ose for their attempt, could the
guards but be induced to pitch the camp there. He was casting about in
his mind for some scheme by which they might be induced to select the
spot as a halting-place, when the officer in command of the troop rose
in his stirrups and, pointing to the hillock with his sword, exclaimed:

"There, over yonder, is the place for us, _mi hijos_; we will encamp
among those boulders. We shall be as comfortable there as in the city
of Cuzco itself. Forward, _guerreros_; we shall soon be there; and we
will have a good long rest to-night."

"Ay, that you will, you inhuman scoundrel," muttered Jim; "but it will
not be the sort of sleep of which you are thinking!" However, the
prisoners and their guards pushed forward, and in about ten minutes'
time the group arrived at the foot of the little hill, which they at
once began to climb.

"Now I wonder," thought Jim, "whether the next time we tread this road
it will be as free men once more. God grant us success this night, for
if we fail there will be no second chance for us!"

The other officers seemed to be occupied with similar thoughts, for they
examined the whole place and its surroundings very carefully as they
ascended; evidently in order that, should the attempt be successful,
they might be able to find their way down in the darkness. At last the
summit was reached; but before the weary men could enjoy the rest of
which they stood in such great need, they were obliged to unload the
tents and provisions from the pack mules, the Peruvians being much to
lazy to do anything for themselves. It was therefore about eight
o'clock by the time that the tents were pitched and the evening meal
prepared; and when the food was ready the prisoners ate as much as they
could, for they did not in the least know where they would obtain their
next meal. This having been done, the pots and pans had to be cleaned
and put away; so that it was a tolerably weary company which at last
sought its tents to lie down and rest.

But not to slumber. There was not a single Chilian among those to whom
the plan had been revealed who closed his eyes, lest he should fall
asleep and thus not be ready when the momentous signal should be given.
Long before this it had been ascertained that there were but four keys
for the purpose of locking and unlocking the prisoners' manacles; one
being held by the captain, while the other three were distributed in
turn among the soldiers,