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Updated: June 22, 2025
"No; but I must tell you the story when you've had something to eat. Give your horse to this youngster, and now come on to Quilca's hut; you must be tired." "I was," replied he, "but the sight of you woke me up. I wondered if you'd be waiting to see the braves come home. That Quilca of yours is a born soldier. He'd make a good general if they didn't train him!"
Quilca spoke so confidently that, had I been the patient, I should have started on the road to recovery at once. "Will he stay here long?" I asked. "Who knows?" replied Quilca. "The chief gives orders; the servants obey." "But he will return at some time?" "It is likely." "And will he take a message to my mother, do you think?" "Oh yes," said the Indian; "I had forgotten.
She performed the journey on horseback, under the intense heat of a vertical sun, across a desert, impeded by the precipitous beds of torrents which intersect the country in every direction. On her arrival at Quilca, she was most hospitably received by the Marchioness de la Pracer, who placed her palace and every luxury at Lady Cochrane's disposal.
Apparently, however, he had sent definite orders to the tribe, as from this date I noticed a great difference in our hitherto peaceful abode. Every man went armed day and night, scouts were posted on the mountains, and swift riders scoured the desert for miles. Once, too, a band of horsemen, twenty strong, led by Quilca, left the valley at night.
The Chilians were not ready, and could not be in Peru for at least another six months. Quilca was dreadfully disappointed; but the chief had spoken, and his word was law. Indeed, it was most extraordinary to see with what reverence his commands were treated. Had it been his pleasure, I am sure his followers would have willingly gone to certain death.
He rattled on, and I listened, glad just to hear the sound of his voice, without reference to what he said. Quilca bade us welcome to the hut, and his womenfolk brought in the food and drink they had prepared. José, as I have said, knew the Indian patois, which during the meal, he used for the benefit of our host, whose Spanish was rather halting.
The first part I heard from a man, a soldier, a brave, faithful fellow, who was with her; the rest I saw myself. She, with her baby, was up the country, at a place called Quilca, among the mountains, when, as she was at a ball at some great man's house there, she heard that the Spaniards had made up their minds to seize her and her infant, and to detain them as hostages.
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