ignorant people were greatly augmented.  She must have savoured her vengeance to the full on that day when she buckled on the sword of Don Antonio de Leyva.  It never left her side, unless she put on her woman’s clothes—­not that she would or could ever use it, but she loved to feel it beating upon her thigh as a perpetual reminder and symbol of the dishonour to the arms of the Republic.  She was insatiable.  Moreover, on the path she had led Gaspar Ruiz upon, there is no stopping.  Escaped prisoners—­and they were not many—­used to relate how with a few whispered words she could change the expression of his face and revive his flagging animosity.  They told how after every skirmish, after every raid, after every successful action, he would ride up to her and look into her face.  Its haughty calm was never relaxed.  Her embrace, senores, must have been as cold as the embrace of a statue.  He tried to melt her icy heart in a stream of warm blood.  Some English naval officers who visited him at that time noticed the strange character of his infatuation.”

At the movement of surprise and curiosity in his audience General Santierra paused for a moment.

“Yes—­English naval officers,” he repeated.  “Ruiz had consented to receive them to arrange for the liberation of some prisoners of your nationality.  In the territory upon which he ranged, from sea coast to the Cordillera, there was a bay where the ships of that time, after rounding Cape Horn, used to resort for wood and water.  There, decoying the crew on shore, he captured first the whaling brig Hersalia, and afterwards made himself master by surprise of two more ships, one English and one American.

“It was rumoured at the time that he dreamed of setting up a navy of his own.  But that, of course, was impossible.  Still, manning the brig with part of her own crew, and putting an officer and a good many men of his own on board, he sent her off to the Spanish Governor of the island of Chiloe with a report of his exploits, and a demand for assistance in the war against the rebels.  The Governor could not do much for him; but he sent in return two light field-pieces, a letter of compliments, with a colonel’s commission in the royal forces, and a great Spanish flag.  This standard with much ceremony was hoisted over his house in the heart of the Arauco country.  Surely on that day she may have smiled on her guasso husband with a less haughty reserve.

“The senior officer of the English squadron on our coast made representations to our Government as to these captures.  But Gaspar Ruiz refused to treat with us.  Then an English frigate proceeded to the bay, and her captain, doctor, and two lieutenants travelled inland under a safe-conduct.  They were well received, and spent three days as guests of the partisan chief.  A sort of military barbaric state was kept up at the residence.  It was furnished with the loot of frontier towns.  When first admitted to the principal sala, they saw his wife lying down (she was not in good health then), with Gaspar Ruiz sitting at the foot of the couch.  His hat was lying on the floor, and his hands reposed on the hilt of his sword.