第15章

""Youmeanthatrobbingme,youhavetakenherforyourself,Inca,"

shoutedUrcoagain。

"ThenUpanquistoodupandsworebytheSunthatthiswasnotsoandthatwhathehaddonewasdonebythedecreeofthegodandattheprayeroftheladyQuilla,whohavingseenUrco,haddeclaredthateithershewouldbewedtothegodordiebyherownhand,whichwouldbringthevengeanceoftheSunuponthepeople。

"ThenUrcowentmad。HeravedattheIncaandwhileallpresentshiveredwithfear,hecursedtheSunourFather,yes,evenwhenacloudcameupintheclearskyandveiledthefaceofthegod,heedlessoftheomen,hecontinuedhiscursesandblasphemy。Moreover,hesaidthatsoonhewouldbeIncaandthatthen,ifhemustteartheHouseofVirginsstonefromstone,asIncahewoulddragforththeladyQuillaandmakeherhiswife。

"NowatthesewordsUpanquistoodupandrenthisrobes。

""Mustmyearsbeoutragedwithsuchblasphemies？"hecried。"Know,SonUrco,thatthisdayIwasmindedtotakeofftheRoyalFringeandtosetitonyourhead,crowningyouIncainmyplacewhileIwithdrewtopasstheremainderofmydaysatYucayinpeaceandprayer。Mywillischanged。ThisIshallnotdo。Mylifeisnotdoneandstrengthreturnstomymindandbody。HereIstayasInca。NowIseethatIampunishedformysin。"

""Whatsin？"shoutedUrco。

""Thesinofsettingyoubeforemyeldestlawfulson,Kari,whosewifeyoustole;Kari,whomalsoitissaidyoupoisonedandwhoatleasthasvanishedandisdoubtlessdead。"

"Now,Lord,whenI,Kari,heardthismyheartmeltedinmeandIwasmindedtodeclaremyselftoUpanquimyfather。ButwhileIweighedthematterforamoment,knowingthatifIdidso,suchwordsasthesemightwellbemylastsinceUrcohadmanyofisfollowingpresent,whoperhapswouldfalluponandkillme,suddenlymyfatherUpanquifellforwardinaswoon。Hislordsandphysiciansborehimaway。Urcofollowedandpresentlythemultitudedepartedthiswayandthat。

AfterwardsweweretoldthattheIncahadrecoveredbutmustnotbedisturbedformanydays。"

"DidyouhearmoreofQuilla,Kari？"

"Yes,Lord,"heansweredgravely。"Itwascommonlyreportedthat,throughsomepriestessinhispay,Urcohadpoisonedher,sayingthatasshehadchosentheSunashusband,totheSunshewouldgo。"

"Poisonedher！"Imuttered,well—nighfallingtotheground。"Poisonedher！"

"Aye,Lord,butbecomfortedforthiswasadded——thatshewhogavethepoisonwastakenintheactbyherwhoisnamedtheMotheroftheVirgins,andhandedovertothewomenwhocastherintothedenofserpents,wheresheperished,screamingthatitwasUrcowhohadforcedhertothedeed。"

"Thatdoesnotcomfortme,man。WhatofQuilla？Didshedie？"

"Lord,itissaidnot。ItissaidthattheMotheroftheVirginsdashedawaythecupasittouchedherlips。Butthisissaidalso,thatsomeofthepoisonflewintohereyesandblindedher。"

Igroaned,forthethoughtofQuillablindedwashorrible。

"Againtakecomfort,Lord,sinceperchanceshemayrecoverfromthisblindness。AlsoIwastold,thatalthoughshecanseenothing,herbeautyisnotmarred;thatthevenomindeedhasmadehereyesseemlargerandmorelovelyeventhantheywerebefore。"

Imadenoanswer,whofearedthatKariwasdeceivingmeorperhapswashimselfdeceivedandthatQuillawasdead。Presentlyhecontinuedhisstoryinthesamequiet,evenvoice,saying:

