ABSTRACT
When the pass of Huaytara was gained, the quartermaster, with the captains Hernando Pizarro, Alonzo de Alvarado, Gonzalo Pizarro, Diego de Rojas, Pedro de Vergara and Castro assembled their forces; they had seized all they could find, including horses and flocks. Alvarado said to Hernando Pizarro that they ought to wait until the Governor had ascended the pass with the rest of the forces, when they could either advance or act otherwise as seemed best to him, and Hernando Pizarro agreed with him. In due course the Governor arrived with the rest of the forces, much pleased that his captains had taken the pass without loss of life. He embraced them all, and asked how they had fared when the darkness of night came on during the march. They replied that in his service they did not consider it hard work to march either by day or night. After this conversation it was resolved to pursue Almagro, and they began to march under arms towards Huaytara. They advanced until they had passed the other part of Almagro’s late encampment, when they saw two men approaching them in great haste, who, on observing the danger they were in, deserted, and now came to Pizarro’s camp. One was named Manjarres, and the other Sancho de Reinosa. They said that Almagro was returning to Cuzco, and when the Governor and his captains heard the news they resolved to follow, thinking they could defeat the enemy. The Adelantado, with his forces, had halted in the uninhabited 179country beyond Huaytara where there was much snow, causing great fatigue to the aged Adelantado, who was very ill with boils. Yet he and all his men were of one mind, eager for war, and caring nothing for the cold and the great snowy peaks surrounding them. They waited a whole day and night, ready to give battle to the enemy, having first sent all the baggage on ahead, so that they might retreat more easily if they should be beaten. The ensigns carried the colours, and the principal cavaliers kept near the Adelantado.
