ose, and Pizarro allowed ten or twelve
prisoners, men of Puna, to be massacred. Then the whole tribe fell upon
the Spaniards and there was a great battle, in which the white men were
victorious; but after this their position was a most uncomfortable one,
the enemy being ever on the watch to cut off stragglers and destroy
provisions, besides making night attacks upon the camp. Fortunately the
other two ships came back at this juncture, bringing a hundred
volunteers and some more horses, and with them Pizarro felt strong
enough to cross to the mainland and resume his march. He had lately
learned something of the state of affairs in the country, which he
thought he might be able to turn to his own advantage. It seemed that
the Inca Huayna Capac, who conquered Quito, had left three sons--Huascar
the heir, the son of the Queen, Manco Capac his half-brother, and
Atahuallpa, son of the Princess of Quito, who had been married to Huayna
Capac after the conquest. To Atahuallpa the Inca at his death left the
kingdom of Quito, enjoining him to live at peace with his brother
Huascar, who succeeded to the empire of Peru. This happened about seven
years before Pizarro reached Puna. For five years the brothers ruled
their respective kingdoms without dispute. Huascar was of a gentle and
peaceable disposition, but Atahuallpa was warlike, ambitious, and
daring, and constantly endeavouring to enlarge his territory. His
restless spirit at length excited alarm at Cuzco, and Huascar sent to
remonstrate with him, and to require him to render homage for the
kingdom of Quito. This at once provoked hostilities. A great battle took
place at Ambato, in which Atahuallpa was victorious, and he marched on
in the direction of Cuzco, carrying all before him, and only
experiencing a slight check from the islanders of Puna. After more
desperate encounters, in one of which Huascar was taken prisoner,
Atahuallpa possessed himself of Cuzco, and, assuming the diadem of the
Incas, received the homage of the whole country.

But his triumph was not to be for long.

We left Pizarro preparing to leave Puna and cross to Tumbez. His
surprise when he did so was great, for he found only the ruins of what
had been a flourishing town; moreover, some of his men were
treacherously attacked by the natives, whom he had supposed to be quite
friendly to him. The Spaniards were much disappointed, as they had
looked forward confidently to securing the golden treasures of Tumbe