第17章

LaricosaidthesametomewhennextIsawhim,adding:

"Youhavekeptyourwordandservedmyturn,Lord—from—the—Sea,thereforeIwillkeepmineandserveyourswhenthetimecomes。YetbewarnedbymeandsaynothingofacertainladytotheprinceKari,sincewhenIspokeawordtohimonthematter,hintingthathersurrendertoherfatherHuarachawouldmakepeacewithhimmoreeasyandlasting,heansweredthatfirstwouldhefightHuaracha,andtheYuncasaswell,tothelastmaninCuzco。

"TotheSunshehasgone,"hesaid,"andwiththeSunshemuststay,lestthecurseoftheSunandofPachacamac,theSpiritabovethesun,shouldfallonmeandallofus。"

Laricotoldmealsothat,fearingsomething,thegreatlords,whowereofUrco"sparty,hadbornehimawayinalittertoastrongcityinthemountainsaboutfiveleaguesfromCuzco,escortedbythousandsofpickedmenwhowouldstayinandaboutthatcity。

OnthenextmorningIwassummonedtowaitupontheIncaUpanqui,andwent,wearingmyarmour。Ifoundhiminthesamegreatchamberasbefore,onlynowhewasmoreroyallyarrayed,andwithhimweresundryofhishighlordsoftheIncablood,alsocertainpriests,amongthemthe/Villaorna/Larico。

Theoldking,whoonthatdayseemedclearinhismindandwell,greetedmeinhiskindlyfashionandbademesetoutallthathadpassedbetweenmeandHuarachaintheChancacamp。ThisIdid,onlyI

hidfromhimhowgreathadbeentheChancalossesinthebattleandhowgladtheyweretodeclareatruceandrest。

Upanquisaidthatthemattershouldbeattendedto,speakinginaroyalfashionasthoughitwereoneoflittlemoment,whichshowedmehowgreatanemperorhemustbe。Greathewas,indeed,seeingthatallthebroadlandofEnglandwouldhavemadebutoneprovinceofhisvastdominions,whichineverypartwerefilledwithpeoplewho,unlesstheychancedtobeinrebellionliketheYuncas,livedbuttodohiswill。

Afterthis,whenIthoughttheaudiencewasended,achamberlainadvancedtothefootofthethrone,andkneeling,saidthatasuppliantprayedspeechwiththeInca。Upanquiwavedhissceptre,thatlongstaffwhichIhavedescribed,intokenthatheshouldbeadmitted。ThenpresentlyupthechambercameKariarrayedinthetunicandcloakofanIncaprince,wearinginhisearadisccarvedwiththeimageoftheSun,andachainofemeraldsandgoldabouthisneck。Nordidhecomealone,forhewasattendedbyabrilliantbandofthoselordsandcaptainswhohaddesertedtohimonthedayofthegreatbattle。Headvancedandkneltbeforethethrone。

"WhoisthisthatcarriestheemblemsoftheHolyBloodandisclothedlikeaPrinceoftheSun？"askedUpanqui,affectingignoranceandunconcern,thoughIsawthecolourmounttohischeeksandthesceptreshakeinhiswitheredhand。

"OnewhoisindeedoftheholyIncablood;onesprungfromthepurestlineageoftheSun,"answeredthestatelyKariinhisquietvoice。

"Howthenishenamed？"askedtheIncaagain。

"HeisnamedKari,first—bornsonofUpanqui,OInca。"

"SuchasonIhadonce,butheislongdead,orsotheytoldme,"saidUpanquiinatremblingvoice。

"Heisnotdead,OInca。Helivesandhekneelsbeforeyou。Urcopoisonedhim,buttheSunhisFatherrecoveredhim,andtheSpiritthatisaboveallgodssupportedhim。Theseaborehimtoafarland,wherehefoundawhitegodwhobefriendedandcaredforhim,"hereheturnedhisheadtowardsme。"Withthisgodhereturnedtohisowncountryandherehekneelsbeforeyou,OInca。"

"Itcannotbe,"saidtheInca。"WhatsigndoyoubringwhonameyourselfKari？ShowmetheimageoftheSpiritabovethegodsthatfromhischildhoodforgenerationshasbeenhungabouttheneckoftheInca"seldestson,bornfromtheQueen。"

