EARLY CAREER OF MR. NOBBS. 173 
in the cause of South American independence. 
From the descriptions given of this man's cha- 
racter and actions, the reader will rejoice at 
Mr. Nobbs's rescue from his hands.* 
Having been made prisoner by the Royalists, 
Benevideis entered their army, and, being taken 
soon after, was sent to be tried as a deserter; 
but he escaped by setting fire to the hut in which 
he was confined; and he soon distinguished 
himself among the Royalists by his talents and 
bravery. Again he was taken prisoner, and 
sentenced to be shot, in company with many 
others, in the Plaza of Santiago. He fell with 
the rest; but, though thought to have been 
executed, was not killed. He lay like a dead 
man amongst the others, until it became dark. 
He then contrived to extricate himself from the 
heap, and in a most miserable plight, covered 
with wounds, crawled to a neighbouring cottage, 
the generous inhabitants of which received and 
attended him with the greatest care. 
General San Martin, who was at that time 
planning an expedition to Peru, and was look- 
ing about for able and enterprising individuals, 
heard of Benevideis being still alive ; and 
knowing his talents and courage, considered 
him a fit person to serve some of his desperate 
purposes. The bold ruffian himself actually 
gave information of his being alive, and invited 
San Martin to hold a secret conference at mid- 
night, in the centre of the great square of San- 
tiago. The appointed signal was to strike fire 
« See Captain Basil Hall's "Notes on Chili, Peru, and 
Mexico." 
