At the Point of the Sword

, I have never set foot on that famous little island in the No

, where, until the year 1819, on the very eve of my fo

use the sun was worshipped by the natives. Their great city was Cuzco, built, it i

tory that his father was a shipwrecked Englishman, who married the daughter of

educts show that the people were highly civilized; but in 1534 the Spaniards, und

sh America, and Pizarro founded the ci

part of her marriage portion, and a beautiful place it was, with a fine park, and a lake which served me both for boating and bathing. I had several

ts own ruler. Being still a boy, I did not hear much of these things, though, from certain talk, I understood that the country was in

My father had been absent for nearly a week, but he had promised to return fo

n the wicket-gate, I put down my brush

ghter of a famous Spanish officer. She was nearly a year younger than myself, and a frequent visitor at o

l of fun and good spirits. Now, however, she was very pale and looked frightened. I noticed, too, that she

d knew not how to act. On seeing me she made a little run forward, and, bursting into t

most part among boys, I was but a clumsy comforter,

appened?" But for answer she could only

her toward the drawing-room, where my mother was. "Mother will comfort you. Tell her all ab

r, but she came with me, and

hy are you crying? But come to me, darling;" and in a

f thing that the daughter of Don Felipe Montilla should be out on foot and unattended. I was sure that should her father discover it he would be greatly annoyed. The whole affair was so mysterious that I could make

She might need help which I was not old enough to give; while, as it chanced, Joseph Craig, my father's trusty English servan

up at full speed. One was Joseph Craig, or José as the Spaniards called him, and my feeli

features and keen gray eyes. He spoke English and Spanish fluently, and could make himself understood in several Indian dialects. He kept the accounts of the estate, and might

om that of the Spaniards, and in his cap he wore a plume of feathers. His face was scarred by more than one sword-cut, his brows were lowerin

tion: but I, thinking of Rosa, forbade him, saying

hat Rosa had run away from some peril, and that this man with the savage face and cruel ey

repeated slow

tilla," I

name the mountaineer scowled savagely, and leane

r mother," said José; "I met him at the entrance to the par

as if his words were burdensome, and there was a

What message did they bring? What news could link d

der. Until then I had no thought of the truth, but the touch of his fin

ed? Why did Rosa steal here alone and sob in

ad news," he answered quietl

for comfort," I said. "It was a happy though

d looked searchi

and how can I tell you? The little maid did not weep

oon. The reason of it I guessed, though not the matter; but I knew that

knew, and there was sympathy

ad gone to meet the Indians. They wished to rise against the government; but he knew

Spaniards

"Here," pointing to the mo

mountains. Ah, I forgot! Her father stands high i

e, and I could have cr

re for women and girls. Years ago my father's head was cut off, but I did not cr

said. "The news wil

know it," he answere

giving his horse and that of the stranger to a serving-

her beauty even among the ladies of Lima. She was tall and slightly built, with black hair and glorious dark eyes that shone like stars. I have heard that at one time she was called the "Lady of the Stars," and I am not surpris

rd the news, Juan? You know that your father lies dead on the mountains,

tter no sound save the angui

my son, not the country's. And there is little Rosa, brave little Rosa, who came to bring me the news; she must go back. Let Miguel bring roun

see no one until Rosa had been attended to. So I hurried Miguel, the coachman, and the men w

, "Good-bye, my child. You were very good to think of me, and I s

eadily to the coach. She was still sobbing, and

e and wished her good-bye, neither of us having any idea of

tranger should be admitted, and he came in accompanied by José.

ss boy; now you must learn to be a man.-Se?or, you have brought new

r bowed almost

he Spaniards pretended he was stirring up our people to revolt;

u see h

have returned to his quarters! But they shall yet pay for it, se?ora. My people are mad to rise. Only say

de a gesture

evenge to slay the innocent. But Juan shall take his father's place, and work

ntaineer, with a harsh laugh. "Do you think Don Eduardo's son w

d José; "Juan will ne

n come from a rising now. Should the Indians leave their m

n must b

r; "we must save Juan to

"There is one way," said he slowly. "He can find a refuge

d instantly; even with this added grief she would not let people know

," she said simply.

so far to break the terrible news to her, and

id, "must I re

me in her arms and kiss

t you go; but José is right-there is no other way. I will be brave, dear, and wait patiently for your return. Follow in your father's footsteps. Do the right, and fear not what

try, m

et again, my boy, I wi

f her starry eyes, and we sat quietly in the darkening room, while

or, and without a tremor in

are saddle

plan, what is

ssel bound for Valparaiso; if not, he will find us one for my master's sake. Once at sea, we shall

arly failed her. "You will take car

him with my

ing him back to me. God will reward you, José.-Good-b

ing. The horses were waiting in the courtyar

bye, m

as we moved away I saw her white han

ted for us, and he followe

trange, and aske

ve a friend to guard

for my father's death and my mother's suffering. And it was the eve of my b

surrounded me; but my faith in José was strong, and I felt

waters and fern-fringed border. I would have liked to linger a moment at its margin,

so that I might bid a silent adieu to the beautiful h

a word of advice. Ride carefully and keep your eyes open. I don't want to fr

of the gate in our ears we rode off on the road to Callao,