300 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNKV 



like abject worms before its influence. Young Florine, however, 

 was not to be so daunted. Enraged that he whom he chose to 

 consider his enemy, still survived, he gnashed his teeth and rush- 

 ed upon his bound and defenceless general with his sword. 

 Three several times, did he pass his murderous blade clean 

 through the body of Portales. That calm unwavering eye still 

 kept its basilisk glance upon the convulsed features of the assas- 

 sin, until with the third thrust its lustre was quenched in death ; 

 the poor body which encased the dauntless soul, quivered in the 

 last agony, and fell a lump of senseless clay upon its parent 

 earth. 



These details were related by an eye witness, one who, although 

 engaged in the revolt, opposed with manly energy the dastardly 

 and most atrocious act by which it was commenced. 



After the perpetration of this lawless and high-handed deed, 

 (which it is generally believed even Vidaurre himself did not 

 sanction, or approve of,) a pacific negotiation with the reigning 

 powers was of course impossible. All engaged in the insurrec- 

 tion would be denounced as felons, and any one of them who 

 should fall into the hands of the authorities would inevitably die 

 the felon's death ; so there was nothing for it but to strengthen 

 their army as much and as rapidly as possible, and forthwith 

 attack the stronghold of the enemies of misrule. 



Accordingly the whole army retired to a short distance from 

 the scene of the murder, leaving the dead bodies on the spot, and 

 set on foot the most active measures to increase the number of 

 their forces. In the mean time, the protracted absence of Por- 

 tales, caused much anxiety among his friends, several of whom 

 knew of his having gone to Quillota, and on the day following 

 they repaired thither in all haste, where they found the corpses 

 as they had been left, and conveyed them immediately to Valpa- 

 raiso. The cause and manner of Portales' death was at once 



