25S THREE YEARS IN THE PACIFIC, 



purchasing arms, the conspirator replied ; " Is it so strange that 

 we should provide ourselves with cuirasses and coats of mail, 

 when your highness is collecting lances to slay us all?" The 

 marqu6s said, the lances were not bought to be used against 



those of Chile," nor had they any thing to fear; he awaited 

 anxiously the arrival of Vaca de Castro, and hoped that existing 

 difficulties might be adjusted. When about to depart, Pizarro 

 plucked six oranges from a tree, and presented them to him, 

 which was at that time deemed a high compliment, because 

 oranges had been but recently introduced into Peru. 



The insults of the Almagro party were retorted by the 

 friends of Pizarro. Antonio de Picado, his secretary, wore 

 on his cap a gold medal with a fig enamelled upon it, bearing 

 the motto, "Para los de Chile" — For those of Chile. 



St. John's day was fixed on by the conspirators for the exe- 

 cution of their plan, but Pizarro became suspicious, and ab- 

 sented himself from the church celebration, nor did he attend 

 mass on the following Sunday. This induced many of his 

 friends and officers to visit him on that day, which led the con- 

 spirators to suspect that measures would be taken to frustrate 

 their designs. 



Pedro de San Millan went directly to Juan de Rada, and 

 with the semblance of truth told him, he had ascertained be- 

 yond a doubt, that all would be seized and put to death in less 

 than two hours. This was an invention of San Millan to hasten 

 the completion of the bloody design. Juan de Rada at once 

 joined some of the party, and made them an address, in which 

 he said : If we prove ourselves valiant, and succeed in 

 putting the tyrant to death, as we have determined, we shall 

 not only avenge the Adelantado, Almagro, which is as mudh 

 desired by us now, as if his death had happened only yester- 

 day, but we shall obtain in this land, the rewards to which our 

 services most justly entitle us. And unless we are unanimous 

 on this subject, our heads will soon grace the pillory in the 

 plaza ; therefore, let every one of us look well to the matter I" 



The conspirators armed themselves on the spot, sallied into 

 the street, and joined others of the party at Almagro's house. 

 It was Sunday, about mid-day, on the twenty-sixth of June 



