Aldana
next contrived, by means of his agents, to circulate among the
citizens, and even the soldiers of the camp, the president's
manifestoes. They were not long in producing their effect. Few
had been at all aware of the real purport of Gasca's mission, of
the extent of his powers, or of the generous terms offered by
government. They shrunk from the desperate course into which
they had been thus unwarily seduced, and they sought only in what
way they could, with least danger, extricate themselves from
their present position, and return to their allegiance. Some
escaped by night from the camp, eluded the vigilance of the
sentinels, and effected their retreat on board the vessels. Some
were taken, and found no quarter at the hands of Carbajal and his
merciless ministers. But, where the spirit of disaffection was
abroad, means of escape were not wanting.
As the fugitives were cut off from Lima and the neighbouring
coast, they secreted themselves in the forests and mountains, and
watched their opportunity for making their way to Truxillo and
other ports at a distance; and so contagious was the example,
that it not unfrequently happened that the very soldiers sent in
pursuit of the deserters joined with them. Among those that fled
was the Licentiate Carbajal, who must not be confounded with his
military namesake. He was the same cavalier whose brother had
been put to death in Lima by Blasco Nunez, and who revenged
himself, as we have seen, by imbruing his own hands in the blood
of the viceroy.
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