irection that led towards Cuzco. As yet they could
distinguish the spires of the distant city, and the Catholic crosses, as
they glistened under the evening sunbeam. Why did they look back with
fear and distrust? Why? _Because Don Pablo was in flight, and feared
pursuers_! What? Had he committed some great crime? No. On the
contrary, he was the _victim of a noble virtue_--the virtue of
patriotism! For that had he been condemned, and was now in flight--
flying to save not only his liberty but his life! yes, _his life_; for
had the sentinels on those distant towers but recognised him, he would
soon have been followed and dragged back to an ignominious death.

Young reader, I am writing of things that occurred near the beginning of
the present century, and before the Spanish-American colonies became
free from the rule of Old Spain. You will remember that these countries
were then governed by viceroys, who represented the King of Spain, but
who in reality were quite as absolute as that monarch himself. The
great viceroys of Mexico and Peru held court in grand state, and lived
in the midst of barbaric pomp and luxury. The power of life and death
was in their hands, and in many instances they used it in the most
unjust and arbitrary manner. They were themselves, of course, natives
of Old Spain--often the pampered favourites of that corrupt court. All
the officials by which they were surrounded and served were, like
themselves, natives of Spain, or "Gachupinos," (as the Creoles used to
call them,) while the Creoles--no matter how rich, or learned, or
accomplished in any way--were excluded from every office of honour and
profit. They were treated by the Gachupinos with contempt and insult.
Hence for long long years before the great revolutions of Spanish
America, a strong feeling of dislike existed between Creole Spaniards
and Spaniards of Old Spain; and this feeling was quite independent of
that which either had towards the Indians--the aborigines of America.
This feeling brought about the revolution, which broke out in all the
countries of Spanish America (including Mexico) about the year 1810, and
which, after fifteen years of cruel and sanguinary fighting, led to the
independence of these countries.

Some people will tell you that they gained nothing by this independence,
as since that time so much war and anarchy have marked their history.
There is scarcely any subject upon which mankind thinks more
superfi