OBSTACLES TO EQUIPPING THE SQUADRON--SAILING OF THE LIBERATING
EXPEDITION--DEBARCATION AT PISCO--LONG INACTION OF THE ARMY--GENERAL SAN
MARTIN REMOVES TO ANCON--CAPTURE OF THE ESMERALDA--EXCHANGE OF
PRISONERS--ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SERVICE BY GENERAL SAN MARTIN--LADY
COCHRANE'S VISIT TO MENDOZA.
The difficulties which attended the equipment of the squadron and troops
destined for the liberation of Peru were very great, the Government
being without credit, whilst its treasury had been completely exhausted
by efforts to organise an army--a loan being impossible, and indeed
refused. By my influence with the British merchants, I managed to obtain
considerable quantities of naval and military stores, and in addition, a
contribution to a subscription which was set on foot, in place of a
forced loan, upon which the Government hesitated to venture.
The greatest difficulty was, however, with regard to the foreign seamen,
who, disgusted with the want of faith towards them, refused to re-enter
the service. The Government, upon this, requested me to resort to
impressment, which I declined, telling them, moreover, that the captain
of the British frigate then in port would not permit his countrymen to
be impressed. The alternative proposed was to use my influence with the
men, by issuing such a proclamation, dictated by myself, as would render
them dependent for their pay and prize-money upon General San Martin,
and on the success of the expedition; it being evident that they would
not place further confidence in the promises of the Government.
A joint proclamation was therefore issued by Gen. San Martin and myself,
my signature being added as a guarantee, whilst his bore the authority
of Commander-in-Chief. The following extract will shew the nature of
this proclamation:--
"On my entry into Lima, I will punctually pay to all foreign
seamen who shall voluntarily enlist into the Chilian service, the whole
arrears of their pay, to which, I will also add to each individual,
according to his rank, one year's pay over and above his arrears, as
a premium or reward for his services, if he continue to fulfil his
duty to the day of the surrender of that city, and its occupation by
the liberating forces."
(Signed) JOSE DE SAN MARTIN.
"COCHRANE."
This proclamation had the desired effect, and the crews of the ships
were immediately completed.
The Chilian force amounted to 4200 men, General San Martin, to the great
disappointment of General Freire, being nominated Captain-General--the
force under his command was designated the "liberating army" _(Exercito
Libertador)_. Whilst the expedition was in process of formation, the
Supreme Director had apprised the Peruvian people of its object, and
lest they should entertain any jealousy of its presence uninvited, had
declared his views in a general proclamation, from which the following
is an extract:--
"Peruvians--Do not think we shall pretend to treat you as a
conquered people? such a desire could have entered into the heads
of none but those who are inimical to our common happiness. We
only aspire to see you free and happy; _yourselves will frame your
own government_, choosing that form which is most consistent with
your customs, your situation, and your wishes. Consequently, _you
will constitute a nation as free and independent as ourselves_."
This, and subsequent proclamations, will require to be borne in mind, as
the result by no means corresponded with the intentions of the Supreme
Director, whose honesty of purpose was afterwards set at nought by those
in whose estimation Peru was only a field for the furtherance of their
own ambition. The Chileno officers, both native and foreign, certainly
believed in the sincerity of their leaders, but were subsequently doomed
to be miserably disappointed as regarded the chief of them.
On the 21st of August, 1820, the squadron sailed amidst the enthusiastic
plaudits of the people, who felt proud that in so short a time the power
of Spain had not only been humbled, but that they were enabled to
despatch an army to liberate her principal remaining State.
On the 25th, the squadron hove to off Coquimbo, taking on board another
battalion of troops. On the 26th we again sailed, when General San
Martin made known to me his intention of proceeding with the main body
of the army to Truxillo, a place four degrees to leeward of Lima, where
the army could have gained no advantage, nor, indeed, have found
anything to do, except to remain there safe from any attack by the
Spaniards, who could not approach it by land, whilst the squadron could
protect it by sea.
By representing to General San Martin that this course would cause great
dissatisfaction amongst the Chileno officers and men, who expected to be
landed and led at once against Lima, for the immediate conquest of which
they were amply sufficient, he consented to give up his plan of
proceeding to Truxillo, but firmly refused to disembark his men in the
vicinity of Lima; for what reason I could not then divine. My own plan
was to land the force at Chilca, the nearest point to Callao, and
forthwith to obtain possession of the capital; an object by no means
difficult of execution, and certain of success.
