r. Hernando consented.

Juan and Gonzalo, with their commands and fifty of their best horse,
were detailed for the purpose. By Hernando's instructions they cut
through the Indians and galloped headlong down the road in the
direction of Lima. The Indians were deceived by the seeming dash of
the horsemen through the lines and, supposing them to be in retreat,
turned their attention to the Spaniards left in the square. The
conflict which had been intermitted for a space began again with the
utmost fury.

In the midst of it, Juan Pizarro, who had galloped about a league from
the town and then made a long {99} detour, suddenly appeared at
Sacsahuaman. The Spaniards immediately rushed to the assault. This
diversion caused the Indians, who had been literally forcing the
Spaniards in the town up against the wall, and in the last ditch, as it
were, to give ground. Thereupon the dauntless Hernando charged upon
them, drove them out of the square, and succeeded in establishing
communications with Juan and Gonzalo on the hill. He directed Juan to
hold his position and make no attack, but Juan thought he saw an
opportunity to gain the fortress, and at vespers the Spaniards rushed
at the walls.

There were Indians not only within but without the walls, and the
fighting was soon of the most sanguinary description. Juan Pizarro had
been wounded previously in a skirmish and on account of this wound was
unable to wear his morion. Hernando had especially cautioned him to be
careful on this account; but the impetuous valor of the Pizarros was
not to be restrained by considerations of any personal safety, and Juan
was in the front rank of the storming party. They had cut their way
through to the fort and were battling for entrance when a stone hurled
from the tower struck Juan in the head, knocking him senseless. The
wound was of such a character that two weeks afterward he died of it in
great agony. He was the first to pay the penalty. History has
preserved little concerning him, but some chroniclers have found him
the highest-minded of the brothers--possibly because less is known
about him! At any rate, he was a valiant soldier.

Gonzalo succeeded to the leadership, and although he and his men fought
heroically, they were at last forced back from the fortress in spite of
the fact that {100} they had gained the outer walls. The fighting had
transferred itself from the city to the hills, which was a sad tactical
error on