e looked, at all
events, in every respect the gentleman.

In early youth, when people are thrown together under difficult
circumstances, friendships calculated to endure to the end of life are
quickly formed; and thus, during the short time we had been together, we
had become mutually much attached; indeed, I fancied that no one could
have been many days in the society of Pedro without feeling a sincere
regard for him.

So much were we absorbed in conversation, that we scarcely noticed how
the time flew by. The leading parties of the Indians had now passed
through a considerable portion of the defile, and the rear were about to
enter it when we reached a spot more difficult and narrow than any we
had yet arrived at.

"If any of the Spanish troops were on the watch to intercept the Indian
forces, this is the very spot they should select," I observed to Pedro.

"May the saints forbid!" he answered. "The poor people would be cut to
pieces, and we should suffer with them."

"I certainly do not wish it," I said; "though I think we might manage to
escape in the confusion; but I thought of it, as it was exactly in such
a spot as this that some months ago we were attacked by the Montoneros,
when we were rescued by Manco and his followers."

"Oh, the Spaniards are too much disheartened and terrified by their late
disasters to think of attacking the Indians," said Pedro.

"But suppose they were to attack our captors, do not you think that we
could manage to climb up the cliffs, and hide ourselves among the rocks
till the fighting is over?" I asked, without at all expecting that such
a thing was likely to happen.

I had scarcely made the observation, when our ears were assailed by the
loud rattle of musketry, and a shower of bullets flew about our heads,
killing and wounding many of the Indians near us. In an instant they
were thrown into the most terrible confusion, and the shouts and cries
of fear rent the air. Catari, and some of the chiefs about him, in vain
endeavoured to lead them on to meet their concealed enemies. So
completely were they taken by surprise, that all their courage deserted
them. They gave way to their first impulse, which was to fly from the
danger. The rear ranks turned, and the rest followed, and fled as fast
as they could, with the intention of getting into the more open country
they had left. The Spaniards, a strong body of whose troops had been
lying in ambush, on this showed themselve