Finding all argument unavailing, we sailed for Pisco, where the
expedition arrived on the 7th of September, and on the 8th, to my great
chagrin, the troops were disembarked, and for fifty days remained in
total inaction! with the exception of despatching Colonel Arenales into
the interior with a detachment, which, after defeating a body of
Spaniards, took up a position to the eastward of Lima.
Even on arriving at Pisco, General San Martin declined to enter the
town, though the Spanish forces consisted of less than three hundred
men. Landing the troops under Major-General Las Heras, he went down the
coast in the schooner _Montezuma_ the inhabitants meanwhile retiring
into the interior, taking with them their cattle, slaves, and even the
furniture of their houses. This excess of caution excited great
discontent in the army and the squadron, as contrasting strangely with
the previous capture of the place, in the preceding year, by
Lieut.-Colonel Charles and Major Miller, with their handful of men.
On the return of General San Martin, he professed to be greatly
chagrined at the departure of the inhabitants, and the consequent loss
of supplies. Instead of attributing this to his own tardy movements, he
declared his disbelief in the accounts he had received from Peru as to
the friendly disposition of the inhabitants, even throwing out doubts as
to the success of the expedition in consequence. It was of the first
importance to have taken the place immediately, and to have conciliated
the inhabitants, as the ships were scantily provisioned, and all but
destitute of other necessary supplies. A detailed account, however, of
the capture of the place was transmitted to Santiago, where it was duly
recorded in the official organ as the first feat of the great
expedition.
During these fifty days the squadron was also necessarily kept in
inaction, having achieved nothing beyond the capture of a few
merchantmen along the coast, and a fruitless chase of two Spanish
frigates, the _Prueba_ and _Venganza_, which I did not follow up, as
involving risk to the transports during my absence.
This delay was productive of the worst disasters which could have
befallen the expedition. The people were eager to receive us, and not
calculating on such tardiness on the part of General Martin--were
everywhere declaring in our favour; but being unsupported, were fined,
imprisoned, and subjected to corporal punishment by the Viceroy.
Rendered cautious by this, they naturally distrusted the force idling
away its time at Pisco, manifesting reluctance to bring forward the
requisite supplies, upon which they were treated, by order of General
San Martin, with military rigour; being thus harassed, the Peruvians
began to look upon the Chilenos as oppressors in common with the
Spaniards, to the no small danger of losing every desire for national
independence.
Nevertheless, on reaching Pisco, Gen. San Martin had promulgated a
proclamation from the Supreme Director full of fervent appeals to God
and man as regarded the good intentions of the Chilian Government: the
following are extracts:--
"Peruvians, here are the engagements under which Chili--before
the Supreme Being--and calling all nations to witness as
avengers of any violation of the compact, engages to aid you--setting
death and toil at defiance. You shall be free and independent.
You shall choose your own government and laws, by the
spontaneous will of your representatives. No military or civil
influence, direct or indirect, shall your brethren use to influence
your social dispositions. You shall dismiss the armed force sent to
your assistance the moment you judge proper, without regard to
our opinion of your danger or security. Never shall any military
division occupy the soil of a free people, unless called for by your
lawful magistrate. Neither by ourselves, nor by our aid, shall
party opinions which may have preceded your liberty be punished.
Ready to overthrow any armed force which may resist your rights,
we beseech you to forget all grievances antecedent to the day of
your glory, so as to reserve the most severe justice to obstinacy
and oppression."
Such, were the inducements held out to the Peruvian people, and such
was their first experience with regard to their liberators.
Yet even amidst inaction the fruits of demonstration early became
manifest, a vessel arriving on the 4th of October, from Guayaquil, with
the intelligence that on receiving news of the sailing of the
expedition, that province had declared itself independent. Upon the
arrival of this welcome news, I again begged of General San Martin to
reimbark the troops and move on Lima, and at length succeeded in
inducing him to make a move.
Previous to our departure, General San Martin issued the following
proclamation, here given to shew how promises solemnly entered into
could afterwards be broken.
"Peruvians! I have paid the tribute which, as a public man, I
owe to the opinion of others, and have shewn what is my object and
mission towards you. I come to fulfil the expectations of all those
who wish to belong to the country which gave them birth, and who
desire to be governed by their own laws. On the day when Peru
shall freely pronounce as to the form of her institutions, be they
whatever they may, _my functions shall cease_, and I shall have the
glory of announcing to the Government of Chili, of which I am a
subject, that their heroic efforts have at last received the consolation
of giving liberty to Peru, and peace to the neighbouring states."
