my life at your disposal, and what better security can you have for my fidelity?"

A small party of horse, about twenty in number, was sent to Huamachuco to ascertain if the rumor of the uprising was true.

Meanwhile, gold and

Never, perhaps, was

silver continued to pour in. there such an accumulation of precious metal. The amount of gold still lacked three and a half inches of reaching the nine-foot line, when again rumors of an uprising in the interior reached the general's ears. De Soto was ordered to take a party of cavalry and and learn if there were any truth in the rumor. "Send some one else!" plead the captive Inca, on learning that De Soto, who had always been his best friend since his captivity, was to be sent away; but Pizarro heeded not his request and ordered De Soto to prepare for the expedition.

to go

The horses' shoes being worn out by the journey across the Andes, and there being a dearth of steel and iron, De Soto shod his horses with silver, which was far more plentiful.

"Is he gone?" Atahualpa asked Estevan the day after the departure of De Soto.

"He is," the guard answered.

"Then I am doomed," groaned the unhappy Inca. "The only friend able to protect me has been sent away, and the cruel Pizarro will now put me to death,"

In vain Estevan strove to rouse his drooping spirits. Believing himself the victim of the malicious Felipillo and his terrible master Pizarro, as well as an unrelenting fate, the Inca refused to be consoled. When Estevan was relieved, Nicosia, who had overheard his remark, came to Estevan. "What the Inca says is true, señor. Pizarro will, on some pretext, put him to death."

After the departure of De Soto to Huamachuco to reconnoitre the country and ascertain what grounds there were for the rumored insurrection, the agitation among the soldiers increased to such a degree that Pizarro consented to bring Atahualpa to immediate trial. A court was organized over which the two captains, Pizarro and Almagro, presided as judges. The charges preferred against the Incal were drawn up in the form of interrogations, twelve in number. It was charged that he had usurped the crown and assassinated his brother Huascar; that he had squandered the public revenues since the conquest of the country by the Spaniards, and lavished them on his kindred and minions; that he was guilty of idolatry and bigamy and had attempted an insurrection among the Spaniards.

"The charges are unjust, and no fair trial can be obtained from them," declared Estevan.

"Why are they unjust?" Pizarro asked.

"Most of them are against the usages and cus

toms of the people over which we have no jurisdiction."

"The judges must settle those questions,' answered Pizarro.

"Defer, I pray you, the trial until De Soto returns."

"Wherefore should we?"

"That the Inca may have one powerful friend who will see to it that he has justice."

"De Soto is not in command," cried Pizarro so fiercely that Nicosia, becoming alarmed, led Estevan aside and implored him not to cross the general in his purpose, as he might incur his displeasure, and the hatred of Pizarro was something to be dreaded. The examination proceeded, and the trial was so manifestly unjust that Estevan again raised his voice in defence of the prisoner, and was surprised to find himself with considerable following. Atahualpa was found guilty and sentenced to be burned alive in the public square of Caxamalca. Father Valverde signed the death warrant.

Estevan was so open in his denunciation of the sentence that he very nearly came to blows with some of the opposing party. He tried to prevail on them to wait until De Soto's return, but was over-ruled.

When the sentence was read to the Inca he was greatly overcome by it. He asked to see Pizarro,

and when the captain entered the presence of the royal prisoner, the Inca burst into tears.

"What have I or my children done, that I should meet such a fate?" he exclaimed. "And from your hands, too-you, who have met with friendship and kindness from my people, with whom I have shared my treasures, who have received nothing but benefits from my hands! Spare my life!" he piteously cried, "and I will give you any guarantee of safety that may be required for every Spaniard in your army. I have filled this room with gold, and I will fill it again; but oh! do not doom me to that horrible death!"

Pizarro was visibly affected, but he was not to be moved from his purpose. He had determined on the conquest of Peru, and that could not be accomplished while Atahualpa lived.

Estevan had roused the hatred of the conqueror and his followers, and nine-tenths of the army were against him. Discovering that he could do the unfortunate Inca no good, he bade him a tearful farewell, and, with Nicosia, went to another part of the city that he might not be a witness to the horrible sight. On the 29th of August, 1533, Atahualpa was led out in chains and fastened to the stake. order to avoid the painful death of burning, the Inca professed to embrace Christianity, and his sentence was commuted to the milder form of the gar

In

rote, a mode of punishment by strangulation used for criminals in Spain.

A day or two after the tragedy, Hernando De Soto returned from his expedition, and was greatly astonished and indignant on learning what had been done in his absence. Estevan and Nicosia met the cavalier some distance from the town and told him of the death of the Inca.

"Will God forgive such a barbarous deed?" groaned De Soto, reeling in his saddle as if he had received a blow. He sought out Pizarro and found him with a great felt hat, by way of mourning, slouched over his eyes, and his dress and demeanor exhibiting all the show of sorrow.

"You have acted rashly," said blunt but honest De Soto. "Atahualpa was slandered. There were no enemies at Huamachuco; no rising among the natives. I have met nothing on the road but expressions of good will, and all is quiet. If it was necessary to bring the Inca to trial, he should have been taken to Castile and judged by the emperor. I would have pledged myself to see him safe on board the vessel."

"It was hasty," admitted Pizarro, "but I was deceived by Riquelme, the royal treasurer, and Valverde and others."

These charges soon reached the ears of the treasurer and the Dominican, who, in their turn, ex