murderers of his countrymen. +France, indeed, was in a fury throughout +when the news came of the inhuman slaughter of +its citizens. The man who played the part of De +Gourgues was a distinguished and able naval officer +named M. de Guay-Trouin. He was moved by a +double motive. While hot for revenge, the hope +for plunder was an equally inspiring force. And +the fame that might come to him with victory +added still another motive. The path was made +easy for him, for the government gave its approval +to his enterprise, and certain wealthy citizens of +St. Malo, eager for gain, volunteered the money to +fit out the expedition.</p> + +<p>It was important to keep the affair secret, and +the vessels were fitted out at different ports to +avoid suspicion. Yet the rumor that an unusual +number of war-vessels were being got ready was +soon afloat and reached Portugal, where its purpose +was suspected, and a fleet of merchant and war-vessels +was hurried to sea with supplies and reinforcements +for Rio. The suspicion reached England, also,<pb n="167" /><anchor id="Pg167" /> +and that country, then on the side of Portugal, +sent out a fleet to blockade Brest, where the vessels +of the expedition then lay, and prevent its +sailing. But Admiral Trouin was not the man to be +caught in a trap, and he hurried his ships out of port +before they were quite ready, leaving the British +an empty harbor to seal up. The work of preparation +was finished at Rochelle, whence the fleet +sailed in June, 1711. It consisted of seven line-of-battle +ships, their number of guns varying from seventy-four +to fifty-six, six frigates, and four smaller +vessels, and had on board five thousand picked men,—a +formidable force to send against a colonial city.</p> + +<p>The powerful fleet made its way safely over the +sea, and reached the vicinity of the northern Brazilian +port of Bahia on August 27. Trouin had +some thought of beginning his work here, but his +water-supply was getting low and he felt obliged to +hasten on. On the 11th of September he found +himself off the Bay of Rio de Janeiro, with the +city and its environing hills in full view.</p> + +<p>The Portuguese had got ahead of him, the fleet +from Lisbon having arrived, giving warning of the +danger and reinforcing the garrison. Three forts +and eleven batteries defended the narrow-mouthed +harbor, within which lay four ships-of-the-line and +as many frigates. Had all this force been directed +by a man of ability the French might have found +entrance to the bay impossible. But Francisco de +Castro, the hopeless governor of the year before, +was still at the head of affairs, and no man could<pb n="168" /><anchor id="Pg168" /> +have played more thoroughly into the hands of the +French.</p> + +<p>As it chanced, fortune favored the assailants. A +heavy fog descended, under cover of which the fleet +ran with little damage past the forts and entered +the harbor. When the fog rose the Portuguese +were dismayed to see their foes inside. Gaspar da +Costa, the admiral of their fleet, was known as an +able commander, but he was old and in feeble health, +and such a panic now assailed him that he ran his +ships in haste ashore and set fire to them, leaving +to his foes the undisputed command of the harbor. +Admiral Trouin had won the first move in the game.</p> + +<p>Governor de Castro proved to be as completely +demoralized as Admiral da Costa. He had twice +as many troops as the French, but not half the +courage and ability of his adversary. Fort Villegagnon, +one of the chief defences, was blown up +by the mismanagement of its garrison, and during +the state of panic of the Portuguese Trouin landed +about four thousand men, erecting a battery on an +island within easy cannon-shot of the city, and occupying +a range of hills to the left which gave him +command of that section of the place. The governor +with his troops looked on from a distance +while the French pillaged the adjoining suburb, +destitute of tactics that any one could discover +unless he proposed to let the French enter the +streets and then attack them from the houses.</p> + +<p>It was in this way they had been defeated the +year before, but Trouin was too old a soldier to<pb n="169" /><anchor id="Pg169" /> +be caught in such a trap. He erected batteries +on the surrounding hill-slopes till the town was +commanded on three sides, while the governor kept +the bulk of his forces at a distance, waiting for no +one knew what. Trouin had been permitted, with +scarcely a blow in defence, to make himself master +of the situation, and he needed only to get his guns +in place to be able to batter the town to the dust.</p> + +<p>He now sent a demand to the governor to surrender, +saying that he had been sent by the king +of France to take revenge for the murder of Duclerc +and the inhuman slaughter of his men. De +Castro answered that his duty to his king would not +permit him to surrender, and sought to show that +the French had been honorably killed in battle and +Duclerc murdered by an assassin beyond his control.</p> + +<p>A poor affair of a governor De Castro proved, +and the French were permitted to go on with their +works almost unmolested, the Portuguese occupying +hill forts, the fire from which did little harm to the +enemy. Trouin had already begun the bombardment +of the city, and on receiving the governor's +answer he kept his guns at work all night. At the +same time there raged a tropical storm of great +violence, accompanied by thunders that drowned +the roar of the guns, the frightful combination +throwing the people into such a state that they all +fled in blind terror, the troops in the town with +them. In the morning, when Trouin was ready to +launch his storming parties, word was brought him +that the city was deserted and lay at his mercy.<pb n="170" /><anchor id="Pg170" /> +Some of the richest magazines had been set on fire +by the governor's order, but otherwise the rich city +was abandoned, with all its wealth, to the French.</p> + +<p>Of the relics of Duclerc's force, about five hundred +remained alive in the city. These do not +seem to have been then in prison, but living at large, +and they were already abroad and plundering the +abandoned city when the French forces entered. +They had met good treatment as well as bad. +Some of the people had been kind and hospitable +to them, and in the sack of the city that ensued +the houses of these charitable citizens were marked +and left untouched.</p> + +<p>Otherwise the sack was general, houses and +warehouses being broken open, and quantities of +valuable goods which could not be taken off being +thrown into the mud of the streets. Now was the +opportunity for the Portuguese to attack. Trouin +was aware of the danger, but was unable to control +his men, and a sudden assault by the garrison might +have proved disastrous to the French. But the +opportunity was allowed to pass, the governor, in +fact, surrendering all his forts and marching his +troops a league from the city, where he lay waiting +reinforcements from the interior while the French +plundered at their leisure.</p> + +<p>Trouin was wise enough to know that his position +was perilous. He might be overwhelmed by numbers, +and it was important to finish his work and +get away with little delay. But the plunder of the +city was not sufficient for his purpose, and he sent<pb n="171" /><anchor id="Pg171" /> +word to the governor that he must ransom it or it +would be burned. To make his word good he began +by setting fire to the environs.</p> + +<p>De Castro, eager to get rid of his foes at any +price, offered six hundred thousand <hi rend="font-style: italic">cruzadoes</hi>. This +was refused by Trouin, and to stir up the governor to +a better offer, the admiral took his messenger through +the city and showed him that he was spoiling everything +that fire would not burn. Learning, however, +that the expected reinforcements might soon +arrive, anxiety induced him to march his men to +the front of the Portuguese camp, where he began +to negotiate for better terms. The only addition +De Castro would agree to was to promise the French +a supply of cattle for food, fifteen days being allowed +to collect the ransom.</p> + +<p>Trouin, knowing well that he had no time to +waste, accepted the terms, and none too soon, for +shortly afterwards a strong body of reinforcements, +led by an able general, entered the Portuguese camp. +They came too late, the treaty had been made, and +the new general felt bound in honor to make it good. +So the ransom was paid, and on the 4th of November +the triumphant French set sail, their ships +deep laden with the rich plunder of the Brazilian +capital and the gold of the governor's ransom.</p> + +<p>The return home was not attended with the success +of the earlier part of the expedition. Trouin +had left Bahia to be visited and plundered on his +return, but when he came near it the weather was +so stormy that he was obliged to abandon this part<pb n="172" /><anchor id="Pg172" /> +of his plan. The storms followed the fleet on its +way across the seas, and rose to such a height that +two of his ships went to the bottom, carrying down +twelve hundred men. One of these was the finest +ship of the fleet, and in consequence had been +laden with the most valuable booty. Of gold and +silver alone it took down with it a weight valued +at six hundred thousand livres. A third vessel +went ashore and was wrecked at Cayenne. Yet +with all these losses, so much wealth was brought +home that the speculators in spoil made a profit of +ninety-two per cent. on their investment.</p> + +<p>The French had won in large measure revenge +and plunder, while Trouin had gained his meed of +fame. It was now Portugal's time for vengeance, +and it was visited principally on the worthless governor +to whose cowardice the disaster was due. He +had been praised and rewarded for the victory over +Duclerc' s expedition—praise and reward which he +certainly did not deserve. For very similar conduct +he was now deposed and sentenced to degradation +and perpetual imprisonment, on the charge +of cowardice and lack of judgment. His nephew +was banished for life for bad conduct, and a captain +who had given up his fort and fled was hung in +effigy. There were no others to punish, and Portugal +was obliged to hold its hand, France being a foe +beyond its reach. Rio had met with a terrible +misfortune, from which it took many years to +recover, and rarely have the sanguinary deeds of a +murderous rabble led to so severe a retribution.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="173" /><anchor id="Pg173" /> +<head>THE WONDERFUL MARCH OF THE FREEBOOTERS</head> + +<p>The March of the Ten Thousand, from Babylon +to the Black Sea, is one of the famous events of +history. The march of the three hundred, from +the Pacific to the Atlantic, which we have here to +tell, is scarcely known to history at all, yet it was +marked by a courage and command of resources +as great as those of the ancient Greeks. We think +our readers will agree with us when they read this +story, taken from the records of the freebooters on +the Spanish Main.</p> + +<p>After ravaging the settlements of Spain on the +Atlantic coasts, various fleets of these piratical adventurers +sought the Pacific waters in 1685, and +there for several years made life scarce worth living +to the inhabitants of the Spanish coast cities. +Time and again these were plundered of their +wealth, numbers of their ships were taken, and a +veritable reign of terror prevailed. As time went +on, however, most of these freebooters withdrew, +satisfied with their abundant gains, so that, by the +end of 1687, only a few of them remained, and +these were eager to return with their ill-gotten +wealth to their native land.</p> + +<p>This remnant of the piratical fraternity, less than +three hundred in number, had their head-quarters<pb n="174" /><anchor id="Pg174" /> +on an island in the Bay of Mapalla, on the Central +American coast. What vessels they had left were +in a wretched condition, utterly unfit to attempt +the vast sea voyage by way of the Straits of Magellan, +and nothing seemed to remain for them but +an attempt to cross the continent by way of Nicaragua +and Honduras, fighting their way through a +multitude of enemies. To the pen of Ravenneau +de Lussan, one of the adventurers, we are indebted +for the narrative of the singular and interesting +adventure which follows.</p> + +<p>The daring band of French and English freebooters +were very ill provided for the dangerous +enterprise they had in view. They proposed to +cross an unknown country without guides and with +a meagre supply of provisions, fighting as they went +and conveying their sick and wounded as best they +could. They had also a number of prisoners whom +they felt it necessary to take with them, since to +set them free would be to divulge their weakness +to their enemies. Nature and circumstance seemed +to combine against them, yet if they ever wished +to see their native lands again they must face every +danger, trusting that some of them, at least, might +escape to enjoy their spoils.</p> + +<p>After questioning their prisoners, they decided +to take a route by way of the city of New Segovia, +which lies north of the lake of Nicaragua, about +one hundred and twenty miles from the Pacific and +seventy-five miles from the waters of a river that +flows, after a long course, into the Atlantic opposite<pb n="175" /><anchor id="Pg175" /> +Cape Gracias-a-Dios. In order to gain further +information about the route, sixty men were sent +to explore the neighboring country. These advanced +till they were near the small city of Chiloteca. +Here, worn out by their journey and learning +that they were in a thickly settled country, +most of the pioneers decided to return. But +eighteen of the bolder spirits had the audacity to +advance on Chiloteca, a place of perhaps a thousand +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Into it they rushed with such ferocious yells and +so terrific a fusillade of shots that the frightened +inhabitants, taken utterly by surprise, fled in mortal +terror, leaving the place to its captors. These +quickly seized a number of horses, and made haste +to retreat on their backs, hotly pursued by the +Spaniards, who soon discovered to what a handful +of men they had surrendered their city.</p> + +<p>On receiving the report of their scouts, the freebooters +determined on the desperate venture. They +had little to convey except their spoil, which, the +result of numerous raids, was valued at about one +million dollars. It chiefly consisted of gold and +jewels, all heavier valuables, even silver, being left +in great part behind, as too heavy to carry. The +spoil was very unequally owned, since the gambling +which had gone on actively among them had greatly +varied the distribution of their wealth. To overcome +the anger and jealousy which this created +among the poorer, those with much to carry shared +their portions among their companions, with the<pb n="176" /><anchor id="Pg176" /> +understanding that, if they reached the Antilles in +safety, half of it should be returned. As for the +prisoners, it was decided to take them along, and +make use of them for carrying the utensils, provisions, +and sick.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of January, 1688, these freebooters, +two hundred and eighty-five in number, with sixty-eight +horses, crossed in boats from their island +refuge to the main-land and began their march. +Their ships had been first destroyed, their cannon +cast into the sea, and their bulkier effects burned. +Divided into four companies, with forty men in +front as an advance guard, they moved forward +into a land of adventure and peril.</p> + +<p>It was soon found that the people expected and +had prepared for their coming. Trees had been +felled across the roads and efforts made to obstruct +all the foot-paths. Provisions had been carried +away, and the dry herbage of the fields was +set on fire as they advanced, almost suffocating +them with the heat and smoke. This was done to +hinder their march until the Spaniards had completed +a strong intrenchment which was being built +at a suitable place on the route.</p> + +<p>Ambuscades were also laid for them. On the +eighth day of their march they fell into one of +these at Tusignala, where three hundred Spaniards +lay concealed on the ground and fired into their +ranks. Though these were dispersed by a fierce +charge, they followed the freebooters closely, annoying +them from the shelter of woods and thickets.<pb n="177" /><anchor id="Pg177" /> +The next day a still larger ambuscade was laid, +which, fortunately for the freebooters, was discovered +and dispersed in time, the fleeing Spaniards +leaving their horses behind.</p> + +<p>Two days later New Segovia was reached. Here +the buccaneers expected a severe engagement, and +hoped to gain a supply of provisions. In both +they were mistaken; the inhabitants had decamped, +carrying all food with them. Their prisoners, who +had served them as guides to this point, knew +nothing of the country beyond, but they succeeded +in taking a new prisoner who was familiar with the +further route.</p> + +<p>The country they were passing through was +mountainous and very difficult. Steep acclivities +had constantly to be climbed, narrow paths on the +borders of deep chasms to be traversed, and rapid +slopes to be descended. The nights were bitterly +cold, the mornings were darkened by thick fogs, +and their whole route was attended with danger, +discomfort, and fatigue.</p> + +<p>New Segovia lay in a valley surrounded on all +sides by mountains, one of which had to be ascended +immediately on leaving the town. The +next day's dawn found them on its summit, with a +valley far below them, in which, to their joy, they +beheld a large number of animals which they took +to be oxen. Their joy was dissipated, however, +when the scouts they sent out came back with the +information that these animals were horses, saddled +and bridled, and that a series of formidable<pb n="178" /><anchor id="Pg178" /> +intrenchments had been built in the valley, rising +like terraces, one above another, and carried to the +mountains on each side, so as completely to close +the route.</p> + +<p>There seemed no way to avoid these defences. +On one side of the mountain flowed a river. A +small eminence, surrounded by breastworks, commanded +the only passage which the freebooters +could follow. The whole country round was thick +forest, through whose rock-guarded demesnes not +the slightest indication of a path could be seen. +Yet to attack those works in front promised quick +and utter defeat, and if they wished to avoid destruction +they must find some way to outwit their +foes. It was decided that the forest presented less +dangers and difficulties than the fortified road, and +that the only hope of safety lay in a flank movement +which would lead them to the rear of the enemy.</p> + +<p>During that day active preparations were made +for the proposed movement. The three hundred +Spaniards who had ambushed them some days +before still hung upon their rear. Their horses, +sick, and prisoners were therefore left in an enclosed +camp, barricaded by their baggage-vehicles and +guarded by eighty of their number. As a means +of impressing the enemy with their numbers and +alertness they kept up camp-fires all night, repeated +at intervals the rolls upon the drum, relieved the +sentinels with a great noise, and varied these signs +of activity with cries and occasional discharges of +musketry.</p> + +<pb n="179" /><anchor id="Pg179" /> + +<p>Meanwhile, as soon as the shades of evening descended, +the remainder of the freebooters, some two +hundred in number, began their march, following +the route indicated by a scout they had sent to examine +the forest. The difficulties of that night journey +through the dense wood proved very great, +there being numerous steep rocks to climb and descend, +and this needed to be done with as little noise +as possible. Daybreak found the adventurers on a +mountain elevation, from which they could see the +Spanish intrenchments below them on the left. The +greatest of their impediments had been surmounted, +but there were difficulties still to be overcome.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for them a thick mist rose with the +morning light, which, while it rendered their downward +passage critical, served to conceal them from +the enemy below. As they came near the works +the heavy tread of a patrol guided them in their +course, and the morning prayers of the Spaniards +were of still more advantage in indicating their +distance and position. The freebooting band had +reached the rear of the hostile army, composed of +five hundred men, who were so taken by surprise +on seeing their ferocious enemy rushing upon them +with shouts and volleys, from this unlooked-for +quarter, that they fled without an attempt at defence.</p> + +<p>The other Spaniards behaved more courageously, +but the appearance of the buccaneers within the +works they had so toilsomely prepared robbed them +of spirit, and after an hour's fight they, too, broke<pb n="180" /><anchor id="Pg180" /> +and fled. The trees they had felled to obstruct the +road now contributed to their utter defeat, and +they were cut down in multitudes, with scarce an +attempt at resistance. We can scarcely credit the +testimony of the freebooters, however, that their +sole losses were one killed and two wounded. The +success of the advance party was equalled by that +of the guard of armed men left in the camp, who, +after some negotiations with the troop of Spaniards +in their rear, made a sudden charge upon them and +dispersed all who were not cut down.</p> + +<p>That the freebooters were as much surprised as +gratified by the signal success of their stratagem +need scarcely be said. One of the panics which +are apt to follow a surprise in war had saved them +from threatened annihilation. They learned, however, +the disquieting fact that six miles farther on +was another strong intrenchment which could not +be avoided, the country permitting no choice of +roads. In their situation there was nothing to do +but to advance and dare the worst, and fortunately +for them their remarkable success spread such terror +before it that, when they appeared before these +new works, the Spaniards made no attack, but +remained quietly behind their breastworks while +their dreaded foes marched past.</p> + +<p>The seventeenth day of their march carried them +to the banks of the river towards which their route +had been laid. This was the Magdalena, a stream +which rises in the mountains near New Segovia +and flows through a difficult rock channel, with<pb n="181" /><anchor id="Pg181" /> +numerous cascades, three of them amounting to +cataracts, finally reaching the Caribbean Sea after +a course of several hundred miles.</p> + +<p>How they were to descend this mountain torrent +was the question which now offered itself to them. +It presented a more attractive route of travel than +the one so far pursued over the mountains, but was +marked by difficulties of a formidable character. +These were overcome by the freebooters in an extraordinary +manner, one almost or quite without +parallel in the annals of travel. The expedient they +adopted was certainly of curious interest.</p> + +<p>Before them was a large and rapid river, its current +impeded by a multitude of rocks and broken +by rapids and cascades. They were destitute of +ropes or tools suitable for boat-building, and any +ordinary kind of boats would have been of no use +to them in such a stream. It occurred to them +that what they needed to navigate a river of this +character was something of the nature of large +baskets or tuns, in which they might float enclosed +to their waists, while keeping themselves from contact +with the rocks by the aid of poles.</p> + +<p>They had no models for such floating contrivances, +and were obliged to invent them. Near +the river was an extensive forest, and this supplied +them abundantly with young trees, of light wood. +These they cut down, stripped off their bark, collected +them by fives, and, lacking ropes, fastened +them together with lianas and a tenacious kind of +gum which the forest provided. A large number<pb n="182" /><anchor id="Pg182" /> +of small, frail, basket-like contrivances were thus +made, each large enough to carry two men, with +whom they would sink in the water as deep as the +waist. Piperies, Lussan called them, but his description +does not make it clear just what they +were like.</p> + +<p>While thus engaged, the freebooters killed part +of their horses, and salted their flesh for food, all +the work being done with the energy and activity +necessary in their critical situation. During it +they were not molested by the Spaniards, but no +one could tell how soon they might be. When all +was ready they restored their prisoners to the liberty +of which they had long been deprived, and +entered upon one of the most perilous examples of +navigation that can well be imagined.</p> + +<p>Launched in their piperies, the freebooters found +themselves tossed about by the impetuous current, +and speedily covered with spray. The lightness of +their floating baskets kept them from sinking, but +the energetic efforts they were obliged to make to +keep from being thrown out or dashed on the rocks +soon exhausted them. A short experience taught +them the necessity of fastening themselves in the +piperies, so that their hands might be free to keep +them from being hurled on the rocks. Occasionally +their frail crafts were overturned or buried under +the waves in the swift rapids, and the inmates were +either drowned or escaped by abandoning the treasures +which weighed them down.</p> + +<p>Whatever else may be said of this method of<pb n="183" /><anchor id="Pg183" /> +navigation, it proved a rapid one, the frail barks +being hurried on at an impetuous speed. Each of +the cataracts was preceded by a basin of still water, +and here it became necessary to swim to the shore +and descend the rocks to the bottom of the fall. +Some who remained behind threw the piperies into +the stream to be carried over the liquid precipice, +and recovered by swimming out to meet them, or +replaced by new ones when lost.</p> + +<p>After three days of this singular navigation it +was decided, in view of the fact that the piperies +were often dashed together to their mutual injury, +to separate and keep at a distance from each other, +those who went first marking out by small flags +where it was necessary to land. During their +progress the question of food again became prominent, +the salted horsemeat they had brought with +them being spoiled by its frequent wetting. Game +was plentiful, but their powder was all spoiled, and +the only food to be found was the fruit of the +banana-tree, which grew abundantly on the banks.</p> + +<p>The cupidity of the freebooters was not abated by +the danger of their situation. They made the most +earnest endeavors to preserve their spoil, and some +of the poorer ones even resorted to murder to +gain the wealth of their richer comrades. The +dispersion of the flotilla favored this, and six conspiring +Frenchmen hid behind the rocks and attacked +and killed five Englishmen who were known +to possess much treasure. Robbing the bodies, they +took to the stream again, leaving the bloody corpses<pb n="184" /><anchor id="Pg184" /> +on the bank. Those who saw them had no time to +think of avenging them.</p> + +<p>Gradually the river grew wider and deeper and +its course less impetuous. The cascades were all +passed, but the stream was obstructed by floating +or anchored tree-trunks, by which many of the piperies +were overturned and their occupants drowned. +To avoid this danger the piperies were now abandoned +and the freebooters divided themselves into +detachments and began to build large canoes from +the forest trees. Four of these, carrying one hundred +and thirty men, were soon ready and their +builders again took to the stream. Of the fate of +the others, who remained behind, no further account +is given by the historian of this adventure.</p> + +<p>On the 9th of March, sixty days after their departure +from the Pacific, the adventurers reached +the river's mouth, having completed their remarkable +feat of crossing the continent in the face of the +most threatening perils from man and nature. But +fortune only partly favored them, for many had +lost all the wealth which they had gathered in their +career of piracy, their very clothes hanging in rags +about their limbs. Some, indeed, had been more +fortunate or more adroit in their singular navigation, +but, as a whole, they were a woe-begone and +miserable party when, a few days afterwards, they +reached the isle of Perlas. Here were some friendly +vessels, on which they embarked, and near the end +of April they reached the West Indies, with the +little that remained of their plunder.</p> + +<pb n="185" /><anchor id="Pg185" /> + +<p>Such was the end of this remarkable achievement, +one which for boldness, intrepidity, and +skill in expedients has few to rival it in the annals +of history, and which, if performed by men of +note, instead of by an obscure band of robbers, +would have won for them a high meed of fame.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="186" /><anchor id="Pg186" /> +<head>THE CRUELTY OF THE SPANIARDS TO THE INDIANS.</head> + +<p>Never were a people more terribly treated than +the natives of America under the Spanish adventurers. +The often told story that the Indians of +Hispaniola were annihilated in one generation after +the settlement of that island is sufficient evidence +of the frightfully inhuman treatment to which they +were subjected. The laws of Spain provided for +justice and humanity in the dealings with the Indians, +but the settlers, thousands of miles away, +paid no attention to these laws, and the red men +were almost everywhere reduced to slavery, or +where free and given political rights, were looked +upon as far inferior to the whites. In every district +Spain placed an official called the "Protector of the +Indians," but it does not appear that they were +much the better off for their "Protectors." It is +our purpose here to say something about the cruel +treatment of the natives in South America.</p> + +<figure url="images/image12.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>INDIANS OF THE PLATEAU.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: INDIANS OF THE PLATEAU.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>The Spanish settlers had three terms which applied +to their dealings with the Indians, the <hi rend="font-style: italic">encomiendo</hi>, +the <hi rend="font-style: italic">mitad</hi>, and the <hi rend="font-style: italic">repartimiento</hi>, each indicating +a form of injustice. The conquerors divided +the country between them, and the <hi rend="font-style: italic">encomiendos</hi> were +rights granted them to hold the Indians for a number +of years as workers in their fields or their<pb n="187" /><anchor id="Pg187" /> +mines. Under these grants, the natives were converted +into beasts of burden, and forced to do the +hardest work without the least compensation. They +were obliged to labor all day long under the burning +tropical sun, to dive into the sea in search of pearls +for their masters, or to toil buried from the light +of day in the depths of the mines. It is not surprising +that these miserable slaves, accustomed to a +life of indolence and ease, perished as if exposed to +a killing plague.</p> + +<p>The <hi rend="font-style: italic">mitad</hi> was a law formed for their protection, +but it soon became one of the worst of the abuses. +Under it every man from the age of eighteen to +fifty was required to render bodily service, the natives +of each mining colony of South America being +divided into seven sections, each of which had to +work six months in the mines. Every mine-owner +could demand the number of Indians he needed. +In Peru alone fourteen hundred mines were worked, +and labor of this kind was in constant demand.</p> + +<p>As to the kind of labor they had to do, we need +only say that when any man was called upon to +work in the mines he looked upon it as a sentence +of death. Before going he gave all his possessions +to his relatives, and they went through the funeral +service, as if he were already dead. They well knew +the usual end of labor in the mines. A mass was +said for him at the church, and he had to take an oath +of fidelity to the king. Then he was sprinkled with +holy water and sent away to his deadly service. +Deadly we may well call it, for it is said that<pb n="188" /><anchor id="Pg188" /> +scarcely a fifth part of these miners lived through +their term of labor.</p> + +<p>Lowered from the light of the sun into the deep +underground shafts and galleries, and passing from +the pure air of heaven to a pestilential atmosphere, +excessive labor and bad food soon robbed them of +strength and often of life. If they survived this, +a species of asthma usually carried them off during +the year. We may judge of the results from the +calculation that the <hi rend="font-style: italic">mitad</hi> in Peru alone had eight +million victims.