The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-01
CHAPTER X
The Battle of Carabobo

I think Bolivar as toastmaster was
the peer OF any man I have ever seen.
II was his wont to bring his officers
together once a week in what he
termed dinner, but which usually de-
veloped into a well-ordered caroIse.
for wine and rum and other spirituous
liquors were cheap ano plentiful In
Venezuela. Bolivar, demanding only
obedience OF his men, took no note of
their morals; wherein, think, lay one
of the secrets OF his amazing hold
upon his soldiers.
In the spacious hall Of the adobe
house that was his headquarters we
were gathered on the night before the
battle of Carabobo. Besides Bolivar
there was the wise and suave Marine,
chief of staff; Urdaneta. whom the
general called Rafael, a faithful fol-
lower OF Bolivar, who. for many years
after the death of the Liberator,
served his country with brilliance and
distinction; Paez. chief of the llaneros.
Plaza, Cedeno. Colonel PM. all smiles
because of his questionably won dec
grafton; Colonel Macintosh, Colonel
Terrier, who, on the morrow. was des-
tined to find the fatal bullet: Captain
Minchin, another Briton who fell Upon
the field of Carabobo; Moore and Lind
say, English medicos: Captain Scott.
Monahan, the swarthy Manuel Fran
cisco and others-names to conjure
with in Venezuela. Santini, the sol
der, had not survived the storm that
wrecked the Santa Lucrecia
Under the surface of laughter and
badinage lay the tension of over
wrought nerves, for we felt the por-
tent Of the morrow's battle.
Men were called upon for speeches
or toasts. Colonel PM, whose blood
shot eyes showed the effect of the
vast amount of wine that he had con-
sumed, found unsteady feet and.
swaying beyond the bounds Of safe
equilibrium, related the fragment of
an amour, the questionable wit of
which might have lifted laughter only
out Of wine-bemused minds. Manuel
gave an account of my unsuccessful
attempt in New Orleans to initiate
San Isidro, and my equally unsuccess-
fui effort to vanquish four men, which
drew the attention of the gathered
officers in my direction.
l had never made speech. nor
offered a toast. but when Bolivar, en-
couraging eyes upon me, said. should
we not get the voice of the United
States, a great nation after which we
hope 70 pattern our Own?" | came
slowly to my feet, my mind blank,
and tremors shaking me. Leaning
against the table for support. l stared
vacantly at the half-filled wine glass
in my right hand. and PM, noting my
embarrassment, laughed harshly.
"A speech" be cried gaily, "or If
the Americano's mind refuses to func-
ton. a toast. toast TO the
Senorita-to the lovely Lamartina ~
A silence fell upon us-a grim fore
boding silence-for many of these men
knew of my mad worship Of the Seno-
rita. The look that bent upon PM
had nothing of friendship in ii; it was
more like a challenge. That be was
drunk / knew, and that her name upon
his lips gained nothing for a lady was
a thing of equal certainty TO me.
Looking across the narrow table
into the leering eyes Of my tormentor.
| felt the surge of an overwhelming
fury. and before / had taken time to
consider my act. or the consequences
of il, | had cast the contents OF my
wine glass into his face. Then. while
PM spluttered in anger, l turned to
Bolivar
THAT, my general, is the voice of
the United States, where men are
wont to look with reverence upon
woman. The amours Of Colonel
PM"
PM came to his feet, his face fam
ing, eyes cleaning. Il will have his
life for that. I'll run him through. I'll
drive a sword"
| bowed, while Bolivar-the burrows
in his high forehead deepening and
his heavy eyebrows drawing together
in a portentOus frowu-considered US.
Il think" said Francisco coldly.
that Colonel PM forgets the wounded
arm of Major Gards; it has not yet
healed. and the major, therefore, would
be at a serious disadvantage"
eTo BE coNTINUED1