 without revealing it to
anybody. Had it not been so, the Spaniards would sooner or later have
learned it, for although hundreds have died under torture rather than
reveal any of the hiding-places, surely one more faint-hearted than the
rest would have disclosed them. Certain it is that at Cuzco and other
places they succeeded in obtaining almost all the treasures buried
there, though they failed in discovering the still greater treasures
that had been carried away to be hidden in different spots. But
Pachacamac was a small one in comparison with Cuzco, and it was
believed that the treasures had not been carried far. Tradition has it
that they were buried somewhere between this town and Lima. Doubtless
all concerned in the matter fled before the Spaniards arrived, at any
rate with all their cruelty the invaders never discovered its position.
The report that it was buried near may have been set about to prevent
their hunting for it elsewhere, and the gold may be lying now somewhere
in the heart of the mountains."

Harry Prendergast and his brother looked in astonishment at the massive
walls that rose around the eminence on which the temple had stood. The
latter had disappeared, but its situation could be traced on the
plateau buttressed by the walls. These were of immense thickness, and
formed of huge adobe bricks almost as hard as stone; even the long
efforts of the Spaniards had caused but little damage to them. The
plateau rose some five hundred feet above the sea, which almost washed
one face of it. Half-way up the hill four series of these massive
walls, whose tops formed terraces, stood in giant steps some fifty feet
high. Here and there spots of red paint could be seen, showing that the
whole surface was originally painted. The ascent was made by winding
passages through the walls. On the side of the upper area facing the
sea could be seen the remains of a sort of walk or esplanade, with
traces of edifices of various kinds. On a hill a mile and a half away
were the remains of the Incas' temple and nunnery, 