very good horse, and took my place by the side of
Manco. The men being amply supplied with cacao every day, without
apparent fatigue performed forced marches which would have completely
knocked up any European troops. As we advanced, we found that all the
white inhabitants had fled and taken refuge in the town, where it was
said twenty thousand people were collected. My readers may be assured
that my great object was, if possible, to mitigate the horrors which I
dreaded would take place should my Indian friends prove successful. On
our arrival we found the young Andres closely investing the town, the
inhabitants of which were already suffering from famine, though they had
sternly refused to listen to a summons which had been sent in to them to
surrender. They had just before made a sortie, when the Indians had
lost a number of men; but they were, after much desperate fighting,
again compelled to retire within their trenches. The Indians had taken
several prisoners, among whom was a priest; and as soon as we arrived he
was sent in with a second summons, containing offers of peace on such
conditions as might be agreed on between commissioners to be appointed
on both sides. The young general, with Manco and other chiefs, were
standing on a hill overlooking the town when the priest proceeded on his
mission.

"What is proposed to be done if the inhabitants refuse your terms?" I
asked.

"Look there," he replied. "You see that from the river which passes at
a short distance from us, there is a deep ravine leading to the town,
and somewhat lower than its banks. By blocking up the course of the
river, we propose to turn its waters into the ravine, when they will
rush down and speedily flood the ramparts, and wash them away."

I doubted the power of the Indians to perform this.

"Think you not the descendants of those men who formed these great
roads, and built the castles and palaces which still endure, can perform
so small a task as that?" he replied. "Wait, my friend, till you see."

After a considerable delay the priest returned, and acknowledging that
the inhabitants were reduced to feed upon mules, dogs, cats, and rats,
said that they agreed to the proposed terms, with a truce of two days.
During this time numbers of half-famished wretches were allowed freely
to wander out and collect all the food they could from the Indians. At
the end of the time two officers of the garrison came out, and sent a
message b