Dick; "I passed through it on my way back to camp, about an
hour ago. Come, I will show it to you; there is plenty of dry wood
there, and there is a path by which we can easily carry the body to it.
Better make a litter, perhaps, and take it with us now."

Stukely eagerly concurred in this view, and they at once proceeded to
construct a litter of boughs bound together with lianas, upon which,
when it was finished, they laid the attenuated form of the old man, and,
with measured steps and slow, bore him to the spot where his mortal
frame was to undergo its typical purging by fire. The place was one of
those perfectly open clearings which are so frequently met with in the
South American forest; it was about ten acres in extent, roughly
circular in shape, and was carpeted with thick grass which the deer and
other grazing animals kept close cropped; consequently it was well
adapted for the purpose to which it was about to be put, since by
erecting the pyre in the centre of the clearing there would be no risk
of setting the adjoining forest ablaze.

Laying the litter and its burden down in a convenient position just
within the clearing, the two Englishmen plunged back into the forest,
and, using their hangers as axes, vigorously proceeded to hew down all
the dry, dead branches and underwood they could find; for the afternoon
was waning apace and it was essential that the flames should be kindled
in time to allow of their returning to their camping place by daylight.
Fortunately there was no lack of suitable material close at hand; and an
hour's arduous work sufficed to provide a sufficiency for their purpose.
Then they proceeded to build the pyre, laying the smallest branches at
the bottom, intermingled with plenty of dry brushwood, and putting the
thickest branches on the top. Then, on the top of all, they placed the
body; and Phil next proceeded to make fire in the usual way by rubbing
two sticks together. This was soon done, the fire was inserted into the
heart of the pyre by means of an aperture left for the purpose, and
then, when the whole was fairly alight, Phil and Dick bared their heads,
fell upon their knees, and with the simple faith which so strongly
characterised the religious feeling of the time, humbly commended the
soul of Vilcamapata to the mercy of God who gave it. By the time that
they had finished their petitions the pile was a mass of flame which
roared and crackled fiercely as it shot straight upw