e more on
the wound, pressed it with all his force.--A litter was soon formed, on
which we placed him and carried him along, for the pain was too great to
allow him to walk. After a time, however, he declared that the pain was
gone, but that he felt as if his leg was made of lead. We hurried on,
for we had no time to lose. Thunder was heard rolling through the sky;
and distant flashes, seen through the trees, showed that the storm was
approaching. Suddenly a tremendous crash was heard close to us; and,
looking back, a tall tree, one of the giants of the forest, appeared
riven from the crown to its roots, and a vast branch lay across the path
we had just passed. Nothing now was required to expedite our steps.
The wind roared, the mighty trees rocked to and fro as if they had been
reeds, the thunder rattled in deafening peals, and the lightning, in
zigzag form, rushed down the stems of the trees, running like serpents
along the ground, and flashed vividly in every direction. The storm I
had witnessed in the Cordilleras was grander, but it was scarcely so
terrific in its effects. We got under shelter in the cottage before the
tempest had reached its height. Pedro was instantly placed in bed,
when, after a time, a profuse perspiration came on. Some cooling drink
was given to her, and a pumpkin poultice was applied to the wound.

The huaco plant grows in the woods. The leaves am half an inch long and
half an inch broad, of a solid texture, the upper surface being of a
dark-green, with purple veins running through it. The stem is slender,
hard, ribbed, and of a bluish colour; and the leaves grow singly, two
being placed opposite to each other. It is said that the natives
discovered its qualities by observing that a bird called the huaco,
which feeds on snakes, whenever it was bitten flew off and ate some of
this plant. I have heard that the harmless snakes are great enemies to
the poisonous ones, and will attack those much larger than themselves.

It took two or three days before Pedro had completely recovered from the
effects of the bite.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

SPANIARDS PURSUE US--ATTACKED BY WILD INDIANS.

"Up, up, my friends!" exclaimed Manco, rushing into our hut one morning,
just before daybreak. "The Spaniards are traversing the mountains with
fire and sword, and we must haste away from this."

We all instantly sprung to our feet, and without exchanging many words,
packed up our goods. By the time w