I have said that Don Gomez was at my side. As he saw the Spaniards
drawing near, he turned to me. "Senor David," he said, "these are my
countrymen. The Indians have lost the day."
"You would wish to join them. Is it so?" I asked.
"I would. Have I your permission?" he said.
"You were committed to my charge by yonder chief, who, I trust, will be
with us soon. If he gives you your liberty, your word will not be
broken, though I shall be sorry to part from you," I replied.
"But the Indians are defeated," urged Don Gomez. "Am I to remain a
prisoner for ever?"
"Till he who received your word restores it to you," I again answered;
and while I was speaking, Pedro reached us. For a moment he was too
breathless to speak; and during this interval I observed that Manco had
so far got ahead of his pursuers, that their shot began to fall short.
They halted; for just then they perceived us on the hills, probably
supposing us enemies; and at the same moment a party of Indians, who lay
concealed in some brushwood below us, sprang upon them. Had the Indians
waited till the soldiers had advanced a little further, every man of the
latter might have been killed or captured. As it was, they had time to
turn their horses, and gallop off the way they had come, followed by a
shower of arrows, which killed one and wounded another of them.
Manco, without stopping, made his horse breast the hill. He had got up
some way, when we saw the noble animal stagger and fall, and both horse
and rider lay motionless on the ground. Ned and I galloped down the
hill towards him; for Don Gomez had, in the moment before, thrown
himself from his horse, and was standing grasping Pedro's hand, and
looking earnestly in his face. We reached Manco. We found that his
horse was dead, and that he had received a severe wound in his side.
While we were stooping over him, the Indians came up, and, not knowing
who we were, were on the point of knocking us on the head with their
clubs, when he recovered his senses, and exclaimed that we were friends.
We were once more aroused to action by Pedro's voice; and lifting Manco
on my horse, which was fresh and strong, I rode up the hill, accompanied
by Ned, and followed by the Indians.
"Fly, fly!" exclaimed Pedro. "I came to warn you of the danger you are
in. Look there, look there!"
We looked in the direction he pointed; and I now perceived that while we
had been watching the flight and capture of the Inca, and Manco's
subsequent escape, which had occupied a considerable time, a strong body
of troops had crossed the ford higher up the river, and were advancing
rapidly along the path which led to the village where the wives of the
chiefs had been left. In a few hurried words, Pedro told me that on
hearing the firing, he had come out to see what was taking place, and
that, like ourselves, he had been watching the battle from another
height. To my deep regret, I found that, from the character of the
ground, the troops were already much nearer the village than we were,
and already occupied the only approach to it, so that the Indian women
must inevitably fall into their power. I endeavoured to conceal this
information from Manco; for, heart-broken and wounded as he was, I
thought it would kill him outright. Those only, however, for whom I
felt a personal interest, were Nita and her child; and I would have run
every risk to save them. We were at the time posted in a dip in the
hill, and while Ned and I bound up Manco's wound, I sent Pedro to a
height above us, to report the movements of the troops. In a short time
he gave notice that a party of them had been detached from the main
body, and were advancing in our direction. I concluded that as we
climbed the hill, followed by the Indians, we had been perceived, and
that, unless we were prepared to run the risk of falling into the hands
of the Spaniards, we must make our escape. Manco was sufficiently
recovered to sit on horseback, and I proposed giving him my horse and
following on foot. As we were about to move off, I recollected Don
Gomez's request.
"He is at liberty to go," answered Manco. "Perhaps he may recollect how
he has been treated, and intercede for some of the unfortunate Indians
who have fallen into the hands of his countrymen."
To my surprise, Don Gomez refused the offer.
"I will remain some time longer with you, unless that, youth (pointing
to Pedro) may accompany me. I would ask him some further questions; for
his countenance has strangely agitated my mind."
I had no opportunity of inquiring what he meant, when Pedro exclaimed
that he saw an Indian woman, with a child in her arms, on the ridge of
the hill, at some distance; and that the party of soldiers he had seen
detached from the main body, were evidently in pursuit of her.
