chief.

"If, then, we are to be treated as prisoners, we must endeavour to make
our escape should any opportunity present itself," I whispered to Pedro,
whom I had drawn aside.

Not to excite the suspicions of our captors, I pretended to be contented
with the arrangement, when I found that there was no chance of altering
the old chief's determination; and returning to the fire, I sat down,
desiring Pedro to say that I was very tired, and wished to be allowed to
sleep till daylight. The Indians apparently finding themselves in
tolerably comfortable quarters, wrapped their ponchos round them, and
lay down on the ground round the fire, to follow my example. I was,
however, too much excited to sleep, and had lost myself in forgetfulness
but a very short time when daylight appeared, and the whole party sprung
to their feet.

Pedro and I were allowed to mount our mules, and accompanied by the
Indians, who bore the spoils they had collected, set out to join the
main body, which was already on its march to the northward. We came in
sight of them about three miles to the west of the village, as they were
passing over a wide sandy plain, bordered by a range of thickly wooded
hills. There appeared to be about thirty thousand of them,--a body, as
far as numbers were concerned, fully able to compete with any Spanish
force which could be sent against them; but they were in a very
undisciplined and disorganised state, and were, from what I heard, more
intent on obtaining plunder, and on destroying the defenceless whites,
than on pushing their first successes with vigour against the common
enemy. There were some four or five hundred horsemen among them armed
with spears; the rest were infantry, who carried slings, and bows, and
axes, and heavy wooden clubs. The cavalry guarded the flanks, and the
footmen marched in separate bodies under their respective chiefs, with
banners at their head; but there were a great number of stragglers, and,
as far as my eye could reach, I observed small bodies who appeared to be
scouring the country in search of plunder or provisions. The booty was
distributed among the soldiers, each of whom bore a load on his back,
consisting of woollen and other goods, household utensils, furniture,
and clothing of every description.

The chief, Tupac Catari, rode at the head of his forces, surrounded with
banner-bearers. He was a fierce, wild-looking Indian, with a forbidding
expression of countenance; and