"Lord,afterthisIsoughtoutcertainofmyfriendswhohadlovedmeinmyyouthandmymotheralsowhileshelived,revealingmyselftothem。Wemadeplanstogether,butbeforeaughtcouldbedoneinearnest,itwasneedfulthatIshouldseemyfatherUpanqui。WhileI

waswaitingtillhehadrecoveredfromthestrokethatfelluponhim,somespybetrayedmetoUrco,whosearchedformetokillmeandwell—

nighfoundme。TheendofitwasthatIwasforcedtofly,thoughbeforeIdidsomanysworethemselvestomycausewhowouldescapefromthetyrannyofUrco。Moreover,itwasagreedthatifIreturnedwithsoldiersatmyback,theyandtheirfollowerswouldcomeouttojoinmetothenumberofthousands,andhelpmetotakemyownagainsothatImaybeIncaafterUpanquimyfather。ThereforeIhavecomebackheretotalkwithyouandHuaracha。

"Suchismytale。"

CHAPTERVIII

THEFIELDOFBLOOD

WhenonthemorrowHuaracha,KingoftheChancas,heardallthisstoryandthatUrcohadgivenpoisontohisdaughterQuilla,who,ifshestilllivedatall,didso,itwassaid,asablindwoman,akindofmadnesstookholdofhim。

"Nowletwarcome;Iwillnotrestorstay,"hecried,"tillIseethishound,Urco,dead,andhanguphisskinstuffedwithstrawasanofferingtohisowngod,theSun。"

"Yetitwasyou,KingHuaracha,whosenttheladyQuillatothisUrcoforyourownpurposes,"saidKariinhisquietfashion。

"Whoandwhatareyouthatreproveme？"askedHuarachaturningonhim。

"IonlyknowyouastheservantorslaveoftheWhite—Lord—from—the—

Sea,thoughitistrueIhaveheardstoriesconcerningyou,"headded。

"IamKari,thefirst—bornlawfulsonofUpanquiandbyrightheirtotheIncathrone,noless,OHuaracha。Urcomybrotherrobbedmeofmywife,asthroughthefollyofmyfather,uponwhoseheartUrco"smotherworked,hehadalreadyrobbedmeofmyinheritance。Then,tomakesure,hestrovetopoisonmeashehaspoisonedyourdaughter,withapoisonthatwouldmakememadandincapableofrule,yetleavemeliving——becausehefearedlestthecurseoftheSunshouldfalluponhimifhemurderedme。Irecoveredfromthatbaneandwanderedtoafarland。NowIhavereturnedtotakemyown,ifIamable。AllthatIsayIcanprovetoyou。"

ForawhileHuarachastaredathimastonished,thensaid:

"Andifyouproveit,whatdoyouaskofme,OKari？"

"ThehelpofyourarmiestoenablemetooverthrowUrco,whoisverystrong,beingtheCommanderoftheQuichuahosts。"

"AndifyourtalebetrueandUrcoisoverthrown,whatdoyoupromisemeinreturn？"

"TheindependenceoftheChancapeople,whootherwisemustsoonbedestroyed,andcertainotheraddedterritorieswhichyoucovet,whileIamInca。"

"Andwiththismydaughter,ifshestilllives？"askedHuarachalookingathim。

"Nay,"repliedKarifirmly。"AstotheladyQuillaIpromisenothing。

ShehasvowedherselftomyFathertheSun,andwhatIhavealreadytoldtheLordHurachihere,wholovesherItellyou。Henceforwardnomanmaylookuponher,whoistheBrideoftheSun,forifIsufferedthis,certainlythecurseoftheSunwouldfalluponmeanduponmypeople。HewholaysahanduponherIwillstrivetoslay"——herehelookedatmewithmeaning——"becauseImustorbeaccurst。Takeallelse,butlettheladyQuillabe。WhattheSunhas,heholdsforever。"

"PerhapstheMoon,hermother,mayhavesomethingtosayinthatmatter,"saidHuarachagloomily。"Still,letitlieforthewhile。"

Thentheyfelltodiscussingthetermsoftheirallianceand,whenitcametobattle,whathelpKaricouldbringfromamongthosewhoclungtohiminCuzco。

