serving his life. The time may come, and
shortly too, when he may have the opportunity of proving his gratitude--
till then, farewell!"

Taking my father's hand and mine, he pressed his lips to them, and burst
into tears. His words made an impression on me, though at the time I
did not comprehend their meaning. I afterwards had good reason to do
so. It was again evening, the hour at which he had arrived; and when it
was perfectly dark, I went out to see that none of the servants were
near. He then let himself drop from the window, and crossing the
court-yard, scaled the wall, and took his way up the mountain. I had
reason to believe that none of the servants suspected that he had been
with us. This was the first of the many adventures in which, at that
period of my life, I was engaged. We often talked of the Indian Manco,
and were anxious to know his fate; but for long heard no more of him.

Some time after this, my father invited me to attend him on a journey,
which business required him to perform, to Cuzco, Lima, and other parts
of the country; and, as may be supposed, with no little alacrity I set
to work to make the necessary preparations. We are fond of boasting of
the civilisation of Europeans of the present day; but, however
humiliating to our pride, it must be owned that in many important
respects Peru has retrograded since the time that the Christian Spaniard
took possession of the country, and superseded the mild though despotic
sway of the glorious Incas. Under her ancient sovereigns, magnificent
roads traversed the kingdom from north to south, and from the sea-coast
into the distant interior, across the mighty Andes. Inns for the
accommodation of travellers were built at convenient distances on the
roads, and stored abundantly with provisions, while at each relays of
couriers were stationed, who with wonderful celerity could carry
messages or small parcels through the country. It is said that the
tables of the Incas, when at Cuzco, or still farther in the interior,
were supplied regularly with fish fresh caught from the sea, and other
quickly perishable luxuries, in a mode which has only been accomplished
in England since the introduction of railroads, or perhaps in the latter
days of quick coach travelling. I mention this to show the contrast to
the means we possessed for performing our journey.

At last the day arrived for our departure. My father rode a steady
mule, but I preferred a hors