in freeing Harry from his bonds; "it shall be told later,
when I have disposed of these vile wretches. It was Arima who brought
me the first hint of what was afoot. Pachacamac be praised that I was
able to get here in time! What were they about to do with you, Lord?"

"They talked of putting me to the fire ordeal," answered Harry; "but I
had a word to say against that, as you may see. Xaxaguana, one of the
chief conspirators, has already paid the penalty of his perfidy, and
lies there dead."

"Truly, Lord, you fought well," exclaimed Umu admiringly, as he glanced
about him at the dead and wounded. "And Huanacocha--is he among this
rabble?"

"He is--unless he has escaped," answered Harry.

"If he has, every tenth man of your bodyguard shall lose his hands and
feet," snarled Umu savagely. And then his brow cleared as, glancing at
the mob of prisoners which the troopers were now forming up, he detected
Huanacocha alive, and apparently unhurt, among them. "Ah, no! he is
there, I see," he continued. "Very well; this plot was of his hatching.
He shall undergo the fire ordeal himself."

"Nay, not that, good Umu; not that," protested Harry. "Such a fate is
too horrible to be thought of. Punish him by all means, if you will,
for indeed he deserves punishment; but not in that way."

"Very well, Lord," answered Umu; "it shall be as you wish. Meanwhile, I
pray you to return to the palace, escorted by your bodyguard; while I,
with a few men, attend to the safe disposal of these fellows."

Five minutes later, Escombe found himself, he scarcely knew how, mounted
on a trooper's horse, wending his way back to the palace, surrounded by
his devoted bodyguard, while the populace, quick to detect how matters
were going, rent the air with their acclamations.

An hour later Umu bowed himself into Escombe's presence to report
progress.

"The prisoners, Lord," he said, "are, with the exception of Huanacocha,
safely confined, and now await such punishment as you may be pleased to
inflict upon them. In the presence of a great multitude I have caused
the head of Huanacocha to be struck from his body in the grounds of his
own palace, and have thrown head and body together upon the smoking
ruins of the place. I have likewise posted a notice upon the entrance
gates forbidding anyone to interfere with the body or give it burial.
It is to be left where it lies, for the dogs of the city to devour, as a
warning and example to othe