r and publicly
executed; Pedro could not leave his father; and when I proposed going,
Ned declared that I should be either recognised as having escaped from
prison, or treated as a spy.

"For my part I don't mind going myself," he observed. "I've no fancy
for being cooped up here any longer; and if I'm asked any questions, all
I shall say is, that I've got away from the Injuns, and want to get back
to my own country."

Very unwillingly I at last yielded to all the arguments he used to let
him go instead of me. I was also afraid that it might have been
suspected that he had assisted us to escape from prison; but he
overruled that objection by saying that it was a very long time ago, and
that it was not likely any of those who had seen him should be at Cuzco,
or remember the circumstance. To prevent the risk of his falling into
the hands of any Indians, Manco ordered one of those with us to
accompany him to the neighbourhood of the capital, where he was to be
hid till his return, and then to bring him back safe. It was with a
heavy heart that I saw Ned set out. Still I was very anxious to
commence our journey eastward, and without knowing the state of affairs,
I could not quit my friend Manco, nor could we venture to move Don Gomez
into the city. I watched Ned as he passed under the cliff, and saw him
wave his hat as a sign that he, at all events, feared none of the
dangers of his expedition.

Meantime the Indians ventured out a short distance across the mountains
to hunt for game. Several of them were always stationed on the
surrounding pinnacles of rocks, whence they could watch for the approach
of danger. Now and then they killed with their arrows a _tarush_, an
active and timid little roe which frequents the higher forests which
skirt the Andes. At night they used to set snares made of horse hair,
at the mouths of holes inhabited by little animals like rabbits. These
were called _viscachas_ and _chinchillas_. The skin of the latter
supplies the beautiful fur so much prized in Europe. Their colour and
form resembles the rabbit, but they have shorter ears and long, rough
tails. As, however, we had an abundant supply of _charqui_, which is
the name given to dried beef in the Andes, we were not dependent on the
success of our huntsmen for food. Pedro employed all his time in
reading to and conversing with his father; and I observed that a very
satisfactory change had taken place with regard to his state o