</p> + +<p>The law limited the <hi rend="font-style: italic">mitad</hi> to those living within +thirty miles of a mine, but laborers were often +brought by force from hundreds of miles away. As +for the small wages paid them, the masters took +part of it from them in payment for their food, and +usually got the remainder by giving credit for +clothes or liquor or in other ways. In fact, if by +good fortune the Indian had not lost his life at the +end of his term of service, he might be brought +into debt which he could not pay, and thus held a +slave for life.</p> + +<p>The <hi rend="font-style: italic">repartimiento</hi> was another protective law, +which also became a means of oppression. Under +it the district officials were required to supply all +things needed by the Indians, there being, when the +law was passed, no peddlers or travelling dealers. +This privilege was quickly and shamelessly abused, +the natives being sold poor clothing, spoiled grain, +sour wine, and other inferior supplies, often at three +or four times their value when of good quality.<pb n="189" /><anchor id="Pg189" /> +They were even made to buy things at high prices +which were of no possible use to them, such as +silk stockings for men who went barefoot, and +razors for those who had scarcely any beard to +shave. One <hi rend="font-style: italic">corregidor</hi> bought a box of spectacles +from a trader, and made the natives buy these at his +own price, to wear when they went to mass, without +regard to the fact that they were utterly useless +to them.</p> + +<p>The oppression of the natives was not confined to +the laity, but the clergy were often as unjust. They +forced them to pay not only the tithes, but extravagant +prices for every church service, forty +reals being charged for a baptism, twenty for a +marriage certificate, thirty-two for a burial, etc. +Such sums as these, which fairly beggared the +poor Indians, enabled the clergy to build costly +churches and mission houses and to keep up abundant +revenues.</p> + +<p>These general statements very faintly picture the +actual state to which the Indians were reduced. +This may be better shown by some instances of +their sufferings. The Timebos Indians, for example, +of the province of Velez, New Grenada, were +reduced to such extreme misery by the embezzlement +of the funds, that whole families flung themselves +from the top of a rock twelve hundred feet +high into the river below. One night, in order to +escape from the cruelty of the colonists, the whole +tribes of the Agatoas and Cocomes killed themselves, +preferring death to the horrors of Spanish<pb n="190" /><anchor id="Pg190" /> +rule. Many Indians strangled themselves when in +peril of being enslaved by the Spaniards, feeling that +a quick death was better than a slow one under the +torture of incessant toil.</p> + +<p>In one instance, when a party of hopeless natives +had come together with the intention of killing +themselves, an intendant came to them with a rope +in his hand, and told them that if they did not +give up their purpose he would hang himself with +them. This threat filled them with such horror at +the prospect of meeting a Spaniard in the spirit +world, that they fled from the spot, preferring life +with all its terrors to such a companion.</p> + +<p>As may well be imagined, the natives did not +all yield resistlessly to their tyrants. Thus, in exasperation +at the quantity of gold-dust which they +were forced to pay as tribute, the people of Aconcalm, +in the province of Canas, seized the brutal +Spanish collector one day, and gave him melted gold +to drink, "to satisfy in this way his insatiable thirst +for gold."</p> + +<p>In December, 1767, the descendants of the two +tribes which had owned the mining valley of Caravaya +descended on the white inhabitants in revenge +for a usurpation of their lands which had +taken place more than two centuries before. They +settled the question of ownership by burning the +city and killing all the inhabitants with arrows and +clubs. When news of this was received by the +viceroy, Don Antonio Amat, he swore on a piece +of the true cross to kill all the savages in Peru.<pb n="191" /><anchor id="Pg191" /> +He was prevented from carrying out this threat +only by the prayers of the actress Mariquita Gallegas, +whom he loved, and who convinced him +that it was his duty as a Christian to convert them +to the religion of Christ rather than to massacre +them.</p> + +<p>In 1780 there began a memorable insurrection of +the persecuted natives. It was especially notable +as being led by a direct descendant of the Inca +Tupac-Amaru, who had been beheaded by the Spaniards +in 1562. This noble Indian, the last of the +Incas, had been well educated by the Jesuits in +Cuzco, and became the cacique of Tungasac. His +virtues were such as to gain him the respect and +esteem of all the Peruvian Indians, who venerated +him also as the lineal descendant of their ancient +emperors.</p> + +<p>One day this cacique, exasperated by the rapacity +of the <hi rend="font-style: italic">corregidor</hi> of Tuita, who had laid three <hi rend="font-style: italic">repartimientos</hi> +on the Indians in a single year, seized the +tyrannical wretch and strangled him with his own +hands. Then, taking the name of his ancestor, Tupac-Amaru, +he proclaimed himself the chief of all +those who were in rebellion against the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>His error seems to have been in not fraternizing +with the creoles, or white natives of the country, +who hated the Spaniards as bitterly as the Indians +themselves. On the contrary he treated these as +enemies also, and thus greatly augmented the number +of his foes. The Indians, their memories of +their ancient freedom aroused by his call, joined his<pb n="192" /><anchor id="Pg192" /> +ranks in enthusiastic numbers and won several +victories over the whites, the whole of Upper Peru +breaking out in insurrection. Lacking fire-arms as +they did, they kept up the struggle for a year, the +outbreak being brought to an end at last by treachery +instead of arms. Betrayed by a cacique to +whom the Spaniards promised a colonel's commission,—a +promise they did not keep,—the Inca +was taken prisoner by his enemies, and conducted to +Cuzco, the ancient capital of his ancestors. Here +he was tried and condemned to death, and executed +with a frightful excess of cruelty that filled with +horror all the civilized world, when the terrible tale +became known.</p> + +<p>Conducted to the place of execution, his wife and +children, and his brother-in-law, Bastidas, were +brought before him, their tongues cut out, and then +put to death by the Spanish method of strangling +before his eyes. His little son was left alive to +witness his death. This was one in which the +most brutal tortures of mediæval times seemed revived. +His tongue being torn out, his limbs were +tied to four horses, which were driven in different directions +with the purpose of tearing him limb from +limb. The horses proved unable to do this, and he +remained suspended in agony, until one of the more +merciful of the Spaniards ended his torture by +cutting off his head. During this revolting scene +the little son of the victim gave vent to a terrible +scream of agony, the memory of which haunted +many of the executioners to their death.</p> + +<pb n="193" /><anchor id="Pg193" /> + +<p>The legs and arms of the victim were sent to the +rebellious towns, his body was burned to ashes, his +house was razed, his property confiscated, and his +family declared infamous forever. One of his +brothers was sent to Spain and condemned to the +galleys, in which he remained for thirty years. +Such were the means taken by the Spaniards to +overcome the love of liberty in the natives of Peru.</p> + +<p>As for the natives themselves, what few privileges +they had retained were taken from them, their +meetings and festivals were forbidden, and for any +one to assume the name of Inca was declared criminal. +These severe measures were thought sufficient +to intimidate the Indians, but they only exasperated +them, and they took a terrible revenge. Andres, a +cousin of Amaru, who had escaped capture, and +another chief named Catari, led them in a campaign +of revenge in which they fought with the +fury of despair. The lives of five hundred Spaniards, +it is said, paid the penalty for each of the +victims of that dread execution in Cuzco.</p> + +<p>Andres besieged the city of Sorata, in which all +the white families of the vicinity had taken refuge +with their treasures. The artillery of the fortifications +seemed an invulnerable defence against the +poorly armed besiegers, but Andres succeeded in +making a breach by turning the mountain streams +against the walls. Once within, the exasperated +Indians took a terrible revenge, a single priest +being, as we are told, the sole survivor of the +twenty thousand inhabitants. In the end the Spaniards<pb n="194" /><anchor id="Pg194" /> +put down the insurrection by treachery and +cunning, seized the chiefs, and sent Andres to Ceuta, +in Spain, where he remained in prison till 1820.</p> + +<p>We shall only say in addition that the Portuguese +of Brazil treated the natives of that land with a +cruelty little less than that shown by the Spaniards, +sending out hunting expeditions to bring in Indians +to serve as slaves. Those who opposed them were +shot down without mercy, and it is said that, at +the beginning of the nineteenth century, peasants +infected with the virus of smallpox were sent to the +Botocudos, as a convenient means of getting rid of +that hostile tribe. As a result of all this, the +greater part of the tribes of Brazil completely disappeared. +The natives of South America obtained +justice and honorable treatment only after the people +of that country had won their liberty.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="195" /><anchor id="Pg195" /> +<head>CUDJOE, THE NEGRO CHIEF, AND THE MAROONS OF JAMAICA.</head> + +<p>When the English conquered the island of Jamaica +and drove the Spaniards out of it, they failed +to conquer its sable inhabitants, negroes who had +been slaves to the Spaniards, but who now fought +for and maintained their freedom. Such were the +Maroons, or mountain-dwelling fugitives of Jamaica, +whose story is well worth telling.</p> + +<p>First we must say something about the history +of this island, and how it came into English hands. +It was long held by the Spaniards, being discovered +by Columbus in his second voyage, in 1494. In +his last voyage he had a dismal experience there. +With his vessels battered and ready to sink, after +running through a severe wind storm, he put into +the harbor of Porto Bueno, in northern Jamaica. +He afterwards left this for a small bay, still known +after him as Don Christopher's Cove, and here, attacked +by the warlike natives, and unable to put to +sea, he was kept captive in his shattered hulks for +a whole year.</p> + +<p>The Indians refused him food, and the tradition +goes that he got this at length by a skilful artifice. +Knowing that a total eclipse of the moon would +soon take place, he sent word to the dusky chief<pb n="196" /><anchor id="Pg196" /> +that the lights in the sky were under his control, +and if they did not give him supplies he would put +out the light of the moon and never let it shine +again on their island. The Indians laughed with +scorn at this threat, but when they saw the moon +gradually losing its light and fading into darkness, +they fell into a panic, and begged him to let it shine +again, promising to bring him all the food he wanted. +At this the admiral feigned to relent, and after retiring +for a time to his cabin, came forth and told +them that he would consent to bring back the lost +moonlight. After that the Indians saw that the +crew had abundance of food. The admiral and his +crew were finally rescued by an expedition sent from +Hispaniola.</p> + +<p>Jamaica, like Cuba and Hayti, has the honor of +keeping its old Indian name, signifying a land of +springs, or of woods and waters. It is a land of +mountains also; if it had not been we would have +had no story to tell, for these mountains were the +haunts and the strongholds of the Maroons. The +island was not settled till 1523, twenty years after +the detention of Columbus on its shores. Many +years after that we find its Spanish settlers oppressing +all the English that fell into their hands. +This was the case, in fact, all through the West +Indies, English seamen being put in the stocks, sent +to the galleys, or murdered outright.</p> + +<p>It took the sturdy directness of Oliver Cromwell +to put an end to these outrages. He sent word to +the Spanish minister that there must be a stop put<pb n="197" /><anchor id="Pg197" /> +to the practices of the Inquisition and to the restriction +of free navigation in the West Indies. +The minister replied, that to ask for these two +things was "to ask for his master's two eyes," and +that no such thing could be allowed. Cromwell's +reply was to the point:</p> + +<p>"I know of no title that the Spaniards hath but +by force, which by the same title may be repelled. +And as to the first discovery—to me it seems as little +reason that the sailing of a Spanish ship upon +the coast of India should entitle the king of Spain +to that country as the sailing of an Indian or English +ship upon the coast of Spain should entitle +either the Indians or the English to the dominion +thereof. The Spaniards have contravented the +Treaty of 1630. War must needs be justifiable +when peace is not allowable."</p> + +<p>This reply was certainly one marked by sound +logic and good sense. It was the rule of force, not +of right, that lay behind all claims to dominion in +America, and this rule could be set aside by superior +force. So Cromwell sent out a great fleet under +command of Admiral Penn,—father of William +Penn, the settler of Pennsylvania,—with a land +force commanded by General Venables. The first +attempt was made upon Hispaniola. Failing here, +the fleet sailed to Jamaica, where the Spaniards +surrendered on the 11th of May, 1655. They tried +to take it back again shortly before Cromwell's +death, but did not succeed, and Jamaica has remained +an English island from that day to this.</p> + +<pb n="198" /><anchor id="Pg198" /> + +<p>This is about all we need say by way of preface, +except to remark that many settlers were sent to +Jamaica, and the island soon became well peopled +and prosperous, Port Royal, its principal harbor, +coming to be the liveliest city in the West Indies. +It was known as the wickedest city as well as the +richest, and when an earthquake came in 1692, and +Port Royal, with the sandy slope on which it was +built, slipped into the sea with all its dwellings, +warehouses and wealth, and numbers of its people, +the disaster was looked upon by many as a judgment +from heaven. There is one thing more worth +mention, which is that Morgan, the buccaneer, +whose deeds of shameful cruelty at Panama we +have described, became afterwards deputy governor +of Jamaica, as Sir Henry Morgan, which title was +given him by King Charles II. It is not easy to +know why this was done, unless it be true, as was +then said, that Charles shared in the spoils of his +bloody deeds of piracy. However that be, Morgan, +as governor, turned hotly upon his former associates, +and hunted down the buccaneers without +mercy, hanging and shooting all he could lay hands +on, until he fairly put an end to the trade which +had made him rich.</p> + +<p>Let us come now to the story of the Maroons, +that nest of fugitives who made things hot enough +for the English in Jamaica for many years. When +Cromwell's soldiers took possession of Jamaica few +or none of those warlike Indians, who had given +Columbus so much trouble, were left. In their<pb n="199" /><anchor id="Pg199" /> +place were about two thousand negro slaves, and +these fled to the mountains, as the Indians had done +before them. There they remained in freedom, +though the English did their best to coax them to +come down and enjoy the blessings of slavery again, +and though they tried their utmost to drive them +down from the cliffs by means of soldiers and guns. +In spite of all the whites could do, the negroes, +"Maroons," as they were called, long preserved +their liberty.</p> + +<p>In 1663 the British, finding that they could not +master the warlike fugitives by force, offered them +a full pardon, with liberty and twenty acres of land +apiece, if they would yield. But the negroes, who +were masters of the whole mountainous interior, +where thousands could live in plenty, chose to stay +where they were and not to trust to the slippery +faith of the white man. And so it went on until +after 1730, when the depredations of the negroes +upon the settlements became so annoying that two +regiments of British regulars and all the militia of +the island were sent into the mountains to put them +down. As it proved, the negroes still held their +own, not one of them being taken prisoner, and +very few of them killed. They were decidedly +masters of the situation.</p> + +<p>At this time the chief of the Maroons, Cudjoe by +name, was a dusky dwarf, sable, ugly, and uncouth, +but shrewd and wary, and fully capable of discounting +all the wiles of his enemies. No Christian +he, but a full Pagan, worshipping, with his<pb n="200" /><anchor id="Pg200" /> +followers, the African gods of Obeah, or the deities +of the wizards and sorcerers. His lurking-place, in +the defiles of the John Crow Mountains, was named +Nanny Town, after his wife. Here two mountain +streams plunged over a rock nine hundred feet high +into a romantic gorge, where their waters met in a +seething caldron called "Nanny's Pot." Into this, +as the negroes believed, the black witch Nanny could, +by her sorcery, cast the white soldiers who pursued +them. As for old Cudjoe himself, the English declared +that he must be in league with the devil, +whom he resembled closely enough to be his brother. +And they were not without warrant for this belief, +for he held his own against them for nine long +years, at the end of which the Maroons were more +numerous than at the beginning, since those who +were killed were more than made up by fresh accessions +of runaway slaves.</p> + +<p>It is certain that the British soldiers were no +match for Cudjoe the dwarf. Retreating warily before +them, he drew them into many an ambush in +the wild defiles of the mountains, where they were +cut down like sheep, the waters of the "Pot" being +often reddened with their blood. From many of +the expeditions sent against him only a few weary +and wounded survivors returned, and it became +difficult to induce the soldiers to venture into that +den of death.</p> + +<p>At length a British officer succeeded in dragging +two mountain howitzers up the cliffs to a position +from which Nanny Town, the inaccessible Maroon<pb n="201" /><anchor id="Pg201" /> +stronghold, could be shelled. When the shells, +hurled from the distant cannon, began to burst +among them, the Maroons were at first so filled +with terror that some of them threw themselves +over the cliffs, but the bulk of them merely scattered +and let the howitzers do their work among +empty walls.</p> + +<p>Cudjoe was astonished at the bursting shells, but +he was too old a bird to be frightened. "Dis a +new way de buckra man got to fight," he said. +"He fire big ball arter you, and den de big ball fire +little ones arter you. Dat's berry cunnin', but ole +Cudjoe know somethin' better un dat."</p> + +<p>Leading his men through the woods with the +stealthy tread and noiseless skill of the American +Indians, the dwarf and his Maroons suddenly burst +upon the unwary soldiers from the rear while they +were busy about their guns, delivering a telling +volley and then rushing upon them with blade and +axe. Few of the whites escaped this ferocious +onset, and the shell-delivering howitzers remained +in Cudjoe's hands.</p> + +<p>Despairing of conquering the forest-born Maroons +by the arts of civilized warfare, the British +were driven to try a new method. In 1737 they +brought from the Mosquito coast a number of Indians, +who were fully the equal of the negroes in +bush fighting. These were launched upon the +track of the Maroons and soon ran them down in +their mountain fastnesses. From Nanny Town the +seat of war shifted to another quarter of the island,<pb n="202" /><anchor id="Pg202" /> +but at length the Maroons, finding their new foes +fully their match in their own methods, consented +to sign a treaty of peace with the whites, though +only on the terms that they should retain their full +freedom.</p> + +<p>The treaty was made in 1738 at Trelawney Town, +the Maroons being represented by Captains Cudjoe, +Accompong, Johnny, Cuffee, and Quaco, and a +number of their followers, "who have been in a +state of war and hostility for several years past +against our sovereign lord the king and the inhabitants +of this island."</p> + +<p>By the terms of the treaty the Maroons were to +retain their liberty forever, to be granted a large +tract of land in the mountains, and to enjoy full +freedom of trade with the whites. On their part +they agreed to keep peace with the whites, to +return all runaway slaves who should come among +them, and to aid the whites in putting down the +rebellion and in fighting any foreign invader.</p> + +<p>In 1760 their promise to aid the whites against +local outbreaks was put to the test when the fierce +Koromantyn negroes broke out in rebellion and +committed fearful atrocities. A party of Maroons +joined the whites and seemed very zealous in their +cause, ranging the woods and bringing in a large +number of ears, which they said they had cut from +the heads of rebels killed by them. It afterwards +was found that the ears had been obtained from the +negroes who had been slain by the troops and left +where they fell.</p> + +<pb n="203" /><anchor id="Pg203" /> + +<p>The Maroons remained unmolested until 1795, +not without outbreaks on their part and depredations +on the settlements. In the year named two of +them were caught stealing pigs, and were sent to +the workhouse and given thirty-nine lashes on the +bare back. When set free they went home in a +fury, and told a pitiful tale of the disgrace they +had suffered, being whipped by the black driver of +the workhouse in the presence of felon slaves. +The story roused the blood of all their fellows, who +felt that they had been outraged by this insult to +two of their kindred, and a revolt broke out that +spread rapidly throughout the mountains.</p> + +<p>The whites were in a quandary. To attempt to +put down the rebels by force of arms might lead to +the sanguinary results of sixty years before. But +it was remembered that in the former war the use +of dogs had proved very advantageous, so agents +were now sent to Cuba to purchase a pack of +bloodhounds. Thus the methods employed by the +Spaniards against the Indians two centuries before +were once more brought into use. One hundred +hounds were bought and with them came forty +Cuban huntsmen, mostly mulattoes. As it proved, +the very news of the coming of the hounds had +the desired effect, the Maroons being apparently +much more afraid of these ferocious dogs than of +trained soldiers. At any rate, they immediately +sued for peace, and, as an old historian tells us, +"It is pleasing to observe that not a drop of blood +was spilt after the dogs arrived in the island."<pb n="204" /><anchor id="Pg204" /> +Peace was made within a week, and in the next +year the chief offenders were sent to Halifax, Nova +Scotia, and put at work on the fortifications. They +were afterwards sent to Liberia.</p> + +<p>From that time forward there was no trouble +with the Maroons. Their descendants still dwell +in the island as a separate people. In 1865 there +was an outbreak among the free blacks, slavery +having been abolished thirty years before. The +Maroons were called upon to help the troops put +down this revolt. They responded cheerfully and +rendered useful aid in the brief conflict. When +it was over the black warriors were invited to +Kingston, the capital, where the whites of that city +had their first sight of the redoubtable Maroons. +Black and brawny, they had the dignified carriage +of men who had always been free and independent, +while some of them wore with pride silver medals +which their ancestors had been given for former aid +to the whites. Once a terror to Jamaica, the Maroons +are now among its most trusty inhabitants.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="205" /><anchor id="Pg205" /> +<head>TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE AND THE REVOLUTION IN HAYTI.</head> + +<p>The people of Europe have not stood alone in +settling and ruling America, for the blacks of +Africa, brought to the New World as slaves, have +made themselves masters of one of the largest and +most fertile islands of the West Indies, that attractive +gem of the tropics which, under the name +of Hispaniola, was the pioneer among Spanish +dominions on American soil.</p> + +<p>Hispaniola has had a strange and cruel history. +The Spaniards enslaved its original inhabitants and +treated them so ruthlessly that they were soon annihilated. +Then the island was filled with negro +slaves. About 1630 the buccaneers, or hunters of +wild bulls, made it their haunt, and as these were +mostly French, the western part of the island was +ceded to France in 1697. During the century that +followed Africans were brought over in multitudes, +until there were nearly half a million blacks in +Hayti,—the Indian name of the island,—while +there were less than forty thousand whites and +thirty thousand mulattoes, the latter being neither +citizens nor slaves. These facts are given as a +necessary introduction to the story we are about to +tell.</p> + +<p>It was the white revolution in France that brought<pb n="206" /><anchor id="Pg206" /> +about the black revolution in Hayti. In 1789 the +States-General met in France and overturned the +ancient system of oppression in that land. Liberty +for all was the tocsin of its members, and it was +proclaimed that not only the whites of France and +her colonies, but the blacks also, were entitled to +freedom and a voice in the government. The news +of this decree created a ferment of passion in +Hayti. The white planters of the island, who had +long controlled everything, burst into fury, for-swore +all allegiance to France, and trampled the +national flag under foot in their rage.</p> + +<p>But they had others than the French Assembly +to deal with. The mulattoes, or free people of +color, rose in arms for the rights of which they +had been deprived. They were soon put down, but +in the following year (1791) a much more terrible +outbreak took place, that of the slaves. There +followed a reign of terror as sanguinary in type as +that of France. The revolt began on the night of August +21, on the plantation of Noé, near Cape Haytien. +The long-oppressed and savage blacks mercilessly +killed all the whites who fell into their +hands. Down from the mountains they poured on +every side, their routes marked by blood and devastation. +Hills and plains were swept with fire and +sword, atrocities of the most horrible kinds were +committed, and nearly all the residents on the +plantations, more than two thousand in number, +were brutally slaughtered, while a thousand sugar +and coffee estates were swept by fire.</p> + +<pb n="207" /><anchor id="Pg207" /> + +<p>In the first revolution the mulattoes aided the +whites of the cities to repel the blacks, but later, +believing themselves betrayed by the whites, they +joined the blacks, and the revolt became a war of +extermination. It did not end until the negroes became +masters of all the country districts, and gained +a control of the mountainous interior of the island +which, except for a brief interval, they have ever +since retained.</p> + +<p>This success was in great part due to the famous +leader of the blacks, the renowned Toussaint L'Ouverture, +a man who proved himself one of the +greatest and noblest of his race. Born in Hayti, +of negro parents, he was descended from an African +prince, and, slave though he was in condition, had +himself the soul of a prince. He taught himself to +read and write, and also something of mathematics +and of Latin, and was taken from the fields to become +coachman for the overseer of the estate of +his master, the Count de Breda.</p> + +<p>When the negro revolt began, and the furious +blacks were seeking victims on all sides, Toussaint +concealed the overseer and his family in the forest, +took them food at the risk of his own life, and +finally led them to the coast, where they took ship +for the United States.</p> + +<p>While he was thus engaged, the negroes, led by a +gigantic black named Bouckman, and subsequently +by three others, were continuing their course of +butchery and devastation. Toussaint joined them +after the escape of the overseer, and quickly gained<pb n="208" /><anchor id="Pg208" /> +an influence over them, largely from his knowledge +of medicinal plants and a degree of skill in surgery. +This influence enabled him to put himself at their +head and to mitigate the ferocity of their actions. +His ascendency was due not only to his knowledge, +but also to his valor, and from his courage in opening +a breach in the ranks of the enemy he became +known as L'Ouverture, or the opener.</p> + +<figure url="images/image13.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>SOUTH AMERICAN NATIVE HUT.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: SOUTH AMERICAN NATIVE HUT.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Under their new leader the revolted slaves held +their own against their enemies, declaring in favor +of the king, Louis XVI., and against the revolutionists. +On the other hand, the English came to +the aid of the whites, and the island was thrown +into a state of horrible confusion, increased by the +interference of the Spaniards, who held the eastern +section of the island.</p> + +<p>In 1794, after the Convention in Paris had issued +a decree demanding the liberation of the slaves, +Toussaint and his followers joined the revolutionary +cause, and aided the French general Laveaux to +expel the British and Spanish invaders. In this +campaign he won a number of victories, and +showed such military skill and ability as to prove +him a leader of the highest qualities. Beard says +of him, "His energy and his prowess made him +the idol of his troops.... In his deeds and warlike +achievements he equalled the great captains of +ancient and modern times."</p> + +<p>One example of the risks which he ran in battle +occurred in his efforts to put down an insurrection +of the mulattoes. In this contest he fell into an<pb n="209" /><anchor id="Pg209" /> +ambush in the mountains near Port de Paix, a +shower of bullets sweeping his ranks. His private +physician fell dead by his side and a plume of +feathers in his hat was shot away, but he remained +unharmed. The same was the case soon after +when, in a narrow pass, his coachman was shot +down. The negro leader seemed, like Napoleon, to +bear a charmed life.</p> + +<p>Declaring himself lieutenant-general of the colony, +he wrote to the Directory in Paris, guaranteeing +to be responsible for the orderly behavior of +the blacks and their good will to France. He sent +at the same time his two elder sons to Paris to be +educated, making them practically hostages for his +honor and good faith.</p> + +<p>In 1798 the war, which had lasted for years, came +to an end, the British being expelled from the island +and the rebellious mulattoes put down. Peace prevailed, +and the negro conqueror now devoted himself +to the complete pacification of the people. +Agriculture was encouraged, the churches were +reopened, schools were established, and law and +justice were made equal for all. At the same time +the army was kept in excellent training and a rigid +discipline exacted.</p> + +<p>As is usual in such cases, there were abundant +applications among the negroes for official positions, +and Toussaint was sorely put to it to dispose of +these ignorant aspirers after high places without +giving offence. He seems, however, to have been +well versed in political management, and is said<pb n="210" /><anchor id="Pg210" /> +to have disposed of one unlearned applicant for a +judicial position with the words, "Ah, yes; you +would make an excellent magistrate. Of course +you understand Latin.—No?—Why, that is very +unfortunate, for you know that Latin is absolutely +necessary."</p> + +<p>There is another evidence of his wisdom in dealing +with his people that is worth repeating. As +has been said, when the revolution began Hayti +had about half a million of blacks to seventy thousand +whites and mulattoes. Toussaint adopted an +original method of making the force of this fact +evident to his followers. He would fill a glass with +black grains of corn and throw upon them a few +grains of white. "You are the black grains," he +would say; "your enemies are the white." Then +he would shake the glass. "Where are the white +grains now? You see they have disappeared."