FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82  
83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   >>   >|  
nd he has _mine_; and my promise, come what will, shall not be violated." Pizarro urged, in view of their peril, the delay of a few weeks. De Soto replied: "Not a single week, not a day; if you do not liberate the prisoner, I will take that liberty on myself." "To give him his freedom at this time," Pizarro replied, "would be certain destruction to us all." "That may be," responded De Soto, "but that should have been considered before he was admitted to ransom." "But since that agreement was made," said Pizarro, "I have received information which justifies me in changing my intentions. Attahuallapa's officers, acting under his directions, are now engaged in exciting an insurrection for the extermination of the Spaniards." De Soto had no faith whatever in this accusation. There was a long and angry controversy. Pizarro called in his interpreter Filipillo, who was undoubtedly bribed to testify according to the wishes of his master. He declared that the Inca was organizing this conspiracy. De Soto was unconvinced. He still regarded the accusation as a groundless calumny. Finally they came to a compromise. The treacherous and wily Pizarro suggested that De Soto should take a party of dragoons and proceed to that section of the country, where it was said the conspirators were assembling in vast numbers, in preparation for their onset upon the Spaniards. If De Soto found no indication of such a movement, Pizarro gave his solemn pledge, that immediately upon his return, he would release Attahuallapa. De Soto agreed to the arrangement, and at once set out on the journey. Pizarro had thus accomplished his object, of being relieved of the embarrassment of De Soto's presence, while he should lead the Inca to his execution. A sort of council of war was held, though Attahuallapa was not present, and nothing was heard in his defence. It was necessary to proceed with the utmost expedition, as De Soto would soon return. The horrible verdict of the court was, that the captive should be burned to death at the stake. Pizarro himself, it is said, carried the terrible intelligence to the prisoner. The Inca, a young man in the very prime of life, being but thirty years of age, was horror stricken, and for some time sat in silence, not uttering a word. And then turning to Pizarro, he said: "Is it possible that you can believe in a God and fear him, and yet dare to commit such an act of injustice? What have I done to des
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82  
83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

Pizarro

 

Attahuallapa

 

accusation

 
Spaniards
 
proceed
 

prisoner

 
replied
 

return

 

preparation

 

execution


presence
 

assembling

 

conspirators

 

numbers

 

council

 
solemn
 

arrangement

 

movement

 

pledge

 
agreed

release

 
present
 

immediately

 

indication

 

relieved

 

object

 

accomplished

 
journey
 

embarrassment

 

turning


uttering

 

silence

 

horror

 

stricken

 

injustice

 

commit

 

thirty

 

expedition

 

horrible

 

verdict


utmost

 

defence

 

captive

 

burned

 

intelligence

 

terrible

 
carried
 

declared

 

responded

 

freedom