was at its worst Jim seized the
opportunity to observe the faces of his companions in misfortune, and on
only two of them did he perceive any signs of terror; he therefore
decided that when making his plans for escape he would take especial
care that those two officers were not made acquainted with them, as they
would be not unlikely to disclose the plot, hoping that by so doing they
might procure their own freedom without the danger involved in fighting
for it. The remaining four held their heads high, and looked as though,
if only they possessed weapons, they would have been more than glad to
take a share in the fight. These were the sort of fellows, Douglas
decided, with whom to discuss plans for escape, and he made up his mind
that as soon as he could do so without being observed by the guards, he
would take them aside with a view to the arranging of a plan of escape
to be put into effect before the prison-gang should arrive at the mines.

At length the crowd, finding that the military guard round the prisoners
was too strong for it, abandoned its attempt to wreak its vengeance on
the Chilians, and finally dispersed. The procession then resumed its
march, and a quarter of an hour later arrived at the _gran Plaza de
Callao_, where another depressing sight met Jim's eyes. Round the
_Plaza_ now ranged rank upon rank of armed Peruvian soldiers, who were
mounting guard over a hundred or more disconsolate-looking Chilian
prisoners, who were nearly all manacled, some singly and some in groups.
There were present representatives of nearly every regiment of the
Chilian army, and naval men of all ratings; and, since the poor fellows
had had no change of clothing during their captivity, most of their
uniforms were almost unrecognisable. But Jim distinguished among them
officers who belonged to the Constitucion and Valparaiso regiments, the
Guias, and Grenaderos, together with Carabineros, Lancers, and Rifleros.
Most of the naval prisoners were, however, officers; and Jim was
overjoyed to see that among these were several men whom he knew, and to
whom he determined to make his presence known at the first possible
opportunity. The Englishman was at first a little surprised at the
preponderance of military over naval captives, until he recollected that
some months before, the _Union_, in command of the redoubtable
Villavicencio, had captured the transport _Rimac_, which was on her way
to Arica with troops. These unfortunat