Last of the Incas

entrated passions, which slowly collect in the mind, and at length burst out with terrible force.

ng himself about his horse. The feeling of hatred was alone at work within him. Nothing refreshed his burning forehead, his temples beat as if about to burst, and a nervous tremor agitated his wh

restore a little order to his ideas, and recall him to reality. An hour more of suc

landscape, and a mournful silence prevailed

, as he tried to disc

the trees clashed together, and in the depths of the desert the howling of the wild beast

in his waist belt the pistols that were in the holsters, and unfastening a gourd of rum hanging from his saddlebow, began washing the eyes, ears, nostrils, and mouth of the poor beast, whose sides quivered, and which this s

aps I shall soon succeed in getting out of this place,

almost immediately from four different quarters. The horse

imed, "I am at a wateri

m him, two eyes that shone like live coals

elf against his will; he breathed with difficulty; his teeth were clenched, an icy perspiration poured down his whole person, and he was on the point of abandoning himself to his fate. This sudden disco

nto a snort of te

s rider thought, "pe

e horse's flight and huge shadows bounded along past Don Torribio. A violent bla

f rocks piled up pell-mell, and of fissures out of which clumps of trees grew. Here and there creepers were intertwined describing the wildest curves, and

y did its gloomy depths appear to reveal. Near the forest a limpid stream burst through the rocks, whose banks were trampled by numerous traces of the claws of wild beasts. This stream served them, in fact, as a watering place, when they

ribio, "these are d

watchful cat, fixed its inflamed eyes upon him. Torribio, who was well armed according to the Am

it will be a tough

raise his head. A dozen pajiros and subaracayas (wild cats of great size), perched on branche

alf-closed eyes, were seated on the surrounding roc

the forest, whom the subtlety of their scent attracted one after the other, increased more and more, and overpowered the very sound of the wind which raged in the ravines and forest clearings. The moon was once more hidden behind clouds, and

ssible clearly to distinguish cleft the space, and lodged with a roar on the platform. With the butt of his rifle he struck out in the darkness, and the panther, with a broken skull, rolled to the base of the rock. He heard a monstrous battle, which the cougars and wild cats waged with the wounded panther, and intoxicated by his triumph, and even by his danger, he fired two shots into the crowd of obstinate enemies sna

ilants that were constantly reinforced. He felt on his face the warm, fetid breath of the wild cats and red wolves, while the roars of the cougars and the mocking miauling of the panthers filled his ears w

so to speak, had become entirely physical; his movements were mechanical, a

with them to make them loose their hold; his blood was flowing from twenty wounds, not mortal it is true, but the hour was approachin

undefinable expression, which was echoed far and wide by the rocks. It was the last protest of the strong man who co

d a cry resp

ated, believed himself under the impression of a dream or an hallucination; still, collecting all his strength

ura

ugh faint as a sigh. Like the giant Antaeus, Don Torribio, drawing himself up, seemed to regain his strength

ss with their transient gleams, and men, or rather demons, dashed sudd

by two tiger cats, rolled on the

these men, holding lighted torches, began seeking the hunter, whose cries of distress had besought their help. He was lying senseles

voice said, "hav

eply; "but he ap

" Pedrito continued, "for he

his r

im down with the

ing e

to said. "Each minute's delay is, per

cautions transported him from the improvised fortress where he had so long fou

an's miserable appearance; "Poor devil! How they h

will recover?" Lo

red sententiously, "where life is not

drew his glistening knife, and p

breath," Pedrito sa

nds serious?

oon open his eyes again, and in a quarter of an hour, if he think proper, he c

your thoughtfu

of his European dress and thorough

ho

ought at the tree of Gualichu, an

st be m

the trunk of the sacred tree, I had leisure to study his features, which have remained grave

" the others s

s to be

meaning of th

Pedrito answered, "b

to cure their own wounds, and hence acquire a certain practical knowledge of

stened his temples, and puffed tobacco smoke up his nostrils. The young man gave an almo

ow leave Nature to act, for she

his hand over his forehead, as if to regain hi

are

sir-fear

ery bone in my b

th the exception of the fati

s; but by what miracle did y

this miracle; had it

voice growing gradually stro

" The young man gave a sort of nervo

a pack of red wolves at its heels; we freed it from these brutes; then, as it seemed to us probable that a ready saddled hors

you?" Torribio asked, of

us noth

hy

our horse,

see you again," he s

thing, I tell you," said Pedrito,

ean?" Don Torr

id today the debt contracted yesterday

ce was covered wi

Pedrito continued, as

ared in the darkness, Pedr

ith a sigh of relief, "but I feel