wish the Peruvians to kill each other," he repeatedly
declared. "I wish them to live at peace with each other; and whenever
they are ready to do that I will step aside, so that they may choose
whatever kind of government they please."

My father, who admired him greatly, several times pointed out the
dangers that loomed ahead.

"You are reckoning without Bolivar," said he. "He has already driven
the Spaniards from Venezuela and Colombia, and is steadily pushing them
into Peru. He will follow them and mix himself up with our affairs.
He is mad with ambition, and you will find there is not room enough for
both of you in one country."

"In that case I will go away," answered San Martin, with a sad smile.
"I am here, not for my own good, but for that of Peru."

"After bearing the heat and burden of the day, you will give up your
just reward? It is monstrous!"

"I seek no reward, Crawford; I seek only the happiness of Peru. In
order to gain that I shall willingly sacrifice myself."

"We will not permit it, general!"

"You must, because it is your duty. Having made South America
independent of Spain, it would be sheer wickedness to turn and rend
each other. Let Bolivar have the glory. I shall have a quiet
conscience. But it seems to me that we are giving substance to
shadows. Bolivar will join hands with me. We shall establish a strong
government in Peru; then having done our duty, each will retire."

My father shook his head, saying, "You are mistaken; General Bolivar's
ambition is to make all South America into one country, with himself at
the head. Nothing less than that will content him."

"Then he will fail," answered San Martin. "Let us hope he will not
drag the country to ruin with him."

About this time, March 1822, news reached us that our forces at Ica had
met with a terrible defeat. By a swift and daring march, the Spanish
general, Canterac, had thrown his army against them with startling
suddenness. They tried to retreat, but, being attacked in the night,
were cut to pieces, and an enormous quantity of stores passed into the
hands of the Royalists. The news cast a gloom over the city, and many
weak-kneed Patriots lost their heads entirely. Unless we could obtain
help from General Bolivar, they cried, our cause was undone. My father
did not believe this; he distrusted Bolivar, and made no scruple of
saying so.

"Still we must find out just what he means to do," remarked San Martin
o