and felt certain
that we should be kindly treated. Fortunately for us, our mules had
managed to get out of the way of the troops as they passed by. With
much sagacity they had, when we jumped off their backs, crept into a
wide crevice in the cliffs, and we found them close to the spot feeding
on the leaves of some shrubs which grew among the rocks. On our
claiming them as our property, the officer allowed us to mount them; and
he invited us to ride by his side at the head of his men. His questions
were sometimes very puzzling, for I resolved not to give him any
information which might prove injurious to the Indians. I could not,
however, deny that I had seen a large Indian force collected very
different to that of Catari; and I warned him, that should the Spaniards
ever meet it, they would find a victory far more difficult than the one
they had just achieved.

"Do you think you could lead us to the place where this army you speak
of is encamped?" he asked suddenly, after a considerable silence.

"Senor," I replied, with a look of indignation, "has anything I have
said induced you to believe that I could be capable of so dishonourable
and ungrateful an action! The Indians treated me with mercy and
kindness. Is such the return you would expect an honest man to make?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Why, no," he replied; "to confess the
truth, I should not expect you to do so willingly, and I would myself
rather not be asked to do such a thing; but I am sorry to tell you that
there are others, my superiors, who are not so likely to pay respect to
your scruples; and I am afraid that they will insist on your acting as
our guide if it is thought expedient to march against the new made
Inca."

"But surely I have the power to refuse to do any such thing," I
exclaimed indignantly.

"But you might be compelled to do it," he urged. "It would be dangerous
for you to refuse. Our generals are not in a mood to be trifled with."

"I trust that no power could compel me to act so treacherous a part," I
replied calmly. "You, Senor, I am sure, would not so advise me."

He seemed to be a man imbued with the old chivalrous spirit of the
Castilians; and my appeal to his honourable sentiments pleased him.

"You are a brave youth, and I will do my best to serve you," he replied.
"I am in duty bound to tell my colonel what I know, but you can assure
him that you could not find your way back, which I think you probably
would not