Manco hearing these words, seemed to surmise what had occurred, and, in
spite of his wound, throwing himself on my horse and calling on the
Indians to follow, he galloped along the rocky height. The eye of love
at once recognised the person of the fugitive. It was his own Nita. We
all hurried after him, and even Don Gomez seemed anxious for his
success. Ned, who was the only other person on horseback, and who,
though he rode like a seaman, always managed to make his steed cross
places few people would have ventured over, was soon by his side, and
together the two galloped on towards the Indian woman.
"Hurra," shouted Ned, "Hurra! Mr Indian, hurra! We'll manage to
diddle the Dons."
The Spanish soldiers had begun firing; but as they had at the same time
to climb the hill, and were at a considerable distance, their aim was
not good. Their bullets, notwithstanding, as we got nearer, came
whizzing by our heads; but still we pushed on. They were evidently,
however, gaining on the poor girl; and should she fall, or her strength
fail her, they would be up to her before her husband could arrive to her
rescue. I have often had to undergo moments of great excitement, but
never have I felt such intense anxiety as I did for Nita's rescue. On
galloped Manco and Ned. The soldiers saw them coming, and fired a
volley. I saw Manco reel for an instant, but still he sat his horse.
In another minute Ned had lifted Nita on his horse, and placed her
before him, and handing the child to Manco, the two returned at the same
rapid rate towards us. The Spaniards, disappointed of their prey,
halted, and fired again; and then seeing only a small body of Indians,
continued their advance. As we had nothing to gain by fighting, I
called out to Manco, as he came up, to order the Indians to retreat. We
managed to do so in very good order, and at so rapid a rate that we soon
distanced the Spaniards. They were, however, continuing the pursuit,
when the sound of a bugle from the main body called them back. Halting
as they heard it, they fired a parting volley after us. It was well
aimed; several of the Indians were struck, as was also the unfortunate
Don Gomez. I ran to his assistance; but he still sat his horse.
"It is nothing," he said; "a mere flesh wound, which I shall soon
recover from."
I beckoned Pedro, who went up to him and walked by his side. I was
afraid lest a sudden faintness should make him fall from his horse.
"What do you propose doing?" I asked of Manco as soon as, having got
beyond range of the Spaniards' muskets, we came to a halt.
"Proscribed and hunted, we must henceforth, like beasts of prey, seek
for safety in the caves and recesses of the mountains," he answered
gloomily.
"You say well we must settle what is to be done. There is a cavern high
up the mountains some way from this, where some hundred men may take
shelter. Few know of it, and if any traitors were to lead the Spaniards
to it, they would find it cost them dear to attack us there. I will
show the way. On, on, my friends, on!"
I saw that the chief was in no mood for conversation. That day all his
brightest hopes had faded away for ever. The liberty of Peru was lost;
his friends had been slaughtered round him; and his Inca was a prisoner
in the hands of his bitterest foes. We pushed on as fast as the rugged
nature of the country would allow us to move; crossing valleys and
streams, and climbing mountains, till we arrived at the foot of a lofty
and perfectly perpendicular precipice, along the foot of which we moved
for some distance. As I looked up, I saw that stones hurled from the
summit would completely have annihilated us. Almost at right angles
from the cliff arose another hill, up which we now began to climb. On
reaching the summit, we turned once more in the direction of the cliffs,
which we found were connected with the hill by a natural bridge of rock
thrown across a dark and frightful gorge. Ordering the horses to be
turned adrift on the hill, Manco, with his child in his arms, led the
way across the bridge, and along a narrow ledge, which now appeared as
if cut by natural labour in the side of the cliff. I kept close to him
to assist him if required; Ned followed, supporting Nita; Pedro, leading
Don Gomez, went next; and the Indians in single file after us. A couple
of hundred yards along a ledge, where a single false step would have
proved certain death, brought us to a hollow in the face of the rock,
entering which, we found ourselves in a cavern of very extensive
dimensions.
The ground was perfectly level, and the roof dry; and from the
appearance I judged that art had been employed to render it habitable.
Near the mouth were several pieces of wood which served for torches; and
fire being produced by some of the Indians, the cavern was soon
sufficiently lit up to show us its extent. On one side, a fountain of
pure water spouted from the rock; on the other, a quantity of wood was
piled up; and in some oven-shaped buildings, I found was stored a
quantity of corn.