The troops being reimbarked--on the 28th we sailed from Pisco, and on
the following day anchored before Callao. After having reconnoitred the
fortifications, I again urged on General San Martin an immediate
disembarcation of the force, but to this he once more strenuously
objected, to the great disappointment of the whole expedition;
insisting on going to Ancon, a place at some distance to the northward
of Callao. Having no control over the disposition of the troops, I was
obliged to submit; and on the 30th, detached the _San Martin,
Galvarino,_ and _Araucano_, to convoy the transports to Ancon, retaining
the _O'Higgins, Independencia_, and _Lautaro_, as if for the purpose of
blockade.
The fact was, that--annoyed in common with the whole expedition--at this
irresolution on the part of General San Martin, I determined that the
means of Chili, furnished with great difficulty, should not be wholly
wasted, without some attempt at accomplishing the objects of the
expedition; and accordingly formed a plan of attack with the three ships
which I had kept back--though being apprehensive that my design would be
opposed by General San Martin, I had not even mentioned to him my
intentions.
This design was to cut out the _Esmeralda_ frigate from under the
fortifications, and also to get possession of another ship, on board of
which we had learned that a million of dollars was embarked for flight,
if it became necessary; my opinion being that if such display of power
were manifested, the Spaniards would either surrender the capital or
abandon it.
The enterprise was hazardous, for since my former visit the enemy's
position had been much strengthened, no less than 300 pieces of
artillery being mounted on shore, whilst the _Esmeralda_ was crowded
with the best sailors and marines that could be procured, these sleeping
every night at quarters. She was, moreover, defended by a strong boom
with chain moorings, and by armed blockships; the whole being surrounded
by twenty-seven gun-boats; so that no ship could possibly get at her.
For three days we occupied ourselves in preparations, still keeping
secret the purpose for which they were intended. On the evening of 5th
of November, this was communicated to the ships by the following
proclamation:--
"Marines and Seamen,"
"This night we are going to give the enemy a mortal
blow. Tomorrow you will present yourselves proudly before
Callao, and all your comrades will envy your good fortune. One
hour of courage and resolution is all that is required of you to
triumph. Remember, that you have conquered in Valdivia, and be
not afraid of those who have hitherto fled from you."
"The value of all the vessels captured in Callao will be yours,
and the same reward in money will be distributed amongst you as
has been offered by the Spaniards in Lima to those who should
capture any of the Chilian squadron. The moment of glory is
approaching, and I hope that the Chilenos will fight as they have
been accustomed to do, and that the English will act as they have
ever done at home and abroad."
"COCHRANE."
On issuing this proclamation, it was stated that I should lead the
attack in person, volunteers being requested to come forward, on which
the whole of the marines and seamen on board the three ships offered to
accompany me. As this could not be permitted, a hundred and sixty seamen
and eighty marines were selected, and after dark were placed in fourteen
boats alongside the flag-ship, each man armed with cutlass and pistol,
being, for distinction's sake, dressed in white, with a blue band on
the left arm. The Spaniards I expected would be off their guard, as, by
way of _ruse_, the other ships had been sent out of the bay under the
charge of Captain Foster, as though in pursuit of some vessels in the
offing--so that the Spaniards would consider themselves safe from attack
for that night.
At ten o'clock all was in readiness, the boats being formed in two
divisions, the first commanded by my flag-captain Crosbie, and the
second by Captain Guise,--my boat leading. The strictest silence, and
the exclusive use of cutlasses were enjoined; so that, as the oars were
muffled, and the night dark, the enemy had not the least suspicion of
the impending attack.
It was just upon midnight when we neared the small opening left in the
boom, our plan being well-nigh frustrated by the vigilance of a
guard-boat, upon which my launch had luckily stumbled. The challenge was
given, upon which, in an under-tone, I threatened the occupants of the
boat with instant death if they made the least alarm. No reply was made
to the threat, and in a few minutes our gallant fellows were alongside
the frigate in line, boarding at several points simultaneously.
The Spaniards were completely taken by surprise--the whole, with the
exception of the sentries, being asleep at their quarters--and great was
the havoc made amongst them by the Chileno cutlasses whilst they were
recovering themselves. Retreating to the forecastle, they there made a
gallant stand, and it was not until the third charge that the position
was carried. The fight was for a short time renewed on the
quarter-deck, where the Spanish marines fell to a man, the rest of the
enemy leaping overboard and into the hold to escape slaughter.