</p> + +<p>The authorities in France could not but recognize +the ability and the moderation of the black leader, +and in 1796 he was appointed commander-in-chief +in the island, a commission which was confirmed +by Bonaparte about December, 1799. All classes +and colors regarded him as a general benefactor +and a wise and judicious ruler. Order and prosperity +were restored, and his government was conducted +with moderation and humanity. It looked +as though peace and good will might continue in +Hayti as long as this able governor lived, but unluckily +he had to deal with a man in whom ambition +and pride of place overruled all conceptions<pb n="211" /><anchor id="Pg211" /> +of justice. This was Napoleon Bonaparte, who had +now risen to the supreme power in France.</p> + +<p>Bonaparte seems to have been angered by two +letters which Toussaint sent him, after having completely +pacified the island. These were addressed, +"The First of the Blacks to the First of the +Whites." The assumed equality seems to have +touched the pride of the conqueror, for he disdained +to answer the letters of the Haytian ruler. Early +in 1800 a republican constitution was drafted under +the auspices of Toussaint, which made Hayti virtually +independent, though under the guardianship +of France. An election was held and the liberator +chosen president for life.</p> + +<p>When the news of this action reached France in +July, 1800, Napoleon was furious. He had just +been made First Consul and would brook no equal. +"He is a revolted slave, whom we must punish," +he exclaimed; "the honor of France is outraged." +Resolved to reduce the negroes again to slavery, he +sent to Hayti a fleet of sixty ships and an army of +about thirty-five thousand men, under General Leclerc, +the husband of Pauline Bonaparte. Pauline +accompanied him, and also several officers who had +been former opponents of Toussaint.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the Haytien president had not been +idle. Having subdued the French portion of the +island, he led his army into the Spanish portion, +which was also reduced, San Domingo, its capital, +being taken on January 2, 1801. When the +keys of this city were handed to him by its governor,<pb n="212" /><anchor id="Pg212" /> +the negro conqueror said, solemnly, "I accept +them in the name of the French Republic." +Yet his conquests in the name of France did not +soften the heart of the First Consul, who was bent +on treating him as a daring rebel. The Peace of +Amiens left the hands of Napoleon free in Europe, +and the expedition under Leclerc reached the island +about the end of 1801.</p> + +<p>To oppose the strong army of Napoleon's veterans, +men who had been trained to victory under +his own eye, Toussaint had a force of blacks little +more than half as strong. As he looked at the +soldiers disembarking from the ships in the Bay of +Samana he exclaimed in dismay, "We are lost! +All France is coming to invade our poor island!"</p> + +<p>The French made landings at several of the ports +of Hayti, driving back their defenders. The city +of San Domingo, held by Toussaint's brother, Paul, +was taken. Cristophe, a daring negro who was +to figure high in the subsequent history of the +island, commanded at Cape Haytien, and when +Leclerc summoned him to surrender, replied, "Go +tell your general that the French shall march here +only over ashes, and that the ground shall burn +beneath their feet." This was not bombast, for +when he found further defence impossible, he set +fire to the city and retreated to the mountains, +taking with him two thousand white prisoners. +Grief and despair filled the soul of Toussaint when, +marching to the relief of Cristophe, he saw the +roads filled with fugitives and the city in ashes.</p> + +<pb n="213" /><anchor id="Pg213" /> + +<p>But though the French became masters of the +ports, the army of the blacks maintained itself in +the mountain fastnesses, in which Toussaint defied +all the efforts of his foes. After Leclerc had lost +heavily, and began to despair of subduing his able +opponent by force of arms, he had recourse to +strategy. He had brought with him Toussaint's +two sons. Napoleon had interviewed these boys +before their departure from France, saying to them, +"Your father is a great man, and has rendered +good service to France. Tell him I say so, and bid +him not to believe I have any hostile intention +against the island. The troops I send are not designed +to fight the natives, but to increase their +strength, and the man I have appointed to command +is my own brother-in-law."</p> + +<p>Leclerc sent these boys to Toussaint, with the +demand that he should submit or send his children +back as hostages. An affecting interview took +place between the boys and their father, and when +they repeated to him Napoleon's words, he was at +first inclined to yield, but fuller consideration induced +him to refuse.</p> + +<p>"I cannot accept your terms," he said. "The +First Consul offers me peace, but his general no +sooner arrives than he begins a fierce war. No; +my country demands my first consideration. Take +back my sons."</p> + +<p>In the continuation of the war a French force of +twenty thousand men under Rochambeau marched +against Toussaint, who was strongly intrenched at<pb n="214" /><anchor id="Pg214" /> +Crête à Pierrot. In the contest that followed +Toussaint at first outgeneralled Rochambeau and +defeated him with severe loss. But the assistance +he looked for from his subordinates failed to reach +him, and at length he was forced to retreat.</p> + +<p>The French, however, despite their superior +numbers and the military experience of their +leaders, found that they had no mean antagonist in +the negro general, and Leclerc again resorted to +negotiation, offering the blacks their freedom if +they would submit. Toussaint, seeing that he was +unable to hold his own against his powerful foe, +and convinced that the terms offered would be advantageous +to his country, now decided to accept +them, saying, "I accept everything which is favorable +for the people and for the army; as for myself, +I wish to live in retirement."</p> + +<p>The negro liberator trusted his enemies too much. +The pride of Napoleon had not yet digested the +affront of Toussaint's message, "From the First of +the Blacks to the First of the Whites," and he sent +orders to Leclerc to arrest and send him to France. +In June, 1802, a force was sent secretly at night to +Toussaint's home, where he was dwelling in peace +and quiet. The house was surrounded, two blacks +that sought to defend him were killed on the spot, +and he was dragged from his bed and taken to the +coast. Here he was placed on board a man-of-war, +which at once set sail for France.</p> + +<p>Napoleon's treatment of Toussaint was one of +the dark deeds in his career. Reaching France,<pb n="215" /><anchor id="Pg215" /> +the captive was separated from his wife and children +and confined in the dungeon of a dreary frontier +castle. Here, one morning in April, 1803, +Toussaint L'Ouverture, the negro liberator, was +found dead. He had been starved to death, if we +may accept the belief of some authors.</p> + +<p>The Haytien patriot died in poverty, though he +might easily have accumulated vast wealth. In +his official position he had maintained a degree of +magnificence, and Napoleon believed that he had +concealed great riches somewhere in the island. +He sent spies to question him, but Toussaint's only +reply was, "No, the treasures you seek are not +those I have lost." The lost ones were his wife, +his children, and his liberty.</p> + +<p>Treachery is often an error, and Napoleon was +soon to find that he had made a fatal mistake in +his treatment of the leader of the blacks. Alarmed +at his seizure, and having no one to control them, +the negroes flew to arms, and soon the revolt +spread over the whole island. Yellow fever came +to the aid of the blacks, raging in Leclerc's army +until thousands of soldiers and fifteen hundred +officers found graves in the land they had invaded. +In the end Leclerc himself died, and Pauline was +taken back to France. When Napoleon heard the +story of the fate of his expedition, he exclaimed in +dismay,—</p> + +<p>"Here, then, is all that remains of my fine +army; the body of a brother-in-law, of a general, +my right arm, a handful of dust! All has perished,<pb n="216" /><anchor id="Pg216" /> +all will perish! Fatal conquest! Cursed land! +Perfidious colonists! A wretched slave in revolt. +These are the causes of so many evils." He might +more truly have said, "My own perfidy is the cause +of all those evils."</p> + +<p>A few words must conclude this tale. General +Rochambeau was sent large reinforcements, and +with an army of twenty thousand men attempted +the reconquest of the island. After a campaign of +ferocity on both sides, he found himself blockaded +at Cape Haytien, and was saved from surrender to +the revengeful blacks only by the British, to whom +he yielded the eight thousand men he had left. +As he sailed from the island he saw the mountain-tops +blazing with the beacon-fires of joy kindled +by the blacks. From that day to this the island +of Hayti has remained in the hands of the negro +race.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="217" /><anchor id="Pg217" /> +<head>BOLIVAR THE LIBERATOR, AND THE CONQUEST OF NEW GRANADA.</head> + +<p>One dark night in the year 1813 a negro murderer +crept stealthily into a house in Jamaica, +where slept a man in a swinging hammock. Stealing +silently to the side of the sleeper, the assassin +plunged his knife into his breast, then turned and +fled. Fortunately for American independence he +had slain the wrong man. The one whom he had +been hired to kill was Simon Bolivar, the great +leader of the patriots of Spanish America. But +on that night Bolivar's secretary occupied his hammock, +and the "Liberator" escaped.</p> + +<p>Bolivar was then a refugee in the English island, +after the failure of his early attempt to win freedom +for his native land of Venezuela. He was +soon back there again, however, with recruited +forces, and for years afterwards the war went on, +with variations of failure and success, the Spanish +general Morillo treating the people who fell into +his hands with revolting cruelty.</p> + +<p>It was not until 1819 that Bolivar perceived the +true road to success. This was by leaving Venezuela, +from which he had sought in vain to dislodge +the Spaniards, and carrying the war into the more +promising field of New Granada. So confident of<pb n="218" /><anchor id="Pg218" /> +victory did he feel in this new plan that he issued +the following proclamation to the people of New +Granada: "The day of America has come; no human +power can stay the course of Nature guided +by Providence. Before the sun has again run his +annual course altars to Liberty will arise throughout +your land."</p> + +<p>Bolivar had recently been strengthened by a +British legion, recruited in London among the disbanded +soldiers of the Napoleonic wars. He had +also sent General Santander to the frontier of New +Granada, and General Barreiro, the Spanish general, +had been driven back. Encouraged by this success, +he joined Santander at the foot of the Andes in +June, 1819, bringing with him a force of twenty-five +hundred men, including his British auxiliaries.</p> + +<p>Bolivar in this expedition had as bitter a foe to +conquer in nature as in the human enemy. In +order to join Santander he was obliged to cross an +enormous plain which at that season of the year +was covered with water, and to swim some deep +rivers, his war materials needing to be transported +over these streams. But this was child's play compared +with what lay before him. To reach his goal +the Andes had to be crossed at some of their most +forbidding points, a region over which it seemed +next to impossible for men to go, even without +military supplies.</p> + +<p>When the invading army left the plains for the +mountains the soldiers quickly found themselves +amid discouraging scenes. In the distance rose the<pb n="219" /><anchor id="Pg219" /> +snowy peaks of the eastern range of the Cordillera, +and the waters of the plain through which they had +waded were here replaced by the rapids and cataracts +of mountain streams. The roads in many +places followed the edge of steep precipices, and +were bordered by gigantic trees, while the clouds +above them poured down incessant rains.</p> + +<p>Four days of this march used up most of the +horses, which were foundered by the difficulties of +the way. As a consequence, an entire squadron of +Llaneros, men who lived in the saddle, and were +at home only on the plain, deserted on finding +themselves on foot. To cross the frequent torrents +there were only narrow, trembling bridges formed +of tree-trunks, or the aërial <hi rend="font-style: italic">taravitas</hi>. These consisted +of stout ropes made by twisting several thongs +of well-greased hides. The ropes were tied to trees +on the two banks of the ravine, while from them +was suspended a cradle or hammock of capacity +for two persons, which was drawn backward and +forward by long lines. Horses and mules were +similarly drawn across, suspended by long girths +around their bodies.</p> + +<p>Where the streams were fordable the current was +usually so strong that the infantry had to pass two +by two with their arms thrown round each other's +shoulders. To lose their footing was to lose their +lives. Bolivar frequently passed these torrents +back and forward on horseback, carrying the sick +and weakly, or the women who accompanied the +expedition.</p> + +<pb n="220" /><anchor id="Pg220" /> + +<p>In the lower levels the climate was moist and +warm, only a little firewood being needed for their +nightly bivouacs. But as they ascended they reached +localities where an ice-cold wind blew through the +stoutest clothing, while immense heaps of rocks and +hills of snow bounded the view on every side and +clouds veiled the depths of the abysses. The only +sounds to be heard were those of the roaring torrents +they had passed and the scream of the condor +as it circled the snowy peaks above. Here all +vegetation disappeared except the clinging lichens +and a tall plant which bore plumes instead of leaves +and was covered with yellow flowers, resembling a +funeral torch. To add to the terrors of the journey +the path was marked by crosses, erected in memory +of travellers who had perished by the way.</p> + +<p>In this glacial region the provisions brought with +them gave out. The cattle on which they had depended +as their chief resource could go no farther. +Thus, dragging on through perils and privation, at +length they reached the summit of the Paya pass, +a natural stronghold where a battalion would have +been able to hold a regiment in check. An outpost +of three hundred men occupied it, but these were +easily dispersed by Santander, who led the van.</p> + +<p>At this point the men, worn out by the difficulties +of the way, began to murmur. Bolivar called +a council of war and told its members that there +were greater difficulties still to surmount. He +asked if they would keep on, or if they preferred +to return. They all voted in favor of going onward,<pb n="221" /><anchor id="Pg221" /> +and the knowledge of their decision inspired +the weary troops with new spirit.</p> + +<p>Before the terrible passage was completed one +hundred men had died of cold, fifty of them being +Englishmen. Not a horse was left, and it was +necessary to abandon the spare arms, and even +some of those borne by the soldiers. It was little +more than the skeleton of an army that at length +reached the beautiful valley of Sagamoso, in the +heart of the province of Tunja, on the 6th of +July, 1819. Resting at this point, Bolivar sent +back assistance to the stragglers who still lingered +on the road, and despatched parties to collect horses +and communicate with the few guerillas who roamed +about that region.</p> + +<p>Barreiro, the Spanish commander, held the Tunja +province with two thousand infantry and four hundred +horse. There was also a reserve of one thousand +troops at Bogota, the capital, and detachments +elsewhere, while there was another royalist +army at Quito. Bolivar trusted to surprise and +to the support of the people to overcome these +odds, and he succeeded in the first, for Barreiro was +ignorant of his arrival, and supposed the passage +of the Cordillera impossible at that season of the +year.</p> + +<p>He was soon aware, however, that the patriots +had achieved this impossible thing and were in his +close vicinity, and with all haste collected his forces +and took possession of the heights above the plain +of Vargas. By this movement he interposed between<pb n="222" /><anchor id="Pg222" /> +the patriots and the town of Tunja, which, +as attached to the cause of liberty, Bolivar was +anxious to occupy. It was not long, therefore, +before the opposing armies met, and a battle took +place that lasted five hours. The patriots won, +chiefly by the aid of the English infantry, led by +Colonel James Rooke, who had the misfortune to +lose an arm in the engagement.</p> + +<figure url="images/image14.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>BRIDGE ENTERING QUITO.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: BRIDGE ENTERING QUITO.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>The victory was by no means a decisive one, and the +road to Tunja remained in the hands of the royalists. +Instead of again attacking his intrenched foe, Bolivar +now employed strategy, retreating during the +day, then making a rapid countermarch at night, +thus passing Barreiro's forces in the dark over +by-roads. On the 5th of August Tunja fell into +his hands. He found there an abundance of war +material, and by holding it he cut off Barreiro's +communication with Bogota.</p> + +<p>The strength of Bolivar's generalship lay in rapid +and unexpected movements like this. The Spanish +leaders, bound in the shackles of military routine, +were astonished and dismayed by the forced marches +of their enemies over roads that seemed unfit for +the passage of an army. While they were manœuvring, +calculating, hesitating, guarding the +customary avenues of approach, Bolivar would +surprise them by concentrating a superior force +upon a point which they imagined safe from attack, +and, by throwing them into confusion, would cut +up their forces in detail. As a result, the actions +of the patriot commander in the field seemed less<pb n="223" /><anchor id="Pg223" /> +impressive than those of less notable generals, but +the sum of effects was far superior.</p> + +<p>Bolivar's occupation of Tunja took the Spaniards +by surprise. Barreiro, finding himself unexpectedly +cut off from his centre of supplies, fell back upon +Venta Quemada, where he was soon followed by +his foe, anxious to deal a decisive blow before the +royal forces could concentrate. Boyacá, the site +now occupied by the hostile armies, was a wooded +and mountainous country and one well suited to +Bolivar's characteristic tactics. Placing a large +part of his troops in ambush and manœuvring so as +to get his cavalry in the enemy's rear, he advanced +to the attack with a narrow front. On this Barreiro +made a furious assault, forcing his opponents +to recoil. But this retreat was only a stratagem, +for, as they fell back, the Spaniards found themselves +suddenly attacked in the flank by the ambushed +troops, while the cavalry rode furiously +upon their rear.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes they were surrounded, and the +fierce attack threw them into utter confusion, in +which the patriot army cut them down almost +without resistance. General Barreiro was taken +prisoner on the field of battle, throwing away his +sword when he saw that escape was impossible, to +save himself the mortification of surrendering it to +General Bolivar. Colonel Ximenes, his second in +command, was also taken, together with most of +the officers and more than sixteen hundred men. +All their artillery, ammunition, horses, etc., were<pb n="224" /><anchor id="Pg224" /> +captured, and a very small portion of the army +escaped. Some of these fled before the battle was +decided, but many of them were taken by the +peasantry of the surrounding country and brought +in as prisoners. The loss of the patriots was incredibly +small,—only thirteen killed and fifty-three +wounded.</p> + +<p>Boyacá—after Maypo, by which Chili gained its +freedom—was the great battle of South America. +It gave the patriots supremacy in the north, as +Maypo had done in the south. New Granada was +freed from the Spaniards, and on August 9, two +days after the battle, the viceroy, Samana, hastily +evacuated Bogota, fleeing in such precipitate haste +that in thirty hours he reached Honda, usually a +journey of three days. On the 12th Bolivar triumphantly +marched into the capital, and found in +its coffers silver coin to the value of half a million +dollars, which the viceroy had left behind in his +haste.</p> + +<p>It must be said further that the English auxiliaries +aided greatly in the results of these battles, their +conduct giving Bolivar such gratification that he +made them all members of the Order of the Liberator.</p> + +<p>It is not our purpose to tell the whole story of +this implacable war, but simply to relate the dramatic +invasion and conquest of New Granada. It +must suffice, then, to state that the war dragged on +for two years longer, ending finally in 1821 with +the victory of Carabobo, in which the Spaniards<pb n="225" /><anchor id="Pg225" /> +were totally defeated and lost more than six thousand +men. After that they withdrew and a republic +was organized, with Bolivar for its president.</p> + +<p>Two years later he aided the Peruvians in gaining +their independence and was declared their liberator +and made supreme dictator of the country. After +ruling there absolutely for two years, he resigned +and gave the country a republican constitution. +The congress of Lima elected him president for +life, and a new commonwealth was organized in the +northern section of Peru, to which the people gave +the name of Bolivia, in honor of the winner of +their liberties.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="226" /><anchor id="Pg226" /> +<head>HIDALGO THE PATRIOT, AND THE GRITO DE DOLORES.</head> + +<p>In the last quarter of the eighteenth century +ideas of revolution were widely in the air. The +people were rising against the tyranny of the kings. +First in this struggle for liberty came the English +colonies in America. Then the people of France +sprang to arms and overthrew the moss-grown +tyranny of feudal times. The armies of Napoleon +spread the demand for freedom through Europe. +In Spain the people began to fight for their freedom, +and soon the thirst for liberty crossed the ocean to +America, where the people of the Spanish colonies +had long been oppressed by the tyranny of their +rulers.</p> + +<p>The citizens of Mexico had been deeply infected +by the example of the great free republic of the +north, and the seed of liberty grew for years in their +minds. Chief among its advocates was a farmer's +son named Miguel Hidalgo, a true scion of the +people and an ardent lover of liberty, who for +years longed to make his native Mexico independent +of the effete royalty of Spain. He did not +conceal his views on this subject, though his deeper +projects were confided only to a few trusty friends, +chief among whom was Ignacio Allende, a man of +wealth and of noble Spanish descent, and a captain<pb n="227" /><anchor id="Pg227" /> +of dragoons in the army. These men, with a few +intimates, consulted often and matured their plans, +confident that the desire for liberty was strong in +the country and that the patriot people needed +only a leader to break out into insurrection.</p> + +<p>Hidalgo's eager desire for liberty, long smouldering, +burst into flame in 1810, when the Spanish +authorities attempted to arrest in Querétaro some +revolutionists who had talked too freely. Warned +of their danger, these men fled or concealed themselves. +News of this came quickly to Hidalgo and +taught him that with his reputation there was +but one of two things to do, he must flee or strike. +He decided to strike, and in this he was supported +by Allende, whose liberty was also in danger.</p> + +<p>The decisive step was taken on the 15th of September, +1810. That night Hidalgo was roused +from slumber by one of his liberty-loving friends, +and told that the hour had come. Calling his +brother to his aid and summoning a few of those +in the secret, he led the small party of revolutionists +to the prison, broke it open, and set free certain +men who had been seized for their liberal ideas.</p> + +<p>This took place in the early hours of a Sunday. +When day broke and the countrymen of the neighboring +parish came to early mass the news of the +night's event spread among them rapidly and +caused great excitement. To a man they took the +side of Hidalgo, and before the day grew old he +found himself at the head of a small band of ardent +revolutionists. They at once set out for San Miguel<pb n="228" /><anchor id="Pg228" /> +le Grande, the nearest town, into which marched +before nightfall of the day a little party of eighty +men, the nucleus of the Mexican revolution. For +standard they bore a picture of the Holy Virgin +of Guadalupe, taken from a village church. New +adherents came to their ranks till they were three +hundred strong. Such was the movement known in +Mexico as the "Grito de Dolores," their war-cry, +the <hi rend="font-style: italic">Grito</hi>, being, "Up with True Religion, and +down with False Government."</p> + +<p>Never before had an insurrection among the +submissive common people been known in Mexico. +When news of it came to the authorities they were +stupefied with amazement. That peasants and +townspeople, the plain workers of the land, should +have opinions of their own about government and +the rights of man was to them a thing too monstrous +to be endured, but for the time being they +were so dumfounded as to be incapable of taking +any vigorous action.</p> + +<p>While the authorities digested the amazing news +of the outbreak, the movement grew with surprising +rapidity. Hidalgo's little band was joined +by the regiment of his comrade Allende, and a +crowd of field laborers, armed with slings, sticks, +and spades, hastened in to swell their ranks. So +popular did the movement prove that in a brief +period the band of eighty men had grown to a +great host, fifty thousand or more in numbers. +Poorly armed and undisciplined as they were, their +numbers gave them strength. Hidalgo put himself<pb n="229" /><anchor id="Pg229" /> +at their head as commander-in-chief, with Allende +as his second in command, and active exertions +were made to organize an army out of this undigested +material.</p> + +<p>The next thing we perceive in this promising +movement for liberty is the spectacle of Hidalgo +and his host of enthusiastic followers marching on +the rich and flourishing city of Guanajuato, capital +of a mining state, the second largest in Mexico. +This city occupies a deep but narrow ravine, its +houses crowded on the steep slopes, up which the +streets climb like stairways.</p> + +<p>The people of the city were terrified when they +saw this great body of people marching upon them, +with some of the organization of a regular army, +though most of them bore only the arms of a mob. +The authorities, who were advised of their approach, +showed some energy. Resolving not to +surrender and making hasty preparations for defence, +they intrenched themselves in a strongly +built grain warehouse, with the governor at their +head.</p> + +<p>Much better armed than the mass of their assailants, +and backed up by strong stone walls, the +authorities defended themselves vigorously, and for +a time the affair looked anything but promising for +Hidalgo's improvised army. Success came at last +through the courage of a little boy, called Pipita, +who, using as a shield a flat tile torn from the +pavement, and holding a blazing torch in his hand, +crept through a shower of bullets up to the gate<pb n="230" /><anchor id="Pg230" /> +of the stronghold and set fire to it. As the flames +spread upward, the insurgents broke in upon the +frightened defenders, killing some and making +prisoners of the others.</p> + +<p>The common people of the city, in sympathy +with the revolutionists, and inspired with the mob +spirit of pillage, now rushed in disorder through +the streets, breaking into and robbing shops and +houses, until checked in their career of plunder by +Hidalgo, who restored order by threatening condign +punishment to any plunderers. He proceeded to +make the city a stronghold and centre for the +collection of arms and money, his forces being +increased by the defection from the Spaniards of +three squadrons of regular troops, while the whole +province declared for the cause of the revolution.</p> + +<p>While this was going on, the governing powers +in Mexico had recovered from their stupefaction +and begun to take active measures to suppress the +dangerous movement. Shortly before a new viceroy +had arrived in Mexico, Don Francisco Venegas, a +Spanish general who had distinguished himself in +the war with Napoleon. Fancying that he had a +peaceful life before him in America, he began his +work of government by calling a council of prominent +persons and asking them to help him raise +money from the loyal people for the support of +their brethren in Spain who were fighting against +Napoleon. Three days later the Grito de Dolores +broke out and he saw that his dream of peace was +at an end, and that he would need all the funds<pb n="231" /><anchor id="Pg231" /> +he could raise to suppress revolution in his new +government.</p> + +<p>The viceroy, an experienced soldier, at once +ordered the troops in garrison at Mexico to Querétaro, +strengthening them by rural detachments, +and summoning garrisons from the north, west, +and east. He issued at the same time a decree +under which all Indians were released from taxation, +and promised pardon to all rebels who should +at once lay down their arms; a reward of ten thousand +dollars being offered for the capture or death +of the three chief insurgents, Hidalgo, Allende, and +Aldama.</p> + +<p>The civil authorities were vigorously supported by +the clergy in this action against the revolution. Hidalgo +and his chief comrades were excommunicated +by the bishops, and the local clergy denounced them +bitterly from their pulpits. The Inquisition, which +had taken action against Hidalgo in 1800 for his +dangerous opinions, now cited him to appear before +its tribunal and answer these charges. But bishops +and inquisitors alike wasted their breath on the +valiant insurgents, who maintained that it was not +religion but tyranny that they were banded against.</p> + +<p>The revolutionists took possession of Valladolid +on the 17th of October, without resistance, the +bishop and authorities fleeing at their approach. +As the bishop himself was gone, Hidalgo forced +the canons he had left behind to remove the sentence +of excommunication. The town was made a +second stronghold of the revolution and a centre<pb n="232" /><anchor id="Pg232" /> +for new recruiting, the army increasing so rapidly +that in ten days' time its leader took the bold step +of advancing upon Mexico, the capital city.</p> + +<p>The approach of the insurgents, who had now +grown greatly in numbers, filled the people of the +capital with terror. They remembered the sack of +Guanajuata, and hastened to conceal their valuables, +while many of them fled for safety. As +the insurgents drew near they were met by the +army of the viceroy, and a fierce battle took place +upon an elevation called the Monte de la Cruces, +outside the city. A hot fire of artillery swept the +ranks of the insurgents, but, filled with enthusiasm, +and greatly outnumbering the royal troops, they +swept resistlessly on, bearing down all before them, +and sweeping the viceroy's soldiers from the field +with heavy loss. Only his good horse saved Trujillo, +the commanding general, from death or capture, +and bore him in safety to the city.</p> + +<p>Mexico, filled with panic and confusion at the +news of the disastrous defeat of its defenders, +could perhaps have been easily taken, and its capture +might possibly have closed the struggle in +favor of liberty. It certainly was a moment for +that boldness on which success so often depends, +but Hidalgo at this critical stage took counsel from +prudence instead of daring, and, fearing the arrival +of reinforcements to the beaten army, withdrew +his forces towards Querétaro—a weak and fatal +retrograde movement, as it proved.</p> + +<p>The viceroy had another army advancing from<pb n="233" /><anchor id="Pg233" /> +the north, under the command of Calleja, a skilful +general. Meeting Hidalgo at Aculco on his march +towards Querétaro, he attacked him with such +vigor that, after a hot combat, the insurgents were +utterly worsted, losing all their artillery and many +men. In fact, the whole loose-joined army fell to +pieces at this severe repulse, and Hidalgo was followed +to Valladolid with an insignificant remnant +of his mighty host.