B. XIX. commenced their difficult attempt. In an account Ch. 4. that was sent to Spain, of Centeno's proceedings,

it is stated that the object of dismounting was to render the enterprize a desperate one, leaving no alternative but victory or death. But one who was almost an eye-witness, who at least was in Cusco a few days afterwards, says that the horses were wanted for a stratagem of war, which had signal success. When they came near the town they hung lighted matches from the saddlebows and from other parts of the harness of the Centeno's horses, and made the Indians drive these animals stratagem. into the principal street, which was called the Street of the Sun, and which led straight to the great square, where Pizarro's Lieutenant had placed his men, expecting the assault. The horses plunged in, with the Indians after them, making a fearful noise and creating much confusion. Meanwhile, Diego Centeno and his men entered the town in another direction; and shouting "Cæsar, Cæsar," rushed into the great square, discharged the few guns that they had with them, attacked Pizarro's men vigorously, and, almost at a blow, succeeded in gaining the victory. The only person seriously hurt was the Commander, Centeno; and he received his wound from a very corpulent peaceable citizen of Cusco, who was repeating his prayers at the moment when Centeno and his men were entering the town. Hearing the alarm, he put his breviary under his vest, girt on his sword,

Ch. 4.

took a pike in his hand, and sallied forth to B. XIX. the square, where the first person he met was Centeno, whom he pierced more than once with the pike, but did not wound him fatally, as the weapon was of a very ancient character, made at the end like a fleur-de-lis, a weapon befitting such a peaceful man. Centeno's Page fired upon this citizen; but the bullet only penetrated a certain distance into the breviary, and so the good man was saved. This was the great adventure of the night, and thus was Cusco taken for the Royal Cusco cause. Many of Pizarro's followers placed them- Centeno. selves under Centeno's banner; and that commander, finding himself at the head of a considerable force, resolved to bar the way and prevent Pizarro's escape into Chili.

taken by

negotiate

On hearing of Centeno's outbreak, Pizarro, before he marched from Lima, had sent Juan de Acosta with three hundred men to counteract the movements of Centeno. Juan de Acosta rejoined Pizarro at Arequipa. Before, however, venturing to attack Centeno, Pizarro made the greatest efforts to gain that commander over to his side. He suggested that they should unite their forces, Pizarro atresist the President, and divide the country be- tempts to tween them. Centeno declined these overtures, with Cenand remained faithful to the Royal cause. De. sertions still continued to take place from Pizarro's camp. The army, however, moved on to Huarina. Before giving battle to Centeno, Pizarro sent one of his Chaplains, bearing a cross in his hand, to demand of Centeno that he should allow free passage to Pizarro and his troops; adding, that if this request were not granted, all the loss

teno.

238

Carvajal's Instructions to his Men.

B. XIX. and the slaughter that might ensue would be upon Ch. 4. Centeno's head. This messenger was treated as

instruction

a spy, and was immediately conveyed to the tent of the Bishop of Cusco, Juan Solano, who was in Centeno's camp. Indirectly, however, the sending of the message did great service to Pizarro, for, being construed as a sign of weakness on his part, it emboldened the other side to recklessness.

It may be remembered how carefully Francisco de Carvajal, the Master of the Camp, had collected the fire-arms of the deserters. He was enabled, therefore, to furnish each of his arquebusiers with three or four arquebuses. As they could not attack, carrying three or four weapons, the main hope of Carvajal was that the enemy should attack him. He had addressed a discourse to his men, which was singularly characteristic. Carvajal was not the person to talk of heroism, or glory, or even of duty. But no man was more soldiers how to manage

skilful in teaching his

Carvajal's their fire. "Look you, gentlemen," he said, "the to his ar- ball which passes too high, although it be but quebusiers. two fingers above the enemy, is entirely lost,

while that which goes too low drives up against him all that it carries with it. Besides, if you hit your enemy in the thighs or legs, he will fall, which is all we want; whereas, if you hit him in the arms, or in the body, if it be not a mortal wound, he remains on foot." In a word, he ordered them to fire low, and he also insisted that they should not discharge their arquebuses until the enemy had approached within one hundred paces.

a litter.

It was particularly unfortunate for the Royal B. XIX. cause that Centeno was at this juncture very ill Ch. 4. of a calenture, and obliged to be carried about in The whole burden of command fell upon his Master of the Camp. His troops advanced upon Pizarro's men, confident of victory. The crafty Carvajal caused some of his arquebusiers to fire off their guns when the enemy were at a considerable distance. This tempted them onwards: they commenced firing all their guns. Again, a second time, they gave a general volley, but it was at a distance of three hundred paces. None of Carvajal's men fell. It was only. when the enemy approached to within one hundred paces that they returned the fire. It had a Battle of fatal effect: they poured in another volley, using Oct. 20, their spare arquebuses; and the enemy gave way at once, and fled.

Huarina,

1547.

Centeno's cavalry made a gallant effort to retrieve the day, and with such effect that they had almost captured Pizarro himself. But, being unsupported by their infantry, they were obliged to retreat, and, after one of the bloodiest battles that had taken place in South America, the for- Defeat of tune of the day remained wholly with Pizarro.

Diego Centeno, seeing the defeat of his forces, bade his bearers carry him out to die in the enemy's ranks. But they put him on a horse and hurried him off the field. Finally, he reached the President's camp, where he was well received as a most faithful though unfortunate servant of his Majesty. The battle of Huarina took place on the 20th of October, 1547.

Centeno.

B. XIX.

Ch. 5.

THIS

HIS great victory gained by Pizarro was well followed up. Carvajal lost not a moment in organizing a rapid pursuit of the enemy. But Pizarro's army must have been deficient in cavalry, for many of Centeno's principal men escaped. Forty, however, were captured by a party of Carvajal's arquebusiers. Amongst these prisoners was a man of much repute, named Miguel Cornejo, who was well known to the Master of the Camp.

When Carvajal first came to Peru, there were no inns for travellers throughout the country. Arriving at Cusco, he had taken up his place patiently in a corner of the great square, with his wife and family, and had remained there for three hours, no man taking any notice of him. As Miguel Cornejo, however, was going to the Cathedral, he saw Carvajal standing in this corner, went up to him, heard his story, invited him home, and treated him and his family hospitably, until the Marquis Pizarro gave Carvajal a repartimiento of Indians. Carvajal was one of those whom Mendoza, the Viceroy of