, and seven years
after the battle of Ayacucho died a broken-hearted man.

After his departure from Lima, my father's Spanish friend, General La
Mar, who had once been Governor of Callao, was elected president, and
the country settled down into a state of something like order.

There still remain a few personal matters to be recorded before my pen
is finally laid aside.

Among those who opposed Bolivar's rule in Peru, none was more bitter or
reckless than the guerilla chief, Raymon Sorillo. Unfortunately for
him, the war had greatly weakened the society of the Silver Key. His
bravest men and ablest lieutenants had died fighting, and he was left
with only a shadow of his former power.

Undaunted by this, he openly defied Bolivar's authority. For several
months he held his own against the regular troops, but at last, being
captured, was tried as a traitor, and condemned to death.

My father made strenuous efforts to save him, and would have succeeded
but for Sorillo himself.

"The man is a desperate ruffian," said Bolivar, in answer to my
father's appeal for mercy; "but I will pardon him on condition that he
takes the oath of allegiance and swears to obey the laws."

Overjoyed by his success, my father hurried to the prison where Sorillo
was confined. The doughty mountaineer refused the offer with scorn.

"I took up arms for the independence of Peru," said he, "not to
exchange the tyranny of the Spaniards for that of a Venezuelan
adventurer. I thank you, senor, from my heart, but I prefer death to
these conditions."

My father stayed with him nearly the whole day, but could not shake his
resolve. So in the early morning the redoubtable chief was led into
the prison yard, and was placed near a wall. Some of the soldiers
wished to bandage his eyes, but he would not allow it.

"No," said he; "I have looked in the face of death too closely and too
often to fear it. Fire! I shall not tremble."

Thus he died, and whatever else may be said, it cannot be denied that,
in his own headstrong, obstinate way, he was faithful to the cause for
which many better men had laid down their lives.

Of my friend Plaza it is only necessary to say that, through General
Miller's influence as well as by his own merit, he rapidly advanced to
high office, being made governor of one of the inland provinces. He
has paid me several visits since he left the hussars, and his sole
regret is that Cordova did not live to share in the