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Updated: May 7, 2025
I knew very little about military tactics, but it was a strange kind of pursuit, and made me think of a tortoise chasing a hare. "I wonder what Captain Plaza would think of this performance?" said the colonel, rather bitterly, as we jogged along. "This isn't the way he took you after Santalla, eh?" "Indeed no, colonel!" I replied, laughing.
We must be close on their heels now, and I don't mean Santalla to escape if I can help it." Santalla was a Royalist colonel of whose cruelty I had heard many times. He was a gigantic fellow, of enormous strength; but, according to all accounts, a pitiful coward in spite of his boasting.
At ten o'clock Plaza was compelled to halt, three-fourths of the men being tired as dogs, while several horses had foundered on the road. He was very excited, having heard from the last Spaniard picked up that Santalla, thoroughly worn out, was barely two hours' march in front. He glanced wrathfully at his tired troopers.
"'Twill be a plain trail for the main body," remarked the guide; for we ourselves were continually passing broken weapons, mules that could not drag their limbs a step further, dead horses, and now and then a Royalist soldier curled up on the track fast asleep. "Where will Santalla make for?" I asked. "Arequipa. But I don't think he can reach it.
By degrees, however, my strength returned, and at the end of another week I was able to resume my duties. The colonel, as usual, was extremely busy, having to keep in order all the affairs of a huge district. Though my services were very welcome, he would not let me do too much, saying kindly, "Take it easy, my lad. One mustn't spur the willing horse. We are not chasing Santalla just at present."
I have a good mind to push on with the men on the strongest horses, leaving you to follow. What do you think?" "I think that you are going fast enough, captain. Both men and horses are fagged now, and it's useless to catch up with Santalla just as we are all dead beat." "But if we don't go ahead we shan't catch him at all. The colonel did not send us on in front to sit down by the wayside."
"We shouldn't shine in a cavalry charge," I admitted, laughing and looking at my horse, "unless, indeed, it were under Don Quixote's banner!" "Well, Crawford," cried the captain, riding up, "something ought to happen soon now. It's a pity we wasted that last hour this morning, though. We must make up for it during the day. One of the prisoners informed me that Santalla cannot be far ahead.
"Santalla will have to rest as well," remarked the guide, "so the scales will balance." "But I don't want them to balance!" cried Plaza testily. To give the captain his due, he was greatly in earnest, and willing to do himself all that he required of his men. He showed this plainly two hours after we had resumed the pursuit, when his horse suddenly dropped from exhaustion.
I was tired out before my horse got hit, and the climb up the pass finished me." "You weren't the only one to get knocked up. However, the colonel obtained a light cart, and we brought you all back to Ica." "So we had our trouble for nothing?" "Not exactly. Santalla escaped, but he left all his stores behind, and nearly a hundred of his men were captured.
Several acquaintances congratulated me on my recovery; but not seeing Captain Plaza, I asked José if he had been hurt. "Oh no," he answered, with a smile; "the captain is sound in everything but temper. Santalla spoiled that by getting clear off. You won't forget that charming little trip in a hurry, Jack!" "Oh, it was simply awful! I wouldn't go through it again to be made commander-in-chief.
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