1831. J The Tiger's Cave. 257 



stopped, on a motion from our guides, who, parting gently the inter- 

 vening boughs, gave to view a scene which caused us hastily to grasp 

 our arms. 



In an open space blazed a large fire, round which were seated several 

 men in tattered uniforms : they were armed, and appeared to be holding 

 a consultation regarding a beautiful Indian girl, who was bound with 

 cords to a tree. The Indians prepared their bows and arrows ; but we 

 beckoned them to desist, until we gave the signal for attack. On the 

 termination of the conference, one of the men approached the girl, and 

 said, " So, ycu will not*conduct us to your village ? M " No," answered 

 the young Indian, firmly, but sobbing. " Good child !" he replied, 

 with a scornful laugh, " so you will not be persuaded to lead us to your 

 hut?" a No" she again replied. " We shall see how long the bird 

 will sing to this tune ;" and with these words, the ruffian snatched a 

 brand from the fire, and again approached her. We hastened to get 

 ready our guns ; but the impetuosity of Lincoln could not be restrained, 

 and casting his from him, he sprung forward just as the brand had 

 touched the shoulder of the girl, and struck the villain lifeless to the earth. 

 At the same instant, the Indian arrows whistled through the air, and 

 wounded two of the others, but not, it appeared, dangerously, as they 

 fled with their terrified comrades. 



Our midshipman, meanwhile, had unbound the girl, who, the instant 

 she was free, knelt before him, and poured out her gratitude in the most 

 impassioned language. We learned that her name was Yanna, and that 

 her parents dwelt in a village in one of the deepest recesses of the forest 

 that she had left home early in the morning to gather cocoa and 

 that, having strayed too far, she had suddenly found herself surrounded 

 by the ruffians from whom we had just rescued her, and who had endea- 

 voured, by threats and violence, to force her to guide them to the vil- 

 lage. We could not withstand her prayers to accompany her home. 

 There we were quickly surrounded by the Indians, whom we found to 

 possess an almost European fairness of complexion. Yanna immediately 

 ran up to her parents, who were chiefs of the tribe, and spoke to them 

 with animation, using all the while the most expressive gestures. As 

 soon as she had finished her narrative, her parents hastened forward, 

 and kneeling before us, kissed our hands with expressions of the deepest 

 gratitude ; and the whole of the tribe knelt along with them, pouring 

 forth mingled thanks and blessings. Then on a sudden they started 

 up, and seizing us, they bore us in triumph to the hut of the chief, 

 where we were treated with the utmost hospitality. Wharton smiled to 

 me as he remarked, that our young midshipman and Yanna had disap- 

 peared together. Shortly after, Yanna returned, holding Lincoln with 

 one hand, and carrying in the other a chaplet of flowers, which she 

 immediately placed on his head. On the following morning we again 

 set out, and as we parted, the beautiful eyes of Yanna were filled with 

 tears. 



On leaving the village, we continued to wind round Chimborazo's 

 wide base ; but its snowy head no longer shone above us in clear bril- 

 liancy, for a dense fog was gradually gathering round it. Our guides 

 looked anxiously towards it, and announced their apprehensions of a 

 violent storm. We soon found that their fears were well-founded. The 

 fog rapidly covered and obscured the whole of the mountain ; the atmos- 

 phere was suffocating, and yet so humid that the steel-work of our 



M.M. New Series. VOL. XI. No. 6& 2 L 