</p> + +<p>Calleja followed up his victory with a pursuit of +Allende and a fierce attack on him at Guanajuato, +forcing him to abandon the city and retreat to +Zacatecas, which had proclaimed independence. +Calleja, who had much of the traditional Spanish +cruelty, now sullied his triumph by a barbarous +retaliation upon the people of the city he had +taken, who were most savagely punished for their +recent plundering outbreak.</p> + +<p>The remainder of this story of revolution is a +brief and unfortunate one. Hidalgo gathered another +army and led them to Guadalajara, where he +organized a government, appointed ministers, and +styled himself generalissimo. He despatched a +commissioner to the United States, but this personage +soon found himself a prisoner. Arms were +collected and the army organized as rapidly as +possible, but his forces were still in the rough +when, disregarding the advice of Allende and +others, he resolved to attack Calleja. He advanced +on the 16th of January to the Puenta de Calderon, +where he found himself in face of a well-equipped<pb n="234" /><anchor id="Pg234" /> +and disciplined army of ten thousand men, superior +in everything but numbers to his undisciplined levies. +They fought bravely enough in the battle of the +next day, but they were no match for their opponents, +and the contest ended in a complete rout, +the insurgents scattering in all directions.</p> + +<p>Hidalgo hastened towards Zacatecas, meeting on +his way Allende, Jiminez, and other leaders who had +escaped from the fatal field of Calderon. The cause +of liberty seemed at an end. Calleja was vigorously +putting down the revolution on all sides. As +a last hope the chiefs hastened towards the United +States borders with such men and money as they +had left, proposing there to recruit and discipline +another army. But before reaching the frontier +they were overtaken by their pursuers, being captured +in a desert region near the Rio Grande.</p> + +<p>The captives were now taken under a strong +escort to Chihuahua, where they were tried and +condemned to death. Allende, Aldama, and Jiminez +were shot on the 26th of June, and Hidalgo +paid the penalty of his life on the 27th of June, +1811. Thus, in the death of its chiefs, ended the +first struggle for independence in Mexico. The +heads of the four chiefs were taken to Guanajuato +and nailed to the four corners of the stronghold +which they had taken by storm in that city. There +they remained till the freedom of Mexico was won, +when they were given solemn burial beneath the +altar of the sovereigns in the cathedral of Mexico. +The Alhondiga de Grenaditas, the building to which<pb n="235" /><anchor id="Pg235" /> +their heads were attached, is now used as a prison, +but its walls still bear the spike which for ten years +held Hidalgo's head. Before it there stands a bronze +statue of this earliest of the Mexican patriot leaders.</p> + +<p>Shall we add a few words descriptive of the later +course of the struggle for independence? The +death of Hidalgo left many patriots still alive, and +one of these, Moreles the muleteer, kept up the +war with varying fortunes until 1815, when he, +too, was taken and shot.</p> + +<p>The man to whom Moreles owed his downfall +was Augustin de Yturbide, a royalist leader, who +pursued the insurgents with relentless energy. Yet +it was to this man that Mexico in the end owed its +independence. After the death of Moreles a chief +named Guerrero kept up the war for liberty, and +against him Yturbide was sent in 1820. As it +proved, the royalist had changed his views, and +after some fighting with Guerrero he joined hands +with him and came out openly as a patriot leader. +He had under him a well-disciplined army, and advanced +from success to success till the final viceroy +found himself forced to acknowledge the independence +of Mexico.</p> + +<p>The events that followed—how Mexico was organized +into an empire, with Yturbide as emperor +under the title of Augustin I., and how a new +revolution made it a republic and Yturbide was +shot as a traitor—belong to that later history of the +Spanish American republics in which revolution and +counter-revolution continued almost annual events.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="236" /><anchor id="Pg236" /> +<head>PAEZ, THE LLANERO CHIEF, AND THE WAR FOR FREEDOM.</head> + +<p>On the 3d of June, 1819, General Morillo, the +commander of the Spanish forces in Venezuela, +found himself threatened in his camp by a party of +one hundred and fifty daring horsemen, who had +swum the Orinoco and galloped like centaurs upon +his line. Eight hundred of the Spanish cavalry, +with two small field-pieces, sallied out to meet +their assailants, who slowly retired before their +superior numbers. In this way the royalists were +drawn on to a place called Las Queseras del Medio, +where a battalion of infantry had been placed in +ambush near the river. Here, suddenly ceasing +their retreat, and dividing up into groups of twenty, +the patriot horsemen turned on the Spaniards and +assailed them on all sides, driving them back +under the fire of the infantry, by whom they were +fearfully cut down. Then they recrossed the river +with two killed and a few wounded, while the plain +was strewn with the bodies of their foes.</p> + +<p>This anecdote may serve to introduce to our +readers Joseph Antonio Paez, the leader of the +band of patriot horsemen, and one of the most +daring and striking figures among the liberators of +South America. Born of Indian parents of low +extraction, and quite illiterate, Paez proved himself<pb n="237" /><anchor id="Pg237" /> +so daring as a soldier that he became in time +general-in-chief of the armies of Venezuela and +the neighboring republics, and was Bolivar's most +trusted lieutenant during the war for independence.</p> + +<p>Brought up amid the herds of half-wild cattle +belonging to his father, who was a landholder in +the Venezuelan plains, he became thoroughly skilled +in the care of cattle and horses, and an adept at +curing their disorders. He was accustomed to +mount and subdue the wildest horses, and was +noted for strength and agility and for power of enduring +fatigue.</p> + +<p>A llanero, or native of the elevated plains of +Venezuela, he rose naturally to great influence +among his fellow-herdsmen, and when the revolution +began, in 1810, and he declared in favor of +the cause of freedom, his reputation for courage was +so great that they were very ready to enlist under +him. He chose from among them one hundred and +fifty picked horsemen, and this band, under the +title of "Guides of the Apure," soon made itself +the terror of the Spaniards.</p> + +<p>The following story well shows his intrepid +character. After the death of his mother young +Paez inherited her property in Barinas, and divided +it with his sisters who were living in that town. +The Spanish forces, which had been driven out of +it, occupied it again in 1811, and proclaimed a +general amnesty for the inhabitants, inviting all +property-holders to return and promising to reinstate +them in their fortunes. Paez, hearing of<pb n="238" /><anchor id="Pg238" /> +this, rode boldly into Barinas and presented himself +before the Spanish commandant, saying that +he had come to avail himself of the amnesty and +take possession of his property.</p> + +<p>He was soon recognized by the inhabitants, who +gathered in hundreds to welcome and shake hands +with him, and the news quickly spread among the +Spanish soldiers that this was the famous Captain +Paez, who had done them so much mischief. Seizing +their arms, they called loudly on their commander +to arrest and shoot the insolent newcomer as +a rebel and traitor. But this officer, who was well +aware of the valor of Paez, and perceived his great +influence over the people of Barinas, deemed it +very imprudent to take a step that might lead to +a general outbreak, and concluded to let his perilous +visitor alone. He therefore appeased his soldiers, +and Paez was left unmolested in the house of +his sisters.</p> + +<p>The governor, however, only bided his time. +Spies were set to watch the daring llanero, and +after some days they informed their leaders that +Paez had gone out unarmed, and that there was a +good opportunity to seize his weapons as a preliminary +to his arrest. When Paez returned home +after his outing, he was told that armed men had +visited the house and taken away his sword and +pistols.</p> + +<p>Incensed by this act of ill-faith, he boldly sought +the governor's house and angrily charged him with +breaking his word. He had come to Barinas, he<pb n="239" /><anchor id="Pg239" /> +said, trusting in the offer of amnesty, and vigorously +demanded that his arms should be restored—not for +use against the Spaniards, but for his personal security. +His tone was so firm and indignant, and +his request so reasonable under the circumstances, +that the governor repented of his questionable act, +and gave orders that the arms should be returned.</p> + +<p>On hearing this, the whole garrison of Barinas +assailed the governor with reproaches, impetuously +demanding that the guerilla chief should be arrested +and confined in irons. The versatile governor again +gave way, and that night the Paez mansion was +entered and he taken from his bed, put in irons, +and locked up in prison. It was no more than he +might have expected, if he had known as much of +the Spanish character then as he was afterwards to +learn.</p> + +<p>But Paez was not an easy captive to hold. In +the prison he found about one hundred and fifty +of his fellow rebels, among them his friend Garcia, +an officer noted for strength and courage. On +Garcia complaining to him of the weight of his +irons and the miserable condition of the prisoners, +Paez accused him of cowardice, and offered to exchange +fetters with him. To keep his word he +broke his own chains by main strength and handed +them to his astonished friend.</p> + +<p>Paez now spoke to the other prisoners and won +their consent to a concerted break for liberty. +Freed from his own fetters, he was able to give +efficient service to the others, and before morning<pb n="240" /><anchor id="Pg240" /> +nearly the whole of them were free. When the +jailor opened the door in the morning he was +promptly knocked down by Paez and threatened +with instant death if he made a sound. Breaking +into the guard-room, they seized the arms of the +guard, set free those whose irons were not yet +broken, and marched from the prison, with Paez at +their head, upon the Spanish garrison, two hundred +in number. Many of these were killed and the +rest put to rout, and Barinas was once more in +patriot hands.</p> + +<p>This anecdote will serve to show, better than +pages of description, the kind of man that Paez +was. When the act became known to the llaneros +they proclaimed Paez their general, and were ready +to follow him to the death. These cowboys of the +Orinoco, if we may give them this title, were, like +their leader, of Indian blood. Neither they nor +their general knew anything about military art, +and felt lost when taken from their native plains, a +fact which was shown when they were called upon +to follow Bolivar in his mountain expedition against +New Granada. Neither persuasion nor force could +induce them to leave the plains for the mountains. +Bolivar and Paez entreated them in vain, and they +declared that rather than go to the hill-country +they would desert and return to their native plains, +where alone they were willing to fight. This was +their only act of insubordination under their favorite +leader, who usually had complete control over +them. He made himself one with his men, would<pb n="241" /><anchor id="Pg241" /> +divide his last cent with them, and was called by +them uncle and father. His staff-officers were all +llaneros and formed his regular society, they being +alike destitute of education and ignorant of tactics, +but bold and dashing and ready to follow their +leader to the cannon's mouth.</p> + +<p>The British Legion, about six hundred strong, +was in the last year of the war attached to the +llaneros corps, its members being highly esteemed +by Paez, who called them "my friends, the English." +The soldiers of the legion, however, were +bitterly opposed to their commander, Colonel Bossuet, +whom they held responsible for the miserable +state of their rations and clothes and their want of +pay. At the end of one day, which was so scorchingly +hot that the soldiers were excused from their +usual five o'clock parade, the legion rushed from +their quarters at this hour and placed themselves +in order of battle, crying that they would rather +have a creole to lead them than their colonel.</p> + +<p>Their officers attempted to pacify them, but in +vain, and the lieutenant-colonel, against whom they +had taken offence, was attacked and mortally +wounded with bayonet thrusts. When Colonel +Bossuet appeared and sought to speak to them they +rushed upon him with their bayonets, and it needed +the active efforts of the other officers to save him +from their revengeful hands. Tidings of the mutiny +were brought to General Paez in his quarters +and threw him into a paroxysm of rage. Seizing +his sword, he rushed upon the mutineers, killed<pb n="242" /><anchor id="Pg242" /> +three of them instantly, and would have continued +this bloody work but that his sword broke on the +body of a fourth. Flinging down the useless weapon, +he seized some of the most rebellious, dragged them +from the ranks by main strength, and ordered them +to be taken to prison. The others, dismayed by his +spirited conduct, hastily dispersed and sought their +quarters. The next day three of the most seditious +of the soldiers, and a young lieutenant who was +accused of aiding in the mutiny,—though probably +innocent of it,—were arrested and shot without +trial.</p> + +<p>Paroxysms of fury were not uncommon with +Paez. After the battle of Ortiz, in which his +daring charges alone saved the infantry from destruction, +he was seized with a fit, and lay on the +ground, foaming at the mouth. Colonel English +went to his aid, but his men warned him to let +their general alone, saying, "He is often so, and +will soon be all right. None of us dare touch him +when he is in one of these spells."</p> + +<p>But Colonel English persisted, sprinkling his +face with water and forcing some down his throat. +The general soon recovered and thanked him for +his aid, saying that he was a little overcome with +fatigue, as he had killed thirty-nine of the enemy +with his own hand. As he was running the fortieth +through the body he felt his illness coming on. By +way of reward he presented Colonel English with +the lance which had done this bloody work and +gave him three fine horses from his own stud.</p> + +<pb n="243" /><anchor id="Pg243" /> + +<p>These anecdotes of the dashing leader of the +llaneros, who, like all Indians, viewed the Spaniards +with an abiding hatred, are likely to be of +more interest than the details of his services in the +years of campaigning. In the field, it may be +said, he was an invaluable aid to General Bolivar. +In the campaigns against Morillo, the Spanish commander-in-chief, +his daring activity and success were +striking, and to him was largely due the winning +the last great battle of the war, that of Carabobo.</p> + +<p>In this battle, fought on the 26th of June, 1821, +Bolivar had about sixteen hundred infantry, a +thousand or more of them being British, and three +thousand of llanero cavalry under Paez. The +Spaniards, under La Torre, had fewer men, but +occupied a very strong defensive position. This +was a plain, interspersed with rocky and wooded +hills, and giving abundant space for military movements, +while if driven back they could retire to +one strong point after another, holding the enemy +at disadvantage throughout. In front there was +only one defile, and their wings were well protected, +the left resting upon a deep morass. A squadron +of cavalry protected their right wing, and on a hill +opposite the defile—through which ran the road to +Valencia—was posted a small battery.</p> + +<p>This position seemed to give the royalists a +decisive superiority over their patriot antagonists, +and for twenty days they waited an attack, in full +confidence of success. Bolivar hesitated to risk an<pb n="244" /><anchor id="Pg244" /> +attack, fearing that the destiny of his country +might rest upon the result. He proposed an armistice, +but this was unanimously rejected by his +council of war. Then it was suggested to seek to +turn the position of the enemy, but this was also +rejected, and it was finally decided to take every +risk and assail the enemy in his stronghold, trusting +to courage and the fortune of war for success.</p> + +<p>While the subject was being discussed by Bolivar +and his staff, one of the guides of the army, who +was thoroughly familiar with the country they +occupied, stood near and overheard the conversation. +At its end he drew near Bolivar, and in a +whisper told him that he knew a difficult foot-path +by which the right wing of the Spaniards +might be turned.</p> + +<p>This news was highly welcome, and, after a consultation +with his informant, Bolivar secretly detached +three battalions of his best troops, including +the British legion and a strong column of cavalry +under General Paez, directing them to follow the +guide and preserve as much silence and secrecy as +possible.</p> + +<p>The path proved to be narrow and very difficult. +They were obliged to traverse it in single file, and +it was paved with sharp stones that cut their +shoes to pieces and deeply wounded their feet. +Many of them tore their shirts and made bandages +for their feet to enable them to go on. Fortunately +for the success of the movement, it was masked by +the forest, and the expedition was able to concentrate<pb n="245" /><anchor id="Pg245" /> +in a position on the flank of the enemy without +discovery.</p> + +<p>When at length the Spaniards found this unwelcome +force on their flank they hastily despatched +against it the royal battalion of Bengos, driving +back the nearest troops and unmasking the British +legion. This they fired upon and then charged +with the bayonet. The British returned the fire +and charged in their turn, and with such dash and +vigor that the Spaniards soon gave way. In their +retreat Paez marched upon them with a squadron +called the Sacred Legion, and few of them got +back to their ranks. In return a squadron of the +Spaniards charged the British, but with less success, +being dispersed by a hot musketry fire.</p> + +<p>"While the Spanish right wing was being thus dealt +with, a fierce attack had been made upon the front. +The unexpected flank and rear attack was so disconcerting +that La Torre lost all presence of mind, +and on every side his men were driven back and +thrown into confusion. In front and on flank +they were hotly pressed. The opportunity of retreating +to the succession of defensive points in the +rear was quite lost sight of in the panic that invaded +their ranks, and soon they were in precipitate +retreat, their cavalry dispersed without making +a charge, their infantry in the utmost disorder, their +cannon and baggage-trains deserted and left to the +enemy.</p> + +<p>In this state of affairs Paez showed his customary +dash and activity. He pursued the Spaniards at<pb n="246" /><anchor id="Pg246" /> +the head of the cavalry, cutting them down vigorously, +and few of them would have escaped but for +the fatigued and weak condition of his horses, +which rendered them unable to break the files of +the Spanish infantry. In one of their unsuccessful +charges General Sedeno, Colonel Plaza, and a black +man called, from his courage, El Primero (the first), +finding that they could not break the infantry lines, +rushed madly into the midst of the bayonets and +were killed.</p> + +<p>The news of this defeat spread consternation +among the Spaniards. Thousands of the royalists +in the cities hastened to leave the country, fearing +the vengeance of the patriots, the Spanish commanders +lost all spirit, and three months later the +strong fortress of Carthagena surrendered to the +Colombians. Maracaibo was held till 1823, when it +surrendered, and in July, 1824, Porto Cabello capitulated +and the long contest was at an end.</p> + +<p>This final surrender was due in great measure to +General Paez, who thus sustained his military service +to the end. Though not gaining the renown +of Bolivar, and doubtless incapable of heading an +army and conducting a campaign, as a cavalry +leader he was indispensable, and to him and his +gallant llaneros was largely due the winning of +liberty.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="247" /><anchor id="Pg247" /> +<head>THE HANNIBAL OF THE ANDES AND THE FREEDOM OF CHILI.</head> + +<p>At the end of 1816 the cause of liberty in Chili +was at its lowest ebb. After four years of struggle +the patriots had met with a crushing defeat in +1814, and had been scattered to the four winds. +Since then the viceroy of Spain had ruled the land +with an iron hand, many of the leading citizens +being banished to the desolate island of Juan Fernandez, +the imaginary scene of Robinson Crusoe's +career, while many others were severely punished +and all the people were oppressed.</p> + +<p>In this depressed state of Chilian affairs a hero +came across the mountains to strike a new blow for +liberty. Don José de San Martin had fought valiantly +for the independence of Buenos Ayres at the +battle of San Lorenzo. Now the Argentine patriots +sent him to the aid of their fellow-patriots in Chili +and Peru. Such was the state of the conflict in the +latter part of 1816, when San Martin, collecting the +scattered bands of Chilian troops and adding them +to men of his own command, got together a formidable +array five thousand strong. The "Liberating +Army of the Andes" these were called.</p> + +<p>An able organizer was San Martin, and he put +his men through a thorough course of discipline. +Those he most depended on were the cavalry, a<pb n="248" /><anchor id="Pg248" /> +force made up of the <hi rend="font-style: italic">Gauchos</hi>, or cattlemen of +the Pampas, whose life was passed in the saddle, +and who were genuine centaurs of the plains.</p> + +<p>San Martin had the Andes to cross with his +army, and this was a task like that which Hannibal +and Bonaparte had accomplished in the Alps. +He set out himself at the head of his cavalry on +the 17th of January, 1817, the infantry and artillery +advancing by a different route. The men +of the army carried their own food, consisting of +dried meat and parched corn, and depots of food +were established at intervals along the route, the +difficulty of transporting provision-trains being +thus avoided. The field-pieces were slung between +mules or dragged on sledges made of tough hide, +and were hoisted or lowered by derricks, when +steep places were reached. Some two thousand +cattle were driven along to add to their food supply.</p> + +<p>Thus equipped, San Martin's army set out on its +difficult passage of the snow-topped Andes. He +had previously sent over guerilla bands whose +active movements thoroughly deceived the royalist +generals as to his intended place of crossing. Onward +went the cavalry, spurred to extraordinary +exertion by the fact that provisions began to run +short. The passes to be traversed, thirteen thousand +feet high and white with perpetual snow, +formed a frightful route for the horsemen of the +plains, yet they pushed on over the rugged mountains, +with their yawning precipices, so rapidly as +to cover three hundred miles in thirteen days. The<pb n="249" /><anchor id="Pg249" /> +infantry advanced with equal fortitude and energy, +and early in February the combined forces descended +the mountains and struck the royalist army at the +foot with such energy that it was soon fleeing in a +total rout. So utterly defeated and demoralized +were the royalists that Santiago, the capital, was +abandoned and was entered by San Martin at the +head of his wild gauchos and host of refugees on the +15th of February. His funds at this time consisted +of the two doubloons remaining in his pocket, +while he had no military chest, no surgeons nor +medicines for his wounded, and a very small supply +of the indispensable requisites of an army. About +all he had to depend on was the patriotism of his +men and their enthusiasm over their brilliant crossing +of the Andes and their easy victory over their +foes.</p> + +<p>For the time being Chili was free. The royalists +had vanished and the patriots were in full possession. +Thirty or more years before, a bold Irishman, +bearing the name of O'Higgins, had come to Chili, +where he quickly rose in position until he was given +the title of Don Ambrosio, and attained successively +the ranks of field-marshal of the royal army, baron, +marquis, and finally viceroy of Peru. His son, Don +Bernardo, was a man of his own type, able in peace +and brilliant in war, and he was now made supreme +dictator of Chili, an office which San Martin had +refused. The banished patriots were brought home +from their desert island, the royalists severely punished, +and a new army was organized to dislodge<pb n="250" /><anchor id="Pg250" /> +the fragment of the Spanish army which still held +out in the south.</p> + +<p>On the 15th of February, 1818, the anniversary +of the decisive victory of the "Liberating Army +of the Andes," O'Higgins declared the absolute +independence of Chili. A vote of the people was +taken in a peculiar manner. Two blank books were +opened for signatures in every city, the first for +independence, the second for those who preferred +the rule of Spain. For fifteen days these remained, +and then it was found that the first books were +filled with names, while the second had not a single +name. This vote O'Higgins declared settled the +question of Chilian freedom.</p> + +<p>The Spaniards did not think so, for Abascal, the +energetic viceroy of Peru, was taking vigorous +steps to win Chili back for the crown. Three +months before he had received a reinforcement of +three thousand five hundred veterans from Spain, +and these he sent to southern Chili to join the +forces still in arms. United, they formed an army +of about six thousand, under General Osorio, the +able commander who had subdued Chili in 1814. +It was evident that the newly declared independence +of Chili was to be severely tried.</p> + +<p>In fact, on the first meeting of the armies it +seemed overthrown. On the 19th of March San +Martin's army, while in camp near Talca, was unexpectedly +and violently attacked by the royalist +troops, the onslaught being so sudden and furious, +and the storm of cannon and musket shot so rapid<pb n="251" /><anchor id="Pg251" /> +and heavy, that the patriot troops were stricken +with panic, their divisions firing at each other as +well as at the enemy. Within fifteen minutes the +whole army was in full flight. The leaders bravely +sought to stop the demoralized troops, but in vain, +O'Higgins, though severely wounded, throwing +himself before them without effect. Nothing could +check them, and the defeat became in large measure +a total rout.</p> + +<p>When news of this disaster reached Santiago utter +consternation prevailed. Patriots hastily gathered +their valuables for flight; carriages of those seeking +to leave the country thronged the streets; women +wrung their hands in wild despair; the funds of the +treasury were got ready to load on mules; the +whole city was in a state of terrible anxiety.</p> + +<p>Several days passed before it was known what +had become of San Martin. Then news arrived +that he was at San Fernando at the head of the +right wing, three thousand strong. These had +escaped the panic on account of two divisions of +Osorio's army mistaking each other for the enemy +and firing into their own ranks. In the confusion +that ensued the right wing was led unbroken from +the field. Also a dashing young cavalry officer +named Rodriguez had done good work in checking +the flight of the fugitives, and in a brief time +had organized a regiment which he named the +"Hussars of Death."</p> + +<p>Six days after the defeat General O'Higgins +made his appearance in Santiago. He was badly<pb n="252" /><anchor id="Pg252" /> +wounded, but was at once named dictator of the +republic. The next day San Martin, with a few of +his officers, entered the city. Wearied and dusty +with travel as he was, his cheery cry of "<hi rend="font-style: italic">La patria +triunfa</hi>" gave new heart to the people. For several +days fragments of the routed army came pouring +in, and ten days after the battle Colonel Las Heras +arrived with the three thousand of the right wing. +The patriot cause seemed far less hopeless than had +been the case a week before.</p> + +<p>Yet it was evident that liberty could come only +from strenuous exertion, and the people of wealth +freely subscribed of their money, plate, and jewels +for the cause. It was not long before a new army +five thousand five hundred strong, freshly clothed +and in fair fighting condition, was gathered in a +camp near the city. The artillery lost in the +flight could not be replaced, but a few field-pieces +were secured. San Martin and O'Higgins, with +other able officers, were in command, and hope +once more began to dawn upon despair.</p> + +<p>The enemy was known to be approaching, and the +army was moved to a point about nine miles from +the capital, occupying a location known as the farm +of Espejo, where the coming enemy was awaited. +On the afternoon of April 3, Osorio crossed the +Maypo, the patriot cavalry harassing his flank +and rear as he advanced. On the 5th his army +took up a position on the brow of a hill opposite +that occupied by the patriot forces.</p> + +<p>Passing out from Santiago there is a succession<pb n="253" /><anchor id="Pg253" /> +of white hills, known as the Lorna Blanca, on one +crest of which, commanding the roads to the fords +of the Maypo and to Santiago, the patriot army +was encamped. The royalists occupied the crest +and slope of an opposite ridge. Below them ran +the Maypo with its forests and hills.</p> + +<p>As the sun rose on the morning of the 5th San +Martin saw with satisfaction the royalist force beginning +to occupy the high ground in his front. +With hopeful tone, he said, "I take the sun to +witness that the day is ours." As he spoke, the +golden rays spread like a banner of light from crest +to crest. At ten o'clock when the movement of +the armies began, he said, with assurance, "A half-hour +will decide the fate of Chili."</p> + +<p>A few words will serve to describe the positions +of the armies. Each was more than five thousand +strong, the patriot army somewhat the smaller. +It had been greatly reduced by its recent defeat, +the memory of which also hung about it like a +cloud, while the royalists were filled with enthusiasm +from their late victory. The royalist lines +were about a mile in length, four squadrons of +dragoons flanking their right wing and a body of +lancers their left, while a battery occupied a hill +on the extreme left. Confronting them were the +patriots, the left commanded by General Alverado, +the centre by Balcarce, the right by Las Heras, +while Quintana headed the reserves.</p> + +<p>The battle opened with a brisk fire from the +patriot artillery, and in about an hour the infantry<pb n="254" /><anchor id="Pg254" /> +forces joined in full action. As the royalists moved +down the hill they were swept with the fire of the +patriot battery, while shortly afterwards the royal +battery on the left was captured by a dashing +cavalry charge and the guns were turned against +their own line.</p> + +<p>The centre of the battle was a farm-house on the +Espejo estate, which was charged furiously by both +sides, being taken and retaken several times during +the day. Yet as the day went on the advantage +seemed to be on the side of Osorio, who held the +field with the centre and one wing of his army. +Defeat seemed the approaching fate of the patriots. +It came nearer when the regiment of negroes which +had for some time withstood the Burgos regiment—the +flower of Osorio's force—gave way and retreated, +leaving four hundred of its number stretched +upon the field.</p> + +<p>The critical moment of the battle was now at +hand. The Burgos regiment attempted to follow +up its success by forming itself into a square for a +decisive charge. In doing so the Spanish lines +were broken and thrown into temporary disorder. +Colonel O'Brien, a gallant cavalry officer of Irish +blood, took quick advantage of this. Joining his +troops with Quintana's reserves, he broke in a fierce +charge upon the Burgos regiment while in the act +of reforming and drove it back in complete confusion.</p> + +<p>This defeat of the choice corps of Osorio's army +changed the whole aspect of affairs. The patriots,<pb n="255" /><anchor id="Pg255" /> +inspired with hope, boldly advanced and pressed +their foes at all points. The Burgos troops sought +refuge in the farm-house, and were followed by the +left, which was similarly broken and dispersed. +The centre kept up the action for a time, but with +both wings in retreat it also was soon forced back, +and the whole royalist army was demoralized.