ishment at the strangers, who increased their amazement by putting their horses to the spur, vaulting, plunging and curvetting with such agility, that the simple natives imagined the steed and the rider to be one animal. The Spaniards were hardly less astonished with the novelty and magnificence of the display on the part of the Peruvians; the barbaric pomp and stateliness of the Inca; the golden ornaments which adorned him and his attendants; the fantastic dress and strange weapons of the troops; and the multitude of gold and silver utensils arranged for a feast; which all combined to form a spectacle of fairy splendor and opulence, such as no European of that age had ever beheld. After some minutes had been passed in gazing at each other in mutual wonder, the Spaniards approached the golden throne on which Atahualpa was seated. The Inca rose, gave them a respectful greeting, and welcomed them to his dominions. A feast was served up, and both parties drank peace and friendship to each other, at the moment when the perfidious Spaniards were anticipating, soon after, the horrid scene of plunder and butchery that ensued. Atahualpa, deceived by this show of amity on the part of his guests, promised to pay them a visit on the following day. Pizarro, overjoyed to find the Inca had so unsuspiciously fallen into the snare he had laid, instantly made his arrangements for the treacherous scheme he meditated. He harangued his soldiers, expatiated on the boundless wealth now within their reach, and animated them by the powerful incentives of avarice and glory, to execute his audacious design without fear, scruple, or hesitation. Little was wanting to stimulate them to the deed; the Peruvian gold had kindled the insatiate thirst of avarice in their souls, and no man's conscience appears to have asked him if the deed to be done was just. The preparations were speedily made. The cavalry were divided into four squadrons, to act with more celerity; the musketeers were posted in a tower of the palace, from whence they might fire securely upon the defenceless multitude; fifteen chosen men, with spears, were appointed as Pizarro's body-guard, to assist him in the hazardous service which he designed for himself; the artillery, consisting of two field-pieces, and the crossbowmen, were stationed opposite the avenue by which Atahualpa was to approach; the rest of the infantry were drawn up in a separate body, and the whole force were ordered to keep within the square and await the preconcerted signals. With the dawn of day, the Peruvian camp was perceived to be in motion; but as the Inca was desirous of appearing with the greatest possible splendor before his guests, the preparations for the march were so numerous that the morning was far spent before the procession began to move from the camp. This delay, and the slow solemnity with which the march was conducted, caused the liveliest inquietude in the breast of the treacherous Pizarro, who began to have strong misgivings lest his perfidy was discovered, or at least suspected. He saw the magnificent train of Peruvians at a distance, glittering with gold and silver in the morning sun; the brilliant prize seemed to be snatched from before his eyes at the instant when he believed it within his grasp. A single gleam of suspicion in the mind of the deluded Inca, and all the dreams of gloating avarice would be dissipated in a moment. But the destiny of the unfortunate Atahualpa was decreed. Stimulated by new messages and assurances of friendship from the treacherous and impatient Spaniard, he hastened his march, and at length approached the Spanish quarters. Atahualpa was preceded by four hundred men, covered with plates of gold and silver and precious stones. He was carried on a throne of burnished gold, adorned with plumes of various colors. Next followed the principal officers of state, borne, like their master, on the shoulders of his principal attendants. These were followed by bands of singers and dancers, and the whole plain was covered with troops to the number of thirty thousand men. The Spanish historian, Herrera, in order to palliate the atrocious conduct of Pizarro, affects to believe that Atahualpa meditated a treacherous attack upon the Spaniards. In proof of this, he relates several circumstances, which, however, are contradictory to each other and to common sense. Atahualpa marched into the enclosure of the Spaniards without the least suspicion, and halted with his chief attendants, in the great square. A religious farce had been projected by the Spaniards, as an introduction to their work of treachery. As soon as the Inca had taken his post in the square, a friar, named Valverde, chaplain to the expedition, advanced to the throne, with a crucifix and a breviary, and began a formal homily, explaining to the Peruvian sovereign the history of the creation of the world, the fall of man, the doctrine of the incarnation, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the appointment of St. Peter as God's vicegerent on earth, the inheritance of his authority by the popes of Rome, &c.; in short, a summary of the Bible history and of the Catholic religion. He then informed him that the pope had given the whole western continent to the king of Spain, in consequence of which, Atahualpa was required to submit to Charles V., as his lawful sovereign, on pain of the most speedy and terrible vengeance which that monarch could inflict. upon him. A demand so extravagant and absurd, was rendered still more revolting by the imperfect manner in which it was signified to the Inca by the interpreter. It is not surprising, therefore, that he listened to it with feelings of indignation and scorn. The barbarian chief, however, preserved his temper, and replied with coolness, “I should be happy to be the friend of the king of Spain, who has sufficiently displayed his power by sending armies into countries so distant; but I disdain to be his vassal. I owe no tribute to mortal potentate, and know no man superior in authority to myself. A foreign priest has no right to give away my dominions. As to changing my religion, which you request me to do, it would be both foolish and impious in me to abandon the worship transmitted to me by my ancestors, until I am convinced that it is false and yours true. You worship a God who died on a tree. For my part, I adore the any с |