f mind.
He had now learned to bow to the decrees of Providence without repining,
and to acknowledge that whatever the great Ruler of the universe orders,
is for the good of His creatures. The event I had foreseen was fast
approaching. Every day Don Gomez had grown weaker and weaker, and he
could no longer raise himself on his bed of straw. One evening he
called Manco and me to his side after he had made Pedro aware that his
speedy death was inevitable. "You have both been friends of my son," he
said. "Most deeply do I thank you, though I have no means of showing my
gratitude; indeed, I must call on you still further to befriend him. I
found him poor, and may leave him so, unless the power of Spain is
re-established in Peru. In either case, you can serve him. In the one,
still support and protect him; and in the other, witness that I have
acknowledged him as my son, and enable him to regain the property which
was mine. There is a certain Father Manuel in Cuzco, who knows my
signature, and is cognisant of all the particulars of my history. Let
him see the papers I have left, should he have escaped the death which
has overtaken so many of my countrymen, and he will assist him to the
utmost of his means in his object. May Heaven help him to obtain what
by right is his!"

We promised the dying man to obey his wishes to the best of our ability,
though, as we could not venture to present ourselves in any city of Peru
as witnesses, I had very little expectation that Pedro would ever
recover his property. That night Don Gomez breathed his last. I will
not speak of the bitter anguish poor Pedro suffered, at the death of a
parent so lately found and so soon lost. The Indians made a grave in a
green mound on the neighbouring mountain; and there we buried the
unfortunate man.

Several days more passed away; and at last one of our scouts came
hurrying in, to give notice that he had seen some persons approaching
along the valley, in the far distance. On the edge of the ledge, and at
the mouth of the cavern, stones had been piled up, to hurl down on the
heads of any who might appear in the guise of enemies. I looked eagerly
out, for I hoped they might prove to be Ned and his guide; for I had
begun to be very anxious for my friend's safety. As the persons drew
near, to my great satisfaction, I recognised Ned and his guide. They
appeared footsore and weary, and came on very slowly. I went out to
meet him at the bridg