</p> + +<p>The patriots did not fail to press their advantage +to the utmost. On all sides the royalists were cut +down or captured, until nearly half their force were +killed and wounded and most of the remainder taken +prisoners. A stand was made by those at the farm +house, but they were soon driven out, and about +five hundred of them killed and wounded in the +court and vineyard adjoining. Of the total army +less than three hundred escaped, General Osorio +and some other officers among them. These fled to +Concepcion, and embarked from there to Peru. Of +the patriots more than a thousand had fallen in the +hot engagement.</p> + +<p>This brilliant and decisive victory, known as the +battle of the Maypo, gave San Martin immense +renown, and justly so, for it established the independence +of Chili. Nor was that all, for it broke +the power which Abascal had long sustained in +Peru, and opened the way for the freeing of that +land from the rule of Spain.</p> + +<p>This feat also was the work of San Martin, who +soon after invaded Peru, and, aided by a Chilian +fleet, conquered that land from Spain, proclaiming +its independence to the people of Cuzco on the 28th<pb n="256" /><anchor id="Pg256" /> +of July, 1821. Later on, indeed, its freedom was +seriously threatened, and it was not until 1824 that +General Bolivar finally won independence for Peru, +in the victory of Ayacucho. Yet, famous as Bolivar +became as the Liberator of South America, +some generous portion of fame should rightly be +accorded to San Martin, the Liberator of Chili.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="257" /><anchor id="Pg257" /> +<head>COLONY, EMPIRE, AND REPUBLIC; REVOLUTION IN BRAZIL.</head> + +<p>While the Spanish colonies of South America +were battling for their liberties, the great Portuguese +colony of Brazil was going through a very +different experience. Bolivar and his compatriots +were seeking to drive Spain out of America. On +the contrary, we have the curious spectacle of +Brazil swallowing Portugal, or at least its king +and its throne, so that, for a time, the colony +became the state, and the state became the dependency. +It was a marked instance of the tail +wagging the dog. Brazil became the one empire +in America, and was destined not to become a republic +until many years later. Such are the themes +with which we here propose to deal.</p> + +<p>To begin this tale we must go back to those +stirring times in Europe when Napoleon, the great +conqueror, was in the height of his career, and +was disposing of countries at his will, much as a +chess-player moves the king, queen, and knights +upon his board. In 1807 one of his armies, led by +Marshal Junot, was marching on Lisbon, with the +purpose of punishing Portugal for the crime of +being a friend of the English realm.</p> + +<p>John, then the prince regent of Portugal, was a +weak-minded, feeble specimen of royalty, who did<pb n="258" /><anchor id="Pg258" /> +not keep of one mind two days together. Now he +clung to England; now, scared by Napoleon, he +claimed to be a friend of France; and thus he +shifted back and forward until the French despot +sent an army to his kingdom to help him make up +his mind. The people were ready to fight for their +country, but the prince still wobbled between two +opinions, until Junot had crossed the borders and +was fast making his way to Lisbon.</p> + +<p>Prince John was now in a pitiable state. He shed +tears over the fate of his country, but, as for himself, +he wanted badly to save his precious person. Across +the seas lay the great Portuguese colony of Brazil, +in whose vast forest area he might find a safe +refuge. The terrible French were close at hand. +He must be a captive or a fugitive. In all haste +he and his court had their treasures carried on a +man-of-war in the Lisbon harbor and prepared for +flight. Most of the nobility of the country followed +him on shipboard, the total hegira embracing +fifteen thousand persons, who took with them valuables +worth fifty millions of dollars. On November +29, 1807, the fleet set sail, leaving the harbor just as +the advance guard of the French came near enough +to gaze on its swelling sails. It was a remarkable +spectacle, one rarely seen in the history of the +world, that of a monarch fleeing from his country +with his nobility and treasures, to transfer his government +to a distant colony of the realm.</p> + +<p>Seven weeks later the fugitives landed in Brazil, +where they were received with an enthusiastic show<pb n="259" /><anchor id="Pg259" /> +of loyalty and devotion. John well repaid the loyal +colonists by lifting their country into the condition +of a separate nation. Its ports, hitherto reserved +for Portuguese ships, were opened to the world's +commerce; its system of seclusion and monopoly +was brought to a sudden end; manufactures were +set free from their fetters; a national bank was +established; Brazil was thrown open freely to +foreigners; schools and a medical college were +opened, and every colonial restriction was swept +away at a blow. Brazil was raised from a dependency +to a kingdom at a word. John, while +bearing the title of prince, was practically king, +for his mother, the queen of Portugal, was hopelessly +insane, and he ruled in her stead.</p> + +<p>He became actual king, as John VI., on the +death of his mother in 1816, and as such he soon +found trouble growing up around him. The Brazilians +had been given so much that they wanted +more. The opening of their country to commerce +and travel had let in new ideas, and the people +began to discover that they were the slaves of an +absolute government. This feeling of unrest passed +out of sight for a time, and first broke out in rebellion +at Pernambuco in 1817. This was put +down, but a wider revolt came on in 1820, and +spread early in the next year to Rio de Janeiro, +the capital, whose people demanded of their ruler +a liberal constitution.</p> + +<p>A great crowd assembled in the streets, the frightened +monarch taking refuge in his palace in the suburbs,<pb n="260" /><anchor id="Pg260" /> +where he lay trembling with fear. Fortunately, +his son, Prince Pedro, was a man of more resolute +character, and he quieted the people by swearing +that his father and himself would accept the constitution +they offered. Full of joy, the throng +marched with enthusiasm to the palace of the king, +who on seeing them approach was not sure whether +he was to be garroted or guillotined. Forced to +get into his carriage, he quite mistook their meaning, +and fell into a paroxysm of terror when the +people took out the horses that they might draw +him to the city with their own hands. He actually +fainted from fright, and when his senses came +back, he sat sobbing and snivelling, protesting that +he would agree to anything,—anything his dear +people wanted.</p> + +<p>King John by this time had had quite enough of +Brazil and the Brazilians. As soon as he could decide +on anything, he determined to take his throne +and his crown back to Portugal, whence he had +brought them fourteen years before, leaving his son +Pedro—young, ardent, and popular—to take care +of Brazil in his stead.</p> + +<p>But the people were not satisfied to let him go +until he had given his royal warrant to the new +constitution, and just before he was ready to depart +a crowd gathered round the palace, demanding +that he should give his assent to the charter of the +people's rights. He had never read it, and likely +knew very little what it was about, but he signed +what they asked for, all the same, and then made<pb n="261" /><anchor id="Pg261" /> +haste on shipboard, leaving Prince Pedro as regent, +and as glad to get away from his <hi rend="font-style: italic">loyal</hi> Brazilians as +he had once before been to get away from Junot +and his Frenchmen.</p> + +<p>Brazil again became a colony of Portugal, but it +was not long to remain so. The Cortes of Portugal +grew anxious to milk the colonial cow, and passed +laws to bring Brazil again under despotic control. +One of these required the young prince to leave +Brazil. They were laying plans to throw the great +colony back into its former state.</p> + +<p>When news of these acts reached Rio the city +broke into a tumult. Pedro was begged not to +abandon his loving people, and he agreed—thus +defying the Cortes and its orders. This was on +January 9, 1822. The Cortes next, to carry out its +work for the subjugation of Brazil, sent a squadron +to bring back the prince. This forced him to take +a decided stand. On May 13 he took the title of +"Perpetual Defender and Protector of Brazil;" +and on the 7th of September, when word came that +the Cortes had taken still more violent action, he +drew his sword in the presence of a party of revolutionists, +with the exclamation, "Independence or +Death." On the 12th of the following month he +was solemnly crowned as Pedro I., "Constitutional +Emperor of Brazil," and the revolution was consummated. +Within less than a year thereafter not +a hostile Portuguese soldier remained in Brazil, and +it had taken its place definitely among the nations +of America.</p> + +<pb n="262" /><anchor id="Pg262" /> + +<p>This is but half the story of Brazil's struggle for +freedom. It seems advisable to tell the other half, +which took place in 1889, sixty-seven years after +the first revolution. The first made Brazil an independent +empire. The second made it a republic, +and brought it into line with the republican nations +of America. And in connection therewith a peculiar +fate attended the establishment of monarchy +in Brazil. We have seen how John, the first emperor, +"left his country for the country's good." +The same was the case with his two successors, +Pedro I. and Pedro II.</p> + +<p>Pedro I. took the throne with loud-mouthed +declarations of his aspirations for liberty. He was +going to be a second Washington. But it was all +empty talk, the outpourings of a weak brain, a mere +dramatic posing, to which he was given. His ardor +for liberty soon cooled, and it was not long before +he was treating the people like a despot. The constitution +promised was not given until it was fairly +forced from him, and then it proved to be a worthless +document, made only to be disregarded. A +congress was called into being, but the emperor +wished to confine its functions to the increase +of the taxes, and matters went on from bad to +worse until by 1831 the indignation of the people +grew intense. The troops were in sympathy with +the multitude, and the emperor, finding that he +stood alone against the country, finally abdicated +the throne in haste in favor of his infant son. He +took refuge on a British warship in the harbor, and<pb n="263" /><anchor id="Pg263" /> +left the country never to return. The remainder +of his short life was spent as king of Portugal.</p> + +<p>Dom Pedro II. was a very different man from +his father. Studious, liberal, high-minded, he did +not, like his father, stand in the way of the congress +and its powers. But for all his liberality, +Brazil was not satisfied. All around it were republics, +and the spirit of republicanism invaded the +empire and grew apace. From the people it made +its way into the army, and in time it began to look +as if no other emperor would be permitted to succeed +Dom Pedro on the throne. By this time he +was growing old and feeble and there was a general +feeling that he ought to be left to end his reign +undisturbed, and the republic be founded on his +grave. Unfortunately for him, many began to believe +that a plot was in the air to make him give up +the throne to his daughter, Isabel. She was unpopular, +and her husband, the Count d'Eu, was +hated, and when the ministry began to send the +military away from the capital, as if to carry out +such a plot, an outbreak came.</p> + +<p>Its leaders were Benjamin Constant, formerly a +professor in the military school, and Marshal +Deodoro de Fonsaca, one of the leading officers of +the army. There was one brigade they could +count on,—the second,—and all the forces in Rio +were republican in sentiment.</p> + +<p>On the 14th of November, 1889, a rumor spread +about that Constant and Deodoro were to be arrested +and the disaffected soldiers to be sent away. It was<pb n="264" /><anchor id="Pg264" /> +time to strike. Early the next morning Constant +rode out to the quarters of the Second Brigade, called +it out, and led it to the great square in front of the +War Department building. Deodoro took command +and sent an officer into the building to demand the +surrender of the ministry. They yielded, and telegraphed +their resignation to the emperor, who was +at Petropolis, twenty-five miles away in the mountains.</p> + +<p>The revolution was phenomenally successful. +When the other troops in the city heard of the +revolt, they marched, cheering, through the streets +to join the Second Brigade, while the people, who +did not dream of what was afoot, looked on in +astonishment. No one thought of resisting, and +when Dom Pedro reached the city at three o'clock +in the afternoon, it was to find that he was no longer +emperor. A provisional government had been organized, +the chiefs of the revolution had named +themselves ministers, and they had taken possession +of the public buildings. A decree was issued +that Brazil had ceased to be an empire and had become +a federal republic.</p> + +<p>So great a change has rarely been accomplished +so easily. A few friends visited the emperor, but +there was no one to strike a blow for him. And the +feeble old man cared too little for power to wish to +be kept on the throne by the shedding of blood. +That night word was sent him that he had been +deposed and would be compelled to leave the country +with his family. During the next night the<pb n="265" /><anchor id="Pg265" /> +royal victims of the revolution were sent on shipboard +and their voyage to Lisbon began. Thus +was the third emperor sent out of Brazil through a +bloodless revolution.</p> + +<p>Yet the reaction was to come. A federal republic +was organized, with a constitution closely like that +of the United States. But the men at the head of +government had the army at their back and were +rather military dictators than presidents, and it +was not long before rebellions broke out in some of +the states. For three years there was war between +the two factions of the people, with frightful destruction +of life and property. Then, in September, +1893, the navy rebelled.</p> + +<p>The navy had always been officered by aristocrats, +and looked with contempt upon the army. +At its head was Admiral Mello; his ships lay in the +harbor of Rio, and their guns commanded the city. +It soon became evident that it was the purpose of +Mello and his fellows to re-establish the empire and +bring back Dom Pedro to the throne.</p> + +<p>But the rebel admiral found himself in a difficult +situation. He hesitated about bombarding the city, +which was full of his friends. Peixoto, the president, +filled the forts with soldiers, and the naval +officers had much trouble to obtain supplies. Mello, +finding himself in a dilemma, left the harbor with +one of his ironclads and went to Santa Catharina. +Saraiva, an able chief of his party, invaded this +and the neighboring districts, but he was hotly pursued +and his forces defeated, and Mello returned to<pb n="266" /><anchor id="Pg266" /> +Rio without having gained any advantage. Here +he found his position a very awkward one. The +rebels were all afloat. They had nothing to gain +by bombarding the city. The best they could do +was to try and establish a commercial blockade, so +as to force the government to terms, and in doing +this Mello found himself running up against the +power of the United States.</p> + +<figure url="images/image15.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>RIO JANEIRO AND HARBOR.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: RIO JANEIRO AND HARBOR.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>We have given these incidents not so much for +the interest they may have in themselves, but because +they lead up to a dramatic finale which seems +worth relating. There were warships of several +nations in the harbor, the officers of most of which +accorded the rights of belligerents to the rebel navy, +though it had not a foot of land under its control. +Saldana da Gama, then in command of the ships, +refused permission to any merchant vessel to go to +the wharves to deliver its cargo, threatening to fire +on any one that should venture. Thus the fleet +of merchantmen was forced to lie out in the bay +and await the end of the war, in spite of the fact +that yellow fever was making havoc among the +crews.</p> + +<p>The captains of the American merchant ships +applied for protection to the senior American officer +present, but he refused to interfere, and the commercial +blockade went on. Such was the state of +affairs when the United States Admiral Andrew E. +Benham appeared in the harbor and took in the +situation. He was a man to accept responsibilities.</p> + +<pb n="267" /><anchor id="Pg267" /> + +<p>"Go in," he said to the American captains. +"Trust to me to protect you from attack or to +revenge you if injured."</p> + +<p>This promise put new spirit into the captains. +Captain Blackford, of the barque "Amy," and two +other captains, gave notice on Sunday, January 29, +1894, that they would take their ships in to the +wharves the next morning. When Da Gama heard +of this he announced that he would fire on any +vessel that dared attempt it.</p> + +<p>When Monday morning dawned there was a +state of excitement in Rio Janeiro harbor. Da +Gama might keep his word, and what would the +American admiral do in that event? The commanders +of the other war-vessels looked on with +interest and anxiety. They soon saw that Benham +meant business. The dawn of day showed active +movements in the small American squadron. The +ships were clearing for action, and the cruiser +"Detroit" took a position from which she could +command two of Da Gama's vessels, the "Guanabara" +and the "Trajano."</p> + +<p>When the "Detroit" was in position, the "Amy" +began to warp in towards the pier. A musket-shot +came in warning from the deck of the "Guanabara." +Instantly from the "Detroit" a ball hurtled past +the bow of the Brazilian ship. A second followed +that struck her side. Seeing that two Brazilian +tugs were moving inward as if with intent to ram +his vessel, Captain Brownson of the "Detroit" +took his ship in between the two Brazilian war-vessels,<pb n="268" /><anchor id="Pg268" /> +in a position to rake them and their supporting +tugs.</p> + +<p>This decisive act ended the affair. Da Gama's +guns remained silent, and the "Amy," followed by +the other two vessels, made her way unharmed to +the wharves. Others followed, and before night +all the British and other merchantmen in the harbor +were hastening in to discharge their cargoes. Benham +had brought to a quick end the "intolerable +situation" in Rio Janeiro harbor.</p> + +<p>This ended the last hope of the naval revolutionists +to bring Peixoto to terms. Some of the ironclads +escaped from the harbor and fled to Santa +Catharina, where they were captured by the republicans. +A few months sufficed to bring the +revolt to an end, and republicanism was at length +firmly established in Brazil.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="269" /><anchor id="Pg269" /> +<head>FRANCIA THE DICTATOR, THE LOUIS XI. OF PARAGUAY.</head> + +<p>Among the varied countries of South America the +little republic of Paraguay, clipped closely in between +Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil, presents the +most singular history, this being due to the remarkable +career of the dictator Francia, who ruled +over it for a quarter of a century, and to the warlike +energy of his successor Lopez. The tyranny +of Francia was one of the strangest which history +records, no man ever ruling with more absolute +authority and more capricious cruelty. For many +years Paraguay was completely cut off by him +from the rest of the world, much as Japan was +until opened to civilization by Commodore Perry. +Unlucky was the stranger who then dared set foot on +Paraguayan soil. Many years might pass before +he could see the outer world again. Such was the +fate of Bonpland, the celebrated botanist and companion +of Humboldt, who rashly entered this forbidden +land and was forced to spend ten years +within its locked confines. Such is the country, +and such was the singular policy of its dictator, +whose strange story we have here to tell.</p> + +<p>In May, 1811, Paraguay joined the other countries +of South America in the general revolt against +Spain. There was here no invasion and no blood-shed;<pb n="270" /><anchor id="Pg270" /> +the armies of Spain were kept too busy +elsewhere, and the revolution was accomplished in +peace. A governing committee was formed, with +Fulgincio Yegros for its chairman and José Gaspar +Rodriguez de Francia for its secretary. The first +was a man of little ability; the latter was a man +whose powers will soon be seen.</p> + +<p>The committee decreed the independence of Paraguay. +Two years later a new convention was held, +which dissolved the committee and elected two +consuls, Yegros and Francia, to govern the country. +Two chairs were made for them, resembling +the curule chairs of Rome, and called Cæsar's and +Pompey's chairs. On entering office Francia coolly +seated himself in Cæsar's chair, leaving that of +Pompey for his associate. This action showed the +difference in force of character between the two +men.</p> + +<p>In fact, Francia quickly took possession of all +the powers of government. He was a true Cæsar. +He appointed a secretary of state, undertook to +reorganize the army and the finances, and deprived +the Spaniards in the country of all civil rights. +This was done to gain the support of the Indian +population, who hated the Spaniards bitterly. He +soon went farther. Yegros was in his way and he +got rid of him, making the simple-minded and +ignorant members of the congress believe that only +a sovereign magistrate could save the country, which +was then threatened by its neighbors. In consequence, +on the 8th of October, 1814, Francia was<pb n="271" /><anchor id="Pg271" /> +made dictator for three years. This was not +enough to satisfy the ambitious ruler, and he played +his cards so shrewdly that, on the 1st of May, 1816, +a new congress proclaimed him supreme and perpetual +dictator.</p> + +<p>It was no common man who could thus induce +the congress of a republic to raise him to absolute +power over its members and the people. Francia +at that time was fifty-nine years of age, a lean and +vigorous man, of medium stature, with piercing +black eyes, but a countenance not otherwise marked. +The son of a Frenchman who had been a tobacco +manufacturer in Paraguay, he was at first intended +for the church, but subsequently studied the law. +In this profession he had showed himself clever, eloquent, +and honorable, and always ready to defend +the poor and weak against the rich. It was the +reputation thus gained which first made him prominent +in political affairs.</p> + +<p>Once raised to absolute power for life, Francia +quickly began to show his innate qualities. Love +of money was not one of his faults, and while +strictly economical with the public funds, he was +free-handed and generous with his own. Thus, +of the nine thousand pesos of annual salary assigned +him, he would accept only three thousand, +and made it a strict rule to receive no present, +either returning or paying for any sent him. At +first he went regularly every day to mass, but he +soon gave up this show of religious faith and dismissed +his private chaplain. In fact, he grew to<pb n="272" /><anchor id="Pg272" /> +despise religious forms, and took pleasure in ridiculing +the priests, saying that they talked about +things and represented mysteries of which they +knew nothing. "The priests and religion," he +said, "serve more to make men believe in the devil +than in God."</p> + +<p>Of the leading principle of Francia's political +system we have already spoken. It had been the +policy of the old Jesuit missions to isolate the +people and keep them in strict obedience to the +priesthood, and Francia adopted a similar policy. +Anarchy prevailed without, he said, and might +penetrate into Paraguay. Brazil, he declared, was +seeking to absorb the country. With these excuses +he forbade, under the severest penalties, intercourse +of any character between the people of +Paraguay and those of neighboring countries and +the entry of any foreigner to the country under his +rule.</p> + +<p>In 1826 he decreed that any one who, calling +himself an envoy from Spain, should dare to enter +Paraguay without authority from himself should +be put to death and his body denied a burial. The +same severe penalty was decreed against any native +who received a letter speaking of political affairs +and did not at once present it to the public tribunals. +These rigid orders were probably caused +by some mysterious movements of that period, +which made him fear that Spain was laying plans +to get possession of the country.</p> + +<p>In the same year the dictator made a new move<pb n="273" /><anchor id="Pg273" /> +in the game of politics. He called into being a +kind of national assembly, professed to submit to +its authority, and ratified a declaration of independence. +Just why this was done is not very +clear. Certain negotiations were going on with the +Spanish government, and these may have had something +to do with it. At any rate, a timely military +conspiracy was just then discovered or manufactured, +a colonel was condemned to death, and +Francia was pressed by the assembly to resume his +power. He consented with a show of reluctance, +and only, as he said, till the Marquis de Guarini, +his envoy to Spain, should return, when he would +yield up his rule to the marquis. All this, however, +was probably a mere dramatic move, and +Francia had no idea of yielding his power to any +one.</p> + +<p>The dictator had a policy of his own—in fact, a +double policy, one devoted to dealing with the land +and its people; one to dealing with his enemies or +those who questioned his authority. The one was +as arbitrary, the other as cruel, as that of the +tyrants of Rome.</p> + +<p>The crops of Paraguay, whose wonderful soil +yields two harvests annually, were seized by the +dictator and stored on account of the government. +The latter claimed ownership of two-thirds of the +land, and a communal system was adopted under +which Francia disposed at will of the country and +its people. He fixed a system for the cultivation of +the fields, and when hands were needed for the<pb n="274" /><anchor id="Pg274" /> +harvest he enlisted them forcibly. Yet agriculture +made little progress under the primitive methods +employed, a broad board serving for a plough, while +the wheat was ground in mortars, and a piece of +wood moved by oxen formed the sugar-mill. The +cotton, as soon as picked from the pods, was spun +on the spinning-wheel, and then woven by a travelling +weaver, whose rude apparatus was carried on +the back of an ox or a mule, and, when in use, +was hung from the branch of a tree.</p> + +<p>Commerce was dealt with in the same way as +agriculture. The market was under Francia's control, +and all exchange of goods was managed under +rules laid down by him. He found that he must +open the country in a measure to foreign goods, if +he wanted to develop the resources of the country, +and a channel of commerce was opened on the +frontier of Brazil. But soldiers vigilantly watched +all transactions, and no one could act as a merchant +without a license from him. He fixed a tariff on +imports, kept them in a bazaar under military +guard, and sold them to the people, limiting the +amount of goods which any of his subjects could +purchase.</p> + +<p>As a result of all this Francia brought about a +complete cessation of all private action, the state +being all, and he being the state. All dealing for +profit was paralyzed, and agriculture and commerce +alike made no progress. On the other hand, everything +relating to war was developed. It was his +purpose to cut off Paraguay completely from foreign<pb n="275" /><anchor id="Pg275" /> +countries, and to be fully prepared to defend it +against warlike invasion.</p> + +<figure url="images/image16.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>INDIAN SPINNING AND WEAVING.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: INDIAN SPINNING AND WEAVING.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Of his books, the one he most frequently consulted +was a French dictionary of the arts and industries. +From this he gained the idea of founding public +workshops, in which the workmen were stimulated +to activity alike by threats and money. At one +time he condemned a blacksmith to hard labor for +awkwardness. At another, when he had erected a +gallows, he proposed to try it on a shoemaker if he +did not do his work properly, while promising to +richly reward him if he did.</p> + +<p>Military roads were laid out, the capital and +other cities were fortified, and a new city was built +in the north as a military post to keep the savage +Indians under control. As for the semi-civilized +Mission Indians, they were gradually brought under +the yoke, made to work on the land, and enrolled +in the army like other citizens. In this way a +body of twenty thousand militia and five thousand +regular troops was formed, all being well drilled +and the army supplied with an excellent cavalry +force. The body-guard of the dictator was made +up of picked troops on whose fidelity he could +rely.</p> + +<p>Francia dwelt in the palace of the old Spanish +governors, tearing down adjoining houses to isolate +it. Constantly fearful of death and danger, he did +not trust fully to his vigilant body-guard, but +nightly slept in a different room, so that his sleeping +apartment should not be known. In this he<pb n="276" /><anchor id="Pg276" /> +resembled the famous Louis XI., whom he also +imitated in his austerity and simplicity of manners, +and the fact that his principal confidant was +his barber,—a mulatto inclined to drink. His other +associate was Patiños, his secretary, who made the +public suffer for any ill-treatment from his master. +The remainder of the despot's household consisted +of four slaves, two men and two women. In +dress he strove to imitate Napoleon, whom he +greatly admired, and when drilling his troops was +armed with a large sword and pistols.</p> + +<p>There remains to tell the story of the cruelties of +this Paraguayan Nero. With his suspicious nature +and his absolute power, his subjects had no more +security for their lives than those of old Rome. +Plots against his person—which he identified with +the state—served him as a pretext for seizing and +shooting or imprisoning any one of whom he was +suspicious. One of his first victims was Yegros, +his former associate in the consulate. Accused of +favoring an invasion of Paraguay, he and forty +others were condemned to death in 1819.</p> + +<p>More than three hundred others were imprisoned +on the same charge, and were held captive for +eighteen months, during which they were subjected +by the tyrant to daily tortures. The ferocious +dictator took special pleasure in the torment of +these unfortunates, devising tortures of his own +and making a diversion out of his revenge. From +his actions it has been supposed that there were +the seeds of madness in his mind, and it is certain<pb n="277" /><anchor id="Pg277" /> +that it was in his frequent fits of hypochondria +that he issued his decrees of proscription and carried +out his excesses of cruelty.</p> + +<p>When in this condition, sad was it for the heedless +wretch who omitted to address him as "Your +Excellence the Supreme, Most Excellent Lord and +Perpetual Dictator!" Equally sad was it for the +man who, wishing to speak with him, dared to +approach too closely and did not keep his hands well +in view, to show that he had no concealed weapons. +Treason, daggers, and assassins seemed the perpetual +tenants of Francia's thoughts. One country-woman +was seized for coming too near his office +window to present a petition; and he went so far, +on one occasion, as to order his guard to fire on +any one who dared to look at his palace. Whenever +he went abroad a numerous escort attended +him, and the moment he put his foot outside the +palace the bell of the Cathedral began to toll, as a +warning to all the inhabitants to go into their +houses. Any one found abroad bowed his head +nearly to the ground, not daring to lift his eyes to +the dictator's dreaded face.</p> + +<p>It is certainly extraordinary that in the nineteenth +century, and in a little state of South America, +there should have arisen a tyrant equal in cruelty, +in his restricted sphere, to the Nero and Caligula +of old or the Louis XI. of mediæval times. Death +came to him in 1840, after twenty-six years of this +absolute rule and in his eighty-third year. It came +after a few days of illness, during which he attended<pb n="278" /><anchor id="Pg278" /> +to business, refused assistance, and forbade +any one not called by him to enter his room. Only +the quick coming of death prevented him from +ending his life with a crime; for in a fit of anger at +the <hi rend="font-style: italic">curandero</hi>, a sort of quack doctor who attended +him, he sprang from his bed, snatched up his sword, +and rushed furiously upon the trembling wretch. +Before he could reach his intended victim he fell +down in a fit of apoplexy. No one dared to disregard +his orders and come to his aid, and death +soon followed. His funeral was splendid, and a +grand mausoleum was erected to him, but this was +thrown down by the hands of some enemies unknown.