183].] The Ravine of the Unburied Dead. 69 



as might somewhat tend to conciliate the Spanish general, by rendering 

 this piece of Peruvian etiquette gratifying to Juan's wish of assuming 

 supreme authority among his compatriots. Di Alcantara's burning 

 desire to consummate the enterprize, by the acquisition of his long- 

 sought treasures, proved, however, a still stronger incentive to com- 

 pliance ; and, taking the place of Hernando, he consented to be attached 

 to the fetters of his untameable captive. 



Impatient of farther delay, the rapacious commander bestowed an 

 accelerating push on the shoulders of Alpahula : but the proud Indian, 

 far from resenting such an indignity as he would once have done, 

 looked round and smiled superior to the petty affront. To souls sus- 

 ceptible of finer impressions than that of Juan Di Alcantara, there 

 might have seemed something almost portentous in that calm and ironic 

 smile. 



In straining exertion the Indian and his guards continued to climb the 

 frowning eminence, while the now useless followers of Juan remained 

 at its base. Hernando, little gratified either by the triumphant regards 

 of his brother chief, or by the ungracious, and even ungrateful conduct 

 of the cazique, foUov/ed the train at a little distance. Alpahula led them 

 to one of those fearful Andean paths, where a false step might precipi- 

 tate the traveller to the bottom of a chasm which even the noontide 

 beams of a tropical sun have not the power of penetrating. Here the 

 cazique paused, for from this eminence the horizon widened, and the 

 source of light, which had till now been concealed by the meeting brows 

 of the precipices, rode revealed to view in the noontide heaven. A 

 mountain haze hung like a light cloud on the orb, and softened his rays, 

 without hiding his disk. The Peruvian, unable from the narrowness of 

 the path to kneel before his god, hid his face for a moment in the folds 

 of his garment, and then looking upward, eyed with grateful devotion 

 the bright globe whose lustre, softened by the cloudy veil which 

 enveloped it, forbade not the gaze of his worshipper. " Again I behold 

 thee, eye of heaven !" exclaimed the chief. " I had not dared to finish 

 the work of this day without thy beamy face to look upon this sacrifice 

 of thy servant, and bless it. Twice have the milder lights thou so oft 

 Greatest anew to make them regents of the night, and leaders of the stars 

 of heaven, wasted into nothing and darkness, since my hoar head hath 

 been gladdened by thy beams. The queens of the night have twice left 

 their place dark and void in the blue heaven, since the land of thy 

 worshippers hath been trampled on by those who deny thy power, and 

 pour contempt on thy golden honours. Yet oh ! in mercy spare her 



let that thought pass. Forgive the weakness which hath still 



loved an apostate child, and hath shewn guilty pity on a generous, but 

 idolatrous foe. — And now, god of prostrate Peru, if thou wilt favour this 

 emprize, look forth from the clouds that would hide thy piercing eye, 

 and give shining token that 'tis thy inspiration that stirs within me." 

 He fixed a wrapt and intense eye on the passing cloud, as if waiting an 

 answer to his mysterious petition. " I like not all this," said Juan, 

 looking rather uneasily at the interpreter. — " Old man," he added, " I 

 am not come here to listen to thy idle rhapsodies. Time passes — JMove 

 forward, or you may chance repent your tardiness. 'Tis true our mortal 

 engine is not here, but it still awaits your limbs in yon dark prison. 

 'Tvvcre as well remember that you are still in our power, and even ainid 