AfterthisHuarachatookmetoanotherchamber,wherewedebatedthebusiness。

"ThisKari,ifhebeKarihimself,isabigot,"hesaid,"andifhehashisway,neitheryounorIwilleverseteyesonQuillaagain,becausetohimitissacrilege。So,whatsayyou？"

IansweredthatitwouldbebesttomakeanalliancewithKari,whomI

knewtobehonestandnoPretender,sincewithouthishelpIdidnotthinkthatitwouldbepossibletodefeatthearmiesofthePeopleoftheIncas。Fortherest,wemusttrusttochance,makingnopromisesastoQuilla。

"Ifwedidtheywouldavaillittle,"saidHuaracha,"seeingthatwithoutdoubtsheisdeadandonlyvengeanceremainstous。ThereismorepoisoninCuzco,WhiteLord！"

EightdayslaterweweremarchingonCuzco,agreathostofus,numberingatleastfortythousandChancasandtwenty—fivethousandoftherebelliousYuncas,whohadjoinedourstandard。

Onwemarchedbythegreatroadovermountainsandacrossplains,drivingwithusnumberlessherdsofthenativesheepforfood,butmeetingnoman,sincesosoonaswewereoutoftheterritoryoftheChancasallfledatourapproach。AtlengthonenightwecampeduponahillnamedCarmencaandsawbeneathusatadistancethemightycityofCuzcostandinginavalleythroughwhichariverran。Thereitwaswithitshugefortressesbuiltofgreatblocksofstone,itstemples,itspalaces,itsopensquares,anditscountlessstreetsborderedbylowhouses。Moreover,beyondandarounditwesawotherthings,namely,thecampsofavastarmydottedwiththousandsofwhitetents。

"Urcoisreadyforus,"saidKaritomegrimlyashepointedtothesetents。

WecampeduponthehillCarmencaandthatnighttherecametousanembassywhichspokeinthenamesofUpanquiandUrco,asthoughtheyreignedjointly。Thisembassyofgreatlordswhoallworediscsofgoldintheirearsaskeduswhatwasourpurpose。Huarachaanswered——

toavengethemurderoftheladyQuilla,hisdaughter,thatheheardhadbeenpoisonedbyUrco。

"Howknowyouthatsheisdead？"askedthespokesman。

"Ifsheisnotdead,"repliedHuaracha,"showhertous。"

"Thatmaynotbe,"repliedthespokesman,"sinceifshelives,itisintheHouseoftheVirginsoftheSun,whencenonecomeoutandwherenonegoin。Hearken,OHuaracha。Gobackwhenceyoucame,orthecountlessarmyoftheIncaswillfalluponyouanddestroyyou,youandyourhandfultogether。"

"Thatisyettobeseen,"answeredHuaracha,andwithoutmorewordstheembassywithdrew。

Thatnightalsomencreptintoourcampsecretly,whowereofthepartyofKari。OfQuillatheyseemedtoknownothing,fornonespokeofthoseoverwhomtheveiloftheSunhadfallen。Theytoldus,however,thattheoldInca,Upanqui,wasstillinCuzcoandhadrecoveredsomewhatfromhissickness。AlsotheysaidthatnowthefeudbetweenhimandUrcowasbitter,butthatUrcohadtheupperhandandwasstillincommandofthearmies。Thesearmies,theydeclared,wereimmenseandwouldfightusonthemorrow,adding,however,thatcertainregimentsofthemwhowereofthepartyofKariwoulddeserttousinthebattle。Lastly,theysaidthattherewasgreatfearinCuzco,sincenoneknewhowthatbattlewouldend,whichwasunderstoodbyalltobeoneforthedominionofTavantinsuyu。