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the career of this extraordinary personage, +one of the most remarkable characters of +the nineteenth century. Carlos Antonio Lopez, his +nephew, succeeded him, and in 1844 was chosen as +president of the republic for ten years, during +which he was as absolute as his uncle. He continued +in power till his death in 1862, but put an +end to the isolation of Paraguay, opening it to the +world's commerce.</p> + +<p>He was succeeded by his son, Solano Lopez, whom +we mention here simply from the fact that the war +which Francia had so diligently prepared for came +in his time. In 1864 the question of the true +frontier of the state brought on a war in which +Brazil, the Argentine Republic, and Uruguay combined +to crush the little country in their midst. +We need only say here that Lopez displayed remarkable<pb n="279" /><anchor id="Pg279" /> +powers as a soldier, appeared again and +again in arms after seemingly crushing defeats, and +fought off his powerful opponents for five years. +Then, on the 1st of May, 1870, he was slain in a +battle in which his small army was completely destroyed. +Paraguay, after a valorous and gigantic +struggle, was at the mercy of the allies. It was +restored to national life again, but under penalty of +the great indemnity, for so small a state, of two +hundred and thirty-six million pesos.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="280" /><anchor id="Pg280" /> +<head>TACON THE GOVERNOR AND MARTI THE SMUGGLER.</head> + +<p>In 1834 Don Miguel Tacon, one of the most +vigorous and tyrannical of the governor-generals +of Cuba, took control of the island, which he ruled +with a stern will and an iron hand. One of the +purposes in which he was most earnest was that +of suppressing the active smuggling on the coast, +all the naval vessels under his command being +ordered to patrol the coast night and day, and to +have no mercy on these lawless worthies. As it +proved, all his efforts were of no avail, the smugglers +continuing to ply their trade in spite of Tacon +and his agents.</p> + +<p>The despoilers of the revenue were too daring +and adroit, and too familiar with the shoals and +rocks of the coast waters, to be readily caught, and +the lack of pilots familiar with this difficult navigation +prevented any close approach to their haunts. +In this dilemma Tacon tried the expedient of offering +a large and tempting reward to any one who +would desert the fraternity and agree to pilot the +government vessels through the perilous channels +which they frequented. Double this reward, an +almost princely prize, was offered for the person of +one Marti, dead or alive.</p> + +<p>Tacon had good reason to offer a special reward<pb n="281" /><anchor id="Pg281" /> +for the arrest of Marti, who was looked upon as +the leader and chief offender of the smugglers. A +daring and reckless man, notorious as a smuggler +and half pirate, his name was as well known in +Cuba as that of the governor-general himself. The +admirers of his daring exploits grew to know him +as the King of the Isle of Pines, this island being +his principal rendezvous, from which he sent his +fleet of small, swift vessels to ply their trade on +the neighboring coast. As for Tacon's rewards, +they were long as ineffective as his revenue cutters +and gunboats, and the government officials fell +at length into a state of despair as to how they +should deal with the nefarious and defiant band.</p> + +<p>One dark, dull night, several months after the +placards offering these rewards had been posted in +conspicuous places in Havana and elsewhere, two +sentinels were pacing as usual before the governor's +palace, which stood opposite the grand plaza of the +capital city. Shortly before midnight a cloaked +individual stealthily approached and slipped behind +the statue of the Spanish king near the fountain in +the plaza. From this lurking-place he watched the +movements of the sentinels, as they walked until +they met face to face, and then turned back to back +for their brief walk in the opposite direction.</p> + +<p>It was a delicate movement to slip between the +soldiers during the short interval when their eyes +were turned from the entrance, but the stranger at +length adroitly effected it, darting lightly and silently +across the short space and hiding himself<pb n="282" /><anchor id="Pg282" /> +behind one of the pillars of the palace before they +turned again. During their next turn he entered +the palace, now safe from their espionage, and +sought the broad flight of stairs which led to the +governor's rooms with the confidence of one thoroughly +familiar with the place.</p> + +<figure url="images/image17.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S PALACE, HAVANA.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S PALACE, HAVANA.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>At the head of the stairs there was another +guard to be passed, but this the stranger did with a +formal military salute and an air of authority as if +his right to enter was beyond question. His manner +quieted all suspicion in the mind of the sentinel, +and the newcomer entered the governor's room +unchallenged, closing the door behind him.</p> + +<p>Before him sat the governor-general in a large +easy-chair, quite alone and busily engaged in writing. +On seeing him thus unattended the weather-beaten +face of the stranger took on a look of satisfaction. +Evidently his secret plans had worked +fully to his desire. Taking off his cloak, he tossed +it over his arm, making a noise that attracted the +governor's attention. Tacon looked up in surprise, +fixing his eyes keenly upon his unlooked-for visitor.</p> + +<p>"Who is this that enters, at this late hour, +without warning or announcement?" he sternly +asked, looking in doubt at the unknown face.</p> + +<p>"One who brings information that the governor-general +wants. You are he, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"I am. What do you want? And how did +you, a stranger, pass my guard without challenge?"</p> + +<p>"That is not the question. Your Excellency, I +understand, has offered a handsome reward to any<pb n="283" /><anchor id="Pg283" /> +one who will put you on the track of the rovers of +the gulf?"</p> + +<p>"Ha! is that your errand?" exclaimed Tacon, +with sudden interest. "What know you of them?"</p> + +<p>"Excellency, I must speak with caution," said +the stranger. "I have my own safety to consider."</p> + +<p>"That you need not fear. My offer of reward +also carries pardon to the informant. If you are +even a member of the confederation itself you will +be safe in speaking freely."</p> + +<p>"I understand you offer an additional reward, a +rich one, for the discovery of Captain Marti, the +chief of the smugglers?"</p> + +<p>"I do. You may fully trust in my promise to +reward and protect any one who puts me on the +track of that leader of the villains."</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency, I must have special assurance +of this. Do you give me your knightly word that +you will grant me a free pardon for all offences +against the customs, if I tell all you wish to know, +even to the most secret hiding-places of the rovers?"</p> + +<p>"I pledge you my full word of honor for that," +said the governor, now deeply interested.</p> + +<p>"You will grant me full pardon, under the +king's seal, no matter how great my offences or +crimes, if you call them so, may have been?"</p> + +<p>"If what you reveal is to the purpose," said +Tacon, wondering why his visitor was so unduly +cautious.</p> + +<p>"Even if I were a leader among the rovers +myself?"</p> + +<pb n="284" /><anchor id="Pg284" /> + +<p>Tacon hesitated a moment, looking closely at the +stalwart stranger, while considering the purport of +his words.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, at length. "If you will lead +our ships to the haunts of Marti and his followers, +you can fully depend on the reward and the +pardon."</p> + +<p>"Excellency, I know you well enough to trust +your word, or I should never have put myself in +your power."</p> + +<p>"You can trust my word," said Tacon, impatiently. +"Now come to the point; I have no time +to waste."</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency, the man for whom you have +offered the largest reward, dead or alive, stands +before you."</p> + +<p>"Ha! you are</p> + +<p>"Captain Marti."</p> + +<p>The governor started in surprise, and laid his +hand hastily on a pistol that lay before him. But +he regained his self-possession in a moment, and +solemnly said,—</p> + +<p>"I shall keep my promise, if you keep yours. +You have offended deeply, but my word is my law. +But to insure your faithfulness, I must put you for +the present under guard."</p> + +<p>"As you will, your Excellency," said Marti.</p> + +<p>Tacon rang a bell by his side, an attendant entered, +and soon after Marti was safely locked up, +orders being given to make him comfortable until he +was sent for. And so this strange interview ended.</p> + +<pb n="285" /><anchor id="Pg285" /> + +<p>During the next day there was a commotion in +the harbor of Havana. An armed revenue cutter, +which for weeks had lain idly under the guns of +Morro Castle, became the scene of sudden activity; +food, ammunition, and other stores being taken on +board. Before noon the anchor was weighed and +she stood out into the open sea. On her deck was +a man unknown to captain or crew, otherwise than +as the pilot of their cruise. Marti was keeping his +word.</p> + +<p>A skilled and faithful pilot he proved,—faithful +to them, but faithless and treacherous to his late +comrades and followers,—for he guided the ship +with wonderful ease and assurance through all the +shoals and perils of the coast waters, taking her to +the secret haunts of the rovers, and revealing their +depots of smuggled goods and secret hiding-places. +Many a craft of the smugglers was taken and destroyed +and large quantities of their goods were +captured, as for a month the raiding voyage continued. +The returns to the government were of +great value and the business of the smugglers was +effectually broken up. At its end Marti returned +to the governor to claim the reward for his base +treachery.</p> + +<p>"You have kept your word faithfully," said +Tacon. "It is now for me to keep mine. In this +document you will find a free and unconditional +pardon for all the offences you have committed +against the laws. As for your reward, here's an +order on the treasury for—"</p> + +<pb n="286" /><anchor id="Pg286" /> + +<p>"Will your Excellency excuse me for interrupting?" +said Marti. "I am glad to have the +pardon. But as for the reward, I should like to +make you a proposition in place of the money you +offer. What I ask is that you grant me the sole +right to fish in the waters near the city, and declare +the trade in fish contraband to any one except my +agents. This will repay me quite well enough for +my service to the government, and I shall build at +my own expense a public market of stone, which +shall be an ornament to the city. At the expiration +of a certain term of years this market, with all +right and title to the fisheries, shall revert to the +government."</p> + +<p>Tacon was highly pleased with this proposition. +He would save the large sum which he had promised +Marti, and the city would gain a fine fish-market +without expense. So, after weighing fully all the +<hi rend="font-style: italic">pros</hi> and <hi rend="font-style: italic">cons</hi>, Tacon assented to the proposition, +granting Marti in full legal form the sole right to +fish near the city and to sell fish in its markets. +Marti knew far better than Tacon the value to him +of this concession. During his life as a rover he +had become familiar with the best fishing-grounds, +and for years furnished the city bountifully with +fish, reaping a very large profit upon his enterprise. +At the close of the period of his monopoly the +market and privileges reverted to the government.</p> + +<p>Marti had all he needed, and was now a man of +large wealth. How he should invest it was the +question that next concerned him. He finally decided<pb n="287" /><anchor id="Pg287" /> +to try and obtain the monopoly of theatrical +performances in Havana on condition of building +there one of the largest and finest theatres in the +world. This was done, paying the speculator a +large interest on his wealth, and he died at length +rich and honored, his money serving as a gravestone +for his sins.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="288" /><anchor id="Pg288" /> +<head>KEARNEY'S DARING EXPEDITION AND THE CONQUEST OF NEW MEXICO.</head> + +<p>We have told the story of the remarkable expedition +of Vasquez de Coronado from Mexico northward +to the prairies of Kansas. We have now to +tell the story of an expedition which took place +three centuries later from this prairie land to the +once famous region of the "Seven Cities of Cibola." +In 1542, when Coronado traversed this region, he +found it inhabited by tribes of wandering savages, +living in rude wigwams. In 1846, when the return +expedition set out, it came from a land of fruitful +farms and populous cities. Yet it was to pass +through a country as wild and uncultivated as that +which the Spaniards had traversed three centuries +before.</p> + +<p>The invasion of Mexico by the United States +armies in 1846 was made in several divisions, one +being known as the Army of the West, led by +Colonel Stephen W. Kearney. He was to march +to Santa Fé, seize New Mexico, and then push on +and occupy California, both of which were then +provinces of Mexico. It was an expedition in which +the soldiers would have to fight far more with +nature than with man, and force their way through<pb n="289" /><anchor id="Pg289" /> +desolate regions and over deserts rarely trodden by +the human foot.</p> + +<p>The invading army made its rendezvous at Fort +Leavenworth, on the Missouri River, in the month +of June, 1846. It consisted of something over sixteen +hundred men, all from Missouri, and all +mounted except one battalion of infantry. Accompanying +it were sixteen pieces of artillery. A +march of two thousand miles in length lay before +this small corps, much of it through the land of the +enemy, where much larger forces were likely to +be met. Before the adventurers, after the green +prairies had been passed, lay hot and treeless plains +and mountain-ranges in whose passes the wintry +snow still lingered, while savage tribes and hostile +Mexicans, whose numbers were unknown, might +make their path one of woe and slaughter. Those +who gathered to see them start looked upon them +as heroes who might never see their homes again.</p> + +<p>On the 26th of June the main body of the expedition +began its march, taking the trail of a provision +train of two hundred wagons and two companies +of cavalry sent in advance, and followed, three +days later, by Kearney with the rear. For the first +time in history an army under the American standard, +and with all the bravery of glittering guns and +floating flags, was traversing those ancient plains. +For years the Santa Fé trail had been a synonym +for deeds of horror, including famine, bloodshed, +and frightful scenes of Indian cruelty. The bones +of men and of beasts of burden paved the way, and<pb n="290" /><anchor id="Pg290" /> +served as a gruesome pathway for the long line of +marching troops.</p> + +<p>The early route led, now through thick timber, +now over plains carpeted with tall grasses, now +across ravines or creeks, now through soft ground +in which the laden wagons sank to their axles, and +tried the horses severely to pull them out. To draw +the heavy wagons up the steep ridges of the table-lands +the tugging strength of a hundred men was +sometimes needed.</p> + +<p>Summer was now on the land, and for days together +the heat was almost unbearable. There was +trouble, too, with the cavalry horses, raw animals, +unused to their new trappings and discipline, and +which often broke loose and scampered away, only +to be caught by dint of weary pursuit and profane +ejaculations.</p> + +<p>For six hundred miles the column traversed the +great Santa Fé trail without sight of habitation and +over a dreary expanse, no break to the monotony +appearing until their glad eyes beheld the fertile +and flowery prairies surrounding Fort Bent on the +Arkansas. Here was a rich and well-watered level, +with clumps of trees and refreshing streams, forming +convenient halting-places for rest and bathing. +As yet there had been no want of food, a large +merchant train of food wagons having set out in +advance of their own provision train, and for a +few days life ceased to be a burden and became a +pleasure.</p> + +<p>They needed this refreshment sadly, for the journey<pb n="291" /><anchor id="Pg291" /> +to Fort Bent had been one of toil and hardships, +of burning suns, and the fatigue of endless dreary +miles. The wagon-trains were often far in advance +and food at times grew scanty, while the scarcity +of fuel made it difficult to warm their sparse supplies. +During part of the journey they were +drenched by heavy rains. To these succeeded days +of scorchingly hot weather, bringing thirst in its +train and desert mirages which cheated their suffering +souls. When at length the Arkansas River was +reached, men and animals alike rushed madly into +its waters to slake their torment of thirst.</p> + +<p>At times their route led through great herds of +grazing buffaloes which supplied the hungry men +with sumptuous fare, but most of the time they +were forced to trust to the steadily diminishing stores +of the provision wagons. This was especially the +case when they left the grassy and flowery prairie +and entered upon an arid plain, on which for months +of the year no drop of rain or dew fell, while the +whitened bones of men and beasts told of former +havoc of starvation and drouth. The heated surface +was in places incrusted with alkaline earth worn +into ash-like dust, or paved with pebbles blistering +hot to the feet. At times these were diversified by +variegated ridges of sandstone, blue, red, and yellow +in hue.</p> + +<p>A brief period of rest was enjoyed at Fort Bent, +but on the 2d of August the column was on the +trail again, the sick and worn-out being left behind. +As they proceeded the desert grew more arid still.<pb n="292" /><anchor id="Pg292" /> +Neither grass nor shrubs was to be found for the +famishing animals; the water, what little there was, +proved to be muddy and bitter; the wheels sank +deep in the pulverized soil, and men and beasts alike +were nearly suffocated by the clouds of dust that +blew into their eyes, nostrils, and mouths. Glad +were they when, after three days of this frightful +passage, they halted on the welcome banks of the +Purgatoire, a cool mountain-stream, and saw rising +before them the snowy summits of the lofty Cimmaron +and Spanish peaks and knew that the desert +was passed.</p> + +<p>The sight of the rugged mountains infused new +energy into their weary souls, and it was with fresh +spirit that they climbed the rough hills leading upward +towards the Raton Pass, emerging at length +into a grand mountain amphitheatre closed in with +steep walls of basalt and granite. They seemed to +be in a splendid mountain temple, in which they +enjoyed their first Sunday's rest since they had left +Fort Leavenworth.</p> + +<p>The food supply had now fallen so low that the +rations of the men were reduced to one-third the +usual quantity. But the new hope in their hearts +helped them to endure this severe privation, and +they made their way rapidly through the mountain +gorges and over the plains beyond, covering from +seventeen to twenty-five miles a day. Ammunition +had diminished as well as food, and the men were +forbidden to waste any on game, for news had been +received that the Mexicans were gathering to dispute<pb n="293" /><anchor id="Pg293" /> +their path and all their powder and shot might +be needed.</p> + +<p>The vicinity of the Mexican settlements was +reached on August 14, and their desert-weary eyes +beheld with joy the first cornfields and gardens +surrounding the farm-houses in the valleys, while +groves of cedar and pine diversified the scene. +With new animation the troops marched on, elated +with the tidings which now reached them from the +north, that Colonel Kearney had been raised to the +rank of brigadier-general, and a second item of +news to the effect that two thousand Mexicans held +the cañon six miles beyond Las Vegas, prepared +to dispute its passage.</p> + +<p>This was what they had come for, and it was a +welcome diversion to learn that the weariness of +marching was likely to be diversified by a season +of fighting. They had made the longest march +ever achieved by an American army, nearly all of +it through a barren and inhospitable country, and +it was with genuine elation that they pressed forward +to the cañon, hopeful of having a brush with +the enemy. They met with a genuine disappointment +when they found the pass empty of foes. +The Mexicans had failed to await their coming.</p> + +<p>Kearney had already begun his prescribed work +of annexing New Mexico to the United States, the +Alcalde and the prominent citizens of Las Vegas +having taken an oath of allegiance to the laws +and government of the United States. As they +marched on, a similar oath was administered at San<pb n="294" /><anchor id="Pg294" /> +Miguel and Pecos, and willingly taken. Here the +soldiers fairly revelled in the fresh vegetables, +milk, eggs, fruits, and chickens which the inhabitants +were glad to exchange for the money of their +new guests. Orders had been given that all food +and forage obtained from the peaceable inhabitants +should be paid for, and Kearney saw that this was +done.</p> + +<p>At Pecos they had their first experience of the +antiquities of the land. Here was the traditional +birthplace of the great Montezuma, the ancient temple +still standing whose sacred fire had been kindled +by that famous monarch, and kept burning for +long years after his death, in the hope that he +would come again to deliver his people from bondage. +At length, as tradition held, the fire was +extinguished by accident, and the temple and village +were abandoned. The walls of the temple +still stood, six feet thick, and covering with their +rooms and passages a considerable space. The +Pueblo Indians of the region had refused to fight +for the Mexicans, for tradition told them that a +people would come from the East to free them from +Spanish rule, and the prophecy now seemed about +to be fulfilled.</p> + +<p>The next hostile news that reached the small +army was to the effect that seven thousand Mexicans +awaited them in Gallisteo Cañon, fifteen miles +from Santa Fé. This was far from agreeable +tidings, since the Mexicans far outnumbered the +Americans, while the pass was so narrow that a<pb n="295" /><anchor id="Pg295" /> +much smaller force might have easily defended it +against a numerous foe. The pass had been fortified +and the works there mounted with six pieces of +cannon, placed to make havoc in the invaders' +ranks.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, once more the advancing troops +found a strong pass undefended. The Mexican +officers had quarrelled, and the privates, who felt no +enmity towards the Americans, had left them to +fight it out between themselves. Deserted by his +soldiers, Governor Armijo escaped with a few dragoons, +and the Americans marched unmolested +through the pass. On the same day they reached +Santa Fé, taking peaceful possession of the capital +of New Mexico and the whole surrounding country +in the name of the United States.</p> + +<p>Not for an hour had the men halted that day, the +last of their wearisome march of nine hundred +miles, which had been completed in about fifty days. +So exhausting had this final day's march proved +that many of the animals sank down to die, and +the men flung themselves on the bare hill-side, without +food or drink, glad to snatch a few hours of sleep. +As the flag of the United States was hoisted in the +public square, a national salute of twenty-eight +guns was fired from a near-by hill, and the cavalry +rode with waving banners and loud cheers through +the streets. They had cause for great gratulation, +for they had achieved a remarkable feat and had +won a great province without the loss of a single +man in battle.</p> + +<pb n="296" /><anchor id="Pg296" /> + +<p>By the orders of General Kearney a flag-staff +one hundred feet high was raised in the plaza for +the American flag, and the oath of allegiance was +taken by the officials of the town. They were +willing enough to take it, since their new masters +left them in office, while the people, who had been +told that they would be robbed and mercilessly +treated, hailed the Americans as deliverers rather +than as enemies. The same was the case with all +the surrounding people, who, when they found that +they would be paid for their provisions and be left +secure in their homes, settled down in seeming high +good will under the new rule.</p> + +<figure url="images/image18.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>OLDEST HOUSE IN THE UNITED STATES, SANTA FE.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: OLDEST HOUSE IN THE UNITED STATES, SANTA FE.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Santa Fé at that time contained about six thousand +inhabitants. After St. Augustine it was the +oldest city within the limits of the United States. +When the Spaniards founded it in 1582, it was +built on the site of one of the old Indian pueblos, +whose date went back to the earliest history of the +country. The Spanish town—The Royal City of +the Holy Faith, <hi rend="font-style: italic">La Villa Real del Santa Fé</hi>, as they +called it—was also full of the flavor of antiquity, +with its low adobe houses, and its quaint old +churches, built nearly three centuries before. +These were of rude architecture and hung with +battered old bells, but they were ornamented with +curiously carved beams of cedar and oak. The +residences were as quaint and old-fashioned as the +churches, and the abundant relies of the more +ancient Indian inhabitants gave the charm of a +double antiquity to the place.</p> + +<pb n="297" /><anchor id="Pg297" /> + +<p>From Santa Fé as a centre General Kearney sent +out expeditions to put down all reported risings +through the province, one of the most important +of these being to the country of the warlike Navajo +Indians, who had just made a raid on New Mexico, +driving off ten thousand cattle and taking many +captives. The answer of one of the Navajo chiefs +to the officers of the expedition is interesting.</p> + +<p>"Americans, you have a strange cause of war +against the Navajos," he said. "We have waged +war against the New Mexicans for several years. +You now turn upon us for attempting to do what +you have done yourselves. We cannot see why +you have cause of quarrel with us for fighting the +New Mexicans in the West, while you do the same +thing in the East. We have no more right to complain +of you for interfering in our war than you +have to quarrel with us for continuing a war we +had begun long before you got here. If you will +act justly, you will allow us to settle our own differences."</p> + +<p>The Indians, however, in the end agreed to let +the New Mexicans alone, as American citizens, and +the matter was amicably settled. We may briefly +conclude the story of Kearney's expedition, which +was but half done when Santa Fé was reached. +He was to continue his march to California, and set +out for this purpose on the 25th of September, on +a journey as long and difficult as that he had +already made. He reached the Californian soil only +to find that Colonel Fremont had nearly finished<pb n="298" /><anchor id="Pg298" /> +the work set for him, and a little more fighting +added the great province of California to the American +conquests. Thus had a small body of men occupied +and conquered a vast section of northern +Mexico and added some of its richest possessions to +the United States.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="299" /><anchor id="Pg299" /> +<head>THE SECOND CONQUEST OF THE CAPITAL OF MEXICO.</head> + +<p>The ancient city of Mexico, the capital of the +Aztecs and their Spanish successors, has been the +scene of two great military events, its siege and capture +by Cortez the conqueror in 1521, and its capture +by the American army under General Scott in +1847, three and a quarter centuries later. Of the +remarkable career of Cortez we have given the +most striking incident, the story of the thrilling +<hi rend="font-style: italic">Noche triste</hi> and the victory of Otumba. A series +of interesting tales might have been told of the +siege that followed, but we prefer to leave that +period of mediæval cruelty and injustice and come +down to the events of a more civilized age.</p> + +<p>One of the most striking scenes in the campaign +of 1847 was the taking of the fortified hill of Chapultepec, +but before describing this we may briefly +outline the events of which it formed the dramatic +culmination. Vera Cruz, "the city of the True +Cross," founded by Cortez in 1520, was the scene +of the American landing, and was captured by the +army under General Scott in March, 1847. Then, +marching inland as Cortez had done more than +three centuries before, the American army, about +twelve thousand strong, soon began to ascend the<pb n="300" /><anchor id="Pg300" /> +mountain-slope leading from the torrid sea-level +plain to the high table-land of the old Aztec realm.</p> + +<p>Sixty miles from Vera Cruz the American forces +came to the mountain-pass of Cerro Gordo, where +Santa Anna, the president of Mexico, awaited the +invaders with an army of thirteen thousand men. +The heights overhanging the road bristled with +guns, and the lofty hill of Cerro Gordo was +strongly fortified, rendering the place almost impregnable +to an attack from the direction of Vera +Cruz. Scott was too able a soldier to waste the +lives of his men in such a perilous assault, and took +the wiser plan of cutting a new road along the +mountain-slopes and through ravines out of sight +of the enemy, to the Jalapa road in the Mexican +rear. An uphill charge from this point gave the +Americans command of all the minor hills, leaving +to the Mexicans only the height of Cerro Gordo, +with its intrenchments and the strong fortress on +its summit.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of April this hill, several hundred +feet in rugged height, was assailed in front and +rear, the Americans gallantly climbing the steep +rocks in the face of a deadly fire, carrying one +barricade after another, and at length sweeping +over the ramparts of the summit fortress and +driving the defenders from their stronghold down +the mountain-side. Santa Anna took with him +only eight thousand men in his hasty retreat, leaving +three thousand as prisoners in the American +hands, with forty-three pieces of bronze artillery<pb n="301" /><anchor id="Pg301" /> +and a large quantity of ammunition. Within a +month afterwards Scott's army marched into the +city of Puebla, on the table-land, sixty-eight miles +from the capital. Here they rested for several +months, awaiting reinforcements.</p> + +<p>On August 7 the army resumed its march, now +less than eleven thousand strong, the term of +several regiments having expired and their places +been partly filled by untried men, none of whom +had ever fired a gun in war. On they went, up-hill +still, passing the remains of the old city of Cholula +with its ruined Aztec pyramid, and toiling through +a mountain region till Rio Frio was reached, fifty +miles from Puebla and more than ten thousand feet +above the level of the sea.</p> + +<p>A few miles farther and the beautiful valley of +Mexico lay suddenly revealed before them like a +vision of enchantment. It was a scene of verdant +charm, the bright green of the fields and groves +diversified with the white walls of villages and +farm-houses, the silvery flow of streams, and the +gleaming surface of winding lakes, while beyond +and around a wall of wooded mountains ascended +to snowy peaks. It was a scene of summer charm +that had not been gazed upon by an invading army +since the days when Cortez and his men looked +down upon it with warm delight.</p> + +<p>The principal lakes visible were Lake Chalco, +with the long, narrow lake of Xochimilco near it, +and seven miles to the north Lake Tezcuco, near +the western shore of which the city of Mexico was<pb n="302" /><anchor id="Pg302" /> +visible. Between Chalco and Tezcuco ran the +national road, for much of its length a narrow +causeway between borders of marsh-land. Near +Lake Xochimilco was visible the Acapulco road. +Strong works of defence commanded both these +highways.</p> + +<figure url="images/image19.