ittering above my head. I sunk to the ground, and
all consciousness passed from me.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE INDIAN'S HUT--ALARMING NEWS.

When consciousness at length returned, a very different scene met my
sight. I had an idea that something dreadful had occurred, but what it
was I could not tell. My belief was, that I had been dreaming that I
had witnessed a battle, that I had fallen from my horse and hurt myself,
and that I had been lifted up and carried along on men's shoulders to
some distant place. I had an indistinct recollection of a face full of
tenderness often bending over me; but whether it were white or red I
could not tell, the expression only had made any impression on me.
There was, however, so great a want of clearness and reality in what I
have described, that when I once more began to collect my thoughts, I
was unable to determine whether or not I had been dreaming all the time,
and was still half asleep.

At length I opened my eyes, and discovered that I was lying under the
shade of a small hut or wigwam, composed of the boughs of trees, and
thatched carefully over with straw. My couch was on the ground; but it
was a very soft one, for the bed was stuffed with a quantity of the fine
wool of the vicunas, and covered with a delicately woven woollen stuff.

The hut stood in an open space amid a forest of gigantic trees, such as
a tropical clime can alone produce. Beyond were dark and frowning
rocks, above which rose ridges of lofty mountains, one overtopping the
other, till the more distant, covered with a mantle of everlasting snow,
seemed lost in the clouds. The sky overhead was of intense blue; and
through it sailed, with outstretched wings, a mighty condor, carrying in
his talons a kid he had snatched from the valley below to his eyrie on
the summit of the rugged cliffs in the distance. I watched the majestic
bird as it sailed along, forgetful of my own condition, and wondering
whether any one would be able to rescue the poor animal from its
impending fate. On it went, growing smaller and smaller, till it became
a mere speck in the sky, and then disappeared altogether.

This trifling circumstance served to arouse me, and I began to look
about me with some attention. I discovered, at length, that the forest
glade was not tenantless, for the part farthest removed from me was
crowded with dense masses of Indians, who were collected round one who,
by his height, his rich dress, and noble