第14章

Whyareyoualwaysinterferingwithme？Well,perhapsyouareright,and,LadyQuilla,ifyouareready,itistimetostart。No,no,I

thankyou,Curaca,butIwillnotstopforanyfeastingwhodesiretobebackatmycampbeforedark,sincewhoknowswhatmayhappentooneinthedarkinastrangecountry？"

ThenatlastHuarachagrewangry。

"Beitasyouwill,OInca,"hesaid,"butknowthatyouoffermeathreefoldinsult。Firstyourefusethefeastthathasbeenmadereadyforyouwhereatyouweretomeetallthenotablesofmykingdom。

Secondly,yougiveme,whoamaking,thetitleofapettychiefwhoownsyourrule。Thirdly,youthrowdoubtsuponmyhonour,hintingthatImaycauseyoutobemurderedinthedark。NowIammindedtosaytoyou,"Begonefrommypoorcountry,LordInca,insafety,butleavemydaughterbehindyou。""

Nowatthesewords,I,Hubert,sawthefiresofhopeburnupinthelargeeyesofQuilla,astheydidinmyownheart,formighttheynotmeanthatshewouldescapefromUrcoafterall？But,alas,theywereextinguishedlikeabrandthatisdippedinwater。

"Tush,tush！"saidtheolddotard,"whatafire—eaterareyou,friendHuaracha。KnowthatInevercaretoeat,exceptatnight;alsothatthechilloftheairaftermyfathertheSunhassetmakesmybonesache,andasfortitles——takeanyoneyoulike,exceptthatofInca。"

"MayhapthatistheoneIshalltakebeforeallisdone,"brokeinthefuriousHuaracha,whowouldnotbequietedbythecouncillorswhisperinginhisears。

Itwasatthismomentthattheministerandhigh—priest,Larico,whohadbeennotingallthatpassedwithanimpassiveface,saidcoldly:

"Benotwroth,OKingHuaracha,andlaynottoomuchweightupontheidlewordsofthegloriousInca,sinceeventhegodswilldozeattimeswhentheyareweigheddownbythecaresofempire。NoaffrontwasmeanttoyouandleastofalldoestheIncaoranyoneofus,dreamthatyouwouldtarnishyourhonourbyofferingviolencetoyourguestsbydayorbynight。Yetknowthis,thatif,afterallthathasbeensworn,youwithholdyourdaughter,theladyQuilla,fromthehouseofUrcowhoisherlordtobe,itwillbreedinstantwar,sinceassoonaswordofitcomestoCuzco,whichwillbewithintwentyhours,formessengerswaitallalongtheroad,thegreatarmiesoftheIncathataregatheredtherewillbegintomove。Judge,then,ifyouhavethestrengthtowithstandthem,andchoosewhetheryouwillliveoningloryandhonour,orbringyourselftodeathandyourpeopletoslavery。Now,KingHuaracha,speakingonbehalfofUrco,whowithinsomefewmoonswillbeInca,Iaskyou——willyousuffertheladyQuillatojourneywithustoCuzcoandtherebyproclaimpeacebetweenourpeoplesorwillyoukeepherhereagainstyouroathandhers,andtherebydeclarewar？"

Huarachasatsilent,lostinthought,andtheoldIncaUpanquibegantobabbleagain,saying:

"Verywellput,Icouldnothavesaiditbettermyself;indeed,Ididsayit,forthiscoxcombofaLarico,whothinkshimselfsocleverjustbecauseImadehimhigh—priestoftheSunundermeandheisofmyblood,isafterallnothingbutthetongueinmymouth。Youdon"treallywanttodie,Huaracha,doyou,afterseeingmostofyourpeoplekilledandyourcountrywasted？Foryouknowthatiswhatmusthappen。

Ifyoudonotsendyourdaughterasyoupromised,withinafewhoursahundredthousandmenwillbemarchingonyouandanotherhundredthousandgatheringbehindthem。Anyhow,pleasemakeupyourmindonewayoranother,asIwishtoleavethisplace。"

