ountain. It afforded shelter from the cold night-wind; and as
many as it could hold took up their quarters within it, while the
remainder bivouacked without.

Fortunately for me, the padre was something of a surgeon, and on
examining my leg, he assured me that my leg was not broken, but only
severely bruised, and that perfect rest with fomentations would recover
it. It was impossible, however, to obtain that rest, as we journeyed on
without stopping, except for our meals and a few hours' rest at night,
for several days; and though I was carried all the time, the jolting of
my litter, as we ascended or descended the steep hills, was very
inconvenient. But the Indians collected a variety of herbs, and making
a decoction of them, fomented my leg whenever we stopped, so that the
swelling gradually subsided, and the pain diminished.

At length we reached a collection of deserted huts, among rugged and
inaccessible crags, with the snowy peaks of the Andes towering high
above us. The lower parts of the mountains were clothed with pine
trees; and long grass grew on the borders of several streams which run
through the neighbouring valley. With the pine trees the Indians formed
rafters to the cottages, and thatches with the long grass and reeds. In
a short time they thus rendered them in some degree habitable. I
observed that though my father was allowed to go where he liked, the
rest of the party were narrowly watched, so that they could not attempt
to make their escape. When he spoke to Manco on the subject, and
expostulated with him on detaining the rest of the travellers, the
Indian chiefs reply was short but firm.

"It is necessary for the sake of Peru that they should be kept
prisoners," he observed; "had it not been for you and the padre, they
would probably have lost their lives. I can trust you if you will give
me your oath not to betray what has occurred or what you suspect, but I
cannot trust them. When your son is able to move, you shall proceed on
your journey; but they must remain here till it is safe to set them at
liberty."

"I do not seek to pry into your secrets, and should be guilty of the
greatest ingratitude by saying a word even to injure you or your
people," said my father. "I am doubly anxious to reach Cuzco, lest my
family not hearing of me from thence, should become alarmed."

"Write a few lines to assure your family of your safety, and it shall
reach them long before they could hear from