judged that these fellows were employed exclusively in
plundering all they met not likely to offer resistance. My father told
the servant to keep a sharp look-out on our horses and mules, which the
gentlemen would with little ceremony have appropriated.

To avoid them we walked over to where the group of Indians were
collected round the tonga-drinker, who was now awaking from his sleep,
and sitting up, though apparently very much exhausted. His companions
were listening attentively to the mysterious revelations which fell from
his mouth, the result of his spiritual communications with his
ancestors. He spoke of a day of regeneration for the Indians; of
liberty and happiness not far distant, when the yoke of the Spaniard
would be thrown off their necks, and the race of their Inca should again
wear the crimson _borla_ of their monarchy. There was an air of
earnestness and sincerity in his manner which convinced me that he at
all events was deceiving himself as well as his hearers. In his dreams
he had truly seen what he hoped would come to pass. I afterwards had
good reason to know that he had strong foundation for his prophecies.
He was still uttering his awful communications to his wondering and
credulous hearers; the Montoneros were still drinking, smoking, and
feasting; and some other travellers (Spanish, negro, and native, among
whom was a Spanish priest, a landowner near Cuzco, and a shopkeeper)
were either taking their suppers or seeking repose, when we retired to
the deserted granary.

We were actually provided with bedsteads of a rude construction, on
which we spread our bedding. The noise made by the Montoneros prevented
me from sleeping for some time; till they themselves sought for rest, on
and under the table and benches where they had been sitting. I was
awakened in the middle of the night by a scratching and hissing and
struggling noise under my bed, as if two animals were fighting. I
sprung to my feet, and by the light of the full moon, which streamed in
through a hole in the wall, I saw a large tabby cat engaged in a fierce
combat with a glittering snake. At first I thought it would prove a
hopeless one for poor pussy; but I soon saw by her manoeuvres, that she
had at all events an equal chance of victory. Now the venomous monster
would dart out its forked tongue and try to spring at her; when she,
with equal agility, would leap aside and would sit watching her
antagonist with careful eye, end