"What will happen now?" asked one fellow.
"It is all decided," replied Videla. "I heard last night that the government will yield. Riva-Aguero is to be made president, and Santa Cruz commander-in-chief."
"And what shall we do, colonel?"
"Obey orders," he answered, smiling. "We cannot fight for a government that has resigned its powers."
The evening proved Videla's words true. The troops, having accomplished their object, returned to camp, rejoicing that the country had a new ruler.
"Now," exclaimed Alzura, as we turned in for the night, "I suppose we shall see great things done!"
"New brooms sweep clean," said I, laughing, "but unfortunately they soon become old ones."
However, it really did seem as if the new general intended to push on the war in vigorous style. Preparations were made for another expedition to the south; Bolivar was invited to Peru; and Sucre, his most brilliant general, had already come.
At this time we knew nothing of Colonel Miller; but about the end of March he returned to Lima, having done more with his handful of men than all the southern army. The stories told by officers who served with him filled us with envy.
"Did you hear how we cleared the Royalists out of Arequipa?" asked Captain Plaza. "That was a rich joke," and he laughed even at the recollection of it.