merican ostrich.

The desert, as I have already mentioned, lies between the Cordillera and
the Pacific Ocean, stretching almost the entire length of the Peruvian
coast, with here and there an oasis watered by one or other of the few
streams which do not lose themselves in the sand before they reach the
sea. It is a rainless, hideous region of naked rocks and whirling sands,
destitute of fresh water and animal life, a region into which, except for
a short distance, the boldest traveller cares not to venture.

After leaving the queen's house I was placed in charge of a party of
braves commanded by a cacique, and we set out for the place where my
expiation was to begin. The nandu, led by his keeper and another man, of
course went with us. My conductors, albeit they made no secret of their
joy over my downfall, did their mistress's bidding, and treated me with
respect. They loosed my bonds, taking care, however, so to guard me as to
render escape impossible, and, when we halted, gave me to eat and drink.
But their talk was not encouraging. In their opinion, nothing could save
me from a horrible death, probably of thirst. The best that I could hope
for was being smothered in a sandstorm. The man-killer would probably go
on till he dropped from exhaustion, and then, whether I was alive or dead,
birds of prey would pick out my eyes and tear the flesh from my bones.

About midday we reached the mountain range which divides Pachatupec from
the desert. Anything more lonesome and depressing it were impossible to
conceive. Not a tree, not a shrub, not a blade of grass nor any green
thing; neither running stream nor gleam of water could be seen. It was a
region in which the blessed rain of heaven had not fallen for untold ages,
a region of desolation and death, of naked peaks, rugged precipices, and
rocky ravines. The heat from the overhead sun, intensified by the
reverberations from the great masses of rock around us, and unrelieved by
the slightest breath of air, was well-nigh suffocating.

Into this plutonic realm we plunged, and, after a scorching ride, reached
the head of a pass which led straight down to the desert. Here the cacique
in command of the detachment told me, rather to my surprise, that we were
to part company. They were already a long way from home and saw no reason
why they should go farther. The desert, albeit four or five leagues
distant, was quite visible, and, once started down the pass, the nandu
would be b