r had desired Ithulpo to have our
horses and baggage ready to start at a moment's notice. While we
remained shut up in the house, we could only judge of what was going on
by the sounds we heard. The shots and cries had grown fainter, and
thinking that the soldiers must have got to a distance, we considered
this a good opportunity to set out. Ithulpo had been watching them
through a hole in the wall of an enclosure, at a little distance from
the cottage within which our animals were to be kept ready. I looked
cautiously out of the door of the cottage, and seeing no one near, I ran
round to where Ithulpo was posted. I told him that we were ready to
start.

"I was coming to tell you that now is our time to start," he replied.
"I wish that I was certain that all the soldiers are together, for I am
afraid that some may be left to guard the outlet to the village; but we
must run the risk."

We accordingly brought the horses round. Our baggage was soon strapped
on, and mounting immediately, we set off at a brisk pace, followed by
the well-wishes of our host, towards the only outlet to the village.
Several houses were in flames, and more than one apparently dead Indian
met our view. A short hour had made a sad change in the peaceful
village, which now looked as if it had been stormed and sacked by a
cruel enemy. We had no time to stop to examine whether any of the
prostrate forms we saw were still alive, so we pushed on. Just,
however, as we reached the top of the pathway down the mountain, a party
of soldiers, with an officer at their head, appeared suddenly before us.
It was impossible to escape notice, so we attempted to pass them.

"Stop!" cried the officer, presenting a pistol. "Who are you?"

"English travellers, on the road to Lima," answered my father.

"Say rather English abettors of rebels," exclaimed the officer fiercely.
"We find you in a village encouraging the ignorant people by your
presence to break the law. You are our prisoners."

My father pleaded in vain that we had no intention of breaking the law,
or encouraging others to do so.

"You may make your excuse to the government of Lima," answered the
officer; and he ordered us to remain where we were on pain of being
shot.

A number of prisoners were collected together, and we had no doubt that
he had heard from one of them of our being present at the forbidden
ceremony we had witnessed. The bugle now sounded the recall, and soon
afterward