KariopenedhisrobeanddrewoutthatgoldeneffigyofPachacamacwhichhealwayswore。

Upanquiexaminedit,holdingitclosetohisrheumyeyes。

"Itseemstobethesame,"hesaid,"asIshouldknowuponwhosebreastitlayuntilmyfirstsonwasborn。Andyetwhocanbesuresincesuchthingsmaybecopied？"

ThenhehandedbacktheimagetoKariandafterreflectingawhile,said:

"BringhithertheMotheroftheRoyalNurses。"

Apparentlythisladywasinwaiting,forinaminutesheappearedbeforethethrone,anoldandwitheredwomanwithbeadyeyes。

"Mother,"saidtheInca,"youwerewiththe/Coya/（thatistheQueen）

whohasbeengatheredtotheSun,whenherboywasborn,andafterwardsnursedhimforyears。Ifyousawit,wouldyouknowhisbodyagainafterhehascometomiddleage？"

"Aye,OInca。"

"How,Mother？"

"Bythreemoles,OInca,whichwewomenusedtocall/Yuti/,/Quilla/,and/Chasca/"（thatis,theSun,theMoon,andtheplanetVenus）,"whichwerethemarksofgoodfortunestampedbythegodsuponthePrince"sbackbetweentheshoulders,setoneabovetheother。"

"ManwhocallyourselfKari,areyouwillingthatthisoldcroneshouldseeyourflesh？"askedUpanqui。

BywayofanswerKariwithalittlesmilestrippedhimselfofhisbroideredtunicandothergarmentsandstoodbeforeusnakedtothemiddle。ThenheturnedhisbacktotheMotheroftheNurses。Shehobbledupandsearcheditwithherbrighteyes。

"Manyscars,"shemuttered,"scarsinfrontandscarsbehind。Thiswarriorhasknownbattlesandblows。Butwhathavewehere？Look,O

Inca,/Yuti/,/Quilla/,and/Chasca/,setoneabovetheother,though/Chasca/isalmosthiddenbyahurt。Oh！myfosterling,OmyPrincewhomInursedatthesewitheredbreasts,areyoucomebackfromthedeadtotakeyourownagain？OKarioftheHolyBlood;KarithelostwhoisKarithefound！"

Thensobbingandmutteringshethrewherarmsabouthimandkissedhim。Nordidheshametokissherinreturn,therebeforethemall。

"RestorehisgarmentstotheroyalPrince,"saidUpanqui,"andbringhithertheFringethatiswornbytheInca"sheir。"

Itwasproducedwithoutdelaybythehigh—priestLarico,whichtoldmeatoncethatallthisscenehadbeenprepared。UpanquitookitfromLarico,andbeckoningKaritohim,withthepriest"shelpbounditabouthisbrow,therebyacknowledginghimandrestoringhimasheir—

apparenttotheEmpire。ThenhekissedhimonthebrowandKarikneltdownanddidhisfatherhomage。

AfterthistheywentawaytogetheraccompaniedonlybyLaricoandtwoorthreeofthecouncillorsofIncabloodandasIlearnedfromLaricoafterwards,toldeachothertheirtalesandmadeplanstooutwit,andifneedweretodestroy,Urcoandhisfaction。

OnthefollowingdayKariwasestablishedinahouseofhisownthatwasmoreofafortressthanapalace,foritwasbuiltofgreatstoneswithnarrowgates,andsurroundedbyanopenspace。Uponthisspace,asaguard,wereencampedallthosewhohaddesertedtohiminthebattleoftheFieldofBlood,whohadreturnedtoCuzcofromthecampofHuarachanowthatKariwasacceptedastheroyalheir。AlsoothertroopswhowereloyaltotheIncawerestationednearby,whilethosewhoclungtoUrcodepartedsecretlytothattownwherehelaysick。

Moreover,proclamationwasmadethatonthedayofthenewmoon,whichthemagiciansdeclaredtobeauspicious,KariwouldbepubliclypresentedtothepeopleintheTempleoftheSunastheInca"slawfulheir,inplaceofUrcodisinheritedforcrimesthathehadcommittedagainsttheSun,theEmpire,andtheIncahisfather。

