ight have been my friends, the Spaniards are
my countrymen. I trust no disaster has befallen them."

Don Eduardo and his lieutenant returned after the consultation; and the
latter, with a sergeant's party, was ordered to proceed along the
ravine, to ascertain what had become of the main body. We watched the
lieutenant and his men enter the ravine and advance, till they were hid
by a turn of the cliffs. Don Eduardo then called us to him, and asked
us our opinion as to what was likely to have occurred. We both assured
him that we did not think the Indians would have rallied. What we said
appeared somewhat to relieve his mind, and sitting down on a rock, he
lighted a cigar, and offered some to us, which we declined, as neither
Pedro nor I smoked. The men meantime had piled their arms, and lighted
fires to boil their cocoa and to cook their provisions. Some were thus
employed, others were smoking, and others had thrown themselves on the
ground to rest after the fatigues of the day. We learned that they had
received notice of the march of Catari's army from an Indian spy, many
of whom were in the pay of the Spaniards. They had watched for them for
several days, and at last the colonel commanding the force had resolved
to occupy the post where he attacked them, till they should attempt to
pass. The view around the spot we occupied was very picturesque. It
was also a very strong natural position, while its picturesqueness was
increased by the horses and baggage mules picqueted under the trees, the
gay costumes of their drivers, the camp-fires, the piles of arms, and
the groups of soldiers, in varied attitudes, scattered here and there.

The sun had set and the short twilight had come to an end, when the
tramp of men's feet at a distance reached our ears. We listened
anxiously. It was that of trained soldiers; and in a short time we saw
them looming through the gloom of the evening. As they drew near, the
advanced guard uttered a shout to warn us of their approach, which was
responded to by the party on the hill. Soon afterwards they appeared on
the summit, and as they marched into the centre of the space, they piled
their arms, and joined their comrades round the fires. Each man came
laden with the spoils they had retaken from the Indians.

After a portion of the troops had filed by, there came, with two
soldiers guarding each of them, some fifty Indians who had been taken
prisoners, and preserved to grace the