is nothing like speaking
one's mind. I'll wager San Martin prefers the girl to her father.
Have you seen the general?"

"Yes; he paid me a friendly visit on purpose to show his admiration for
your dear father. He is a most remarkable man."

It was not until the evening drew to a close that my mother spoke of
what lay nearest her heart--our plans for the future. She admitted
with a sigh that I must in honour offer my services to San Martin. I
was still young, but there were many boys fighting in the ranks, and
some had already sacrificed their lives for the cause.

"It is hard to let you go again," said she, pressing me fondly to her,
"and yet I must. God grant that the war may soon be brought to an end!"

"Amen to that!" I exclaimed fervently. "Fighting is not to my liking,
but I cannot stand idly by while others risk their lives for my
benefit."

"No," said my mother, kissing me good-night; "you must do your duty, my
boy. Your father would have wished it."

A few minutes later I went to my room, and was just closing the door
when Jose appeared. He looked hot and flushed, and I asked where he
had been.

"To the camp," said he, with a laugh, "to see what's going on. I
thought the colonel must have had some special news. Unless San Martin
holds his hand, the Spaniards are lost. They can't stay at Callao, as
there isn't food even for the garrison; they aren't strong enough to
take Lima: they must retreat or starve."

"Well?" I exclaimed questioningly.

"Why, don't you see, directly they begin to retreat we shall crush
them. Already nearly two hundred of their men have deserted."

"More deserters? Why, we shall soon be able to form a battalion of
turncoats for Don Felipe to lead!"

It was now Jose's turn to look astonished, and his expression of
amazement was so ludicrous that I laughed outright.

"What a poltroon!" he cried contemptuously. "But I'll see you get no
harm by this right-about face. He is mistaken if he thinks his
treachery will give him a hold on your estates."

"A hold on my estates, Jose? What do you mean?"

"Oh," said he, "I have not cared to speak of it, but I must now." And
he proceeded to inform me that all my father's property had passed into
the possession of Don Felipe Montilla.

"But," I exclaimed, striving to appear calm, "that will be set aside
now. San Martin will never allow our property to be confiscated
because my father died for the Patriot cause."

"Mont