"Brother,"saidKaritome,forsohecalledmenowthathewasanacknowledgedPrince,whenIwenttomeethiminhisgrandeur,"Brother,didInottellyoualwaysthatwemusttrusttoourgods？

See,Ihavenottrustedinvainthoughitistruethatdangersstilllieaheadofme,andperhapscivilwar。"

"Yes,"Ianswered,"yourgodsareinthewayofgivingyouallyouwant,butitisnotsowithmineandme。"

"Whatthendoyoudesire,Brother,whocanhaveeventothehalfofthekingdom？"

"Kari,"Ireplied,"IcrynotfortheEarth,butfortheMoon。"

Heunderstood,andhisfacegrewstern。

"Brother,theMoonaloneisbeyondyou,forsheinhabitstheskywhileyoustilldwellupontheearth,"heansweredwithafrown,andthenbegantotalkofthepeacewithHuaracha。

CHAPTERX

THEGREATHORROR

ThedayofthenewmooncameandwithitthegreathorrorthatcausedalltheEmpireofTavantinsuyutotremble,fearinglestHeavenshouldbeavengeduponit。

SinceUpanquihadfoundhiseldersonagainhebegantodoteuponhim,asinsuchacasetheoldandweak—mindedoftendo,andwouldwalkaboutthegardensandpalaceswithhisarmaroundhisneckbabblingtohimofwhateverwasuppermostinhismind。Moreover,hissoulwasoppressedbecausehehaddoneKariwronginthepast,andpreferredUrcotohimundertheurgingofthatprince"smother。

"Thetruthis,Son,"ImyselfheardhimsaytoKari,"thatwemenwhoseemtoruletheworlddonotruleitatall,becausealwayswomenruleus。Thistheydothroughourpassionswhichthegodsplantedinusfortheirownends,alsobecausetheyaremoresingleintheirminds。Themanthinksofmanythings,thewomanonlythinksofwhatshedesires。ThereforethemanwhomNaturealreadyhasbemused,onlybringsalittlepieceofhismindtofightagainstherwholemind,andsoisconquered;hewhowasmadeforonethingonly,tobethemateofthewomanthatshemaymothermoremeninordertoservethewillsofotherwomenwhoyetseemtobethosemen"sslaves。"

"SoIhavelearned,Father,"answeredthegraveKari,"andforthisreasonhavingsufferedinthepast,Iamdeterminedtohaveaslittletodowithwomenasispossibleforoneinmyplace。Duringmytravelsinotherlands,asinthiscountry,Ihaveseenmengreatandnoblebroughttonothingnessandruinbytheirloveforwomen;downintothedirt,indeed,whentheirhandswerefulloftheworld"swealthandglory。Moreover,Ihavenoticedthattheyseldomlearnwisdom,andthatwhattheyhavedonebefore,theyarereadytodoagain,whobelieveanythingthatsoftlipssweartothem。Yes,eventhattheyarelovedforthemselvesalone,asIowntomysorrow,onceIdidmyself。

Urcocouldnothavetakenthatfairwifeofmine,Father,ifshehadnotbeenwillingtogowhenshesawthatIhadlostyourfavourandwithitthehopeoftheScarletFringe。"

HereKarilookedatme,ofwhomIknewhewasthinkingallthistime,andseeingthatIcouldoverhearhistalk,begantospeakofsomethingelse。

Ontheappointeddaytherewasagreatgatheringofthenoblesoftheland,especiallyofthoseoftheIncablood,andofallthatwere"earmen,"aclassofthesamerankasourpeersinEngland,toheartheproclamationofKariastheInca"sheir。ItwasmadebeforethisgorgeouscompanyintheGreatTempleoftheSun,whichnowIsawforthefirsttime。

Itwasahugeandmostwondrousplacewellnamedthe"HouseofGold。"

Forhereeverythingwasgold。OnthewesternwallhunganimageoftheSuntwentyfeetormoreacross,anenormousgravenplateofgoldsetaboutwithgemsandhavingeyesandteethofgreatemeralds。Theroof,too,andthewallswereallpanelledwithgold,eventhecornicesandcolumnheadswereofsolidgold。

