hinking
Bolivar has made a big blunder. While we hang about here, Canterac is
pulling himself together, and we shall have all the work to do over
again. If I were the general--"

"I should join the other side immediately," laughed Plaza.

"Please don't interrupt," said Cordova. "It amuses me to hear these
youngsters talk. I'll wager Alzura would have finished the war two
years ago, only the end might not have been as we anticipate." At
which there was a general laugh.

"What I don't like about Bolivar is his play-acting," I said. "Have
you seen his hut? Have a look at it in the morning. The doorway is
hung with silver ornaments in place of laurel wreaths, which the
Indians were unable to get."

"But he can't help the Indians idolizing him!"

"Nonsense! Did you ever hear of such rubbish with San Martin? And the
Indians worshipped him!"

"Ah!" exclaimed Plaza, "you're a San Martin man, and jealous of the new
sun!"

"A new comet," said I, a bit testily perhaps, because Plaza had
happened on an explanation very near the truth.

"At any rate," observed Cordova, "it's better to be here at our ease
than tramping fruitlessly about the mountains. I'm fairly tired of
that fun. I want a day or two at Lima."

None of us guessed how much weary marching lay before us ere we
returned to the capital. However, for the time we were in
comparatively good quarters, and though grumbling occasionally because
Bolivar had not followed up the victory at Junin, were quite prepared
to make the best of things.

CHAPTER XXVII.

A DISASTROUS RETREAT.

When General Canterac retreated from Junin, he fled from his own
shadow. Instead of pursuing him closely, we advanced in a leisurely
way to Guamanga, and stayed there a month doing nothing. Then we
marched to Challuanca, where Bolivar, being needed at the capital, left
us under the command of General Sucre, who had shown himself a very
skilful soldier. It seems we were not strong enough to proceed, and as
the rainy season was at hand, no one thought the Royalists would return
to the attack.

The Patriot army was spread across the country for many miles, our post
being on a high tableland four leagues from Challuanca. The weather
was abominable. Frequent storms swept through the district, the rain
fell in torrents, the thunder pealed in reverberating claps among the
mountains, and many animals and some men were killed by the lightning.
It was bitterly cold, too