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On my fifteenth birthday Quilca organized some sports, and though not gaining a first prize in any event, I performed so creditably that the Indians were delighted with my prowess. "The young chief will make a warrior," said they, and I felt proud of their praise. Let me try to give you a picture of myself at that time. I was tall for my age, standing five feet five inches in height.
Perhaps he lost the track. Perhaps the soldiers gave chase, and he went further round to baffle them. Who knows? But we shall hear to-morrow." "Then he is likely to recover?" "Yes; the medicine saved him. Didn't you see his chest move?" "Yes," I replied, thinking that but a small thing to go on. "That showed the medicine was in time," returned Quilca. "It has begun its work, and all will be well."
However, the old woman appeared satisfied, and at a sign from her the stricken man was carried slowly up the path. One native attended to the horse, and the rest returned to their huts, talking excitedly of what had happened. "Is that a messenger from Raymon Sorillo, Quilca?" I asked my host. "Yes," said he, "and he has had a very narrow escape. He has been caught in a sandstorm.
I could not learn their business, because Quilca said they were acting under the secret orders of the great chief. They were absent three days, and when, in the gray dawn of the fourth morning, they rode back up the valley, three were missing. The leader had a bloodstained bandage round his head, and several men bore signs of a fierce conflict. "You are hurt?" said I, as Quilca dismounted.
Whilst her Ladyship was in this state of suspense, information was received that the Royalists, having gained intelligence that she was at Quilca, had determined to seize her and her infant that very evening, and to detain them as hostages.
Ordering his men to dismount, Quilca went to find an officer, and soon returned with the startling intelligence that the colonel himself lay dangerously ill in one of the huts. "Not an encouraging start!" I remarked. "A bad beginning often makes a good ending," answered José cheerfully. "Let us go to see him."
Most of the Indians were astir, when suddenly a man came running from the mouth of the pass. "Here they are!" he cried; "here they are!" We pushed down quickly to meet them, I in the very front. Quilca appeared first, riding slowly, as if his horse were tired out. His men, lolling on their animals, followed, some of them with closed eyes and half asleep.
He's a cruel fellow, though kind enough to us, and all the cut-throats in the country are likely to flock to him. I'm sorry for the Spaniards who fall into his hands!" Quilca was rather opposed to our plans, but finding us determined, he at last agreed that we should accompany him on the next expedition.
On hearing these things I became impatient, not wishing to remain cooped up in the valley while the Liberating Army was marching on Lima. However, my deliverance, though slow in coming, came at length, but before that time I had a most startling surprise. One morning, in the last week of January 1821, I had gone out very early, half expecting to see Quilca returning from one of his excursions.
Besides" and he touched the cord supporting the silver key "he is your servant, as I am." For three days the messenger was too weak to explain his errand; but the medicine worked wonders, and at the end of a week he sent for Quilca and the other leading men of the tribe. What orders he brought I did not learn; only my host told me that the rising to which they looked forward had been put off.
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