OpeningoutofthistemplealsowereothersdedicatedtotheMoonandStars,thatoftheMoonbeingclothedinsilver,withherradiantfaceshapedinsilverfixedtothewesternwall。SoitwaswiththetempleoftheStars,oftheLightningsandoftheRainbow,whichperhapswithitsmanycoloursthatsprangfromjewels,wasthemostdazzlingofthemall。

Thesightofsomuchgloryoverwhelmedme,anditcameintomymindthatifonlyitwereknownofinEurope,menwoulddiebythetenthousandonthechancethattheymightconquerthiscountryandmakeitswealththeirs。Yethere,saveforthesepurposesofornamentandtobeusedasofferingstothegodsandIncas,itwasofnoaccountatall。

ButinthistempleoftheSunwasamarvelgreaterthanitsgold。Foroneithersideofthecarvedlikenessesofthesun,seateduponchairsofgold,satthedeadIncasandtheirqueens。Yes,clothedintheirroyalrobesandemblems,withtheFringeupontheirbrows,theretheysatwiththeirheadsbentforward,sowonderfullypreservedbytheartsthesepeoplehave,thatexceptforthestampofdeathupontheircountenances,theymighthavebeensleepingmenandwomen。ThusinthedeadfaceofthemotherofKariIcouldreadherlikenesstoherson。

Ofthesedepartedkingsandqueensthereweremany,sincefromthefirstIncaofwhomhistorytoldallweregatheredhereintheholyHouseandundertheguardianshipoftheeffigyoftheirgod,theSun,fromwhomtheybelievedthemselvestobedescended。Thesightwassosolemnthatitawedme,asitdidallthatcongregation,forInotedthatheremenwalkedwithunsandalledfeetandthatinspeakingnoneraisedtheirvoiceshigh。

TheoldInca,Upanqui,entered,gloriouslyapparelledandaccompaniedbylordsandpriests,whileafterhimcameKariwithhisretinueofgreatmen。TheIncabowedtothecompanywhereoneveryoneinthegreattemple,savemyselfalonewhoseBritishpridekeptmeonmyfeet,standinglikeoneleftlivingonabattlefieldamongamultitudeofslain,prostratedhimselfbeforehisdivinemajesty。AtasigntheyroseagainandtheIncaseatedhimselfuponhisjewelledgoldenthronebeneaththeeffigyoftheSun,whileKaritookhisplaceuponalesserthronetotheInca"sright。

Lookingathimthereinhissplendouronthisdaywhenhecameintohisownagain,Ibethoughtmeofthewretched,starvingIndianmarkedwithblowsandfoulwithfilthwhomIhadrescuedfromthecruelmobupontheThames—sidewharf,andwonderedatthisenormouschangeoffortuneandthechainofwonderfuleventsbywhichithadbeenbroughtabout。

Myfortunealsohadchanged,forthenIwasgreatinmyownfashion,whonowhadbecomebutawanderer,welcomedindeedinthisglitteringnewworldofwhichyonderweknewnothing,becauseIwasstrangeanddifferent,alsofullofunheard—oflearningandskilledinwar,butstillnothingbutanoutcastwanderer,andsodoomedtoliveanddie。

AndasIthought,sothoughtKari,forourglancesmet,andIreaditinhiseyes。

Yondersatmyservantwhohadbecomemylord,andthoughhewasstillmyfriend,soonIfelthewouldbelostinthestatemattersofthatgreatempire,leavingmemorelonelythanbefore。Alsohismindwasnotasmymind,ashisbloodwasnotmyblood,andhewastheslaveofafaiththattomewasahatefulsuperstitiondoubtlessbegottenbytheDevil,whounderthenameof/Cupay/,someworshippedinthatland,thoughothersdeclaredthatthis/Cupay/wastheGodoftheDead。

