waves just
flung me about anyhow. The other chap lasted an hour or two, when down
he went with a scream, and I heard no more of him. But I needn't dwell
on the horrors of that night; you had a strong taste of them yourself.
About daybreak I was flung like a spent ball on to a sandy beach. I
had just strength to crawl a few yards further up, and then collapsed.
It seems some Indians carried me away, and nursed me back to health,
but for weeks I was wild as a loon. They searched the coast, but found
nothing, and I concluded you were at the bottom of the sea. Then I got
a passage to Pisco in a coasting brig, and from there made my way
overland to Callao."

"Where you heard I was alive?"

"Yes; I hardly know whether I stood on my head or my heels when I was
told. It was old Mr. Warren who informed me. I went to him because I
dared not go to your mother. I was afraid that--"

"All right; I understand."

"So I went to Warren, and he began a long yarn; but as soon as he said
you were alive, I was off like a shot to Lima."

Then he talked of my mother, repeating the messages she had given him,
and I could have listened for hours. As it was, I plied him with
questions, asking this and that--if my pony was well; had he seen Rosa
Montilla; was my mother less sad; and a hundred other things, many of
them trivial enough, yet full of interest to me.

At the end I asked how he had found his way to the Hidden Valley.

"Oh!" replied he with a jolly laugh, "that was simple. I hunted up
your black-browed bandit, who passed me on to one of his band. How he
found the way I can't tell you, but he brought me along all right."

"And now what are we going to do?"

"Well, that depends. If the Spaniards give in, we can just go quietly
back home."

"And if they don't?"

"Well, in that case--"

"We must join General San Martin!" I exclaimed.

"I suppose so," he said, half reluctantly. "You're only a boy, but
there are many youngsters of your age with the army, and you've a big
stake in the country. But we can afford to let that matter stand for a
day or two longer."

CHAPTER VI.

WE LEAVE THE HIDDEN VALLEY

Now, before proceeding with my story, it will be well to mention here one
piece of information which Jose, not caring, perhaps, to add to my
troubles, did not give me. Indeed, very little was said about it at any
time, for reasons which will be clear to any one who makes himself
acquainted with this na