not a human
being did we meet. Of course we kept as much as possible at a distance
from their habitations; but the few farms we passed were deserted, and
we had no doubt that the women and children had been removed to more
secluded spots, while the men had gone to join the army of Tupac Amaru.

A week had passed, and we were resting to take our midday meal, in a
sheltered glen, under the shade of some lofty trees. Pedro,
notwithstanding the exertions he had undergone, had almost recovered
from his hurts; and I never felt myself in better health and strength,
while Ned scarcely knew what fatigue or illness meant. Our provisions
had again run short, though we had collected a little Indian corn at
some of the deserted farms we had passed.

"Well," said Ned, who had lighted his pipe and stretched himself out on
his back, "I shan't be sorry when we get to the big river you speak of.
Walking is very pleasant exercise, especially when one hasn't half a
hundredweight of traps and provisions to carry; but it's very slow work
you'll allow. I like to spank along with a ten-knot breeze across the
open ocean, with studden-sails alow and aloft; or to glide down a river
with a strong current and fair breeze. Ah, mate, if you ever come to
sea with me in a smart craft, you'll know what moving fast means."

I told him that I should like nothing better, and that I longed to begin
our voyage down the Amazon; but that I must first communicate with my
Indian friends, to learn if they had gained any tidings of my parents;
for still I clung to the hope that they might have escaped destruction.
Pedro also was unwilling to leave the country without again seeing his
friends. We were all talking very eagerly about our proposed plans,
when a loud yell made us start to our feet, and, looking up, we saw a
number of Indians posted on the heights above us. Some had bows, with
their arrows ready drawn to shoot us; and others had slings in their
hands, which they were whirling round with heavy stones, prepared to
hurl at our heads. In another moment we should have had a shower of
deadly missiles rattling about us, when Pedro, rushing towards them,
shouted out, in the Quichua language, that we were friends of the Inca.
In an instant the arrows were withdrawn and the slings ceased to whirl,
and the Indians came hurrying down the sides of the mountain. In
another minute we found ourselves surrounded by a large band of
warriors. They examined us