text:  My son swear that you will defend it!" No selfish thought of his own happiness which would be marred by the oath he was required to take nor any but the one absorbing idea of smoothing his dying father's pillow by a prompt and willing compliance with his wishes crossed the mind of Luis as he took the crucifix from the hand of the priest and kneeling by the bedside swore on the sacred emblem to obey Don Manuel's injunctions both in letter and spirit and to resist to his latest breath the traitors who would enslave his country