174- EARLY CAREER OP MR. NOBBS. 
from their flints three times ; a mark sufficiently 
conspicuous for the purpose of distinction, yet 
of a nature calculated to excite no suspicion. 
San Martin, accordingly, alone, and provided 
with a brace of pistols, went to the spot, where 
he encountered Benevideis, similarly armed. 
After a long conference with the desperado, 
whom he finally engaged in his service, he 
settled that Benevideis should, for the present, 
serve in the Chilian army employed against the 
Araucanian Indians in the south ; but should 
be ready to join the army in Peru when the 
expedition sailed. 
Benevideis soon quarrelled with the Chilian 
General, and once more changed sides, offering 
his services to the Indians, who were glad to 
obtain so brave and unrelenting an associate. 
In a short tine his experience and congenial 
ferocity gave him so great an ascendency 
amongst this warlike race, that he was elected 
Commander-in-chief. Hence arose the atrocities 
with which Benevideis is justly charged. He 
murdered his prisoners in cold blood. 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, whilst he stood at the window to see them 
shot. Some, to whom he had promised safety, 
he delivered over to the Indians, of whose 
barbarous treatment of prisoners of war he was 
well aware ; and they were cruelly murdered. 
His cause having failed, Benevideis fitted 
out a privateer, to provide himself with food 
and ammunition j and at length, on the 1st of 