On boarding the ship by the main chains, I was knocked back by the butt
end of the sentry's musket, and falling on a thole pin of the boat, it
entered my back near the spine, inflicting a severe injury, which caused
me many years of subsequent suffering. Immediately regaining my footing,
I reascended the side, and when on deck, was shot through the thigh, but
binding a handkerchief tightly round the wound, managed, though with
great difficulty, to direct the contest to its close.
The whole affair, from beginning to end, occupied only a quarter of an
hour, our loss being eleven killed and thirty wounded, whilst that of
the Spaniards was a hundred and sixty, many of whom fell under the
cutlasses of the Chilenos before they could stand to their arms. Greater
bravery I never saw displayed than that of our gallant fellows. Before
boarding, the duties of all had been appointed, and a party was told off
to take possession of the tops. We had not been on deck a minute, when I
hailed the foretop, and was instantly answered by our own men, an
equally prompt answer being returned from the frigate's maintop. No
British man-of-war's crew could have excelled this minute attention to
orders.
The uproar speedily alarmed the garrison, who, hastening to their guns,
opened fire on their own frigate, thus paying us the compliment of
having taken it; though, even in this case, their own men must still
have been on board, so that firing on them was a wanton proceeding, as
several Spaniards were killed or wounded by the shot of the fortress,
and amongst the wounded was Captain Coig, the commander of the
_Esmeralda_--who, after he was made prisoner, received a severe
contusion by a shot from his own party.
The fire from the fortress was, however, neutralised by a successful
expedient. There were two foreign ships of war present during the
contest--the United States frigate _Macedonian_, and the British frigate
_Hyperion_; and these, as previously agreed on with the Spanish
authorities in case of a night attack--hoisted peculiar lights as
signals, to prevent being fired upon. This contingency being provided
for by us--as soon as the fortress commenced its fire on the
_Esmeralda_, we also ran up similar lights, so that the garrison became
puzzled which vessel to fire at; the intended mischief thus involving
the _Hyperion_ and _Macedonian_, which were several times struck, the
_Esmeralda_ being comparatively untouched. Upon this the neutral
frigates cut their cables and moved away; whilst Captain Guise, contrary
to my orders, cut the _Esmeralda_ cables also, so that there was nothing
to be done but to loose her top-sails and follow; the fortress then
ceasing its fire.
My orders were not to cut the cables of the, _Esmeralda_; but after
taking her to capture the _Maypu_, a brig of war previously taken from
Chili--and then to attack and cut adrift every ship near, there being
plenty of time before us; no doubt existing but that when the
_Esmeralda_ was taken, the Spaniards would desert the other ships as
fast as their boats would permit them, so that the whole might either
have been captured or burned. To this end all my previous plans had been
arranged; but on being placed _hors de combat_ by my wounds, Captain
Guise, on whom the command of the prize devolved, chose to interpose his
own judgment, and content himself with the _Esmeralda_ alone, cutting
her cables without my orders; the reason assigned being, that the
English had broken into her spirit-room and were getting drunk, whilst
the Chilenos were disorganized by plundering. It was a great mistake,
for if we could capture the _Esmeralda_, with her picked and
well-appointed crew, there would have been little or no difficulty in
cutting the other ships adrift in succession. It would only have been
the rout of Valdivia over again, chasing the enemy, without loss, from
ship after ship, instead of from fort to fort.
The following extract, from the order issued preparatory to the attack,
will clearly shew the plan frustrated by cutting the _Esmeralda_
adrift:--
"On securing the frigate, the Chilian seamen and marines are
not to give the Chilian cheer, but to deceive the enemy, and give
time for completing the work: they are to cheer '_Viva el Rey_.'"
"The two brigs of war are to be fired on by the musketry _from
the Esmeralda_, and are to be taken possession of by Lieutenants
Esmonde and Morgell, in the boats they command; which, being
done, they are to cut adrift, run out, and anchor in the offing as
quickly as possible. The boats of the _Independencia_ are to turn
adrift all the outward Spanish merchant ships; and the boats of the
_O'Higgins_ and _Lautaro_, under Lieutenants Bell and Robertson, are to
set fire to one or more of the headmost hulks; but these are not to be
cut adrift, so as to fall down upon the rest."
(Signed) "COCHRANE."