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>ON THE BORDER OF LAKE CHALCO.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: ON THE BORDER OF LAKE CHALCO.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>Scott chose the Acapulco road for his route of +approach, the national road being commanded by +the lofty and strongly fortified hill of El Peñon, +precipitous on one side, and surrounded by marshes +and a deep ditch on the other. The Acapulco +road was defended by strongly garrisoned fortresses +at Contreras and Churubusco, but seemed more +available than the other route. Still farther north +and west of the capital was a third approach to it +over the road to Toluco, defended by works at +Molino del Rey and by the fortified hill of Chapultepec. +It was evident that the army under Scott +would go through some severe and sanguinary fighting +before the city could be reached.</p> + +<p>It is not our purpose to describe the various engagements +by which this work was accomplished. +It must suffice to say that the strong hill fort of +Contreras was taken by a surprise, being approached +by a road leading to its rear during the +night and taken by storm at sunrise, seventeen +minutes sufficing for the important victory. The +garrison fled in dismay, after losing heavily.</p> + +<p>An advance was made the same day on the nearby +Mexican works at San Antonio and Churubusco, +and with the same result. The garrison at San<pb n="303" /><anchor id="Pg303" /> +Antonio, fearful of being cut off by the American +movement, evacuated the works and retired upon +Churubusco, hotly pursued. The Americans, inspired +by success, carried all before them, taking +the works at the bridge of Churubusco by an impetuous +charge and soon putting the enemy to +flight. Meanwhile, General Shields attacked the +Mexican reserve, consisting of four thousand infantry +and three thousand cavalry, whose line was +broken by a bayonet charge.</p> + +<p>The whole Mexican force was, by these well-devised +movements, forced back in terrible confusion, +and was quickly fleeing in panic. The fugitives +were cut down by the pursuing Americans, +who followed to the immediate defences of the +capital, where the pursuit was checked by a heavy +fire of grape-shot. Thus in one day the Americans, +nine thousand strong, had captured three +strong positions, held by three times their number, +the Mexicans losing in killed, wounded, and prisoners +over six thousand men, while the American +loss in killed and wounded was less than a thousand.</p> + +<p>Negotiations for peace followed, but they came +to nothing, the armistice that had been declared terminating +on the 7th of September. The problem +that now lay before General Scott was a very different +one from that which Cortez had faced in his +siege of the city. In his day Mexico was built on +an island in the centre of a large lake, which was +crossed by a number of causeways, broken at intervals +by canals whose bridges could be removed.</p> + +<pb n="304" /><anchor id="Pg304" /> + +<p>During the centuries that succeeded this lake had +disappeared, low, marshy lands occupying its site. +The city, however, was still reached by causeways, +eight in number, raised about six feet above the +marsh level. In these ended the five main roads +leading to the city. A large canal surrounded the +capital, and within its circle were smaller ones, all +now filled with water, as this was the rainy season. +The problem of bridging these under fire was one +of the difficulties that confronted the Americans.</p> + +<p>General Scott decided to approach the city by the +causeways of San Cosmé, Belen, and Tacubaya, +which were defended by formidable works, the +outermost of which was Molino del Rey, a fortified +position at the foot of a slope beyond which a grove +of cypresses led to the hill of Chapultepec. It +consisted of a number of stone buildings, some of +which had been used as a foundry, but which were +now converted into fortresses. This place was +carried by storm in the early morning of September +8, and the stronger position of Casa de Mata, a +quarter of a mile from Chapultepec, was captured +by a fierce assault the same day. Only Chapultepec +now lay between the Americans and the Mexican +capital.</p> + +<p>The stronghold of Chapultepec, of which the +places just taken were in the nature of outworks, +remained to be captured before the city could be +reached from that quarter. Chapultepec is an isolated +rocky hill, about one hundred and fifty feet in +height, and was surmounted by a large stone building<pb n="305" /><anchor id="Pg305" /> +which had been used as the bishop's palace, but +was now converted into a strong fortress. It was +well prepared for defence in guns and garrison, and +was the most difficult to win of the fortifications of +the capital. The western side was the most accessible, +but the face of this, above the grove of cypresses +which covered its base, presented a steep, +rocky, and difficult ascent.</p> + +<p>To deceive the enemy, a feigned advance upon +another section of the city was made on the 12th +of September. The two divisions engaged in this +returned that night to Tacubaya, near Chapultepec, +though a force still threatened the southern causeways. +Four batteries had been posted within easy +range of the castle of Chapultepec during the night +of the 11th, and all next day they kept up a steady +fire upon it, driving its defenders back and partly +wrecking the walls. On the morning of the 13th +the batteries resumed their fire, while the forces +chosen for the assault approached the hill from different +directions through the fire of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Two assaulting columns of two hundred and fifty +picked men each, from Worth's and Twigg's divisions, +advanced with scaling ladders, while the +batteries threw shot and shell over their heads to +drive the defenders from the walls. Major-General +Pillow led his division through the grove on the east +side, but he quickly fell with a dangerous wound, +and General Cadwalader succeeded him. Before +him was a broken and rocky ascent, with a redoubt +midway in its height. Up the steep rocks<pb n="306" /><anchor id="Pg306" /> +climbed the gallant stormers, broke into the redoubt +with a wild cheer, and put its defenders to +flight. On up the steep they then clambered, passing +without injury the mines which the Mexicans +had planted, but which they could not fire without +killing their own men. In a few minutes more the +storming party reached the summit and climbed +over the castle wall with shouts of victory, driving +back its defenders. Soon the United States flag +was seen floating over the ramparts, a roar of +cheers greeting the inspiring spectacle.</p> + +<p>On the southeast Quitman's column of assault +was making like progress, while Smith's brigade +captured two batteries at the foot of the hill on the +right, and Shield's brigade crossed the meadows +under a hot fire of musketry and artillery and +swept up the hill to the support of the stormers.</p> + +<p>Thus the castle of Chapultepec, the last and +strongest citadel of the Mexicans, had fallen before +an impetuous charge up a hill deemed inaccessible, +in the face of a hot fire, and the city itself lay at +the mercy of the invaders. The causeway which +it defended formed a double roadway on each side +of a great aqueduct, with stone arches and pillars. +Shields charged impetuously along this causeway, +towards the city, two miles distant, while Quitman +pursued the fleeing enemy along the neighboring +causeway of Belen.</p> + +<p>An aide sent by Scott came riding up to Shields +to bid him halt till Worth, who was following the +San Cosmé causeway, could force its defences. The<pb n="307" /><anchor id="Pg307" /> +aide politely saluted the eagerly advancing general +and began, "General Scott presents his compliments</p> + +<p>"I have no time for compliments just now," +roared out Shields, and spurred briskly onward to +escape the unwelcome orders which he felt were +coming. Soon he had led his men into the suburbs +of the city, while Worth and Quitman charged inward +over the neighboring causeways with equal +impetuosity.</p> + +<p>A strong force was quickly within the streets of +the city, assailed by skirmishers firing from houses +and gardens, who could be reached only by forcing +a way in with pickaxes and bars. Two guns were +brought in by Worth's column and planted in +position to batter down the San Cosmé gate, the +barrier to the great square in the city's centre, and +which fronted the cathedral and palace. Quitman +and Shields had to fight their way through as hot +a fire, and as they charged inward found themselves +before the citadel, mounting fifteen guns. At this +point a severe loss was sustained, but the assailants +held their own, mounting guns to attack the citadel +the next morning.</p> + +<p>These guns were not used. Before daylight a +deputation of the city council waited on General +Scott and announced that the army had evacuated +the city, and the government officials had fled. It +was not long afterwards before the Stars and Stripes +were floating over the National Palace and in the +great plaza.</p> + +<pb n="308" /><anchor id="Pg308" /> + +<p>Fighting continued for a day longer between the +Americans and about four thousand soldiers and +liberated convicts, who fought with desperate fury +for their country and were not put down without +considerable loss. On the morning of September 16 +the army of the United States held undisputed possession +of the famous old capital of Mexico. Fighting +continued, however, elsewhere for some months +later, and it was not till the 2d of February, 1848, +that a treaty of peace was signed.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="309" /><anchor id="Pg309" /> +<head>WALKER THE FILIBUSTER, AND THE INVASION OF NICARAGUA.</head> + +<p>On the 15th of October, 1853, a small and daring +band of reckless adventurers sailed from San Francisco, +on an enterprise seemingly madder and wilder +than that which Cortez had undertaken more than +three centuries before. The purpose of this handful +of men—filibusters they were called, as lawless in +their way as the buccaneers of old—was the conquest +of Northwest Mexico; possibly in the end of all +Mexico and Central America. No one knows what +wild vagaries filled the mind of William Walker, their +leader, "the gray-eyed man of destiny," as his +admirers called him.</p> + +<p>Landing at La Paz, in the southwestern corner +of the Gulf of California, with his few companions, +he captured a number of hamlets and then grandiloquently +proclaimed Lower California an independent +state and himself its president. His next +proclamation "annexed" to his territory the large +Mexican state of Sonora, on the mainland opposite +the California Gulf, and for a brief period he posed +among the sparse inhabitants as a ruler. Some +reinforcements reached him by water, but another +party that started overland was dispersed by starvation, +their food giving out.</p> + +<pb n="310" /><anchor id="Pg310" /> + +<p>Walker now set out with his buccaneering band +on a long march of six hundred miles through a +barren and unpeopled country towards his "possessions" +in the interior. The Mexicans did not +need any forces to defeat him. Fatigue and famine +did the work for them, desertion decimated the band +of invaders, and the hopeless march up the peninsula +ended at San Diego, where he and his men surrendered +to the United States authorities. Walker was +tried at San Francisco in 1854 for violation of the +neutrality laws, but was acquitted.</p> + +<p>This pioneer attempt at invasion only whetted +Walker's filibustering appetite. Looking about for +"new worlds to conquer," he saw a promising field +in Nicaragua, then torn by internal dissensions. +Invited by certain American speculators or adventurers +to lend his aid to the democratic party of +insurrectionists, he did not hesitate, but at once collected +a band of men of his own type and set sail +for this new field of labor and ambition. On the +11th of June, 1855, he landed with his small force +of sixty-two men at Realijo, on the Nicaraguan +coast, and was joined there by about a hundred of +the native rebels.</p> + +<p>Making his way inland, his first encounter with +the government forces took place at Rivas, where he +met a force of four hundred and eighty men. His +native allies fled at the first shots, but the Americans +fought with such valor and energy that the enemy +were defeated with a loss of one-third their number, +his loss being only ten. In a second conflict at<pb n="311" /><anchor id="Pg311" /> +Virgin Bay he was equally successful, and on the +15th of October he captured the important city of +Granada.</p> + +<p>These few successes gave him such prestige and +brought such aid from the revolutionists that the +opposite party was quite ready for peace, and on +the 25th he made a treaty with General Corral, its +leader, which made him fairly master of the country. +He declined the office of president, which was offered +him, but accepted that of generalissimo of the republic, +an office better suited to maintain his position. +His rapid success brought him not only the support +of the liberal faction, but attracted recruits from the +United States, who made their way into the country +from the east and the west alike until he had a force +of twelve hundred Americans under his command.</p> + +<p>General Corral, who had treated with him for +peace, was soon to pay the penalty for his readiness +to make terms with an invader. He was arrested +for treason, on some charge brought by Walker, +tried before a court-martial at which the new generalissimo +presided, sentenced to death, and executed +without delay.</p> + +<p>The next event in this fantastic drama of filibusterism +was a war with the neighboring republic of +Costa Rica. Both sides mustered armies, and a +hostile meeting took place at Guanacaste, on March +20, 1856, in which Walker was worsted. He kept +the field, however, and met the foe again at Rivas, +on April 11. This time he was victorious, and the +two republics now made peace.</p> + +<pb n="312" /><anchor id="Pg312" /> + +<p>His military success seemed to have made the +invader securely the lord and master of Nicaragua, +and he now threw aside his earlier show of modesty +and had himself elected president on June 25. +He had so fully established himself that he was +recognized as head of the republic by President +Pierce, on behalf of the United States. But he +immediately began to act the master and tyrant in +a way that was likely to bring his government to a +speedy end.</p> + +<p>Money being scarce, he issued currency on a +liberal scale, and by a decree he restored the system +of slavery which had been abolished thirty-two +years before. Not content with these radical measures +within the republic itself, he was unwise +enough to create for himself a powerful enemy in +the United States by meddling with the privileges +of the Vanderbilt Steamship Company, then engaged +in transporting the stream of gold-hunters +to California over a Nicaraguan route. Walker +revoked their charter and confiscated their property, +thus bringing against his new government a +fire in the rear.</p> + +<p>His aggressive policy, in fact, made him enemies +on all sides, the Central American states bordering +on Nicaragua being in sore dread of their ambitious +neighbor, while the agents of the Vanderbilt Company +worked industriously to stir up a revolt against +this soaring eagle of filibusterism.</p> + +<p>The result was a strong revolt against his rule, +and he soon found himself confronted by a force of<pb n="313" /><anchor id="Pg313" /> +patriots in the field. For a short time there were +busy times in Nicaragua, several battles being +fought by the contending forces, the war ending +with the burning of Granada by the president. +Finding that the whole country was rising against +him and that his case had grown desperate, Walker +soon gave up the hopeless contest and surrendered, +on May 1, 1857, to Commodore C. H. Davis of the +United States sloop-of-war "St. Mary," who took +him to Panama, where he made his way back to the +United States.</p> + +<p>Thus closed the conquering career of this minor +Cortez of the nineteenth century. But while +Walker the president was no more, Walker the +filibuster was not squelched. The passion for adventure +was as strong in his mind as ever, and his +brief period of power had roused in him an unquenchable +thirst for rule. In consequence he made +effort after effort to get back to the scene of his +exploits, and rise to power again, his persistent +thirst for invasion giving the United States authorities +no small trouble and ending only with his death.</p> + +<p>In fact, he was barely at home before he was +hatching new schemes and devising fresh exploits. +To check a new expedition which he was organizing +in New Orleans, the authorities of that city had +him arrested and put under bonds to keep the +peace. Soon after that we find him escaping their +jurisdiction in a vessel ostensibly bound for Mobile, +yet making port first in Central America, +where he landed on November 25, 1857.</p> + +<pb n="314" /><anchor id="Pg314" /> + +<p>This effort at invasion proved a mere flash in the +pan. No support awaited him and his deluded +followers, and in two weeks' time he found it judicious +to surrender once more to the naval authorities +of the United States; this time to Commodore +Paulding, who took him to New York with his +followers, one hundred and thirty-two in number.</p> + +<p>His fiasco stirred up something of a breeze in the +United States. President Buchanan had strongly +condemned the invasion of friendly territory in his +annual message, but he now sent a special message to +Congress in which he equally condemned Commodore +Paulding for landing an American force on foreign +soil. He decided that under the circumstances, +the government must decline to hold Walker as a +prisoner, unless he was properly arrested under +judicial authority. At the same time Buchanan +strongly deprecated all filibustering expeditions.</p> + +<p>The result of this was that Walker was again set +free, and it was not long before he had a new following, +there being many of the adventurous class +who sympathized warmly with his enterprising +efforts. This was especially the case in the South. +Thither Walker proceeded, and, inspired by his old +enthusiasm, he soon organized another company, +which sought to leave the country in October, 1858. +He was closely watched, however, and the whole company +was arrested at the mouth of the Mississippi +on the steamer on which passage had been taken.</p> + +<p>President Buchanan had issued a proclamation +forbidding all such expeditions, and Walker was now<pb n="315" /><anchor id="Pg315" /> +put on trial before the United States Court at New +Orleans. But the case against him seemed to lack +satisfactory evidence, and he was acquitted.</p> + +<p>Desisting for a time from his efforts, Walker occupied +himself in writing an account of his exploits, +in a book entitled "The War in Nicaragua." But +this was far too tame work for one of his stirring +disposition, and in June, 1860, he was off again, +this time making Honduras the scene of his invading +energy. Landing at Truxillo on the 27th, he seized +that town and held it for eight weeks, at the end of +which time he was ordered to leave the place by the +captain of a British man-of-war. The president of +Honduras was rapidly approaching with a defensive +force. Walker marched south, but his force was +too small to cope with the president's army, and he +had not gone far before he found himself a captive +in the hands of the Honduran government. Central +America had by this time more than enough of +William Walker and his methods, and five days +after his capture he was condemned to death and +shot at Truxillo.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the somewhat remarkable career of +the chief of filibusters, the most persistent of +modern invaders of foreign lands, whose reckless +exploits were of the mediæval rather than of the +modern type. A short, slender, not especially demonstrative +man, Walker did not seem made for a +hero of enthusiastic adventure. His most striking +feature was his keen gray eyes, which brought him +the title of "the gray-eyed man of destiny."</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="316" /><anchor id="Pg316" /> +<head>MAXIMILIAN OF AUSTRIA AND HIS EMPIRE IN MEXICO.</head> + +<p>It is interesting, in view of the total conquest and +submission of the Indians in Mexico, that the final +blow for freedom in that country should have been +made by an Indian of pure native blood. His name +was Benito Juarez, and his struggle for liberty was +against the French invaders and Maximilian, the +puppet emperor, put by Louis Napoleon on the +Mexican throne. In the words of Shakespeare, +"Thereby hangs a tale."</p> + +<p>For many years after the Spanish colonies had +won their independence the nations of Europe looked +upon them with a covetous eye. They would dearly +have liked to snap up some of these weak countries, +which Spain had been unable to hold, but the great +republic of the United States stood as their protector, +and none of them felt it quite safe to step +over that threatening bar to ambition, the "Monroe +Doctrine." "Hands off," said Uncle Sam, and +they obeyed, though much against their will.</p> + +<p>In 1861 began a war in the United States which +gave the people of that country all they wanted to +do. Here was the chance for Europe, and Napoleon +III., the usurper of France, took advantage of it to +send an army to Mexico and attempt the conquest +of that country. It was the overweening ambition<pb n="317" /><anchor id="Pg317" /> +of Louis Napoleon which led him on. It was his +scheme to found an empire in Mexico which, while +having the name of being independent, would be +under the control of France and would shed glory +on his reign.</p> + +<p>At that time the President of Mexico, the Indian +we have named, was Benito Juarez, a descendant of +the Aztec race, and, as some said, with the blood +of the Montezumas in his veins. Yet his family +was of the lowest class of the Indians, and when he +was twelve years old he did not know how to read +or write. After that he obtained a chance for education, +and in time became a lawyer, was made +governor of his native state, and kept on climbing +upward till he became secretary of state, president +of the Supreme Court, and finally president of +Mexico.</p> + +<p>He was the man who had the invaders of his +country to fight, and he fought them well and long. +But the poor and undisciplined Mexicans were no +match for the trained troops of France, and they +were driven back step by step until the invaders +were masters of nearly the whole country. Yet +Juarez still had a capital and a government at San +Luis Potosi, and all loyal Mexicans still looked on +him as their president.</p> + +<p>When Napoleon III. found himself master of +Mexico, he looked around for a man who would serve +him as a tool to hold the country. Such a man he +found in Ferdinand Joseph Maximilian, the brother +of the emperor of Austria, a dreamer rather than a<pb n="318" /><anchor id="Pg318" /> +man of action, and a fervent believer in the "divine +right of kings." This was the kind of man that +the French usurper was in want of, and he offered +him the position of emperor of Mexico. Maximilian +was taken by surprise. The proposition was +a startling one. But in the end ambition overcame +judgment, and he accepted the lofty but perilous +position on the condition that France should sustain +him on the throne.</p> + +<figure url="images/image20.png" rend="w90"> +<index index="fig" /> +<head>HOUSE OF MAXIMILIAN AT QUERETARO.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration: HOUSE OF MAXIMILIAN AT QUERETARO.</figDesc> +</figure> + +<p>The struggle of the Mexicans for freedom was +for the time at an end, and the French had almost +everywhere prevailed, when in 1864 the new emperor +and his young wife Carlotta arrived at Vera +Cruz and made their way to the city of Mexico. +This they entered with great show and ceremony +and amid the cheers of many of the lookers on, +though the mass of the people, who had no love +for emperors, kept away or held their peace.</p> + +<p>The new empire began with imperial display. +All the higher society of Mexico were at the feet +of the new monarchs. With French money to pay +their way and a French army to protect them, +there was nothing for Maximilian and Carlotta to +do but enjoy the romance and splendor of their new +dignity. On the summit of the hill of Chapultepec, +two hundred feet above the valley, stood the old +palace which had been ruined by the American guns +when Scott invaded Mexico. This was rebuilt by +Maximilian on a grand scale, hanging gardens were +constructed and walled in by galleries with marble +columns, costly furniture was brought from Europe,<pb n="319" /><anchor id="Pg319" /> +and here the new emperor and empress held their +court, with a brilliant succession of fêtes, dinners, +dances, and receptions. All was brilliance and +gayety, and as yet no shadow fell on their dream of +proud and royal reign.</p> + +<p>But the shadow was coming. Maximilian had +reached Mexico in June, 1864. For a year longer +the civil war in the great republic of the north +continued; then it came to an end, and the government +of the United States was free to take a hand +in the arbitrary doings on the soil of her near +neighbor to the south.</p> + +<p>It was a sad blow to the ambitious schemes of +Napoleon, it was like the rumble of an earthquake +under the throne of Maximilian, when from Washington +came a diplomatic demand which, translated +into plain English, meant, you had better make +haste to get your armies out of Mexico; if they +stay there, you will have the United States to deal +with. It hurt Louis Napoleon's pride. He shifted +and prevaricated and delayed, but the hand of the +great republic was on the throat of his new empire, +and there was nothing for him to do but obey. +He knew very well that if he resisted, the armies +of the civil war would make very short work of +his forces in Mexico.</p> + +<p>Maximilian was strongly advised to give up his +dream of an empire and leave the country with the +French. He changed his mind a half-dozen times, +but finally decided to stay, fancying that he could +hold his throne with the aid of the loyal Mexicans.<pb n="320" /><anchor id="Pg320" /> +Carlotta, full of ambition, went to Europe and +appealed for help to Napoleon. She told him very +plainly what she thought of his actions; but it was +all of no avail, and she left the palace almost broken-hearted. +Soon after Maximilian received the distressing +news that his wife had lost her reason +through grief, and was quite insane. At once he +made up his mind to return to Europe, and set out +for Vera Cruz. But before he got there he changed +his mind again and concluded to remain.</p> + +<p>At the end of January, 1867, the French army, +which had held on until then, with one excuse after +another, left the capital city, which it had occupied +for years, and began its long march to the sea-shore +at Vera Cruz. Much was left behind. Cannon +were broken up as useless, horses sold for a song, +and the evacuation was soon complete, the Belgian +and Austrian troops which the new emperor had +brought with him going with the French. Maximilian +did not want them; he preferred to trust +himself to the loyal arms of his Mexican subjects, +hoping thus to avoid jealousy. As for the United +States, it had no more to say; it was content to +leave this shadow of an empire to its <hi rend="font-style: italic">loyal</hi> Mexicans.</p> + +<p>It cannot be said that Maximilian had taken the +right course to make himself beloved by the Mexicans. +Full of his obsolete notion of the "divine +right of kings," a year after he had reached +Mexico he issued a decree saying that all who clung +to the republic or resisted his authority should be +shot. And this was not waste paper, like so many<pb n="321" /><anchor id="Pg321" /> +decrees, for a number of prisoners were shot under its +cruel mandate, one of them being General Orteaga. +It has been said that Maximilian went so far as to +order that the whole laboring population of the +country should be reduced to slavery.</p> + +<p>While all this was going on President Juarez was +not idle. During the whole French occupation he +had kept in arms, and now began his advance from +his place of refuge in the north. General Escobedo, +chief of his armies, soon conquered the northern +part of the country, and occupied the various states +and cities as soon as they were left by the French.</p> + +<p>But neither was Maximilian idle. Agents of the +Church party had finally induced him to remain, +and this party now came to his aid. General Miramon, +an able leader, commanded his army, which +was recruited to the strength of eight thousand men, +most of them trained soldiers, though nearly half +of them were raw recruits.</p> + +<p>With this force Maximilian advanced to Querétaro +and made it his head-quarters. Juarez had meanwhile +advanced to Zacatecas and fixed his residence +there with his government about him. But the +president and cabinet came very near being taken +captive at one fell swoop, for Miramon suddenly +advanced and captured Zacatecas by surprise, Juarez +and his government barely escaping.</p> + +<p>What would have been the result if the whole +Mexican government had been taken prisoners it is +not easy to say. Not unlikely, however, General +Escobedo would have done what he now did, which<pb n="322" /><anchor id="Pg322" /> +was to advance on Querétaro and invest it with his +army. Thus the empire of Maximilian was limited +to this one town, where it was besieged by an army +of Mexican patriots, while, with the exception of +a few cities, the whole country outside was free +from imperial rule.</p> + +<p>Soon the emperor and his army found themselves +closely confined within the walls of Querétaro. +Skirmishes took place almost daily, in which both +sides fought with courage and resolution. Provisions +grew scarce and foraging parties were sent out, but +after each attack the lines of the besiegers became +closer. The clergy had made liberal promises of +forces and funds, and General Marquez was sent to +the city of Mexico to obtain them. He managed to +get through the lines of Escobedo, but he failed to +return, and nothing was ever seen by Maximilian +of the promised aid. Such forces and funds as +Marquez obtained he used in attacking General Diaz, +who was advancing on Pueblo. Diaz besieged and +took Pueblo, and then turned on Marquez, whom he +defeated so completely that he made his way back +to Mexico almost alone under cover of the night. +It was the glory gained by this act that later raised +Diaz to the presidency, which he held so brilliantly +for so many years.</p> + +<p>The hopes of Maximilian were dwindling to a +shadow. For two months the siege of Querétaro +continued, steadily growing closer. During this +trying time Maximilian showed the best elements +of his character. He was gentle and cheerful in demeanor,<pb n="323" /><anchor id="Pg323" /> +and brave in action, not hesitating to expose +himself to the fire of the enemy. Plans were made +for his escape, that he might put himself at the head +of his troops elsewhere, but he refused, through a +sense of honor, to desert his brave companions.</p> + +<p>Daily provisions grew scarcer, and Maximilian +himself had only the coarse, tough food which was +served to the common soldiers. Day after day +Marquez was looked for with the promised aid, but +night after night brought only disappointment. At +length, on the night of May 14, General Lopez, in +charge of the most important point in the city, +turned traitor and admitted two battalions of the +enemy. From this point the assailants swarmed +into the city, where terror and confusion everywhere +prevailed. Lopez had not intended that the +emperor should be captured, and gave him warning +in time to escape. He attempted to do so, and +reached a little hill outside the town, but here he +was surrounded by foes and forced to deliver up his +sword.</p> + +<p>Juarez, the Indian president, was at length full +master of Mexico, and held its late emperor in his +hands. The fate of Maximilian depended upon his +word. Plans, indeed, were made for his escape, but +always at the last moment he failed to avail himself +of them. His friends sought to win for him the +clemency of Juarez, but they found him inflexible. +The traitors, as he called them, should be tried by +court-martial, he said and abide the decision of the +court.</p> + +<pb n="324" /><anchor id="Pg324" /> + +<p>Tried they were, though the trial was little more +than a farce, with the verdict fixed in advance. +This verdict was death. The condemned, in addition +to Maximilian, were his chiefs in command, +Miramon and Medjia. The late emperor rose early +on the fatal morning and heard mass. He embraced +his fellow victims, and as he reached the street +said, "What a beautiful day! On such a one I +have always wished to die."