This fortune followed him in his flight from the lost battle. He had with him Diego Méndez, who was a fool as well as an unmitigated scoundrel. Young Almagro should have made his way direct from the Apurimac to the mountain fastness of the Inca. But Diego Méndez persuaded him to come to Cuzco for horse shoes, merely because the rascal wanted to visit his own mistress, the news of the battle of Chupas not having yet reached the city. The delay was fatal to young Diego. The bad news arrived when he had only got as far as the valley of Yucay. A party was sent in pursuit and he was captured. Young Diego made a final effort to escape his fate. A faithful young page bought two horses, and he intended to take refuge with the Inca. But the scheme was betrayed, and he was more strictly guarded. This misfortune is much to be regretted. Inca Manco would have received the able young soldier with hospitality and kindness. He would have thrown in his lot with the Incas and, as their very efficient General, would probably have repulsed the force sent against Tupac Amaru, and thus prevented the disgraceful scene, for which the Viceroy Toledo was responsible, in the _plaza_ of Cuzco. Young Don Diego de Almagro met his death with the calmness and dignity of a Christian knight, and the courage of an Indian Chief. He should have been spared. The political reason for the execution of his father--that he was a source of danger owing to the still unbroken strength of his party--did not exist in the case of the son. The Almagro party had been annihilated. The lad should have been sent to Panamá or to Spain. It is a very sad story, and most interesting as a proof of the ability and courage of the first distinguished half-caste. [145] Chaves, and he was not among the assassins. [146] _Muñoz Coll._ It is printed in Spanish by Prescott, in an appendix at the end of vol. ii of his work. CHAPTER LXXXV _Of other things that were done by the Governor Vaca de Castro, and how he appointed Diego de Rojas and Felipe Gutiérrez to be his captains in the subjugation of the region of the Rio de la Plata._