By the cutting of the _Esmeralda's_ cables, not one of these objects was
effected. The captured frigate was ready for sea, with three months'
provisions on board, and with stores sufficient for two years. She was,
no doubt, if opportunity offered, intended to convoy the treasure-ship,
which, by the precipitancy of Captain Guise, we had missed; indeed the
Spanish Admiral being on board at the time, with his flag flying, was a
pretty clear proof that she was on the point of departure; instead of
which, the Admiral, his officers, and 200 seamen were made prisoners,
the remainder of the crew, originally 370 in number, being killed,
wounded, or drowned.
An incident occurred during the contest which, at this distance of time,
I shall not refrain from mentioning. His Britannic Majesty's ship
_Hyperion_ was so close to the _Esmeralda_, as to be a witness of the
whole proceeding. A midshipman was standing at the gangway looking on,
amongst others, when his truly English nature, unable to restrain itself
as our gallant fellows cleared the forecastle of the enemy, gave vent to
its expression by clapping his hands in approbation. It was afterwards
reported that he was immediately ordered below by his commander, Captain
Searle, who threatened to put him under arrest. Such was the feeling of
an English commander towards me. I should not have condescended to
notice this occurrence but for the bravado shown by the same officer on
a previous occasion, by casting loose his guns, with their tompions out,
when my flag-ship entered the roads; thereby either intimating that he
considered me a pirate, or that he would so treat me, if he had an
opportunity.
When approaching the _Esmeralda_, the British frigate also hailed each
boat separately, with the evident intention of alarming the enemy; which
would no doubt have been the case, had not the Spaniards been thrown off
their guard by the before-mentioned ruse of sending the ships out of the
bay.
Far different was the conduct of the commander of the United States
frigate _Macedonian_--whose sentinels did not hail the boats--the
officers in an under-tone wishing us success; and still more honourable
was the subsequent testimony of that talented officer, Captain Basil
Hall, who commanded His Britannic Majesty's ship _Conway_, then in the
Pacific. This testimony, though in some degree a recapitulation of the
events already related, but slightly inaccurate as regards the number of
men employed, I feel proud to adduce:--
"While the liberating army, under General San Martin, was
removing to Ancon, Lord Cochrane, with part of his squadron,
anchored in the outer roads of Callao. The inner harbour was
guarded by an extensive system of batteries, admirably constructed,
and bearing the general name of the 'Castles of Callao.' The
merchant ships, as well as the men of war, consisting of the
_Esmeralda_, a large 40-gun frigate, and two sloops of war, were
moored under the guns of the castle, within a semicircle of fourteen
gun-boats, and a boom made of spars chained together."
"Lord Cochrane, having previously reconnoitred these formidable defences
in person, undertook, on the 5th of November, 1820, the desperate
enterprise of cutting out the Spanish frigate, although she was known to
be fully prepared for an attack. His Lordship proceeded in fourteen
boats, containing 240 men--all volunteers from the different ships of
the squadron--in two divisions, one under the orders of Captain Crosby,
and the other under Captain Guise, both officers commanding the Chileno
squadron."
"At midnight, the boats having forced their way across the boom, Lord
Cochrane, who was leading, rowed alongside the first gun-boat, and
taking the officer by surprise, proposed to him, with a pistol at his
head, the alternative of silence or death. No reply being made, the
boats pushed on unobserved, and Lord Cochrane, mounting the
_Esmeralda's_ side, was the first to give the alarm. The sentinel on the
gangway levelled his piece and fired, but was instantly cut down by the
coxwain, and his Lordship, though wounded in the thigh, at the same
moment stepped on the deck, the frigate being boarded with no less
gallantry on the opposite side by Captain Guise, who met Lord Cochrane
midway on the quarter-deck, as also Captain Crosby, and the afterpart of
the ship was soon carried, sword in hand. The Spaniards rallied on the
forecastle, where they made a desperate resistance, till overpowered by
a fresh party of seamen and marines, headed by Lord Cochrane. A gallant
stand was again made on the main deck, but before one o'clock the ship
was captured, her cables cut, and she was steered triumphantly out of
the harbour."
"This loss was a death-blow to the Spanish naval force in that quarter
of the world; for, although there were still two Spanish frigates and
some smaller vessels in the Pacific, they never afterwards ventured to
shew themselves, but left Lord Cochrane undisputed master of the coast."
On the morning of the 6th a horrible massacre was committed on shore.
