tion. At length the priest was
seen issuing from the gates, and taking his way with a sorrowful
countenance towards the quarters of the young Indian general. We
immediately repaired there. The inhabitants, mistrusting the Indians,
as I concluded, refused to surrender.

"Then their doom is sealed," said Andres; and forthwith gave orders to
block up the course of the river, so as to direct it into the ravine
communicating with the town.

Several thousand men were employed day and night at this work, while the
rest kept the besieged in play. After two weeks' incessant labour, the
works were declared complete, and the whole army prepared for a general
assault. I took up my usual post to watch the result, hoping for the
sake of humanity that it might fail, but induce the inhabitants to
submit. At a given signal the embankments were knocked down, and the
water in a vast torrent rushed towards the town, flooding the
entrenchments and shaking the walls. They, however, withstood the
shock, and the brave defenders again returned to the shattered works
from which they had been driven. Once more the sluices were shut, and
the inhabitants were left to fancy that the threatened danger had passed
by. The next morning, however, the Indians again surrounded the devoted
town; in an increased volume the water was made to pass through the
ravine, and sweeping onward in a terrific torrent, it rushed down upon
the trenches and ramparts, carrying all before it. The defenders fled
in dismay from their posts; the signal for advance was given, and the
Indians, led on by their fiercest chiefs, dashed through the
newly-formed breach and entered the town.

I would willingly draw a veil over the scene of horror which ensued.
Little or no opposition was offered; but the spirit of vengeance was
aroused, and not a man they encountered escaped. Prayers and entreaties
were disregarded--death was dealt on every side. Those who attempted to
fly were driven back; and of the twenty thousand persons who in the
morning walked alive through the streets, women only and a few priests,
and one or two laymen, who had taken refuge within the church, were
spared. I had earnestly entreated Manco to do his utmost to save the
lives of those who offered no resistance, pointing out to him the policy
of so doing; and through his means chiefly those few persons were
preserved from destruction. He had claimed some of them as his own
property; and for their b