TheyhadnothingmoretosayexceptthattheyprayedtheSunforoursuccesstosavethemfromthetyrannyofUrco。Thisprince,itappeared,suspectedtheirconspiracy,fornowtherumourthatKarilivedwaseverywhere,andhavingobtainedthenamesofsomewhowereconnectedwithitthroughhisspies,hepursuedthemwithmurderandsuddendeath。Theywerepoisonedattheirfood;theywerestabbedastheywalkedthroughthestreetsatnight;theirwives,ifyoungandfair,vanishedaway,astheybelievedintothehousesofthosewhodesiredthem;eventheirchildrenwerekidnapped,doubtlesstobecometheservantsofwhomtheyknewnot。TheyhadcomplainedofthesethingstotheoldIncaUpanqui,butwithoutavail,sinceinsuchmattershewaspowerlessbeforeUrcowhohadcommandofthearmies。

ThereforetheywouldevenwelcomethetriumphofHuaracha,whichmeantthatKariwouldbecomeIncaifwithlessenedterritory。

Beforetheypartedtoplaytheirparts,Karibroughtthembeforeme,whomintheirfoolishnesstheyworshipped,believingmetobeintruthagod。Thenhetoldthemtohavenofear,sinceIwouldcommandthearmiesofHuarachainthebattle。

Havingsurveyedthegroundwhilethelightlasted,forthemostofthatnight,togetherwithHuarachaandKari,Itoiled,makingplansforthegreatfightthatwastocome。Allbeingready,Ilaydowntosleepawhile,wonderingwhetheritwerethelasttimeIshoulddosoupontheearthand,totellthetruth,notcaringovermuchwho,believingthatQuillawasdead,haditnotbeenformysinswhichweigheduponmewithnonetowhomImightconfessthem,shouldhavebeengladtoleavetheworldanditstroublesforwhatevermightliebeyond,evenifitwerebutsleep。

Therecomesatimetomostmenwhenaboveeverythingtheydesirerest,andnowthathourwaswithme,theexiledandthedesolate。HereinthisstrangecountryandamongthesealienpeopleIhadfoundonesoulwhichwasakintomine,thatofabeautifulwomanwholovedmeandwhomIhadcometoloveanddesire。Butwhatwastheendofit？Owingtothenecessitiesofstatecraftandherownnobleness,shehadbeenseparatedfrommeandalthough,asitwouldseem,shehadasyetescapeddefilement,wasspiritedawayintothetempleofsomebarbarousworshipwhereIwasalmostsuredeathhadfoundher。

Atthebestshewasblinded,andwhereshelayinherdarknessnomanmightcomebecauseofthesuperstitionsofthesefolk。EvenifKaribecameInca,itwouldnothelpmeorher,shouldshestilllive,sincehewasthefiercestbigotofthemallandsworethathewouldkillme,hisfriend,ratherthanthatIshouldtouchher,thevowedtohisfalsegods。

Orperhaps,throughthepriests,tosavehimselfsuchsorrow,hewouldkillher。Attheleast,deadornot,shewaslosttome,whileI——

utterlyalone——mustfightforacauseinwhichIhadbutoneconcern,tobringsomesavageprincetohisendbecauseofhiscrimeagainstQuilla。And,ifthingswentwellandthischanced,whatoftheFuture？

OfwhatusetomewererewardsthatIdidnotwant,andtheworshipofthevulgarwhichIhated？RatherwouldIhavelivedoutmylifeasthehumblestfishermanonHastingsbeach,thanbemadeakingovertheseglitteringbarbarianswiththeirgoldandgemswhichcouldbuynothingthatIneeded,notevenaBookofHourstofeedmysoul,orthesoundoftheEnglishtonguetocomfortmyemptyheart。

AtlengthIfellasleep,andasitseemedbutafewminuteslater,thoughreallysixhourshadgoneby,wasawakenedbyKari,whotoldmethatthedawnwasnotfaroffandcametohelpmetobuckleonmyarmour。ThenIwentforthandtogetherwithHuarachaarrangedourarmyforbattle。OurplanwastoadvancefromourrisinggroundacrossagreatplainbeneathuswhichwascalledXaqui,butafterwardsbecameknownbythenameofYahuar—pampa,orFieldofBlood。