It is impossible to conceive a place more impregnable by nature. The
summit of the cliffs, I afterwards found, was perfectly inaccessible;
while below they extended in a perpendicular wall to a depth of four
hundred feet at least. In front the valley widened out to a
considerable extent, the opposite cliff being also almost inaccessible,
so that the only possible approach was by the narrow ledge along which
we had come. Indeed it seemed capable of holding out against any
besiegers, as long as the provisions within might last.
As soon as we entered, Ned placed Nita on the ground, and Manco, faint
with loss of blood, as well as with fatigue and agitation, sunk down by
her side. Taking the infant from him, she handed it to Ned, whose
honest countenance had won her confidence. She then placed her
husband's head in her lap, and bent over him in silence, expressing her
grief neither in tears nor cries.
"Come, don't be cast down, Missus," said Ned, his kind heart moved by
her sorrow. "Better times may come, and your good man isn't going to
slip his cable, I hope. I say, mate, she don't understand my lingo," he
continued, turning to me; "just you tell her what I say. It'll cheer
her up a bit."
I saw that words could bring no comfort to the poor creature, but that
our attention might be more effectually employed in binding up Manco's
wounds. Telling Ned this, we set to work in as scientific a way as we
were able. Some of the Indians brought us water, and Nita, when she saw
what we were about, aroused herself to help us. We had scarcely
finished the operation, when a cry from Pedro called us to the
assistance of Don Gomez, who had likewise fainted from the pain of his
wound and loss of blood. My attention had, indeed, been so completely
occupied with my Indian friend, that I had forgotten that the Spaniard
had been hurt. Pedro was kneeling by his side, and supporting him with
a look of interest and anxiety, which I at first was at a loss to
understand.
"O come, my friend, come and help him, or he will die!" he exclaimed.
Ned, who had seen many a gun-shot wound, and had often assisted the
surgeons to doctor his shipmates, examined the Spaniard's hurts.
"It's a bad job, mate, I'm afraid," he observed, pointing to his side.
"The ball is in him somewhere, for there's the place it entered, and I
can find no hole where it could have got out again. I've been feeling
for it all round his back, but there's no sign of it. How he came on so
far as this without dropping, I don't know. It was his spirit kept him
up, I suppose."
Finding that we could do nothing else to relieve the unfortunate Don
Gomez, we washed and bound up his wound, and then laid him on a bed of
some straw and skins, which we found in the cavern. The same care had
been taken of Manco. The Indians, meantime, had lighted a fire in the
mouth of the cavern, and were seated round it in moody silence, brooding
over their defeat and the death of many of their comrades and friends.
We found some brandy among the stores, and after Don Gomez had swallowed
a little of it, which we gave him with some water, he revived, and
beckoned Pedro to him.
"You were telling me, as we came along, a strange tale of your life,
young man," he said, in a feeble voice. "It served to sustain me, when
otherwise I should have sunk with pain. Can I believe you?"
"Indeed, Senor, I have only told the truth," replied Pedro. "I was
found by the Indians, when an infant, alone in a wood. My complexion
shows that I am Spanish; and see, the crucifix and chain which were
around my neck when I was discovered, I have ever since worn."
"Merciful Providence, what do I behold?" exclaimed the wounded man,
starting up and gazing eagerly at the ornament Pedro exhibited. "It
is--it is! Come to my arms, my son, my son! I have found you, alas!
but to quit you too soon again."
Pedro had thrown himself upon his father's neck, for such there could be
no doubt Don Gomez was.
"Oh, do not say so, my father, whom I have so long sought. Do not say
that you must quit me!" he cried, in an agony of tears.
"Alas! it is the climax of my destiny," answered the Spaniard. "I have
longed to discover you, and now that my wishes are fulfilled, death
claims me as his own. Such has been my fate through life. I cannot
even leave you the wealth I have amassed, for of that also I have been
deprived."
"O do not think of that!" exclaimed Pedro. "It is sufficient for me to
know that you are my father; and do but recover and I will learn to work
for you and support you. Say that you will not die, and I shall be
happy."
