ace, carrying their long, graceful necks something like the camel, and
gazing anxiously around on either side with their wild prominent eyes,
to watch the movements of their guides, or to observe the appearance of
the country. They were of a variety of colours; brown, black, white,
and pie-bald. I may here remark that the extreme height of the animal,
from the sole of the foot to the top of the head, is not more than four
feet and from six to eight inches; and from the sole of the foot to the
shoulder, rather under three feet. Their frames are so slight that they
will not carry a load of more than about seventy pounds weight; but they
have the valuable qualification of being able to live many days, find
even months, without drinking, owing to their power of generating saliva
in their mouths.

Other parties had mules for the same purpose. Some were on horseback,
and formed an irregular and very Scythian-like looking cavalry. Several
bands of those on foot were followed by their wives and children;
showing that they felt confident of victory, and came prepared to take
possession of the territories they hoped to conquer. At length, after
passing through a dark gorge, and climbing a steep acclivity, we once
more began to descend; when, from the height on which we stood, we
looked down upon the vast army of the Inca, collected on a plain, or
rather wide valley, between ranges of lofty mountains.

"What say you now?" exclaimed the cacique, with a look of triumph. "Do
the white faces dream of the mighty host collected to liberate for ever
the kingdom of the Incas from their cruel hands?"

"I have heard that it was prophesied that the kingdom of the Incas
should be restored by the people of my country. There are none of them
there," I replied.

"It is true," said the cacique. "But if you and your bold friend were
to fight by the side of the Inca, might not the prophecy be thus
fulfilled?"

I at once saw the mistake I had made in thus speaking; for I felt that I
might be compelled, contrary to the advice my father had given me, to
engage actively in a contest in which I had no personal interest.

Before I had time to reply, the signal of advance was given, and the
party hurried down the steep to join their comrades in the valley. Far
as the eye could reach in either direction, and even up the mountains
sides, were extended the vast host of the Inca, drawn up in battle
array. From among their dusky lines arose a