ThisplainlaybetweenusandthecityofCuzco,andmythoughtwasthatwewouldmarchorfightourwayacrossitandrushintothecitywhichwasunwalled,andthereamidstitsstreetsandhousesawaittheattackoftheIncahoststhatwereencampeduponitsfartherside,forthusprotectedbytheirwallswehopedthatweshouldbemoreequaltothem。Yetthingshappenedotherwise,sincewiththefirstlight,withoutwhichwedidnotdaretomoveoverunknownground,weperceivedthatduringthedarknesstheIncaarmieshadmovedroundandthroughthetownandweregatheredbythetenthousandindensebattalionsuponthefarthersideoftheplain。

Nowwetookcounciltogetherandintheenddecidednottoattackaswehadproposed,buttoawaittheironslaughtontherockyridgeupwhichtheymustclimb。Sowecommandedthatourarmy,whichwasmarshalledinthreedivisionsabreastandtwowingswiththeYuncasasareservebehind,shouldeatandmakeready。Inthecentreofourmaindivision,whichnumberedsomefifteenthousandoftheChancatroops,andalittleinfrontofit,wasalowlonghilluponthehighestpointofwhichItookmyplace,standinguponarockwithagroupofcaptainsandmessengersbehindmeandaguardofaboutathousandpickedmenmassedupontheslopesandaroundthehill。FromthishighpointIcouldseeeverything,andinmyglitteringarmourwasvisibletoall,friendsandfoestogether。

Afterapause,duringwhichthepriestsoftheChancasandoftheYuncasbehindussacrificedsheeptothemoonandthemanyothergodstheyworshipped,andthoseoftheQuichuas,asIcouldseefrommyrock,madeprayersandofferingstotherisingsun,withamightyshoutingtheIncahostsbegantoadvanceacrosstheplaintowardsus。

ReckoningthemwithmyeyeIsawthattheyoutnumberedusbytwoorthreetoone;indeedtheirhordesseemedtobecountless,andalwaysmoreofthemcameonbehindfromthedimrecessesofthecity。Dividedintothreegreatarmiestheycreptacrosstheplain,awildandgorgeousspectacle,thesunlightshiningupontheforestoftheirspearsandontheirrichbarbaricuniforms。

Afurlongormoreawaytheyhaltedandtookcounsel,pointingtomewiththeirspearsasthoughtheyfearedme。Westoodquitestill,thoughsomeofourgeneralsurgedthatweshouldcharge,butthisI

counselledHuarachanottodo,whodesiredthattheQuichuasshouldbreaktheirstrengthuponus。Atlengthsomewordwasgiven;thesplendid"rainbowBanner"oftheIncaswasunfurledand,stilldividedintothreearmieswithawidestretchofplainbetweeneachofthemtheyattacked,yellinglikeallthefiendsofhell。

Nowtheyhadreachedusandtherebeganthemostterriblebattlethatwastoldofinthehistoryofthatland。Waveafterwaveofthemrolledupagainstus,butourbattalionswhichIhadnottrainedinvainstoodlikerocksandslewandslewandslewtillthedeadcouldbecountedbythethousand。AgainandagaintheystrovetostormthehillonwhichIstood,hopingtokillme,andeachtimewebeatthemback。PickingouttheirgeneralsIloosedshaftaftershaftfrommylongbow,andseldomdidImiss,norcouldtheircotton—quiltedarmourturnthosebitterarrows。

"/Theshaftsofthegod！Theshaftsofthegod！/"theycried,andshrankbackfrombeforeme。

Thereappearedamanwithayellowfilletonhisheadandarobethatwasstuddedwithpreciousstones;ahugemanwithgreatlimbsandflamingeyes;aloose—mouthed,hideousmanwhowieldedabigaxeofcopperandcarriedabowlongerthananyIhadseeninthatland。

Hookingtheaxetohisbelt,hesetanarrowonthebowandletdriveatme。Itspedtrueandstruckmefulluponthebreast,onlytoshatteronthegoodFrenchmail,whichcoppercouldnotpierce。