</p> + +<p>He was greeted with respect by the people in +the street, the women weeping. He responded +with a brief address, closing with the words, "May +my blood be the last spilt for the welfare of the +country, and if more should be shed, may it flow +for its good, and not by treason. Viva Independencia! +Viva Mexico!"</p> + +<p>In a few minutes more the fatal shots were fired, +and the empire of Maximilian was at an end.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="325" /><anchor id="Pg325" /> +<head>MACEO AND THE STRUGGLE FOR CUBAN INDEPENDENCE.</head> + +<p>On the 24th of February, 1895, the people of +Havana, the capital of Cuba, were startled by a +report that rebels were in the field, a band of +twenty-four having appeared in arms at Ybarra, in +the province of Matanzas. Other small bands +were soon heard of elsewhere in the island. A +trifle this seemed, in view of the fact that Cuba +was guarded by twenty thousand Spanish troops +and had on its military rolls the names of sixty +thousand volunteers. But the island was seething +with discontent, and trifles grow fast under such +circumstances. Twenty years before a great rebellion +had been afoot. It was settled by treaty in +1878, but Spain had ignored the promises of the +treaty and steadily heaped up fuel for the new +flame which had now burst out.</p> + +<p>As the days and weeks went on the movement +grew, many of the plantation hands joining the +insurgents until there were several thousand men +in arms. For a time these had it all their own +way, raiding and plundering the plantations of the +loyalists, and vanishing into the woods and mountains +when the troops appeared.</p> + +<p>The war to which this led was not one of the picturesque +old affairs of battles and banners, marches<pb n="326" /><anchor id="Pg326" /> +and campaigns. It displayed none of "the pomp +and circumstance of glorious war;" forest ambushes, +sudden attacks, quick retreats, and brisk +affrays that led to nothing forming the staple of +the conflict. The patriots had no hope of triumphing +over the armed and trained troops of Spain, +but they hoped to wear them out and make the war +so costly to Spain that she would in the end give +up the island in despair.</p> + +<p>The work of the Cuban patriots was like the +famous deeds of Marion and his men in the swampy +region of the Carolina coast. Two-thirds of Cuba +were uncultivated and half its area was covered +with thickets and forests. In the wet season the +low-lands of the coast were turned into swamps +of sticky black mud. Underbrush filled the forests, +so thick and dense as to be almost impassable. The +high bushes and thick grasses of the plains formed +a jungle which could be traversed only with the +aid of the machete, the heavy, sharp, cutlass-like +blade which the Cuban uses both as tool and +sword, now cutting his way through bush and +jungle, now slicing off the head of an enemy in +war.</p> + +<p>Everywhere in the island there are woods, there +are hills and mountains, there are growths of lofty +grass, affording countless recesses and refuges for +fugitives and lurking-places for ambushed foes. To +retire to the "long grass" is a Cuban phrase meaning, +to gain safety from pursuit, and a patriot +force might lie unseen and unheard while an army<pb n="327" /><anchor id="Pg327" /> +marched by. In brief, Cuba is a paradise for the +bush-fighter, and the soldiers of Spain were none +too eager to venture into the rebel haunts, where +the flame of death might suddenly burst forth from +the most innocent-looking woodland retreat or +grass-grown mead. The soldiers might search for +days for a foe who could not be found, and as for +starving out the rebels, that was no easy thing to +do. There were the yam, the banana, the sweet +potato, the wild fruits of the woodland, which the +fertile soil bore abundantly, while the country-people +were always ready to supply their brothers +in the field.</p> + +<p>Such was the state of affairs in Cuba in the rebellion +of 1895. For a time the rebels gathered in +small bands with none but local leaders. But the +outbreak had been fomented by agents afar, fugitives +from the former war, and early in April +twenty-four of these exiles arrived from Costa Rica, +landing secretly at a point near the eastern end of +the island.</p> + +<p>Chief among the new comers was Antonio Maceo, +a mulatto, who had won a high reputation for his +daring and skill in the past conflict, and who had +unbounded influence over the negro element of the +rebellion. Wherever Maceo was ready to lead, they +were ready to follow to the death if he gave the +word, and he soon proved himself the most daring +and successful soldier in the war.</p> + +<p>He did not make his way inland with safety. +Spanish cavalry were patrolling the coast to prevent<pb n="328" /><anchor id="Pg328" /> +landings, and Maceo and his comrades had a brisk +fight with a party of these soon after landing, he +getting away with a bullet-hole through his hat. +For ten days they were in imminent danger, now +fighting, now hiding, now seeking the wild woodland +fruits for food, and so pestered by the Spanish +patrols that the party was forced to break up, only +two or three remaining with Maceo. In the end +these fell in with a party of rebels, from whom they +received a warm and enthusiastic welcome.</p> + +<p>Maceo was a rebel in grain. He was the only one +of the leaders in the former war who had refused to +sign the treaty of peace. He had kept up the fight +for two months longer, and finally escaped from the +country, now to return without the load of a broken +promise on his conscience.</p> + +<p>The new leader of the rebellion soon had a large +following of insurgents at his back, and in several +sharp brushes with the enemy proved that he could +more than hold his own. Other patriots soon +arrived from exile,—José Marti, the fomenter of the +insurrection; Maximo Gomez, an able soldier; and +several more whose presence gave fresh spirit to the +rebels. The movement, which had as yet been a +mere hasty outbreak, was now assuming the dimensions +of a regular war, hundreds of patriots joining +the ranks of these able leaders, until more than six +thousand men were in the field.</p> + +<p>Almost everywhere that they met their enemy +they were largely outnumbered, and they fought +mostly from ambush, striking their blows when least<pb n="329" /><anchor id="Pg329" /> +expected and vanishing so suddenly and by such +hidden paths that pursuit was usually idle. Much +of their strength lay in their horses. No Cossacks +or cowboys could surpass them as riders, in which +art they were far superior to the Spanish cavalry. +Many stories are told of women who rode in their +ranks and wielded the machete as boldly and skillfully +as the men, and in this there is doubtless much +truth. Their horses were no show animals, but a +sore-backed, sorry lot, fed on rushes or colla, there +being no other grain, left standing unsheltered, rain +or shine, but as tough and tireless beasts as our own +bronchos, and ever ready to second their riders in +mad dashes on the foe.</p> + +<p>The favorite mode of fighting practised by the +insurgents was to surprise the enemy by a sharp +skirmish fire, their sharp-shooters seeking to pick +off the officers. Then, if there was a fair opportunity, +they would dash from their covert in a wild +cavalry charge, machete in hand, and yelling like +so many demons, and seek to make havoc in the +ranks of the foe. This was the kind of fighting in +which Maceo excelled.</p> + +<p>Through 1895 the war went on with endless skirmishes +and only one affair that could be called a +battle. In this Maceo was the insurgent leader, +while Martinez Campos, governor-general of Cuba, +a man looked upon as the ablest general of Spain, +led the Spanish troops. Maceo had caused great +annoyance by attacks on train-loads of food for the +fortified town of Bayamo, and Campos determined<pb n="330" /><anchor id="Pg330" /> +to drive him from the field. Several columns of +Spanish troops were set in motion upon him from +different quarters, one of these, fifteen hundred +strong, led by Campos himself. On the 13th of +July the two armies met, Maceo, with nearly three +thousand men, being posted on a stock-farm several +miles from Bayamo.</p> + +<p>The fight began with a sharp attack on the Spaniards, +intended to strike the division under Campos; +but by an error it fell upon the advance guard, led +by General Santocildes, which was saluted by a +brisk fire from the wooded hill-sides. Santocildes +fell dead, and a bullet tore the heel from the governor-general's +boot.</p> + +<p>Maceo, surmising from the confusion in the +Spanish ranks that some important officer had +fallen, now launched his horsemen upon them in +a vigorous machete charge. Though Campos succeeded +in repelling them, he felt himself in a critical +situation, and hastily drew up his whole force into +a hollow square, with the wagons and the dead +horses and mules for breastworks. Around this +strong formation the Cubans raged for several hours, +only the skill of Campos saving his men from a disastrous +rout. An assault was made on the rear +guard early in the affray, Maceo hoping to capture +the ammunition train. But its defenders held their +ground vigorously, and fought their way to the +main column, where they aided to form the square. +Finally the Spaniards succeeded in reaching Bayamo, +pursued by the Cubans and having lost<pb n="331" /><anchor id="Pg331" /> +heavily in the fight. They were saved from utter +destruction by Maceo's lack of artillery, and Campos +was very careful afterwards not to venture near +this daring leader without a powerful force.</p> + +<p>Maximo Gomez, one of the principal leaders in +the earlier war, had now been appointed commander-in-chief +of the Cuban forces, with Antonio Maceo +as his lieutenant-general. He had made his way +westward into the province of Santa Clara, and in +November Maceo left the eastern province of +Santiago de Cuba to join him. In his way lay the +trocha, the famous device of the Spaniards to prevent +the free movement of the Cuban forces. It +may be of interest to describe this new idea in warfare, +devised by the Spaniards to check the free +movement of their rebel foes.</p> + +<p>The word trocha means trench, but the Spanish +trochas were military lines cut through the woods +and across the island from side to side, and defended +by barbed-wire fences, while the felled trees +were piled along both sides of the roadway, making +a difficult breastwork of jagged roots and branches. +At intervals of a quarter-mile or more along this +well-guarded avenue were forts, each with a garrison +of about one hundred men, it needing about +fifteen thousand to defend the whole line of the +trocha from sea to sea.</p> + +<p>Such was the elaborate device adopted by Campos, +and by Weyler after him, to check the Cuban movements. +We need only say here that, despite its +cost and the number of men it tied up on guard<pb n="332" /><anchor id="Pg332" /> +duty, the trocha failed to restrain the alert islanders. +Gomez had crossed it in his movement westward, +and Maceo now followed with equal readiness. He +made a feint of an attack in force on one part of +the line, and when the Spaniards had concentrated +to defend this point, he crossed at an unprotected +spot, without firing a shot or losing a man.</p> + +<p>Westward still went the Cubans, heedless of trochas +and Spaniards. From Santa Clara they +entered Matanzas province, and from this made +their way into the province of Havana, bringing +the war almost to the gates of the capital. Spain +had now sent more than one hundred thousand +troops across the ocean, though many of these +were in the hospitals. As for the Cubans, the +island had now risen almost from end to end, and +their force was estimated at from thirty to fifty +thousand men. It was no longer a rebel outbreak +that Spain had to deal with, it was a national war.</p> + +<p>By the end of the year the Cubans were firmly +fixed in Havana province, many negro field-hands +and Cuban youths having joined their ranks. They +fought not only against the Spaniards, but against +the bandits also, of whom there were many abroad +plundering from both sides alike. These were +hanged by the patriots whenever captured. Maceo +was the active fighter of the force, Gomez being +occupied in burning sugar-cane fields and destroying +railroads, so as to deprive Spain of the sinews of +war.</p> + +<p>In January, 1896, a new movement westward<pb n="333" /><anchor id="Pg333" /> +was made, Maceo leading his men into the province +of Pinar del Rio, which occupies the western end +of the island. Here was the great tobacco district, +one into which insurrection had never before made +its way. Within a year rebellion had covered the +island from end to end, the Spaniards being secure +nowhere but within the cities, while the insurgents +moved wherever they chose in the country. The +sky around the capital was heavy with smoke by +day and lurid with the flames of burning fields at +night, showing that Gomez was busy with his work +of destruction, burning the crops of every planter +who sought to grind his cane.</p> + +<p>Let us now follow the daring mulatto leader +through the remainder of his career. General +Weyler had now succeeded Campos, and began his +official life with the boast that he would soon clear +the provinces near Havana of rebels in arms. But +he was hardly in the governor's chair when Maceo +was back from the west and swooping down on +the city of Jaruco, which he looted and burned.</p> + +<p>Weyler sent troops into Pinar del Rio, where +they found no one to oppose them, and he was +soon able to inform the world by a proclamation that +this province was pacified. But the ink was barely +dry upon it when Maceo, having burnt the port of +Batabano, on the southern coast, was back in the +"pacified" province, where he made his head-quarters +in the mountains and defied all the power +of Spain.</p> + +<p>Instead of seeking him here, Weyler now attempted<pb n="334" /><anchor id="Pg334" /> +to confine him by building a new trocha, +cutting off that end of the island. This took two +months to complete, during which Maceo continued +his work almost unopposed, destroying the tobacco +of loyalists, defeating every force sent against him, +and leaving to Spain only four fortified cities in the +southern part of the province.</p> + +<p>Not until autumn opened did Weyler take the +field, marching into Pinar del Rio at the head of +thirty thousand men, confident now of putting an +end to the work of his persistent foe, whom he felt +sure he had hemmed in with his trocha. Between +the two forces, Spanish and Cuban, the province +was sadly harried, and became so incapable of supporting +a large force that Maceo was obliged to +dismiss the most of his men.</p> + +<p>Leaving the slender remnant under the control +of one of his lieutenants, he once more passed the +trocha, this time rowing round its end in a boat and +landing in Havana province. He had sent orders +in advance for a concentration of the Cuban forces +in this region, that he might give Weyler a new +employment.</p> + +<p>The daring partisan leader was near the end of +his career, brought to his death by the work of a +traitor, as was widely believed. While waiting for +the gathering of the forces, he, with the few men +with him, was fired on from a Spanish ambush, and +fell, mortally wounded.</p> + +<p>Thus died the most dashing soldier that the +Cuban rebellion called into the field. Dr. Zertucha,<pb n="335" /><anchor id="Pg335" /> +of his staff, was charged with treachery in leading +him into this ambush, though that is by no means +proved. Maceo was one of nine brothers, all soldiers, +and all of whom had now died in the great +struggle for Cuban independence. His body was +recovered from the enemy after a desperate fight; +his valiant spirit was lost to the cause. Yet his +work had not been without avail, and the country +for which he had fought so bravely was left by him +on the highroad to liberty.</p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<pb n="336" /><anchor id="Pg336" /> +<head>LIEUTENANT HOBSON AND THE SINKING OF THE "MERRIMAC."</head> + +<p>About three o'clock of a dark morning, whose +deep gloom shrouded alike the shores and waters of +Cuba's tropic isle, a large craft left the side of the +"New York," the flag-ship of Admiral Sampson's +fleet off Santiago, and glided towards the throat of +the narrow channel leading to its land-locked harbor. +This mysterious craft was an old coal-carrier +named the "Merrimac." On board were Richmond +P. Hobson, Assistant Naval Constructor, and seven +volunteer seamen. Their purpose was to sink the +old hulk in the channel and thus to seal up the +Spanish ships in Santiago harbor. The fact that +there were ten chances to one that they would go to +the bottom with their craft, or be riddled with +Spanish bullets, did not trouble their daring souls. +Their country called, and they obeyed.</p> + +<p>Ranged along the sides of the ship, below decks, +was a series of torpedoes, prepared to blow the +vessel into a hopeless wreck when the proper moment +came. A heavy weight in coal had been left +on board, to carry her rapidly to the bottom, and +there was strong hope that she could be dropped in +the channel, "like a cork in the neck of a bottle," +and "bottle" up Admiral Cervera and his cruisers. +That it was an errand of imminent risk did not<pb n="337" /><anchor id="Pg337" /> +trouble the bold American tars. There were volunteers +enough eager to undertake the perilous task +to form a ship's crew, and to the six seamen chosen +Coxswain Clausen added himself as a stowaway. +The love of adventure was stronger than fear of +death or captivity.</p> + +<p>It was the morning of June 3, 1898. During the +night before an attempt to go in had been made, +but the hour was so late that the admiral called the +vessel back. Now an earlier start was made, and +there was no hinderance to the adventurous voyage. +Heavy clouds hid the moon as the "Merrimac" +glided in towards the dark line of coast. Not a +light was shown, and great skill was needed to strike +the narrow channel squarely in the gloom. From +the "New York" eager eyes watched the collier until +its outlines were lost beneath the shadow of the hills. +Eyes continued to peer into the darkness and ears +to listen intently, while a tense anxiety strained the +nerves of the watching crew. Then came a booming +roar from Morro Castle and the flash of a cannon +lit up for an instant the gloom. Other flashes and +booming sounds followed, and for twenty minutes +there seemed a battle going on in the darkness. The +"Merrimac" was under fire. She was meeting her +doom. What was the fate of Hobson and his men?</p> + +<p>Cadet J. W. Powell had followed the collier with +a steam launch and four men, prepared to pick up +any fugitives from the doomed ship. He went +daringly under the batteries and hung about until +daylight revealed his small craft, but not a man was<pb n="338" /><anchor id="Pg338" /> +seen in the ruffled waters, and he returned disappointed +at 6.15 <hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">A.M.</hi>, pestered by spiteful shots from +the Spanish guns. He had followed the "Merrimac" +until the low-lying smoke from the roaring guns hid +her from view. Then came the explosion of the +torpedoes. Hobson had done his work. Powell +kept under the shelter of the cliffs until full day +had dawned, and before leaving he saw a spar of +the "Merrimac" rising out of the water of the +channel. The sinking had been accomplished, but +no one could say with what result to Hobson and +his men.</p> + +<p>Let us now leave the distant spectators and go +on board the "Merrimac," seeking the company of +her devoted crew. It was Hobson's purpose to sink +her in the narrowest part of the channel, dropping +the anchor and handling the rudder so as to turn her +across the stream. Her length was sufficient to +close up completely the deeper channel. He would +stop the engines, let fall the anchor, open the traps +made for the sea-water to flow in, and explode the +torpedoes. Ten of these lay on the port side of the +ship, each containing eighty-two pounds of powder, +and they were connected so that they could be fired +in train. There were two men below, one to reverse +the engines, the other to break open the sea-traps +with a sledge hammer. Those on deck were to let +fall the anchor and set the helm. Then Hobson +would touch the electric button and fire the torpedoes, +and all would leap overboard and swim to +the dingy towing astern, in which they hoped to<pb n="339" /><anchor id="Pg339" /> +escape. Such were their plans; but chance, as it +so often does, set them sadly astray.</p> + +<p>On through the darkness they went, hitting the +channel squarely, and steaming in under the frowning +walls of the Morro through gloom and death-like +silence. But the Spaniards were not asleep. A +small picket-boat came gliding out under the collier's +stern and fired several shots at the suspicious craft. +One of these carried away the rudder and spoiled +one important item of the plans. The dingy, which +was trusted to for escape, disappeared, perhaps +hit by one of these shots. The picket-boat, having +done this serious mischief, then hurried ashore and +gave the alarm, and quickly the shore batteries were +firing on the dark hull. The ships in the harbor +echoed the shots with their guns. The Spaniards +were alert. They thought that an American battle-ship +was trying to force its way in, perhaps with +the whole fleet in its wake, and were ready to give +it a hard fight.</p> + +<p>Through the rain of balls the "Merrimac" drove +on, unhurt by the bombardment, and even by a submarine +mine which exploded near her stern. The +darkness and her rapid motion rendered her hard to +hit, and she reached the desired spot, in the narrowest +spot of the channel, none the worse for the +shower of iron hail.</p> + +<p>So far all had gone well. Now the critical moment +had arrived. Hobson gave the signal fixed +upon, and the men below reversed the engine and +opened the sea connections. They then dashed for<pb n="340" /><anchor id="Pg340" /> +the deck. Those above dropped the anchor and set +the helm. Only then did Hobson, to his bitter +disappointment, discover that the rudder had been +lost. The ship refused to answer her helm, and the +plan of setting her lengthwise across the channel +failed. The final task remained. Touching the +electric button, the torpedoes went off with a sullen +roar and the ship lurched heavily beneath their feet. +The sharp roll threw some of the men over the rail. +The others leaped into the sea. Down went the +"Merrimac" with a surge at the bow, cheers from +the forts and the ships greeting her as she sank. +The gunners thought they had sent to the depths +one of the hostile men-of-war.</p> + +<p>At the last moment of leaving the "New York" +an old catamaran had been thrown on the "Merrimac's" +deck, as a possible aid to the crew in extremity. +This float lay on the roof of the midship +house, a rope fastening it to the taffrail, with enough +slack to let it float loose after the ship had sunk. It +was a fortunate thought for the crew, as it afforded +them a temporary refuge in place of the lost dingy.</p> + +<p>We may let Lieutenant Hobson speak for himself +at this point in our narrative. He says, "I swam +away from the ship as soon as I struck the water, +but I could feel the eddies drawing me backward +in spite of all I could do. This did not last very +long, however, and as soon as I felt the tugging +cease I turned and struck out for the float, which I +could see dimly bobbing up and down over the +sunken hull.</p> + +<pb n="341" /><anchor id="Pg341" /> + +<p>"The 'Merrimac's' masts were plainly visible, and +I could see the heads of my seven men as they +followed my example and made for the float also. +We had expected, of course, that the Spaniards +would investigate the wreck, but we had no idea +that they would be at it as quickly as they were. +Before we could get to the float several row-boats +and launches came around the bluff from inside +the harbor. They had officers on board and armed +marines as well, and they searched that passage, +rowing backward and forward, until the next +morning. It was only by good luck that we got +to the float at all, for they were upon us so quickly +that we had barely concealed ourselves when a boat +with quite a large party on board was right beside +us."</p> + +<p>An event which they thought unlucky now proved +to be the salvation of the fugitives, who very likely +would have been shot on the spot by the marines if +they had then been seen from the boats. The rope +which fastened the float to the ship was too short to +let it swing free, and one of the pontoons that supported +it was dragged partly under water, lifting +the other above the surface. If the raft had lain +flat on the water they would have had to climb on +top and would have made an excellent mark for the +marines. As it was they got under its lifted side, +and by thrusting their hands through the slats that +formed the deck they kept their heads above the +water, and had a chance to breathe.</p> + +<p>Luckily for them the Spaniards paid no attention<pb n="342" /><anchor id="Pg342" /> +to the old, half-sunken raft that floated above +the wreck. They came near it frequently, and the +hidden sailors could hear their words, but no one +seemed to suspect it. The fugitives spoke only in +whispers and at times were almost afraid to breathe, +lest they should be heard, but their hiding-place +remained unsuspected.</p> + +<p>The water, warm at first, grew cold as the hours +went on, and their fingers ached as they clung +desperately to the slats. As the night passed their +teeth began to chatter with the cold till it seemed +to them as if the Spaniards must hear the sound, +so distinctly to their ears came the noises on the +water and on shore. The situation, in fact, became +at last so trying that one of the men let go and +began to swim ashore. Hobson called him back, +and he obeyed, but the call was heard by the men +in the boats and created some commotion. They +rowed up towards the float and looked sharply +about, but no one thought of investigating the float +itself, and soon they went off into the shadows +again, letting the hidden men once more breathe +freely.</p> + +<p>The question that most interested the Spaniards +was to learn what ship it was they had sunk. Hobson +heard them talking and guessing about it and +understood many of their words. He soon perceived +that the officers had taken in the situation +and were astonished at the boldness and audacity +of the attempt. The boats appeared to be from the +fleet, a fact to the lieutenant's satisfaction, as he felt<pb n="343" /><anchor id="Pg343" /> +more like trusting to the tender mercies of a Spanish +sailor than of a soldier. At this point we let him +take up the narrative again.</p> + +<p>"When daylight came a steam-launch full of +officers and marines came out from behind the cliff +that hid the fleet and harbor and advanced towards +us. All the men on board were looking curiously +in our direction. They did not see us. Knowing +that some one of rank must be on board, I waited +till the launch was quite close and hailed her.</p> + +<p>"My voice produced the utmost consternation on +board. Every one sprang up, the marines now +crowded to the bow, and the launch engines were +reversed. She not only stopped, but she backed off +until nearly a quarter of a mile away, where she +stayed. The marines stood ready to fire at the +word of command when we clambered out from +under the float. There were ten of the marines, +and they would have fired in a minute had they not +been restrained.</p> + +<p>"I swam towards the launch, and then she started +towards me. I called out in Spanish, 'Is there an +officer on board?' An officer answered in the +affirmative, and then I shouted in Spanish again, +'I have seven men to surrender.' I continued +swimming, and was seized and pulled out of the +water.</p> + +<p>"As I looked up when they were dragging me +into the launch, I saw that it was Admiral Cervera +himself who had hold of me. He looked at me +rather dubiously at first, because I had been down<pb n="344" /><anchor id="Pg344" /> +in the engine-room of the 'Merrimac,' where I +got covered with oil, and that, with the soot and +coal-dust, made my appearance most disreputable. +I had put on my officer's belt before sinking the +'Merrimac,' as a means of identification, no matter +what happened to me, and when I pointed +to it in the launch the admiral understood and +seemed satisfied. The first words he said to me +when he understood who I was were, '<hi rend="font-style: italic">Bienvenida +sea usted</hi>,' which means 'You are welcome.' My +treatment by the naval officers, and that of my +men also, was courteous all the time I was a +prisoner. They heard my story, as much of it as +I could tell, but sought to learn nothing more.</p> + +<p>"Sharks? No, I did not have time to think of +them that night," was Hobson's reply to a question. +"We saw a great many things, though, and +went through a great many experiences. When +we started out from the fleet I tied to my belt a +flask of medicated water, supplied to me by my +ship's surgeon. The frequency with which we all +felt thirsty on the short run into the passage and +the dryness of my mouth and lips made me believe +that I was frightened. The men felt the same, and +all the way the flask went from hand to hand. +Once I felt my pulse to see if I was frightened, +but to my surprise I found it normal. Later we +forgot all about it, and when we got into the water +there was no need for the flask."</p> + +<p>The remainder of this stirring adventure must +be told more briefly. The prisoners were taken<pb n="345" /><anchor id="Pg345" /> +ashore and locked up in a cell in Morro Castle. +Meanwhile, there was much anxiety on the fleet as +to their fate, but this was relieved by the generous +conduct of the Spanish admiral, who sent his chief-of-staff +out the next morning under a flag of truce +to report their safety and to make an offer for +their exchange. Cervera's message was highly +complimentary. It ran:</p> + +<p>"Admiral Cervera, the commander of the Spanish +fleet, is most profoundly impressed with the +brilliant courage shown by the men who sank the +steamer 'Merrimac' in our harbor, and in admiration +of their courage he has directed me to say to +their countrymen that they are alive, and, with the +exception of two of the men who were slightly +hurt, they are uninjured. They are now prisoners +of war and are being well cared for, and will be +treated with every consideration."</p> + +<p>Cervera kept his word, though the captives found +themselves in different hands later, when they were +turned over to General Linares, commander of the +troops in Santiago. They remained in captivity +about five weeks, being exchanged on July 7, when +a Spanish lieutenant and fourteen privates were +offered in exchange for Hobson and his gallant +seven. The story of their return to the American +ranks is an exhilarating one. As the brave +eight passed up the trail leading to the American +lines through the avenue of palms that bordered +the road, the soldiers stood in reverent silence, +baring their heads as the band struck up "The<pb n="346" /><anchor id="Pg346" /> +Star-Spangled Banner." But as Hobson and his +men swung onward cheers and a roar of welcome +broke the silence, while a cowboy yell came from +the Rough Riders. Breaking from all restraint, +the men rushed in, eagerly grasping the hands of +Hobson and his men. All the way to Siboney the +cheers and excitement continued, and when Hobson +set foot on the deck of the "New York" the crew +grew wild with enthusiasm, while Admiral Sampson +embraced him in the warmth of his greeting. +As for his comrades, they were fairly swallowed up +in the delirious delight of the men. Thus ended +one of the most gallant deeds of that short war.</p> + +<p>It must be said, however, that, skilfully as it had +been managed, the effort to close the port proved a +failure. Though the sunken ship closed part of the +channel, there was room enough to pass beside her, +this being strikingly proved on the morning of July +3, when the squadron which Hobson had sought +to bottle up came steaming down the channel past +the sunken "Merrimac" and put out to sea, where it +started on a wild fight for freedom. The result of +this venture does not need to be retold, and it must +suffice to say that a few hours later all the Spanish +ships were shell-riddled wrecks on the Cuban shore, +and Cervera and all who survived of his men were +prisoners in American hands. But the admiral was +as much of a hero as a captive, for his captors could +not soon forget his generous treatment of Hobson +and his men.</p> +</div> +</body> + +<back rend="page-break-before: right"> +<div> +<divGen type="pgfooter" /> +</div> + +</back> + + </text> +</TEI.2> + +<!-- +A WORD FROM PROJECT GUTENBERG + + +This file should be named 19503-tei.tei or 19503-tei.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/9/5/0/19503/ + + +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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