You shall be mine ally, though I find none
other in all Bogota sufficiently courageous. In you, my child, in you
and yours, there is still a redeeming spirit which shall save your
city utterly from shame!"

[Footnote 4: A frequent case among the maids of South America.]

While he spoke, the emotions of the maiden were of a sort readily to
show how easily she should be quickened with the inspiration of lyric
song. The color came and went upon her soft white cheeks. The tears
rose, big and bright, upon her eyelashes--heavy drops, incapable of
suppression, that swelled one after the other, trembled and fell,
while the light blazed, even more brightly from the shower, in the
dark and dilating orbs which harbored such capacious fountains. She
had no words at first, but, trembling like a leaf, sunk upon a cushion
at the feet of her father, as Bolivar, with a kiss upon her forehead,
released her from his clasp. Her courage came back to her a moment
after. She was a thing of impulse, whose movements were as prompt and
unexpected as the inspiration by which she sung. Bolivar had scarcely
turned from her, as if to relieve her tremor, when she recovered all
her strength and courage. Suddenly rising from the cushion, she seized
the hand of her father, and with an action equally passionate and
dignified, she led him to the Liberator, to whom, speaking for the
first time in that presence, she thus addressed herself:

"_He_ is yours--he has always been ready with his life and money.
Believe me, for I know it. Nay, more! doubt not that there are
hundreds in Bogota--though they be not here--who, like him, will be
ready whenever they hear the summons of your trumpet. Nor will the
women of Bogota be wanting. There will be many of them who will take
the weapons of those who use them not, and do as brave deeds for their
country as did the dames of Magdalena when they slew four hundred
Spaniards".[5]

"Ah! I remember! A most glorious achievement, and worthy to be writ in
characters of gold. It was at Mompox where they rose upon the garrison
of Morillo. Girl, you are worthy to have been the chief of those women
of Magdalena. You will be chief yet of the women of Bogota. I take
your assurance with regard to them; but for the men, it were better
that thou peril nothing even in thy speech."

The last sarcasm of the Liberator might have been spared. That which
his eloquence had failed to effect was suddenly accomplished by this
child of be