auty. Her inspiration and presence were electrical. The old
forgot their caution and their years. The young, who needed but a
leader, had suddenly found a genius. There was now no lack of the
necessary enthusiasm. There were no more scruples. Hesitation yielded
to resolve. The required pledges were given--given more abundantly
than required; and raising the slight form of the damsel to his own
height, Bolivar again pressed his lips upon her forehead, gazing at
her with a respectful delight, while he bestowed upon her the name of
the Guardian Angel of Bogota. With a heart bounding and beating with
the most enthusiastic emotions--too full for further utterance, La
Pola disappeared from that imposing presence, which her coming had
filled with a new life and impulse.

[Footnote 5: This terrible slaughter took place on the night of the
16th June, 1816, under the advice, and with the participation of the
women of Mompox, a beautiful city on an island in the River Magdalena.
The event has enlisted the muse of many a native patriot and poet, who
grew wild when they recalled the courage of

"Those dames of Magdalena,
Who, in one fearful night,
Slew full four hundred tyrants,
Nor shrunk from blood in fright."

Such women deserve the apostrophe of Macbeth to his wife:

"Bring forth men children only."]

It was nearly dawn when the Liberator left the city. That night the
bleaching skeleton of the venerable patriot Hermano was taken down
from the gibbet where it had hung so long, by hands that left the
revolutionary banner waving proudly in its place. This was an event to
startle the viceroy. It was followed by other events. In a few days
more and the sounds of insurrection were heard throughout the
province--the city still moving secretly--sending forth supplies and
intelligence by stealth, but unable to raise the standard of
rebellion, while Zamano, the viceroy, doubtful of its loyalty,
remained in possession of its strong places with an overawing force.
Bolivar himself, under these circumstances, was unwilling that the
patriots should throw aside the mask. Throughout the province,
however, the rising was general. They responded eagerly to the call of
the Liberator, and it was easy to foresee that their cause must
ultimately prevail. The people in conflict proved themselves equal to
their rulers. The Spaniards had been neither moderate when strong, nor
were they prudent now when the conflict found th