And now, we had better separate; if we are seen together it will be bad for both of us.

_Hasta manana_." And then she went her way and I went mine.
I had said truly "a hazardous enterprise." Hazardous and difficult in any circumstances, the hazard and the difficulty would be greatly increased by the presence of a woman; and the fact of a cacique's wife being one of the companions of my flight would add to the inveteracy of the pursuit.

I greatly doubted, moreover, whether Senora de la Vega knew the country as well as she asserted.

She was so sick of her wretched condition that she would say or do anything to get away from it--and no wonder.

But was I justified in letting her run the risk?
The punishment of a woman who deserted her husband was death by burning; were Senora de la Vega caught, this punishment would be undoubtedly inflicted; were it even suspected that she had met me or any other man, secretly, Chimu would almost certainly kill her.