I need not further describe the scene. Pedro sat by his father's side,
and deep and earnest was their conversation. Ned and I left them alone
and joined the Indians at their fire, for we saw that we could render no
further assistance to our patients. The Indians had brought food with
them, and as there was a supply of maize and dried meat and cocoa in the
cavern, we had no reason to complain of hunger.
Manco had given orders that one of the Indians should at all times be
stationed at the bridge I spoke of, leading to the ledge, to give notice
of danger; and they regularly relieved each other at the post, though
few would have ventured to cross that rocky ledge even in broad
daylight, much less at night, uncertain what reception they might meet
with at its termination. The night passed slowly, though I managed at
intervals, as did Ned, to obtain some sleep. I after a time got up and
stood at the mouth of the cave, looking up at the dark sky studded with
thousands of stars, and then glancing down into the obscure depths below
my feet. The air was perfectly still, and I fancied that I could hear
the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry echoing among the
mountains.
At length I perceived a ruddy glare extending over the sky. I thought
at first that it must be a sign of the rising sun, but, as I watched, it
grew brighter and brighter, but did not increase in extent, and then by
degrees it faded away before the genial glow of the coming day appeared.
I guessed, too truly, that it arose from the burning of the village,
which the Spaniards had attacked. I did not, however, inform my
companions, for I felt that I should only add to their grief by so
doing. The Indians continued sleeping till a late hour. They seemed to
have the power of thus steeping their misery in oblivion. A night's
rest had somewhat restored Manco, but he was evidently fretting at the
thought of the inactivity to which his wound would consign him. "But
what would you do if you were able to move about," I asked. "The Inca
is a prisoner, and will, I fear, suffer death, for you cannot hope to
rescue him."
"The Inca never dies," he answered, lifting himself up on his arm, and
looking me earnestly in the face. "The young Andres is still in arms in
the south, and may yet be victorious. Should the Spaniards add a deeper
dye to the crimes they have committed, by the destruction of the Inca,
he will succeed; and should he too be cut off, I and that infant
sleeping by my side must succeed to the title. Little did the Spanish
soldiers dream whom they were yesterday pursuing, when Nita fled from
them with our babe in her arms."
Hope still I saw supported my friend, and I would not deprive him of it,
little as I entertained it myself. Don Gomez had not improved. He was
feverish and weak, and I fancied that I saw death on his countenance;
but he was happy at having his son by his side, and I was unwilling to
warn Pedro of his danger. Several days passed away without the
appearance of an enemy in the neighbourhood; and at length the Indians
began to grow uneasy at confinement. We also were anxious to obtain
information as to the state of affairs. It was just possible that, as
Manco hoped, the Spaniards might have been driven back. And that we
were shutting ourselves up for no object. The difficulty was to decide
who was the most proper person to go in search of information. An
Indian would, to a certainty, have been kept prisoner and publicly
executed; Pedro could not leave his father; and when I proposed going,
Ned declared that I should be either recognised as having escaped from
prison, or treated as a spy.
"For my part I don't mind going myself," he observed. "I've no fancy
for being cooped up here any longer; and if I'm asked any questions, all
I shall say is, that I've got away from the Injuns, and want to get back
to my own country."
Very unwillingly I at last yielded to all the arguments he used to let
him go instead of me. I was also afraid that it might have been
suspected that he had assisted us to escape from prison; but he
overruled that objection by saying that it was a very long time ago, and
that it was not likely any of those who had seen him should be at Cuzco,
or remember the circumstance. To prevent the risk of his falling into
the hands of any Indians, Manco ordered one of those with us to
accompany him to the neighbourhood of the capital, where he was to be
hid till his return, and then to bring him back safe. It was with a
heavy heart that I saw Ned set out. Still I was very anxious to
commence our journey eastward, and without knowing the state of affairs,
I could not quit my friend Manco, nor could we venture to move Don Gomez
into the city. I watched Ned as he passed under the cliff, and saw him
wave his hat as a sign that he, at all events, feared none of the
dangers of his expedition.