Againheshot,andthistimethearrowglancedfrommyhelm。ThenI

drewonhimandmyshaft,thatIhadaimedathishead,cutawaythefringeabouthisbrowandcarrieditfaraway。Atthissightagroanwentupfromthelordsabouthim,andonecried:

"Anomen,OUrco,anevilomen！"

"Aye,"heshouted,"fortheWhiteWizardwhoshotthearrow。"

Droppingthebow,herushedupthehillatmeroaring,axealoft,andfollowedbyhiscompany。Hesmote,andIcaughttheblowuponmyshield,andstrikingbackwithWave—Flame,shorethroughtheshaftoftheaxethathehadliftedtoguardhisheadasthoughithadbeenmadeofreed,aye,andthroughthequiltedcottononhisshoulderstrengthenedwithstripsofgold,andtothebonebeneath。

Thenamanslippedpastme。ItwasKari,strikingatUrcowithDeleroy"ssword。Theyclosedandrolleddowntheslopelockedineachother"sarms。WhatchancedafterthisIdonotknow,forothersrushedinandallgrewconfused,butpresentlyKarilimpedbacksomewhatshakenandbleeding,andIcaughtsightofUrco,littlehurt,asitseemed,amidsthislordsatthebottomoftheslope。

AtthismomentIheardagreatshoutingandlookinground,sawthattheQuichuashadbrokenthroughourleftandwereslaughteringmany,whiletherestfled,alsothatourrightwaswavering。IsentmessengerstoHuaracha,biddinghimcalluptheYuncarearguard。TheywereslowincomingandIbegantofearthatallwaslostforlittlebylittlethehordesofthemenofCuzcoweresurroundingus。

ThenitwasthatKari,orsomewithhim,liftedabannerthathadbeenwrappeduponapole,abluebanneruponwhichwasembroideredagoldensun。AtthesightofittherewastumultintheIncaranks,andpresentlyagreatbodyofmen,fiveorsixthousandofthemthathadseemedtobeinreserve,ranforwardshouting,"/Kari！Kari！/"andfelluponthosewhowerepursuingourshatteredleft,breakingthemupanddispersingthem。AlsoatlasttheYuncascameupanddrovebacktheregimentsthatassailedourright,whilefromUrco"sarmiesthereroseacryof"Treachery！"

TrumpetsblewandtheIncahost,gatheringitselftogetherandabandoningitsdeadandwounded,drewbacksullenlyontotheplain,andtherehaltedinthreebodiesasbefore,thoughmuchlessenedinnumber。

Huarachaappeared,saying:

"Strike,WhiteLord！Itisourhour！Theheartisoutofthem。"

Thesignalwasgiven,androaringlikeahurricane,presentlytheChancascharged。Downtheslopetheywent,IattheheadofthemwithHuarachaononesideandKariontheother。Theswift—footedChancasoutranmewhowashinderedbymymail。Wechargedinthreemassesaswehadstoodontheridge,followingthoseopenlanesofgroundupwhichthefoehadnotcome,becausethesewerelesscumberedwithdeadandwounded。PresentlyIsawwhythoseofCuzcohadlefttheselanesuntrod,forofasuddensomewarriors,whohadoutstrippedme,vanished。Theyhadfallenintoapitcoveredoverwithearthlaiduponcanes,ofwhichthebottomwassetwithsharpstakes。Others,whowererunningalongthelanesofopengroundtorightandleft,alsofellintopitsofwhichtherewerescoresallcarefullypreparedagainstthedayofbattle。WithtroubletheChancaswerehalted,butnotbeforewehadlostsomehundredsofmen。ThenweadvancedagainacrossthatgroundoverwhichtheIncahosthadretreated。

Atlengthwereachedtheirlines,passingthroughastormofarrows,andtherebegansuchabattleasIhadneverheardoforevendreamed。

Withaxes,stone—headedclubsandspears,botharmiesfoughtfuriously,andthoughtheIncasstilloutnumberedusbytwotoone,becauseofmytrainingourregimentsdrovethemback。Lordafterlordrushedatmewithglaringeyes,butmymailturnedtheircopperspearsandknivesofflint。Oh！Wave—Flamefedfullthatday,andifThorgrimmermyforefathercouldhaveseenusfromhishomeinValhalla,surelyhemusthaveswornbyOdinthatneverhadhegivenitsuchafeast。