Huarachathoughtonawhile。ThenhedescendedfromhisthroneandbeckonedtoQuilla。ShecameandheledhertowardsthebackpartofthepavilionbehindandalittletotheleftofthechaironwhichI

satwherenonecouldheartheirtalksaveme,ofwhomheseemedtotakenonote,perhapsbecausehehadforgottenme,orperhapsbecausehedesiredthatIshouldknowall。

"Daughter,"hesaidinalowvoice,"whatword？BeforeyouanswerrememberthatifIrefusetosendyou,nowforthefirsttimeIbreakmyoath。"

"OfsuchoathsIthinklittle,"answeredQuilla。"YetofanotherthingIthinkmuch。Tellme,myfather,iftheIncadeclareswarandattacksus,canwewithstandhisarmies？"

"No,Daughter,notuntiltheYuncasjoinusforwelacksufficientmen。Moreover,wearenotready,norshallbeforanothertwomoons,ormore。"

"Thenitstandsthus,Father。IfIdonotgothewarwillbegin,andifIdogoitseemsthatitwillbestavedoffuntilyouareready,orperhapsforalways,becauseIshallbethepeace—offeringanditwillbethoughtthatI,yourheiress,takeyourkingdomasmymarriageportiontobejoinedtothatoftheIncasatyourdeath。Isitthus？"

"Itis,Quilla。OnlythenyouwillworktobringitaboutthattheLandoftheIncasshallbejoinedtotheLandoftheChancas,andnotthatoftheChancastothatoftheIncas,sothatinadaytocomeasQueenoftheChancasyoushallreignoverbothofthemandyourchildrenafteryou。"

NowI,Hubert,watchingQuillaoutofthecornersofmyeyes,sawherturnpaleandtremble。

"Speaknottomeofchildren,"shesaid,"forIthinkthattherewillbenone,andtalknotoffutureglories,sincefortheseIcarenothing。ItisforourpeoplethatIcare。YousweartomethatifI

donotgoyourarmieswillbedefeatedandthatthosewhoescapethespearwillbeenslaved？"

"Aye,IswearitbytheMoonyourmother,alsothatIwilldiewithmysoldiers。"

"YetifIgoIleavebehindmethatwhichIlove,"heresheglancedtowardsme,"andgivemyselftoshame,whichisworsethandeath。Isthatyourdesire,myfather？"

"Thatisnotmydesire。Remember,Daughter,thatyouwerepartytothisplan,aye,thatitsprangfromyourfar—seeingmind。Still,nowthatyourhearthaschanged,Iwouldnotholdyoutoyourbargain,whodesiremostofallthingstoseeyouhappyatmyside。Choose,therefore,andIobey。Onyourheadbeit。"

"WhatshallIsay,OLord,whomIsavedfromthesea？"askedQuillainapiercingwhisper,butwithoutturningherheadtowardsme。

NowanagonytookholdofmeforIknewthatwhatIbadeher,thatshewouldsay,andthatperchanceuponmyanswerhungthefateofallthisgreatChancapeople。Ifshewenttheywouldbesaved,ifsheremainedperchanceshewouldbemywifeifonlyforawhile。FortheChancasI

carednothingandfortheQuichuasIcarednothing,butQuillawasallthatremainedtomeintheworldandifshewent,itwastoanotherman。Iwouldbidherbide。Andyet——andyetifhercaseweremineandthefateofEnglandhunguponmybreath,whatthen？

"Beswift,"shewhisperedagain。

ThenIspoke,orsomethingspokethroughme,saying:

"Dowhathonourbidsyou,ODaughteroftheMoon,forwhatislovewithouthonour？Perchancebothshallstillbeyoursatlast。"

"Ithankyou,Lord,whoseheartspeaksasmyheart,"shewhisperedforthethirdtime,thenliftingherheadandlookingHuarachaintheeyes,said:

"Father,Igo,butthatIwillwedthisUrcoIdonotpromise。"