Meantime the Indians ventured out a short distance across the mountains
to hunt for game. Several of them were always stationed on the
surrounding pinnacles of rocks, whence they could watch for the approach
of danger. Now and then they killed with their arrows a _tarush_, an
active and timid little roe which frequents the higher forests which
skirt the Andes. At night they used to set snares made of horse hair,
at the mouths of holes inhabited by little animals like rabbits. These
were called _viscachas_ and _chinchillas_. The skin of the latter
supplies the beautiful fur so much prized in Europe. Their colour and
form resembles the rabbit, but they have shorter ears and long, rough
tails. As, however, we had an abundant supply of _charqui_, which is
the name given to dried beef in the Andes, we were not dependent on the
success of our huntsmen for food. Pedro employed all his time in
reading to and conversing with his father; and I observed that a very
satisfactory change had taken place with regard to his state of mind.
He had now learned to bow to the decrees of Providence without repining,
and to acknowledge that whatever the great Ruler of the universe orders,
is for the good of His creatures. The event I had foreseen was fast
approaching. Every day Don Gomez had grown weaker and weaker, and he
could no longer raise himself on his bed of straw. One evening he
called Manco and me to his side after he had made Pedro aware that his
speedy death was inevitable. "You have both been friends of my son," he
said. "Most deeply do I thank you, though I have no means of showing my
gratitude; indeed, I must call on you still further to befriend him. I
found him poor, and may leave him so, unless the power of Spain is
re-established in Peru. In either case, you can serve him. In the one,
still support and protect him; and in the other, witness that I have
acknowledged him as my son, and enable him to regain the property which
was mine. There is a certain Father Manuel in Cuzco, who knows my
signature, and is cognisant of all the particulars of my history. Let
him see the papers I have left, should he have escaped the death which
has overtaken so many of my countrymen, and he will assist him to the
utmost of his means in his object. May Heaven help him to obtain what
by right is his!"
We promised the dying man to obey his wishes to the best of our ability,
though, as we could not venture to present ourselves in any city of Peru
as witnesses, I had very little expectation that Pedro would ever
recover his property. That night Don Gomez breathed his last. I will
not speak of the bitter anguish poor Pedro suffered, at the death of a
parent so lately found and so soon lost. The Indians made a grave in a
green mound on the neighbouring mountain; and there we buried the
unfortunate man.
Several days more passed away; and at last one of our scouts came
hurrying in, to give notice that he had seen some persons approaching
along the valley, in the far distance. On the edge of the ledge, and at
the mouth of the cavern, stones had been piled up, to hurl down on the
heads of any who might appear in the guise of enemies. I looked eagerly
out, for I hoped they might prove to be Ned and his guide; for I had
begun to be very anxious for my friend's safety. As the persons drew
near, to my great satisfaction, I recognised Ned and his guide. They
appeared footsore and weary, and came on very slowly. I went out to
meet him at the bridge.
"I can't say a word, mate, till I've had some food and rest," he
answered. "And this poor fellow here, he's worse off than I am."
After Ned and the Indian had eaten, they lay down to sleep, and it was
four hours before the former awoke and gave me an account of his
adventures, which I translated to Manco and Pedro.
"Well, mates," he began, "I'm glad to get back with a whole skin on my
body; and never may I have to see again the sights I've witnessed since
I've left this place. The sooner, for my part, we get out of the
country, the better. It was all very well when we had to climb up and
down the mountains; I didn't mind that; but as soon as we got down into
the plains, we couldn't go a hundred yards without meeting with the dead
bodies of our fellow-creatures--Red-skin or White-skin, it's all the
same to me. I can't bear to see men, women, and young children murdered
like sheep and lambs. The Spaniards had cleared out and burnt every
Indian village on the road. We had to pass near the place where the
battle was fought, and there were thousands and thousands of bodies of
Indians. The birds and beasts of prey could scarcely consume them. At
last we got near the city, and my Red-skin mate there stowed himself
away under a rock in a thick wood; and taking the bearings of the place,
I went on by myself. I met no one till I got to the walls, for the Dons
still kept inside, afraid of the Injuns, though they'd killed so many of
them. When the guards at the gates asked me what I wanted, I said I'd
come from the mountains, where I'd been hiding away during the row, and
that I was looking out for a night's rest in a civilised place, before I
set out back to my own country; which was true enough, you know. They
then took me to the governor of the city, and he questioned me right and
left; but I stuck to my story. So when he found he could get nothing
out of me, he let me go, telling me to come and see him in a couple of
days or so. I found there were to be great doings the next day, and
what do you think they were? Why, these Christians were going to burn
the Inca and his whole family, because they tried to get back their
rights. It wasn't a sight I wished to see, you may depend on it; but I
couldn't help myself. Well, in the morning there was a large crowd in
the great square; and in the middle there was a quantity of stakes and
wood piled up, and near them a high platform. Presently a number of
Indian people were brought out of the prison--men, women, and children--
and were marched up to the stakes, and bound to them with cords. Last
of all came a man, whom I soon saw was the Inca, for he was dressed as
he was on the day of the battle, and looked a real king, every inch of
him. They made him stand up on the platform, and look down on what was
going on below.
