to the great entrance hall he found
himself confronted by the chief steward of the establishment, who,
followed by the entire staff of terrified servants, was hurrying to the
garden, anxious to ascertain the meaning of this unwonted invasion of
his master's privacy.

"Where is your lord, sirrah?" thundered Umu, as a file of soldiers
promptly arrested the quaking functionary.

"I know not, Lord Umu," answered the unfortunate man, as well as his
chattering teeth would allow; "indeed I was about to send out the
servants to seek news of him, for I am beginning to fear that evil has
befallen him. He left the house alone last night, less than an hour
before midnight, saying that he knew not when he should return; and he
has not since been seen."

"Then, if he told you that he knew not when he would return, why do you
fear that evil has befallen him?" demanded Umu.

"Because, Lord--nay, I know not, except that--that--well, it is a most
unusual--for my Lord Huanacocha to absent himself for so many hours
without saying whither he intended to go," stammered the steward.

"Say you so?" sneered Umu. "That seems to me strange indeed; for it is
not the usual custom of a noble to acquaint his steward with his
business. Nay, friend, I cannot believe your story: you must have some
better reason than the one which you have given me for your anxiety as
to your lord's safety, and it will be to your great advantage to
acquaint me with it forthwith."

"Lord, I have told you the truth; indeed I have," protested the
unfortunate man, making as though he would throw himself upon his knees
before Umu.

"So much the worse for you," growled Umu savagely, for the delay was
beginning to tell upon his patience. "Is there any man here," he
continued, "who can tell me where my Lord Huanacocha is to be found?"

He glared round upon the assembled servants, the whole of whom had by
this time been quietly herded together by the soldiers. There was no
answer.

"Very well," continued Umu, addressing his men. "Take these people down
to the cellars below; lock them in securely; and then set fire to the
house and burn it over their heads! I can waste no more time here."

As the troopers, in obedience to this order, closed round the prisoners,
and with coarse jests began to hustle them unceremoniously toward the
head of the flight of steps leading down to the basement of the
building, the steward, suddenly realising the desperate nature of his