CHAPTERVII

THERETURNOFKARI

SoQuilla,seatedinagoldenlitterandaccompaniedbymaidensasbecameherrank,soonwasborneawayinthetrainoftheIncaUpanqui,leavingmedesolate。Beforeshewent,underpretenceofbiddingmefarewell,nonedenyingher,shegainedprivatespeechwithmeforalittlewhile。

"LordandLover,"shesaid,"IgotowhatfateIknownot,leavingyoutowhatfateIknownot,andasyourlipshavesaid,itisrightthatIshouldgo。NowIhavesomethingtoaskofyou——thatyouwillnotfollowmeasitisinyourhearttodo。ButlastnightIprayedofyoutodogmystepsandwhereverImightgotokeepclosetome,thattheknowledgeofyourpresencemightbemycomfort。Nowmymindisdifferent。IfImustbemarriedtothisUrco,Iwouldnothaveyouseemeinmyshame。AndifIescapemarriageyoucannothelpme,sinceI

mayonlydosobydeathorbytakingrefugewhereyoucannotcome。

AlsoIhaveanotherreason。"

"Whatreason,Quilla？"Iasked。

"This:Iaskthatyouwillstopwithmyfatherandgivehimyourhelpinthewarthatmustcome。IwouldseethisUrcocrushed,butwithoutthathelpIamsurethattheChancasandtheYuncasaretooweaktooverthrowtheIncamight。RememberthatifIescapemarriagethusonlycanyouhopetowinme,namely,bythedefeatanddeathofUrco。Say,then,thatyouwillstayhereandhelptoleadtheChancaarmies,andsayitswiftly,sincethatdotard,Upanqui,fretstobegone。Hark！

hismessengerscallandsearch;mywomencanholdthembacknomore。"

"Iwillstay,"Iansweredhoarsely。

"Ithankyou,andnowfarewell,tillinlifeordeathwemeetagain。

ThoughtscometomymindwhichIhavenotimetoutter。"

"Tominealso,Quilla,andhereisoneofthem。Youknowthemanwhowaswithmeontheisland。Well,heismorethanheseems。"

"SoIguessed,butwhereishenow？"

"Inhiding,Quilla。Ifyoushouldchancetofindhim,bearinmindthatheisanenemyofUrcoandonenotfriendless;alsothathelovesmeafterhisfashion。Trusthim,Iprayyou。UrcoisnottheonlyoneoftheIncablood,Quilla。"

Sheglancedatmequicklyandnoddedherhead。Thenwithoutmorewords,forofficerswerepressingtowardsus,shedrewaringoffherfinger,athickandancientgoldenringonwhichwerecutwhatlookedlikeflowers,orimagesofthesun,andgaveittome。

"Wearthisformysake。ItisveryoldandhasastoryoftruelovethatIhavenotimetotell,"shesaid。

Itookitandinexchangepassedtoherthatancientringwhichmymotherhadgiventome,theringthathadcomedowntoherwiththeswordWave—Flame,saying:

"This,too,isoldandhasastory;wearitinmemoryofme。"

Thenwepartedandpresentlyshewasgone。

Istoodwatchingherlittertillitvanishedintheeveninghaze。ThenIturnedtogotofindmyselffacetofacewithHuaracha。

"Lord—from—the—Sea,"hesaid,"youhaveplayedaman"s——oragod"s——

partto—day。Hadyoubiddenmydaughterbidehere,shewouldhavedonesoforloveofyouandtheChancapeoplemusthavebeendestroyed,forasthatoldIncaorhisspokesmantoldus,thebreakingofmyoathwouldhavebeentakenasadeclarationofinstantwar。Nowwehavebreathingtime,andintheendthingsmaygootherwise。"

"Yes,"Ianswered,"butwhatofQuillaandwhatofme？"

"Iknownotyourcreedorwhatwithyouishonour,WhiteLord,butamonguswhomperhapsyouthinkofsmallaccount,itisthoughtandheldthattherearetimeswhenamanorawoman,especiallyiftheybehighlyplaced,mustdosacrificeforthegoodofthemanywhoclingtothemforguidanceandforsafety。ThisyouandmydaughterhavedoneandthereforeIhonourbothofyou。"

