ACROSS THE ROCKV MOTINTAINS, ETC. 299 



gave great offence to Portales, by whom he was charged with 

 traitorous and treasonable designs, and who threatened to order 

 his arrest immediately on his return to Valparaiso. This threat 

 had been anticipated, and was the preconcerted signal for the 

 appearance of the troops of Vidaurre, who suddenly rose, like 

 Clan Alpine's warriors, from the bushes where they had been con- 

 cealed, surrounded and made prisoner the unfortunate com- 

 mander-in-chief, stript him in a twinkling of his arms and equip- 

 ments, loaded his hands and legs with heavy irons, and left him 

 in sad and melancholy musing as to his probable fate. In a 

 short time, a small detachment of the insurgents returned, headed 

 by a young officer named Florine, a man who had made himself 

 remarkable by several acts of wanton and bloody atrocity. 

 Portales felt that his hour was come. He knew that he need ex- 

 |3ect no mercy from the man into whose hands he had fallen. 

 He disdained therefore to plead for himself, but only requested 

 that his secretary, (a young man belonging to one of the first 

 families in Chili,) who was of course perfectly innocent, might be 

 suffered to depart without molestation. This request the ruffian 

 said he could not grant, but told them both to prepare instantly 

 for death, for that they had not five minutes to live. 



After both the victims had performed their devotions, which 

 they did in the most calm and devout manner, a signal was given, 

 and the whole detachment fired their pieces within a few yards 

 of the unhappy prisoners. The young secretary was instantly 

 killed, but Portales himself still stood, being but slightly 

 wounded in the side ; and it is said that, in this most trying mo- 

 ment, his admirable courage and self command, did not desert 

 him. 



He stood and looked with a proud, cold eye upon his execu- 

 tioners. Not a man among them dared to meet that glance, but 

 every one cast down his eyes in admiration and profound awe. 

 They stood in the presence of a superior mind, and they cowered 



