necessary decrees. This act of subversion placed the governor of Buenos Ayres in a very delicate position; for there was already some distrust among the governments, arising from provincial jealousies, and the coming of Colonel Madrid from Buenos Ayres, and his interference with provincial authorities, were regarded as acts instigated by the governor himself.
To remove this suspicion, Facundo was sent to Tucuman for the purpose of reestablishing the local authorities. Madrid explained to the governor the real motive—certainly a very insufficient one—which had actuated him, and professed sincere devotion to the cause. But it was too late, Facundo was already on his way, and he could only prepare to resist him. Madrid had at his disposal a company which was passing through Salta; but not wishing to aggravate the charges already made against him, contented himself with fifty guns and as many swords; enough, as he thought, to meet the invading force.
This Colonel Madrid belonged to a class of men essentially Argentine by birth and spirit. At the age of fourteen he began to fight the Spaniards, and the stories of his romantic valor are numerous and often incredible. He was said to have been in a hundred and fifty encounters, his sword always bearing marks of much service; the very smell of powder and neighing of the horses so excited him, that cavalry, artillery, infantry, everything that came in his way, fell before his mad energy. Besides his love of fighting, he had the gift of the Argentine cantor, and animated his soldiers with war-songs, such as have already been described. Unfortunately, he was not a well-balanced