"Towhatendisthesacrificemade？"Iaskedbitterly。"Thatonepeoplemaystrugglefordominionoveranotherpeople,nomore。"

"Youaremistaken,Lord。NotforvictoryortoincreasemydominionsdoIdesiretowarupontheIncas,butbecauseunlessIstrikeIshallpresentlybestruck,thoughforalittlewhilethismarriagemightholdbacktheblow。AloneinthemidstofthevastterritoriesoverwhichtheIncasrule,theChancasstemtheirtideofconquestandremainfreeamongstmanynationsofslaved。ThereforeforagestheseIncas,likethosewhoruledbeforethematCuzco,havesworntodestroyus,andUrcohasswornitaboveall。"

"Urcomightdieorbedeposed,Huaracha。"

"IfsoanotherwouldputontheFringeandbevowedtotheancientpolicythatdoesnotchangefromgenerationtogeneration。ThereforeI

mustfightorperishwithmypeople。Hearken,Lord—from—the—Sea！Stayherewithmeandbecomeasmybrotherandageneralofmyarmies,forwherewilltheynotfollowwhenyoulead,whoareheldtobeagod？

Thenifweconquer,inreward,fromabrotheryoushallbecomeason,andtoyouaftermeIswearshallpasstheChancacrown。Moreover,toyou,ifshecanbesaved,Iwillgiveinmarriageherwhomyoulove。

Thinkbeforeyourefuse。Iknownotwhenceyoucome,butthisIknow:

thatyoucanreturnthithernomore,unless,indeed,youareaspirit。

Hereyourlotiscasttilldeath。Thereforemakeitglorious。

PerchanceyoumightflytotheIncaandtherebecomeamarvelandashow,furnishedwithgoldandpalacesandlands,butalwaysyouwouldbeaservant,whileIoffertoyouacrownandtheruleofapeoplegreatandfree。"

"Icarenothingforcrowns,"Ianswered,sighing。"Still,suchwasQuilla"sprayer,perchancethelastthatevershewillmaketome。

ThereforeIacceptandwillserveyouandyourcause,thatseemsnoble,faithfullytotheend,OHuaracha。"

ThenIstretchedoutmyhandtohimandsoourcompactwassealed。

Ontheverynextdaymyworkbegan。Huarachamademeknowntohiscaptains,commandingthemtoobeymeinallthings,which,lookingonmeashalfdivine,theydidreadilyenough。

Now,ofsoldieringIknewlittlewhowasaseamanbred,yetasIhadlearned,amanoftheEnglishraceinhoweverstrangeacountryhefindshimselfcanmakeapaththeretohisends。

Moreover,inLondonIhadheardmuchtalkofarmiesandtheirorderingandoftenwatchedtroopsattheirexercise;alsoIknowhowtohandlebowandsword,andwasaccustomedtothemanagementofmen。Soputtingallthesememoriestogether,Isetmyselftothetaskofturningamobofhalf—savagefellowswitharmsintoanorderedhost。IcreatedregimentsandofficeredthemwiththebestcaptainsthatIcouldfind,collectingineachregimentsofaraspossiblethepeopleofacertaintownordistrict。ThesecompaniesIdrilledandexercised,teachingthemtousesuchweaponsastheyhadtothebestpurpose。

AlsoIcausedthemtoshapestrongerbowsonthemodelofmyownwithwhichIhadshotthethreeFrenchmenfarawayatHastingsthat,asitwassaid,oncehadbeenthebattle—bowofThorgrimmertheNorsemanmyancestor,astheswordWave—Flamewashisbattle—sword。WhentheseChancassawhowfarandwithwhatagoodaimIcouldshootwiththisbow,theystrovedayandnighttolearntoequalme,thoughitistruetheyneverdid。AlsoIbetteredtheirbody—armourofquiltingbysettingssheetsofleather（sinceinthatcountrythereisnoiron）

takenfromthehidesofwildanimalsandoftheirlong—hairednativesheep,betweenthelayersofcotton。OtherthingsIdidalso,toomanyandlongtorecord。