TheIncawarriorsgrewafraidandshrankback。

"ThisRed—Beardfromtheseaisindeedagod。Hecannotbeslain！"I

heardthemcry。

ThenUrcoappeared,bloodyandfurious,shouting:

"Cowards！Iwillshowyouwhetherhecannotbeslain。"

Herushedonwardtomeet——notme,butHuaracha,whoseeingthatIwasweary,hadleaptinfrontofme。Theyfought,andHuarachawentdownandwasdraggedawaybysomeofhisservants。

NowUrcoandIwerefacetoface,hewieldingahugecopper—headedclubwithwhich,asmymailcouldnotbepierced,hethoughttobatteroutmylife。Icaughttheblowuponmyshield,butsogreatwasthegiant"sstrengththatitbroughtmetomyknees。NextsecondIwasupandathim。Shouting,Ismotewithbothhands,formyshieldhadfallen。Thethick,turban—likeheaddressthatUrcoworewassevered,cutthroughastheaxehadbeen,andWave—Flamebitdeepintotheskullbeneath。

UrcofelllikeastunnedoxandIspranguponhimtomakeanend。Thenitwasthataropewasflungaboutmyshoulders,anoosedropethatwashauledtight。InvainIstruggled。Iwasthrowndown;IwasseizedbyascoreofhandsanddraggedawayintotheheartofUrco"shost。

Waitingtillalittercouldbebrought,theysetmeonmyfeetagain,myarmsstillboundbythenoosethattheseIndianscall/laso/,whichtheyknowsowellhowtothrow,theredswordWave—Flamestillhangingbyitsthongfrommyrightwrist。WhilstIstoodthus,likeabullinanet,theygatheredround,staringatme,notwithhateasitseemedtome,butinfearandwithreverence。Whenatlengththelittercametheyaidedmetoenteritquitegently。

AsIdidsoIlookedback。Thebattlestillragedbutitseemedtomewithlessfurythanbefore。Itwasasthoughbothsideswerewearyofslaughter,theirleadersbeingfallen。Thelitterwasborneforward,tillatlengththenoiseofshoutingandtumultgrewlow。TwistingmyselfroundIpeeredthroughthebackcurtainsandsawthattheIncahostandthatoftheChancaswereseparatingsullenly,neitherofthembrokensincetheycarriedtheirwoundedawaywiththem。Itwasplainthatthebattleremaineddrawnfortherewasnoroutandnotriumph。

Isaw,too,thatIwasenteringthegreatcityofCuzco,wherewomenandchildrenstoodatthedoorsofthehousesgazing,andsomeofthemwringingtheirhandswithtearsupontheirfaces。

Passingdownlongstreetsandacrossabridge,Icametoavastsquareroundwhichstoodmightybuildings,low,massive,andconstructedofhugestones。AtthedoorofoneofthesethelitterhaltedandIwashelpedtodescend。MenbeautifullycladinbroideredlinenledmethroughagatewayandacrossagardenwhereInotedamarvellousthing,namely:thatalltheplantsthereinwerefashionedofsolidgoldwithsilverflowers,orsometimesofsilverwithgoldenflowers。

Alsothereweretreesonwhichwereperchedbirdsofgoldandsilver。

WhenIsawthisIthoughtthatImustbemad,butitwasnotso,forhavingnootheruseforthepreciousmetals,ofwhichtheyhadsomuchabundance,thusdidtheseIncasadorntheirpalaces。

Leavingthegoldengarden,Ireachedacourtyardsurroundedbyrooms,tooneofwhichIwasconducted。Passingitsdoor,Ifoundmyselfinasplendidchamberhungwithtapestriesfantasticallywroughtandhavingcushionedseats,andtablesofrichwoodsincrustedwithpreciousstones。HereservantsorslavesappearedwithachamberlainwhoboweddeeplyandwelcomedmeinthenameoftheInca。