fall a sacrifice at last, I well know, and I will be revenged before-hand. You are the only one from whom I have received kindness. Ask what boon you will, and it shall be granted." "Keep the Indians at peace with the Christians!" "That cannot be ! It is beyond my power. I am myself at war with the Indians." "Do you not live in constant fear of treachery?" I know not fear. I have lived so long in danger, that fear is a stranger to me. My people dare not disobey me. I have set life on a cast, and I take life from others to secure mine own," He spoke some words in Indian to one of the guides, who replied in the same language. He then spoke to the other Indians, and calling in one of the soldiers from the other apartment, asked him if the first Indian had not been seen speaking to one of the tribe from which he had deserted, outside the pass. The man replied in the affirmative, and Pincheira, drawing a pistol from his girdle shot him dead. "Take the carrion away!" he exclaimed to the others, and the body was removed. "Have you any favour to ask, Don Juan ?" he continued. "Leave to depart with my guide, and the cattle drivers with their cattle!" "The life of your guide should have been granted, but he is already slain with the rest, agreeably to a rule we have. Were we to suffer travellers to pass this way, it would not long be a strong hold for us. Neither drivers nor cattle could on any account have been spared. The former might have betrayed us, the latter we need, to eat. Every man's hand is against us, and ours must be against every man. Every Christian you have seen amongst the men I rule over, has shed the blood of more than one of his fellows, in his own private quarrel or for his own private gain, and the Indians around me are men of broken tribes proscribed by their Caciques. It is their interest to uphold me; for were I slain, they would soon be destroyed. Neither the red man nor the white would have mercy on them." The good physician was horror-struck at what he had seen and heard, but he was void of fear, as the robber-chieftain before him; and he hesitated not to speak his opinion freely. A life passed in the constant exercise of humanity, had given him claims even over the out cast of society, in whose power he was. "Pincheira! now do I regret that I saved thy life, since thou livest only to inflict evil on thy fellows. The war thou wagest is hopeless. The king of Spain may never hope for power in these regions, for all men's hearts are against him. Remember the fate of Benavides, in whose steps thou treadest. Turn away from this evil course, which daily soddens thy hand in blood, and loads thy conscience with crime. By what has fallen from thee, I know that thou wast formed for better things. Change thy resolves, and I will secure the means of thy escape to other lands." Something of remorse seemed to pass across the swarthy face of the robber, which was quickly chased away by stern defiance, as he replied: "Stranger! had I met with thee in early youth, ere this hand had shed man's blood, I might have been other than I am. My father committed a crime when he begat me, and gave me this aspiring spirit, enclosed in a corporeal mould of low-caste. The rank he procured me in the Spanish army, could not wipe away the mark of degradation which is upon me. In my early youth I was subjected to the taunts of my fellows in rank, who were not my fellows in birth. When I was last defeated in Chile, I fled to Chiloe, and would have lived a peaceable life, but the withering scorn of the white man was still more bitter upon the unsuccessful warrior, than it had been upon the child of a race whom none acknowledged, and all conspired to crush. I sought a command from the governor, with the resolve to carve a road to fame and power, or to perish in the pursuit of it. I thank you for your offer, but it is needless. I could myself command a retreat to Chiloe through the heart of Aranco, did I need it. But my resolve is taken, and I must succeed or fall. When the royalist general gave me the commission, I understood his feeling. If I am successful, he will take my place, as he thinks; but he judges unwisely. If I succeed I will be Viceroy of Chile. As a Viceroy, I can command through fear, that respect which is denied me as a man." "It is impossible for you to succeed!" remarked Don Juan. "The chances are against me; but with fortune at my back, I may succeed. Better is it to undergo the fate of Benarides, than to live the life of a dog. Enough! I wage the war of extermination which my fellows shewed me the first example of. I know the gain and the risk, and am content to take the chance of the penalties.' "Know ye not that there is a joy in doing good to your fellows?" "I believe it, for I rejoice in doing good to you who have been my benefactor. You are the only one. I and my fellows are at strife. They wish to end the strife, by depriving me of existence. They have driven a tiger to bay, who will fight till he falls, and slay many ere he falls; Enough! Andres, come hither!" fifty thousand men will be less heeded, than the slaughter of fifty, done for my own gain!" He arose, and closing the rude wooden door of the apartment, placed against it several stout bars, slanting upwards from the earth at an angle. He then again sat down, and devoured a quantity of food, apparently without relish; swallowed another large draught of wine, and again threw himself on the couch to sleep, with his weapons placed near him in readiness. Don Juan also lay down, but vainly tried to shut his eyes. The One of the soldiers entered from the hard breathing of his murderous host, outer apartment. "Let the baggage of this cavalier be brought hither, to the minutest portion. See that nothing be wanting, or look to thyself; and let a supper be prepared of the choicest food we have. Fill the flagons with the richest wine of Penco,* and all quickly. Let all my people know that this cavalier is my friend, and must be respected as such. We march by early daylight.' All was executed as the