TheendofitwasthatwithinthreemonthsHuarachahadanarmyofsomefiftythousandmenwho,ifnotwelltrained,stillkeptdiscipline,andcouldmoveinregiments;whoknewalsohowtoshootwiththeirbowsandtousetheircopper—headedspearsandaxesofthatmetal,orofhardstone,tothebestpurpose。

ThenatlengthcametheYuncastojoinus,thirtyorfortythousandofthem,wildfellowsandbraveenough,butundisciplined。WiththeseI

coulddolittlesincetimewaslacking,savesendsomeoftheofficerswhomIhadtrainedtoteachtheirchiefsandcaptainswhattheywereable。

ThusIwasemployedfromdawntilldarkandoftenafterit,intalkwithHuarachaandhisgenerals,orindrawingplanswithinkthatI

foundameanstomake,uponparchmentofsheepskinandnotingdownnumbersandotherthings,asightatwhichthesepeoplewhoknewnothingofwritingmarvelledverymuch。Greatweremylabours,yetinthemIfoundmorehappinessthanIhadknownsincethatfataldaywhenI,therichLondonmerchant,HubertofHastings,hadstoodbeforethealtarofSt。Margaret"schurchwithBlancheAleys。Indeed,everycrannyofmytimeandmindbeingthusfilledwiththingsfinishedorattempted,Iforgotmygreatlonelinessasanalieninastrangeland,andoncemorebecameasIhadbeenwhenItraffickedintheCheap。

ButtoilasIwould,IcouldnotforgetQuilla。DuringthedayImightmaskhermemoryinitsurgentbusiness,butwhenIlaydowntorestsheseemedtocometomeasaghostmightdoandtostandbymybed,lookingatmewithsadandlongingeyes。SorealwasherpresencethatsometimesIbegantobelievethatshemusthavediedtotheworldandwasintruthaghost,orelsethatshehadfoundthepowertothrowhersoulafar,asitissaidcertainoftheseIndianfolk,ifsotheyshouldbecalled,cando。AtleasttheresheseemedtobewhileI

remainedawakeandafterwardswhenIslept,andIknownotwhetherherstrangecompanyjoyedorpainedmemore。Foralas！shecouldnottalktome,ortellmehowitfaredwithher,and,tospeaktruth,nowthatshewasthewifeofanotherman,asIsupposed,IdesiredtoforgetherifIcould。

ForofQuillanowordreachedus。WeheardthatshehadcomesafelytoCuzcoandafterthatnothingmore。Ofhermarriagetherewasnotidings;indeedsheseemedtohavevanishedaway。CertainofHuaracha"sspiesreportedtohim,however,thatthegreatarmywhichUrcohadgatheredtoattackhimhadbeenpartlydisbanded,whichseemedtoshowthattheIncanolongerpreparedforimmediatewar。

OnlythenwhathadhappenedtoQuilla,whosepersonwasthepriceofpeace？Perhapsshewashiddenawayduringthepreparationsforhernuptials;atleastIcouldthinkofnothingelse,unlessindeedshehadchosentokillherselfordiednaturally。

Soon,however,allnewsceased,forHuarachashuthisfrontiers,hopingthatthusUrcomightnotlearnthathewasgatheringarmies。

Atlength,whenourforceswerealmostreadytomarch,Karicame,KariwhomIthoughtlost。

OnenightwhenIwasseatedatmyworkbylamplight,writingdownnumbersuponaparchment,ashadowfellacrossit,andlookingupI

sawKaristandingbeforeme,travel—wornandweary,butKariwithoutdoubt,unlessIdreamed。

"Haveyoufood,Lord？"heaskedwhileIstaredathim。"IneeditandwouldeatbeforeIspeak。"

Ifoundmeatandnativebeerandbroughtthemtohim,foritwaslateandmyservantswereasleep,waitingtillhehadfilledhimself,forbythistimeIhadlearnedsomethingofthepatienceofthesepeople。

