1831.] The Ravine of the Unburied Dead. 6% 



raan, I have not asked for your protection." He positively, however, 

 refused to move, until persons of distinction were substituted for the 

 slaves. Juan peremptorily ordered the cazique to proceed, and pointed 

 to the fearful engine. Alpahula resolutely folded his arms on his bosom, 

 and assumed the calm, collected attitude and look of indifference of one 

 who has made up his mind to remain at home, instead of taking a day's 

 journey. The wealth in prospect was not to be lightly relinquished, and 

 six of the most noble followers of the Spanish standard were therefore 

 substituted for the slaves. Among them was Hernando Di Valverde, 

 whose love for the daughter, and whose fear of exposing the father to 

 worse cruelty made him generously offer himself, a volunteer to the In- 

 dian's pride or humour. He was placed nearest the person of the 

 singular chief. Alpahula looked round for a moment with an air of 

 triumph, almost amounting to rapturous exultation. 



For some time the party proceeded amid the lower regions of the An- 

 des in silence, which was only broken, as they reached every fresh turn 

 in the passes, by the stern and authoritative call of the cazique, echoed 

 by his interpreter-r-" to the right,"— " to the left," — "through the 

 gorge," — " up the pass,"' &c. By the augmenting difficulty of their 

 march, and by the increasing keenness of the atmosphere, Hernando 

 soon perceived that Cazique Alpahula was conducting them to the upper 

 region of his native mountains. A glow of crimson, which seemed 

 kindled as in a moment, suddenly tinged the snowy tops of the highest 

 elevations, and contrasted curiously with the wan moonlight in which 

 the lower regions were still sleeping. Hernando thought he had never 

 beheld a scene so stern, lone, and majestic. The white crests of the 

 tallest mountains, the sombre gorges, dark ravines, and overhanging pre- 

 cipices assumed even a stranger and sterner character from the dubious 

 and mixed light in which they were beheld. At each step of the train 

 the scene assumed a more desolate, wild, and solitary aspect. The cul- 

 tivated district they had quitted seemed to sink to an immense distance 

 beneath them, while that to which they were advancing gradually lost 

 the trace of human occupation, and presented the appearance of a region 

 whose lone and awful majesty had never before been profaned by foot 

 of man. Hernando listened to the ceaseless gushing of mountain tor- 

 rents, which, sometimes with the overpowering roar of a near cataract, 

 sometimes with the booming thunder of a distant fall, rolled down the 

 steep sides of Andes, and bore their swelling tribute to the Western 

 Ocean. 



Here and there a red and baleful light, resting on the frozen summits 

 of the highest range, shewed where the dire volcano was sending forth 

 its restless and unquenchable fires. As their way became more toilsome, 

 Hernando, despite the fallen Indian's repulsive returns to his proffered 

 assistance, often grasped Alpahula' s arm, in kind, and even respectful 

 aid of his failing footsteps ; and when the party stopped in fatigue, either 

 to refresh themselves, or partake of the powerful and invigorating pota- 

 tions of their own country, the cazique was the first person to whom the 

 young Spaniard tendered refection. It was evident, that Alpahula strove, 

 but perhaps strove in vain, to remain insensible to these marks of respect 

 and compassion. 



The sun c[uickly succeeded the crimson rays, which — with the abrupt 

 glow of a tropical harbinger of returning day — had announced his 