despotic robber commanded, and he motioned Don Juan to sit down to supper on the couch by his side; the dishes of silver being placed on some trunks made of dried hide, which were covered with the remnant of silken banner which had once belonged to a Spanish regiment. He appeared to have forgotten, that but a few minutes previous he had slaughtered a human being near the spot with his own hand, and had caused to be slaughtered thirteen others. It was a matter of frequent occurrence, and not heeded by him. Swallowing a large draught of wine, he called on Don Juan to do the same; but horror and disgust had chased away from him both hunger and thirst, and the food seemed to him compounded of the flesh and blood of human beings. Pincheira noticed it, and spoke : "I feel deeply enough the pain of being abhorred by a good man. Had I a safe apartment to offer you, I would not keep you here; but I will not trust you where I cannot look on you. I myself trust not my men. You had better lie down, and try to sleep-I do not sleep often. I live in the hope that success on a large scale may convert my acts of human slaughter, which are now called murders, into acts of determined gallantry. As a successful conqueror, in the name of the king, the slaughter of Penco is the name of the province of Chile of which Concepcion is the capital. and his frequent convulsive starts, would have driven sleep away, even if he had sought it. In weariness and sickening horror the night passed slowly away, and it seemed to Don Juan as though the dawn would never come. It came at last; and Pincheira started from his couch, and summoned his guest to go forth. The sun rose magnificently over the mountain top, as the horses were saddled, and the whole body rode away— Pincheira and Don Juan at their head. Little conversation passed between them, and the physician even neglected his beloved botanical pursuits. On the evening of the second day, they emerged on the western side of the Andes, from a rocky ravine, and entered a heavily wooded grove, situated in the opening of a valley. Pincheira gave the word to halt, and tether out the horses without unsaddling them. Although the party had eaten little that day, he would not suffer them to light a fire to cook provisions; but ordered them to remain with their arms in readiness, in case of a surprise. He then beckoned Don Juan to follow, and led the way along a narrow path, which, as they emerged from the wood, ascended a rising ground, from which they overlooked the distant valley, whose hoary hills were distinctly marked against the star-lit horizon. Pincheira raised his arm, and pointed out a light, which glimmered some two leagues from the spot where they stood. "See you yonder light?" “ Plainly !” "It is the Hacienda de ******. Its owner is the husband of her who scorned I his brother on the very threshold. burnt not the dwelling, but retained it as my own for many days, when the troops of Chile came against me, and I abandoned it. They have dreamed that I was dead, or fixed in Chiloe, and therefore it is again stocked, as the light truly tells. Manuela *******! thou shalt yet be the mistress, though not the wife, of Pincheira. I will humble thee, for making me that which I am!"" Two of the Indians approached at this moment, dragging in a man in a Chileno garb, whose arms were bound to his body with a lazo. They did not see Pincheira, and were speeding towards the main body, when their leader ordered them to leave the prisoner with him and retire; after which he began to examine the man, who shewed signs of considerable fear. "Whence comest thou, fellow ?" What art thou?" "Is the Hacienda stocked with cattle?" "Fifteen hundred head, besides sheep and horses!" "Who is residing there now?" "The patron himself, Don Felipe!" "Ha! who is with him?" "Donna Manuela, his wife!" "Have they any troops in the neighbourhood?" "At three leagues distance!" "It is well!" exclaimed Pincheira, in a half-muttered tone. "She is then mine, at last. To-morrow, at nightfall, when our horses are fresh, the attack shall be made. They are at present jaded. Follow me, fellow! and see that thou stirrest not from my side. Don Juan! to-morrow you shall be liberated, when yonder dwelling is once more mine. This fellow shall serve you for a guide." But the physician had resolved to risk his life, to safe the victims of Pincheira's destined cruelty. He found an opportunity of whispering to the prisoner, and promised to help him to escape. Watching his opportunity, he drew his knife from his boot, and divided the lazo by which the man's arms were bound. The man instantly darted amongst the trees, and Don Juan followed him. Pincheira at first did not notice their disappearance, as he was walking a little in advance; but the moment he missed them, he called out in a loud tone to them to follow. But * Tenant. the Chileno did not heed him; on the contrary, he rushed amongst the underwood, like one who was perfectly familiar with its paths, and Don Juan followed in his wake. Pincheira rushed after them, but missed the turn they had taken, and his foot stumbling over a root, he was half-stunned with his fall. In the mean time the Chileno advanced with a speed of foot, which in one almost born on horseback, seemed nearly miraculous; but fear lent him her wings, and he betrayed no signs of weariness. Don Juan was sorely encumbered with his large spurs-an article of which the Indians had relieved the Chileno, the moment they captured him—but his muscular strength was great, and he contrived to keep up with his guide. After proceeding a league through the woods, they emerged into the opening valley; and the Chileno, looking cautiously back, applied his hands to his ears, to listen. "Haste! onward, cavalier!" he exclaimed; and at the distance of a few hundred yards, they came to a corral,* wherein some horses were shut up. The guide immediately took down a long tether, which was hanging on the top of the stakes, and with it caught two horses, into whose mouths he put pieces of the