INTRODUCTION. 97 



ception, and had been a foot soldier in the first army of the patriots ; 

 having been made prisoner by the royalists, he entered their army, 

 and was taken soon after by Makenna, who sent him to head-quarters 

 on the banks of the Maule, to be tried as a deserter : thence he 

 escaped, by setting fire to the hut in which he was confined, and 

 returned to the royalists, when he soon distinguished himself by his 

 talents, and bore an honourable rank in the army of Osorio at the 

 battle of Maypii. There he was again taken prisoner, and was con- 

 demned to death as a deserter, in company with many others : he fell 

 among the dead, but did not die as was supposed ; and in a romantic 

 way he sent to request an interview with San Martin, who appointed 

 to meet him in the pla fa alone, and the signal of recognition to be three 

 sparks from the mechero. * Benevideis struck the signal, San Martin 

 presented his pistol in return; Benevideis put it aside, and observing 

 him start, assured him, he did not wish to murder, but to serve him, 

 which he could do effectually by his local knowledge of the southern 

 provinces, and his personal acquaintance with the troops there. San 

 Martin accepted his services, but retained the dread of him, which 

 his sudden and ghastly appearance before him had excited ; and 

 therefore, although there was not the slightest ground for supposing 

 he meant to betray him, he began to suspect him, and attempted to 

 seize his person once more. But the spirit of Benevideis revolted at 

 this : being accused of treachery he turned traitor, if it can be called 

 so, and openly joined Osorio ; animated by a fierce desire of revenge, 

 which, once awaked, never slept in his bosom. Hence arose the 

 cruelties, and they are monstrous, with which he is charged. He 

 murdered his prisoners in cold blood ; and his great delight was to 

 invite the captured officers to an elegant entertainment, and after 

 they had eaten and drunk, march them into his court-yard, while he 

 stood at the window to see them shot. Some to whom he had pro- 

 mised safety he delivered over to the Indians, whose cruel customs 



* The mechero is the aparatus for striking fire to light the segars, which every person 

 in Chile carries with him. 



