s reduced to a frightful state of
misery. The Spanish troops treated the people with the most revolting
ferocity, plundering and murdering in all directions, on the most
trifling pretexts. Old men, women, and children even, were arrested,
and often cruelly maimed and massacred as rebels. These barbarous
proceedings aroused the indignation of Bolivar, who had escaped from the
country; and uniting with a relative, Ribas, he proceeded from the
island of Curacoa to Venezuela, where he speedily raised a small force.
Attacking the Spanish garrison of the town of Teneriffe on the river
Magdalena, he drove them out, proceeding southward to Bogota, then in
the hands of the patriots. The Spanish generals at this time were
Boves, Rosette, and Morales. They were joined by Morillo, who was sent
in 1815 with a powerful army from Spain. Bolivar had again to fly; but
once more returning in 1817, he defeated Morillo in several battles; and
in 1819 he had become President of the Venezuelan Republic, the Congress
of which had been installed at Angostura on the Orinoco. From his
finished education, his knowledge of the world, and his military
talents, he was well fitted, as he showed, for the important position he
held.

Very different was the career of General Paez, who was born at Araure.
When but seventeen years old, the priest of that place--who was his
uncle--sent him with a considerable sum of money, to be delivered to
another padre residing at a distance. That he might perform the journey
in safety, he was provided with a mule, an old pistol, and a rusty
sword. It was fortunate that he was thus armed, for on the road he was
attacked by three men, who demanded his treasure. Young Paez, instead
of giving it up, threw himself from his mule with his pistol cocked; and
his weapon for a wonder going off, killed one of his opponents, and at
the same time bursting, struck another in the face; then drawing his
sword, which providentially also came out of its sheath, the youthful
hero charged the third robber, who, with his wounded companion, then
took to flight.

Not knowing what might be the consequence of having killed a man, young
Jose,--after delivering the money to the padre,--afraid of returning
home, fled to the province of Barenas, where he obtained employment on a
large cattle-farm. The overseer was a black man, who, conceiving a
dislike for the youth, compelled him to perform all sorts of laborious
duties, and among ot