Oh！thatIcouldfleeawaywithQuillaandathersideliveoutwhatwaslefttomeoflife,sinceofallthesemultitudesshealoneunderstoodandwasakintome,becausethesacredfireoflovehadburnedawayourdifferencesandopenedhereyes。ButQuillawassnatchedfrommebythelawoftheiraccursedfaith,andwhateverelseKarimightgive,hewouldnevergivemethisladyoftheMoon,since,ashehadsaid,tohimthiswouldbesacrilege。

Theceremoniesbegan。FirstLarico,thehigh—priestoftheSun,clothedinhiswhitesacerdotalrobes,madesacrificeuponalittlealtarwhichstoodinfrontoftheInca"sthrone。

Itwasaverysimplesacrificeoffruitandcornandflowers,withwhatseemedtobestrange—shapedpiecesofgold。AtleastIsawnothingelse,andamsurethatnothingthathadlifewaslaiduponthataltarafterthefashionofthebloodyofferingsoftheJews,andindeedofthoseofsomeoftheotherpeoplesofthatgreatland。

Prayers,however,werespoken,veryfineprayersandpuresofarasI

couldunderstandthem,fortheirlanguagewasmoreancientandsomewhatdifferenttothatwhichwasusedincommonspeech;alsothepriestsmovedabout,bowingandbendingthekneesmuchasourowndoincelebratingthemass,thoughwhetherthesemotionswereinhonourofthegodoroftheInca,Iamnotsure。

Whenthesacrificewasover,andthelittlefirethatburneduponthealtarhadsunklow,thoughIwastoldthatforhundredsofyearsithadneverbeenextinguished,suddenlytheIncabegantospeak。WithmanyparticularsthatIhadnotheardbeforehetoldthetaleofKariandofhisestrangementfromhiminpastyearsthroughtheplottingsofthemotherofUrcowhonowwasdead,likethemotherofKari。Thiswoman,itwouldappear,hadpersuadedhim,theInca,thatKariwasconspiringagainsthim,andthereforeUrcowasorderedtotakehimprisoner,butreturnedonlywithKari"swife,sayingthatKarihadkilledhimself。

HereUpanquibecameovercomewithemotionastheagedareapttodo,andbeathisbreast,evensheddingtearsbecausemostunjustlyhehadallowedthesethingstohappenandthewickedtriumphoverthegood,forwhichsinhesaidhefeltsurehisfathertheSunwouldbringsomepunishmentonhim,asindeedwastochancesoonerthanhethought。

Thenhecontinuedhisstory,settingoutallUrco"siniquitiesandsacrilegesagainstthegods,alsohismurdersofpeopleofhighandlowdegreeandhisstealingoftheirwivesanddaughters。LastlyhetoldofthecomingofKariwhowassupposedtobedead,andallthatstorywhichIhavesetout。

Havingfinishedhistale,withmuchsolemnceremonialhedeposedUrcofromhisheirshiptotheEmpirewhichhegavebacktoKaritowhomitbelongedbyrightofbirthandcallinguponhisdeadforefathers,onebyone,tobewitnesstotheact,withgreatformalityoncemoreheboundthePrince"sFringeabouthisbrow。Ashedidthis,hesaidthesewords:

"Soon,OPrinceKari,youmustchangethisyellowcircletforthatwhichIwear,andtakewithitalltheburdenofempire,forknowthatasquicklyasmaybeIpurposetowithdrawtomypalaceatYucay,theretomakemypeacewithGodbeforeIamcalledhencetodwellintheMansionsoftheSun。"

WhenhehadfinishedKarididhomagetohisfather,andinthatquiet,evenvoiceofhis,toldhistaleofthewrongsthathehadsufferedatthehandsofUrcohisbrotherandofhowhehadescaped,livingbutmaddened,fromhishate。Hetoldalsohowhehadwanderedacrossthesea,thoughofEnglandhesaidnothing,andbeensavedfrommiseryanddeathbymyself,averygreatpersoninmyowncountry。Still,sinceI

hadsufferedwrongthere,ashe,Kari,hadinhis,hehadpersuadedmetoaccompanyhimbacktohisownland,thattheremywisdommightshineuponitsdarkness,andowingtomydivineandmagicalgiftshitherwehadcomeinsafety。Lastly,heaskedtheassembledpriestsandlordsiftheywerecontenttoaccepthimastheIncatobe,andtostandbyhiminanywarthatUrcomightwageagainsthim。

