Whilst her Ladyship was in this state of suspense, information was received that the Royalists, having gained intelligence that she was at Quilca, had determined to seize her and her infant that very evening, and to detain them as hostages.  This intelligence arrived just as a large party was assembled in the ball-room, when, with a decision which is one of her chief characteristics, Lady Cochrane ordered a palanquin—­presented to her by the Marquis of Torre Tagle—­to be got ready instantly, and placing the child and its nurse in it, she despatched them under the protection of a guard.  Leaving the ball-room secretly, she changed her dress, immediately following on horseback with relays of her best horses.

Travelling all night and the following day without intermission, the party came to one of those swollen torrents which can only be crossed by a frail bridge made of cane-rope, a proceeding of extreme danger to those who are not well accustomed to the motion produced by its elasticity.  Whilst the party was debating as to how to get the palanquin over, the sound of a Royalist bugle was heard close at hand.  Lady Cochrane sprang to the palanquin, and taking out her suffering infant, rushed on to the bridge, but when near the centre, the vibration became so great that she was compelled to lie down, pressing the child to her bosom—­being thus suspended over the foaming torrent beneath, whilst in its state of vibration no one could venture on the bridge.  In this perilous situation, Pedro, the faithful soldier of whom mention has been previously made, seeing the imminent danger of her Ladyship, begged of her to lie still, and as the vibration ceased, crept on his hands and knees towards her Ladyship, taking from her the child, and imploring her to remain motionless, when he would bring her over in the same way; but no sooner had he taken the child, than she followed, and happily succeeded in crossing, when the ropes being cut, the torrent was interposed between her and her pursuers.

All travellers agree in describing these torrent bridges as most perilous.  They are constructed of six elastic cane or hide ropes, four of which, with some sticks laid across, form the floor, and two the parapet.  Only one person can pass at a time, and as the weight of the passenger causes the bridge to belly downwards, he remains suspended as it were in an elastic bag, from which it requires considerable skill to extricate himself with safety.  Mules and horses cannot go over at all, but are hauled through the torrent with ropes.

Having reached the coast in safety, Lady Cochrane came down to me at Callao.  Whilst she was on board, I received private information that a ship of war laden with treasure was about to make her escape in the night.  There was no time to be lost, as the enemy’s vessel was such an excellent sailer that, if once under weigh, beyond the reach of shot, there was no chance of capturing her.  I therefore