iend who has obtained for you the indulgence of this room.
Here are the provisions." He put down in the chair a basket covered
with a cloth. "I cannot remain, for a fresh set of prisoners have
lately arrived, and I am employed in looking after them."

"Who are they?" I asked. "More Indians, I fear."

"Yes, Senor; there are a hundred of them. Poor fellows, I pity them,
for they will certainly be shot in the great square out there before
many days are over. There is a young chief among them. I grieve for
him most, for he is a very fine fellow. He walked along as he came to
prison like a prince, and heeded not the shouts and revilings of the mob
who followed him and his companions. Their misery will soon be over,
for they are to be tried to-morrow, and they have not a chance of
escape."

"Can you tell me his name!" I asked anxiously; for I instantly thought
of Manco.

"No, I cannot," he answered. "I only know that he was taken a few clays
ago in a skirmish with the enemy, who are not many leagues off. It is
feared even that they may attack the town, though we have too many
soldiers here to give them much chance of success."

"I trust they will not," I exclaimed, thinking of the dreadful scenes
which had before occurred. "But can you learn the name of this young
chief? I fear he is a friend of ours."

"Oh, do not acknowledge him, then," said the gaoler, "as you value your
lives. You cannot benefit him, and may run the risk of sharing his
fate."

I saw the mistake I had committed; but still I pressed Sancho to learn
who he was, and he undertook to comply with my wish, provided I followed
his advice. I again asked him to inform us who was the friend who had
interested himself in our favour; but he replied that he was not at
liberty to say, and he then hurried from the room.

The news he had brought made us very sad, for we could not help
contemplating the scene of bloodshed which was about to occur, which was
of itself sufficiently horrible, even should my suspicions that Manco
was a prisoner not prove correct. We were doomed not to have our
anxiety relieved, for Sancho did not again make his appearance during
the day. He was probably afraid of being observed if he visited us too
frequently. We ate the food Sancho had brought us most thankfully, and
it much contributed to restore our strength; but we had lost all
pleasure in looking out of the window on the square, which was so soon
to be the scen