Tothistheyansweredthattheywerecontentandwouldstandbyhim。

ThenfollowedmanyotherritessuchastheinformingofthedeadIncas,onebyone,ofthissolemndeclaration,throughthemouthofthehigh—priest,andtheofferingofmanyprayerstothemandtotheSuntheirfather。Solongweretheseprayerswiththechantsfromchoirshiddeninsidechapelsbywhichtheywereinterspersed,thatthedaydrewtowardsitsclosebeforeallwasdone。

ThusitcameaboutthattheduskwasgatheringwhentheInca,followedbyKari,myself,thepriests,andallthecongregation,leftthetempletopresentKariastheheirtothethronetothevastcrowdwhichwaitedupontheopensquareoutsideitsdoors。

Heretheceremonywenton。TheIncaandmostofus,fortherewasnotspaceforall,althoughwewerepackedascloselytogetherasHastingsherringsinabasket,tookourstanduponaplatformthatwassurroundedbyamarvellouscablemadeoflinksofsolidgoldwhich,itwassaid,neededfiftymentoliftitfromtheground。ThenUpanqui,whosestrengthseemedrestoredtohim,perhapsbecauseofsomedrugthathehadeaten,orunderthespurofthisgreatevent,steppedforwardtotheedgeofthelowplatformandaddressedthemultitudeineloquentwords,settingoutthematterashehaddoneinthetemple。

Heendedhisspeechbyaskingtheformalquestion:

"Doyou,ChildrenoftheSun,accepttheprinceKari,myfirst—born,tobeIncaafterme？"

Therewasaroarofassent,andasitdiedawayUpanquiturnedtocallKaritohimthathemightpresenthimtothepeople。

AtthisverymomentinthegatheringtwilightIsawagreatfierce—

facedmanwithabandagedhead,whomIknewtobeUrco,leapoverthegoldenchain。Hesprangupontheplatformandwithashoutof"Idonotaccepthim,andthusIpaybacktreachery,"plungedagleamingcopperknifeorswordintotheInca"sbreast。

Inaninstant,beforeanycouldstirinthatpackedcrowd,Urcohadleaptbackoverthegoldenchain,andfromtheedgeoftheplatform,tovanishamongstthosebeneath,whodoubtlessweremenofhisfollowingdisguisedascitizensorpeasants。

Indeedallwhobeheldseemedfrozenwithhorror。Onegreatsighwentupandthentherewassilence,sincenosuchdeedasthiswasknownintheannalsofthatempire。ForamomenttheagedUpanquistooduponhisfeet,thebloodpouringdownhiswhitebeardandjewelledrobe。

Thenheturnedalittleandsaidinaclearandgentlevoice:

"Kari,youwillbeIncasoonerthanIthought。Receiveme,OGodmyFather,andpardonthismurdererwho,Ithink,canbenotruesonofmine。"

Thenhefellforwardonhisfaceandwhenweliftedhimhewasdead。

Stillthesilencehung;itwasasthoughthetonguesofmenweresmittenwithdumbness。AtlengthKaristeppedforwardandcried:

"TheIncaisdead,butI,theInca,liveontoavengehim。IdeclarewaruponUrcothemurdererandallwhoclingtoUrco！"

Nowthespellwaslifted,andfromthosedimhordestherewentupayellofhatredagainstUrcothebutcherandparricide,whilemenrushedtoandfrosearchingforhim。Invain！forhehadescapedinthedarkness。

Onthefollowingday,withmoreceremonies,thoughmanyofthesewereomittedbecauseoftheterrorandtroubleofthetimes,KariwascrownedInca,exchangingtheyellowforthecrimsonFringeandtakingthethronenameofUpanquiafterhisfather。InCuzcotherewasnonetosayhimnayforthewholecitywashorror—struckbecauseofthesacrilegethathadbeencommitted。AlsothosewhoclungtoUrcohadfledawaywithhimtoatownnamedHuarinaonthebordersofthegreatlakecalledTiticaca,wherewasanislandwithmarvelloustemplesfullofgold,whichtownlayatadistancefromCuzco。

