1830.] The Eve of Saint Simon, in Colombia. 157 



doubted not,, according to the evidence adduced., the court would satisfy 

 him by their verdict. 



During this remonstrance, not a muscle in Paez's face betrayed his 

 inward agitation, not a gesture interrupted the colonel's exordium. 

 An indifferent spectator would have inferred from his manner that he had 

 either lost all recollection of the occurrence, or deemed it too trivial to 

 attract his further notice; a more accurate observer, however, would 

 have detected the smile of ineffable contempt struggling for passage 

 through his firmly closed lips. For some moments after Blosset had 

 ceased to speak, there was a death-like pause none dared to break the 

 silence ; those who best knew him almost dreaded to respire. All this 

 time Paez kept his eyes intently fixed on Blosset, who (like the bird 

 charmed by the fascinating influence of the rattle-snake) involuntarily 

 trembled : at length he raised them, as if wholly unconscious of the 

 sensation he had caused, and turning to an aide-de-camp who stood near, 

 desired him to order the bugle to sound "Turn out the whole ;" then ap- 

 proaching Blosset, with calm, unruffled voice addressed him thus : " If, 

 Sir, the uncompromising strictness of your military code prevents you 

 from chastising insolence in a soldier, by the application of a few lashes, 

 unless sanctioned by a court-martial, mine imposes no such delicate re- 

 straints upon my will, and I can shoot the insubordinate object of my 

 displeasure without the aid or authority of your tribunal. Now mark 

 me, Colonel. The troops are assembling. Return to your brigade, see my 

 former orders carried into prompt execution, or in ten minutes the man 

 will have ceased to exist !" Blosset bowed and retired. It is almost 

 needless to say, that of two evils the least was chosen the unlucky tailor 

 received his hundred lashes. Paez on horseback remained on the con- 

 fines of the " Grande Plaza" till he saw his victim tied up and receive 

 the first stripe : he then rode off, accompanied by a numerous staff, to 

 enjoy a gallop and acquire an appetite on the neighbouring plains ! 



The effect which this stretch of arbitrary power had upon the minds 

 of the men may be readily surmised: non-commissioned officers and 

 privates felt equal indignation ; murmurs of disapprobation rose into ex- 

 pressions of loud complaint ; all were alike clamorous for passports to 

 quit the service ; and there is little doubt, had an opportunity presented 

 itself, the " British legion" to a man would have joined the standard of 

 the enemy. 



For three days following, the symptoms of discontent became so 

 generally apparent, that Paez himself began to calculate the result. Not 

 that he dreaded the irruption of the volcano, or could be deterred by the 

 burning lava it might vomit forth from pursuing his course ; but it did 

 not suit his present policy to drive things to extremity; he therefore 

 adopted conciliatory measures, and by an augmentation of rations (not 

 forgetting an allowance of spirituous liquor), with a few necessary articles 

 of clothing, he contrived to appease the mutinous spirit his harsh treat- 

 ment had invoked. But the flame of discord was only partially smothered, 

 and needed but a fresh grievance to rake it into a fiercer blaze. The 

 men performed their wonted duties in sullen silence, and were still 

 evidently brooding over the injuries they had sustained. 



In this mood we will for the present leave them, as I am anxious to 

 introduce to my reader's notice a few of the officers of the " British 

 legion," with whom it is necessary he should have some acquaintance, in 

 order to enable him to better understand the sequel of my narrative. 



