Preface

           TheywilltellyouinAnchuria,thatPresidentMiraflores,ofthatvolatilerepublic,diedbyhisownhandinthecoasttownofCoralio;thathehadreachedthusfarinflightfromtheinconveniencesofanimminentrevolution;andthatonehundredthousanddollars,governmentfunds,whichhecarriedwithhiminanAmericanleathervaliseasasouvenirofhistempestuousadministration,wasneverafterwardrecovered.

           Forareal,aboywillshowyouhisgrave.Itisbackofthetownnearalittlebridgethatspansamangroveswamp.Aplainslabofwoodstandsatitshead.Someonehasburnedupontheheadstonewithahotironthisinscription:

           RAMONANGELDELASCRUZES

           YMIRAFLORES

           PRESIDENTEDELAREPUBLICA

           DEANCHURIA

           QUESEASUJUEZDIOS

           Itischaracteristicofthisbuoyantpeoplethattheypursuenomanbeyondthegrave."LetGodbehisjudge!"—Evenwiththehundredthousandunfound,thoughgreatlycoveted,thehueandcrywentnofurtherthanthat.

           TothestrangerortheguestthepeopleofCoraliowillrelatethestoryofthetragicendoftheirformerpresident;howhestrovetoescapefromthecountrywiththepublicfundsandalsowithDoñaIsabelGuilbert,theyoungAmericanoperasinger;