Atlengthhespoke,saying:

"Huaracha"swatchisgood,andtopassitImustjourneyfarintothemountainsandsleepthreenightswithoutfoodamidtheirsnows。"

"Whencecomeyou？"Iasked。

"FromCuzco,Lord。"

"ThenwhatoftheladyQuilla？Doesshestilllive？IsshewedtoUrco？"

"Shelives,orlivedfourteendaysago,andsheisnotwed。Butwheresheisnomanmayevercome。YouhavelookedyourlastupontheladyQuilla,Lord。"

"Ifshelivesandisunwed,why？"Iasked,trembling。

"BecausesheisnumberedamongtheVirginsoftheSunourFather,andthereforeinviolatetoman。WereItheInca,thoughIloveyouandknowall,shouldyouattempttotakeher,yes,evenyou,IwouldkillyouifIcould,andwithmyownsword。Inourland,Lord,thereisonecrimewhichhasnoforgiveness,andthatistolayhandsuponaVirginoftheSun。Webelieve,Lord,thatifthisisdone,greatcurseswillfalluponourcountry,whileasforthemanwhoworksthecrime,beforehepassestoeternalvengeanceheandallhishouseandthetownwhencehecamemustperishutterly,andthatfalsevirginwhohasbetrayedourfather,theSun,mustdieslowlyandbyfire。"

"Hasthiseverchanced？"Iasked。

"Historydoesnottellit,Lord,sincenonehavebeensowicked,butsuchisthelaw。"

Ithoughttomyselfthatitwasaveryevillaw,andcruel;alsothatIwouldbreakitifIfoundopportunity,butmadenoanswer,knowingwhentobesilentandthatImightaswellstrivetomoveamountainfromitsbaseastoturnKarifromtheblindnessofhisfollybredoffalsefaith。Afterall,couldIblamehim,seeingthatweheldthesameofthesacrednessofnunsand,itwassaid,killedthemiftheybroketheirvows？

"Whatnews,Kari？"Iasked。

"Much,Lord。Hearken。DisguisedasapeasantwhohadcomeintothiscountrytobarterwoolfromavillageneartoCuzco,IjoinedmyselftothetrainoftheIncaUpanqui,amongwhoselordsIfoundafriendwhohadlovedmeinpastyearsandkeptmysecretashewasboundtodo,havingpassedintothebrotherhoodofknightswithmewhilewewerelads。Throughhim,inplaceofamanwhowassick,IbecameoneofthebearersoftheladyQuilla"slitterandthuswasalwaysaboutherandattimeshadspeechwithherinsecret,forsheknewmeagainnotwithstandingmydisguiseanduniform。SoIbecameoneofthosewhowaitedonherwhensheateandnotedallthatpassed。

"AfterthefirstdaytheIncaUpanqui,hewhoismyfatherandwhoselawfulheirIam,althoughhediscardedmeforUrcoandbelievesmedead,madeitahabittotakehisfoodinthesametentorrest—housechamberastheladyQuilla。Lord,beingveryclever,shesetherselftocharmhim,sothatsoonhebegantodoteuponher,asold,worn—outmensometimesdouponyoungandbeautifulwomen。She,too,pretendedtogrowfondofhimandatlasttoldhiminsomanywordsthatshegrieveditwasnothethatshewastomarrywhosewisdomshehungupon,inplaceofaprincewho,sheheard,wasnotwise。This,shesaid,becausesheknewwellthattheIncawouldnevermarryanymoreandindeedhadlivedaloneforyears。Still,beingflattered,hetoldheritwashardthatsheshouldbeforcedtowedonetowhomshehadnomind,whereonsheprayedhim,evenwithtears,tosaveherfromsuchafate。AtlasthevowedthathewoulddosobysettingheramongtheVirginsoftheSunonwhomnomanmaylook。Shethankedhimandsaidthatshewouldconsiderthematter,since,forreasonsthatyoumayguess,Lord,shedidnotdesiretobecomeaVirginoftheSunandtopasstherestofherdaysinprayerandtheweavingoftheInca"sgarments。