"They first shot all the children, and then they set fire to the wood,
and burnt the women, and then the men; and, would you believe it, among
them was the wife of the Inca, and his children, and his brothers, and
nephews and nieces. He didn't utter a cry or a groan, but kept looking
on as if his eyes would start out of his head; but they, poor creatures,
shrieked out for mercy from men who hadn't got any in their natures.
"When the rest were dead, they put some faggots under the platform, and
burnt the brave fellow where he stood. The people shouted and rejoiced
as if they had done something to be proud of. I couldn't stand it any
longer, so I hurried away from the place; for I heard that all the
Indian prisoners in the city were next to be shot, and that there were
some hundreds of them. I got into talk with a number of people. From
some I heard one thing, and from some another; but what I made out was,
that young Andres, the Inca's son, with several other chiefs, were still
in arms in the south; but that the Spaniards had sent for troops from
all parts of America; and that, by fair means or foul, they were
resolved to destroy every Indian, till the war was finished. When I
found that I could learn nothing more, I waited till night, and climbed
over the walls. I then ran on as fast as my legs could carry me, till I
got back to the wood, where I found my guide. Thinking I might be
pursued, as I have no doubt I was, we made a very roundabout course, and
kept a bright look-out for enemies on every side. We managed to keep
clear of them, however, but were very hard up for food; and I'm not
sorry, let me tell you, mate, to find myself safe back again here."
Such was the substance of Ned's account. Prepared, as in a great degree
Manco had been, he was dreadfully affected by it, and for some time
could come to no resolution what course to take. Had he been alone, he
would at once have decided to join Andres, and endeavour still to make
head against the Spaniards; but Nita and his child were in the other
scale. At last he announced his resolution of quitting that part of
Peru, and taking refuge far beyond the borders of civilisation among
some of the wild tribes of the interior, in regions where the foot of
the white man had not yet penetrated.
"There I will remain," he said, "till a more favourable opportunity
occurs for rescuing my country from the oppression of the stranger. Be
assured that time will come. My boy may have grown to manhood, and my
hair may have turned grey, or we may both have passed away; but Spain
cannot for ever keep her iron yoke on the necks of our people. In the
meantime we shall have collected arms, and have learned the art of war
from our conquerors; and avoiding the errors which have now overcome us,
we shall be able to cope with them successfully."
He promised, moreover, to accompany us till we should be fairly embarked
on the great river of the south. I then asked Pedro what he proposed
doing.
"I will go with you, my friend," he answered at once. "I have no hopes
of obtaining my father's property, and I cannot quit you; I will share
your dangers, and accompany you to your native land."
I rather doubted whether it would not be wiser for him to try and reach
Cuzco, and put himself in communication with the Father Manuel, to whom
his father had referred him; but he adhered to his resolution of
accompanying me.
"I have no friends among my countrymen; I care not for wealth; and I
long to obtain that knowledge which here I cannot hope to find. I wish
also to see the world, and more than all, David, I would not be parted
from you."
So it was arranged; and Manco having sent out the Indians as scouts in
all directions to ascertain whether any Spaniards were in the
neighbourhood, we made instant preparations for our departure.