The market-boat of the United States frigate was, as usual, sent for
provisions, when the mob took it into their heads that the _Esmeralda_
could not have been cut out without the assistance of the _Macedonian_,
and, falling upon the boat's crew, murdered the whole of them.
The wounded amongst the _Esmeralda's_ crew were sent on shore under a
flag of truce, a letter from me to the Viceroy proposing an exchange of
prisoners being at the same time transmitted. The proposal was this time
civilly acceded to, and the whole were sent on shore; the Chilian
prisoners, who had long languished in the dungeons of the fortress,
being returned, and ordered to join the army of General San Martin.
On transmitting the intelligence of our success to General San Martin, I
received from him the following acknowledgment of the achievement:--
_10th November, 1820._
"My Lord,"
"The importance of the service you have rendered to the
country by the capture of the frigate _Esmeralda_, and the brilliant
manner in which you conducted the gallant officers and seamen
under your orders to accomplish that noble enterprise, on the night
of the memorable 5th of November, have augmented the gratitude
due to your former services by the Government, as well as that of
all interested in the public cause, and in your fame."
"All those who participated in the risks and glory of the deed,
also deserve well of their countrymen, and I have the satisfaction to
be the medium of transmitting the sentiments of admiration which
such transcendent success has excited in the chiefs of the army
under my command. Permit me to express them to you, in order
that they may be communicated to the meritorious officers, seamen,
and marines of the squadron, to whom will be religiously fulfilled
_the promises you made_."
"It is grievous that, connected with the memory of so glorious
a deed, regret for those who shed their blood in its achievement
should enter; but let us hope that such thoughts will be dissipated,
by your adding further deeds of glory to the country, and to your
name."
"God preserve you many years."
"JOSE DE SAN MARTIN."
San Martin's expression of religiously fulfilling the "promises I
made," is in allusion to the promise, signed by himself, which had been
exacted previous to the departure of the squadron from Valparaiso, that
the men should have a year's pay given to them. With the preceding
letter General San Martin voluntarily sent another promise to the
captors, of 50,000 dollars, to be paid on gaining possession of Lima.
Neither the one promise nor the other were ever fulfilled, nor did they
ever obtain any prize-money.
To the Administration in Chili General San Martin wrote as follows:--
"Head Quarters, Supe, Dec. 1, 1820.
Senor Minister,"
"I have the honour of forwarding to you the despatches
of the Right Hon. Lord Cochrane, Vice-Admiral of the squadron,
relative to the heroic capture of the frigate _Esmeralda_, by boarding
her under the batteries of Callao."
"It is impossible for me to eulogise in proper language the daring
enterprise of the 5th of November, by which Lord Cochrane
has decided the superiority of our naval forces--augmented the
splendour and power of Chili--and secured the success of this
campaign."
"I doubt not that His Excellency the Supreme Director will
render the justice due to the worthy chief, his officers, and other
individuals who have had a share in that successful action."
"I beg you will honour me by congratulating His Excellency on
this important success, and principally on account of the influence
it will have on the great object which occupies his attention."
"JOSE DE SAN MARTIN."
"To Don Jose Ignacio Zenteno,
Minister of Marine."
Soon after my departure for Peru, Lady Cochrane undertook a journey
across the _Cordillera_, to Mendoza, the passes being, at that season,
often blocked up with snow. Having been entrusted with some despatches
of importance, she pushed on rapidly, and on the 12th of October arrived
at the celebrated _Ponte del Inca_, 15,000 feet above the level of the
sea. Here the snow had increased to such an extent as to render farther
progress impossible, and her ladyship was obliged to remain at a
_Casucha_, or strong house, built above the snow for the safety of
travellers; the intense cold arising from the rarity of the atmosphere,
and the absence of all comfort--there being no better couch than a dried
bullock's hide--producing a degree of suffering which few ladies would
be willing to encounter.
Whilst proceeding on her mule up a precipitous path in the vicinity, a
Royalist, who had intruded himself on the party, rode up in an opposite
direction and disputed the path with her, at a place where the slightest
false step would have precipitated her into the abyss below. One of her
attendants, a tried and devoted soldier, named Pedro Flores, seeing the
movement, and guessing the man's intention, galloped up to him at a
critical moment, striking him a violent blow across the face, and thus
arresting his murderous design. The ruffian finding himself vigorously
attacked, made off, without resenting the blow, and so, no doubt,
another premeditated attempt on Lady Cochrane's life was averted.