The Crimson Conquest: A Romance of Pizarro and PeruHudson, Charles B. (Charles Bradford)
History
The Crimson Conquest: A Romance of Pizarro and Peru
Hudson, Charles B. (Charles Bradford)
Peru -- History -- Conquest, 1522-1548 -- Fiction
The two Spaniards were quickly in saddle, and with Ocallo and Markumi
following, crossed the camp toward the Antisuyu road. This highway,
connecting the capital with the eastern provinces, becomes the street in
which Cristoval and the Antis encountered the patrol on the first night
of the fire. A few minutes’ ride brought them to the road, now occupied
by a waiting column. Turning toward the city, they were presently in
its outskirts. Here they found Mocho with his staff, and dismounting to
join them, Cristoval felt his arm touched. He glanced round and beheld
a tall figure, clad and armed like the Antis, but wearing a turban.
"Abul Hassan!" exclaimed the cavalier, extending his hand. "I am
rejoiced to see thee, old friend. Dost take part with us? I would thou
hadst a horse and thine accoutrements."
"With the help of Allah I shall have both before the sun setteth again,"
replied the Morisco, calmly. He motioned toward a group of twenty or
more men with lassos standing near. "Thy herdsmen, Cristoval. I have
heard of thine expedient—a most excellent one!"
"I pray it will prove so," said the other, "and that we soon shall see
thee mounted. When equipped, seek us. We’ll find thee occupation."
The Morisco nodded grimly, and Cristoval and Pedro passed on to Mocho.
In front were men at work in the darkness, and the general gave his
hand, saying, "The task is well advanced, Viracocha Cristoval. Let us
move forward."
He led the way into the street, which had been made, in pursuance of
Cristoval’s instructions, a confusion, of half-burned timbers, pieces of
furniture which had escaped the fire, and all manner of _débris_.
Heaped, lashed together, and interlaced, they formed an entanglement
difficult for men on foot, and for cavalry barely surmountable. The
adobe walls on each side had been pierced with loopholes for the
archers, and the side-streets barricaded against flanking.
The party picked their way slowly, climbing over here, bending to pass
under there, while Cristoval inspected, commended, or advised, until
they had penetrated far into the suburb, where the workmen were still
toiling. Until near dawn they directed the Antis pouring silently into
the suburb and occupying the ruined buildings along the obstructed way.
Cristoval saw the men with lassos properly placed, and the party
returned to the outskirts.
A few minutes later, a company of warriors made its way through the
entanglement into the city, going forward to draw a Spanish attack.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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