Thenthecivilwarbeganandragedforthreewholemonths,thoughofallthathappenedinthattimebecauseofthelabourofit,Isetdownlittle,whowouldgetforwardwithmystory。

InthiswarIplayedagreatpart。ThefearofKariwasthattheChancas,seeingtheIncarealmthusrentintwo,wouldoncemoreattackCuzco。Thisitbecamemybusinesstoprevent。AstheambassadorofKariIvisitedthecampofHuaracha,bearingoffersofpeacewhichgavetohimmorethanhecouldeverhopetowinbystrengthofarms。I

foundtheoldwarrior—kingstillsickandwastedbecauseofthehurtfromUrco"sclub,thoughnowhecouldwalkuponcrutches,andsetoutthecase。HeansweredthathehadnowishtofightagainstKariwhohadofferedhimsuchhonourableterms,especiallywhenhewaswagingwaragainstUrcowhomhe,Huaracha,hated,becausehehadstriventopoisonhisdaughteranddealthimablowwhichhewassurewouldendinhisdeath。ThereforehewasreadytomakeafirmpeacewiththenewInca,ifinadditiontowhatheofferedhewouldsurrendertohimQuillawhowashisheiressandwouldbeQueenoftheChancasafterhim。

WiththesewordsIwentbacktoKari,onlytofindthatonthismatterhewashardasarockofthemountains。InvaindidIpleadwithhim,andinvaindidthehigh—priest,Larico,bysubtlehintsandarguments,strivetogentlehismind。

"Mybrother,"saidKariinthatsoftevenvoiceofhis,whenhehadheardmepatientlytotheend,"forgivemeifItellyouthatinadvancingthisprayer,foronewordyousayonbehalfofKingHuaracha,yousaytwoforyourself,whohavingunhappilybeenbewitchedbyher,desirethisVirginoftheSun,theladyQuilla,tobeyourwife。Mybrother,takeeverythingelsethatIhavetogive,butleavethisladyalone。IfIhandedherovertoHuarachaortoyou,asIhavetoldyoubefore,IshouldbringuponmyselfanduponmypeoplethecurseofmyfathertheSun,andofPachacamac,theSpiritwhoisabovetheSun。ItwasbecauseUpanqui,myfatheraccordingtotheflesh,daredtolookuponheraftershehadenteredtheHouseoftheSun,asIhavelearnedhedid,thatabloodyandacrueldeathcameuponhim,forsothemagiciansandthewisemenhaveassuredmethattheoraclesdeclare。Therefore,ratherthandothiscrimeofcrimes,IwouldchoosethatHuarachashouldrenewthewaragainstusandthatyoushouldjoinyourselftohim,oreventoUrco,andstrivetotearmefromtheThrone,forthenevenifIwereslain,Ishoulddiewithhonour。"

"ThatIcouldneverdo,"Iansweredsadly。

"No,mybrotherHubert（fornowhecalledmebymyEnglishnameagain）,thatyoucouldneverdo,beingwhatyouare,asIknowwell。

Soliketherestofusyoumustbearyourburden。Mayhapitmaypleasemygods,oryourgodsintheend,andinsomewaythatIcannotforesee,togiveyouthiswomanwhomyouseek。ButofmyfreewillI

willnevergivehertoyou。TomethedeedwouldbeasthoughinyourlandofEnglandtheKingcommandedtheconsecratedbreadandcupsofwinetobesnatchedfromthehandsofthepriestsofyourtemplesandcasttothedogs,orgiventocheertheinfidelswithinyourgates,ordraggedawaythenunsfromyourconventstobecometheirlemans。Whatwouldyouthinkofsuchakinginyourowncountry？Andwhat,"headdedwithmeaning,"wouldyouhavethoughtofmeifthereIhadstolenoneofthesenunsbecauseshewasbeautifulandIdesiredherasawife？"

NowalthoughKari"swordsstungmebecauseofthetruththatwasinthem,Iansweredthattomethismatterworeanotherface。AlsothatQuillahadbecomeaVirginoftheSun,notofherownfreewill,buttoescapefromUrco。