"Soitwentonuntilwhenwewereaday"smarchfromCuzco,Urco,mybrother,cametomeethispromisedbride。Now,Urcoisahugemanandhideous,onewhomnonewouldbelievetohavebeenbornoftheIncablood。Coarseheis,anddissolute,giventodrinkalso,thoughagreatfighterandbraveinbattle,andquick—brainedwhenheissober。

IwaspresentwhentheymetandIsawtheladyQuillashiverandturnpaleatthesightofhim,whileheonhispartdevouredherbeautywithhiseyes。Theyspokebutfewwordstogether,yetbeforetheseweredone,hetoldheritwashiswillthattheyshouldbewedatonceonthedayaftershecametoCuzco,norwouldhelistentotheIncaUpanquiwhosaid,beingcunningandwishingtogaintime,thatduepreparationmustbemadeforsogreatabusiness。

"ThereuponUrcogrewangrywithhisfather,whobothfearsandloveshim,andansweredthat,beingalmostInca,thismatterwasonewhichhewouldsettleforhimself。SofiercewashethatUpanquibecameafraidandwentaway。WhentheywerealoneUrcostrovetoembraceQuilla,butshefledfromhimandhidwithhermaidensinaprivateplace。Afterthis,atthefeastUrcotooktoomuchdrinkaccordingtohiscustomandwasledawaytosleepbyhislords。ThenQuillawaitedupontheIncaandsaid:

""OInca,IhaveseenthePrinceandIclaimyourpromisetosavemefromhim。OInca,abandoningallthoughtofmarriage,IwillbecomethebrideofourFathertheSun。"

"Upanqui,whowaswrothwithUrcobecausehehadcrossedhiswill,sworebytheSunitselfthathewouldnotfailher,comewhatmight,sinceUrcoshouldlearnthathewasnotyetInca。"

"Whathappenedthen？"Iasked,staringhimintheeyes。

"Afterthis,Lord,whenwewerehaltedbeforemakingthestateentryintoCuzco,foramomenttheladyQuillafoundopportunityforprivatespeechwithme。Thisiswhatshesaid:

""Tellmyfather,KingHuaracha,thatIhavefulfilledhisoath,butthatIcannotmarryUrco。ThereforeIseekrefugeinthearmsoftheSun,astheoracleRimacforetoldthatIshoulddo,havingtochoosebetweenthisfateandthatofdeath。TellmyLord—from—the—Seawhathasbefallenmeandbidhimfarewelltome。Stillsaythathemustkeepagoodheart,sinceIdonotbelievethatallisendedbetweenus。"

"ThenwewerepartedandIsawhernomore。"

"Anddidyouhearnomore,Kari？"

"Iheardmuch,Lord。IheardthatwhenUrcolearnedthattheladyQuillahadvanishedawayintotheHouseofVirgins,whitherhemightnotcome,andthathewasrobbedofthebridewhomhedesired,hegrewmadwithrage。Indeed,ofthisIsawsomethingmyself。Twodayslater,withthousandsofothersIwasinthegreatsquareinfrontoftheTempleoftheSun,wheretheIncaUpanquisatinstateuponagoldenthronetoreceivethepraiseofhispeopleuponhissafereturnafterhislongandhardjourney,andassomereported,tolaydownhislordshipinfavourofUrco;alsototellthepeoplethatthedangerofwarwiththeChancashadpassedaway。ScarcelyhadtheceremonybegunwhenUrcoappearedattheheadofanumberoflordsandprincesoftheIncablood,whoareofhisclan,andInoticedthathewasdrunkandfurious。Headvancedtothefootofthethrone,almostwithoutobeisance,andshouted:

""WhereistheladyQuilla,daughterofHuaracha,whoispromisedtomeinmarriage,Inca？Whyhaveyouhiddenheraway,Inca？"

""BecausetheSun,ourFather,hasclaimedherashisbrideandhastakenhertodwellinhisholyhouse,whereneveragainmaytheeyesofmanbeholdher,Prince！"answeredUpanqui。