tether, to serve as bridles, and turning the other horses loose, they drove them before them down the valley, riding barebacked at full-speed. In a short space of time they reached the house, and dashed into the enclosure of low earthen walls which surrounded it. Pincheira! Pincheira! exclaimed the guide to a number of frightened labourers and domestics; and, with Don Juan, he dismounted and rushed into the sala, where the family were assembled at supper, seated at a round table in the centre of the apartment. An effeminate, languid looking young man, bearing marks of premature age, was at the head of the table, and by his side a lady of great beauty, about twenty-two years of age, on whom sorrow had prematurely made ravages. Opposite to them sat an elderly woman, and a man of decent exterior, who was apparently the Mayor of the Hacienda; while some Indian-looking servants were busily employed in removing and replacing the dishes. The lady was bending a look of pity and sorrow mingled, on her unfortunate hus * Corral, an enclosure for cattle; equivalent to, and probably derived from, the same root as the word kraal, used by the Hottentots, and, I believe, in other parts of Africa, to express the same thing. band, as Don Juan and his guide entered, when all arose to their feet. "What new misfortune, Santiago?" she exclaimed to the guide. "Pincheira is within two leagues!" Her face grew deadly pale; and the elderly woman, who appeared to be her mother, swooned in affright. "Drive in the horses!" said Donna Manuela, who was the first to recover her energy. But, ere that could be done, a distant tramp was heard; and Don Juan exclaimed, " Fly, lady, or we are lost!Pincheira comes to seize you!" "Never!" she replied, and drew from her bosom a small dagger, which she kissed and then replaced. At a sign from her, the Major-domo, who was a powerful man, took his patron in his arms, and the whole party, rushing through a back entrance, gained an orchard, which communicated with the vineyard, a part of whose fence was quickly destroyed, and they entered a wood. Loud shouts and Indian yells rang upon their ears, and the screams of some of the captured peasantry told that the work of death was going forward. "Lead the way deeper into the recesses of the wood, Santiago!" exclaimed the lady; "and make a circuitous course to the village where the troops are." They had advanced nearly a mile, when a bright light suddenly shooting up in their rear, pierced even the obscurity of the woods, and enabled them to advance more rapidly. Two of the peasants joined them, and carried their imbecile patron between them. They at last emerged from the woods upon the hill side, within a few hundred yards of a village, when the tramp of horses again startled them-but it was a sign of safety; for they proved to be twenty soldiers, who were placed as an out-post, and they gave the information that five hundred more were advancing. The wanderers turned to look round, and Donna Manuela sighed as she beheld her dwelling in flames, while her husband impatiently demanded instant removal, with childish petulance. In the village they were provided with horses, and Don Juan accompanied them to the city of Concepcion. Pincheira was defeated by the troops, and beaten back once more; but it was not long ere he again made head, and many wild tales are told of his exploits. JUNIUS REDIVIVUS. A child was brought into the church of a village in Normandy to be baptised. The cure, who had been drinking with some of his friends, searched in vain for the chapter in his missal containing the prayers adapted to the ceremony: at length growing impatient, he exclaimed, "How hard it is to baptise this Infant!" C. C. C. RELIGIOUS SCRUPLES. In the year 1260, a Jew having fallen into a vault on a Saturday, refused to permit any person to help him out on that day, lest he should profane his sabbath; which being communicated to Richard De Clare, lord of the manor, he forbade any one to assist him on the Sunday, that he might observe the Christian sabbath with the same solemnity as he had his own, but before Monday the ceremonious Israelite expired. C. C. C. OF FICTION, POETRY, HISTORY, AND GENERAL LITERATURE. No. 31. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1835. Price Two-Pence. THE RIVAL LADIES: AN ANDALUSIAN TALE, FROM THE MISCELLANEOUS WORKS OF CERVANTES. (For the Parterre). CHAP. I. When lovely woman stoops to folly, FIVE leagues northward of the city of Seville, there was in the sixteenth century, as there is now, a small town called Castilblanco, containing several inns or mesones, at one of which there once arrived, about night-fall, a young traveller, mounted on a very fine horse, but with out any attendant; and without waiting for any one to hold his stirrup, he sprang lightly to the ground. The innkeeper, being diligent and attentive, came forth without delay to take the commands of his newly alighted guest, yet not before the latter had seated himself on a bench within the porch, where the host found him hastily unbuttoning his breast; and immediately after, his arms dropped on either side, plainly shewing that he was about to faint. The hostess, being of a charitable disposition, approached him, and by sprinkling water in his face, shortly revived him; upon which the embarrassment of his manner shewed that he was sorry to have been observed in that condition; he re-adjusted his dress, then asked them to shew him directly to a chamber, and if possible to let him be alone. The hostess told him that there was but one in all the house; that there were two beds in it; and that if another guest should arrive, it would be necessary to accommodate him with one of them. To which the traveller answered, that he would willingly pay for the two beds, to secure the room to himself; and taking out a gold escudo, a coin about equivalent to an English half-guinea, he gave it to the landlady, on condition that she should not let the empty bed to any one: and she was so well satisfied with the pay, that she de |