; and the cool tone in which he spoke made me
angry beyond measure.

Then he drew a step nearer, saying, "Perhaps the senor will give me his
pistols; the mountain air makes one suspicious."

"Take them," I cried, "and anything else you desire; but get me some
food and drink, and I will pay you well."

"Ah," exclaimed the fellow, with renewed interest, "the senor has money
on him! I had better mind that also. There are lawless people in the
mountains," and he grinned knowingly at me.

"I have no money here," I answered, "but I will pay you well to get me
carried to Lima."

"That is a long way," he observed cautiously. "No doubt the senor has
rings or some articles of jewellery?"

"I don't possess a single valuable except this," said I, producing the
silver key, "and that I must not part with."

On seeing the key the fellow's manner changed instantly.

"How did you get that?" he asked. "Are you one of us?"

The question could hardly be considered a compliment, but it assured me
both of safety and of good treatment.

"If you belong to the Order of the Silver Key," I remarked, "and
recognize the authority of Raymon Sorillo, all is well. He is my
friend, and will give me shelter."

"The chief is in the mountains, senor, and not far off. I will get
help, and take you to him. Meanwhile, eat a little coca; it will keep
up your strength. I shall not be long gone."

"Thanks," said I, taking some of the coca, and chuckling to myself at
this unexpected stroke of good fortune.

The fellow was as good as his word. He returned shortly with three
Indians, armed like himself, and dressed in the same grotesque way.
They were all sturdy fellows, and two of them, raising me gently from
the ground, carried me in their arms with the greatest ease.

Every step took me farther from the main track, and into a wilder part
of the mountains, till at last my bearers stopped in a romantic ravine.
There were several huts dotted about in an irregular ring, but most of
the men were in the open, seated round a blazing fire.

Three-fourths of the band were pure Indians, some were mulattoes, while
a few were Spaniards of the lowest type. They looked what they were,
bandits and outlaws, and I must say that my acquaintance of the morning
was not the most villainous of them. They formed a striking company,
quite in keeping with the gloomy grandeur of their home, shut in on
every side by overhanging rocks and towering mountains.