uld almost certainly
have taken to the mountains.

"Even if they have not, senor, you are safe from another attack. Now
they know that you carry pistols, and are prepared for them, they will
let you alone."

"When we come back here, Dias, we will give you a brace of our pistols,
and I trust you will carry them in your pocket ready for use after
dark, whether you are in Lima or at Miraflores."

"Thank you, senor. I do not think they are likely to show their faces
here again for a long time; but at any rate I will be on my guard, and
will gratefully accept your offer of the pistols. Now, senors, I must
set to work to-day to get in our stores for the next journey. I have
made a list of what we shall want."

"Well, I have plenty of money, Dias, for I find two remittances from
home awaiting me here. We have already bought two double-barrelled guns
and a stock of ammunition, principally buck-shot, for we shall not be
doing much big game shooting. We can always buy food at the sea-side
villages."

Three days later all was in readiness. The mules were brought up from
Miraflores by Jose, accompanied by Maria, and an early start was made
on the following morning.




CHAPTER XIV

THE CASTLE OF THE DEMONS


"To-morrow, senor," Dias said, "you will see the spot I was telling you
about, where, as the traditions say, the spirits of our ancestors
inhabit the ruins of a building so old, that it was ancient when the
Incas first came here. They are still there, and men who have been rash
enough to approach the spot have been found torn to pieces as if by
wild beasts; but none go near now."

"Did the Spaniards never go there?"

"I know not, sir; but 'tis likely they never even heard of it. The
country is all dry and barren, and there were no mines to tempt them.
The Indians never speak of it; those who were alive when the Spaniards
came had some reasons for not doing so; and even now you could go to
the nearest village, which lies more than twenty miles away, and ask
the people about it, but they would only say that they had never 