第19章

"Itis——deadorliving——itis————"andsheopenedherarms。

Oh！wasthereeveranythingmorebeautifulontheearththanthissightoftheblindQuillathusopeningherarmstomethereinthegorgeoushouseofdeath？

Weclungandkissed。ThenIthrustheraway,saying:

"Comeswiftlyfromthisill—omenedplace。Allisready。TheChancaswait。"

SheslippedherhandintomineandIturnedtoleadheraway。

ThenitwasthatIheardalow,mockinglaugh,Larico"s,Ithought,heardalsoasoundofcreepingfootstepsaroundme。Ilooked。OutofthedarknessthathidthedoorsofthechamberontherightappearedagiantformwhichIknewforthatofUrco,andbehindhimothers。I

lookedtotheleftandthereweremoreofthem,whileinfrontbeyondthegold—laidboardstoodthetraitor,Larico,laughing。

"Youhavethefirstfruits,butitseemsthatanotherwillreaptheharvest,Lord—from—the—Sea,"hejeered。

"Seizeher,"criedUrcoinhisgutturalvoice,pointingtoQuillawithhismace,"andbrainthatwhitethief。"

IdrewWave—Flameandstrovetogetathim,butfrombothsidesmenrushedinonme。OneIcutdown,buttheotherssnatchedQuillaaway。

Iwassurrounded,withnoroomtowieldmysword,andalreadyweaponsflashedoverme。Athoughtcametome。TheChancaswereatthedoor。I

mustreachthem,forperhapssoQuillamightbesaved。Infrontwasthetablespreadforthedeathfeast。WithaboundIleaptontoit,shoutingaloudandscatteringitsgoldenfurnishingsthiswayandthat。Beyondstoodthetraitor,Larico,whohadtrappedme——IsprangathimandliftingWave—FlamewithbothhandsIsmotewithallmystrength。Hefell,asitseemedtome,cloventothemiddle。Thensomespearcastatmestruckthelamp。

Itshatteredandwentout！

CHAPTERXII

THEFIGHTTOTHEDEATH

Therewastumultinthehall;shoutings,groansfromhimwhomIhadfirststruckdown,thesoundofvasesandvesselsoverthrown,andaboveallthoseofawoman"sshrieksechoingfromthewallsandroof,sothatIcouldnottellwhencetheycame。

ThroughthegrossdarknessIwentontowardsthecurtains,orsoI

hoped。Presentlytheyweretornopen,andbythefaintlightofthebreakingdawnIsawmyeightChancasrushingtowardsme。

"Follow！"Icried,andattheheadofthemgropedmywaybackupthehall,seekingforQuilla。IstumbledoverthedeadbodyofLaricoandfeltapathroundthetable。ThensuddenlyadooratthebackofthehallwasthrownopenandbythegreylightwhichcamethroughthedoorwayIperceivedthelastoftheravishersdeparting。WescrambledacrossthedaiswherethegoldenchairwasoverthrownandtheembalmedUpanquilay,astiffandhuddledheapuponhisback,staringatmewithjewelledeyes。

Wegainedthedoorwhich,happily,nonehadrememberedtoclose,andpassedoutintotheparklikegroundsbeyond。Ahundredpacesormoreaheadofus,bytheglowinglight,Isawalitterpassingbetweenthetreessurroundedbyarmedmen,andknewthatinitwasQuillabeingbornetocaptivityandshame。

Afteritwesped。Itpassedthegateoftheparkwall,butwhenwereachedthatgateitwasshutandbarredandwemustwastetimebreakingitdown,whichwedidbyhelpofafelledtreethatlayathand。Wewerethroughit,andnowtherimofthesunhadappearedsothatthroughthemorningmist,whichclungtothehillsidebeyondthetown,wecouldseethelitter,thefullhalfofamileaway。Onwewentupthehill,gainingasweran,forwehadnolittertobear,noraughtelsesavethesackofarmourwhichoneoftheChancashadthoughttobringwithhimwhenherushedintothehall,andwithitmylongbowandshaft。

Now,atacertainplacebetweenthishillandanothertherewasagorgesuchasarecommoninthatcountry,agorgesodeepandnarrowthatinplacesthelightofdayscarcelystrugglestothepathwaysatitsbottom。IntothistunnelthelittervanishedandwhenwedrewnearIsawthatitsmouthwasheldbyarmedmen,sixofthemormore。

TakingmybowfromtheChancaIstrungitandshotswiftly。ThemanatwhomIaimedwentdown。AgainIshotandanotherfell,whereontherestofthemtookcoverbehindstones。

ThrowingbackthebowtotheChanca,fornowitwasuseless,wecharged。Thatbusinesswassoonover,forpresentlyallthoseofUrco"smenwhoremainedthereweredead,saveonewho,beingcutoff,fleddownhilltowardsthecity,takingwithhimthenewsofwhathadpassedinthepalaceofdeadUpanqui。

Weenteredthemouthofthegorge,plungingtowardsthegloom,thoughasitchancedthisplacefacedtowardstheeast,sothatthelowsun,whichnowwasfullyup,shonedownitandgaveuslightthatlaterwouldhavebeenlacking。

I,whowasveryswiftoffootandtowhomrageandfeargavewings,outranmycompanions。Swingingmyselfroundarockwhichlayinthepathway,Isawthelitteragainnotahundredyardsahead。Ithaltedbecause,asitseemedtome,oneormoreofthebearersstumbledandfellamongthestones。Irushedatthem,roaring。Perhapsithadbeenwisertowaitformycompanions,butIwasmadandfearednothing。

Theysawmeandacrywentupof:

"TheWhiteGod！TheterribleWhiteGod！"

Thenfeartookholdofthemandtheyfled,leavingthelitterontheground。Yes,allofthemfledsaveone,Urcohimself。

Hestoodthererollinghiseyesandgnashinghisteeth,lookinghugeandawfulinthoseshadows,lookinglikeadevilfromhell。Suddenlyathoughtseemedtotakehim,andleapingatthelitterhetoreasideitscurtainsanddraggedoutQuilla,whofellproneupontheground。

"IfImaynothaveher,youshallnot,WhiteThief。See！IgivebackhisbridetotheSun,"heshouted,andliftedhiscopperswordtopierceherthrough。

NowIwasstilltenpacesorsoawayandsawthatbeforeIcouldreachhimthatswordwouldbeinherheart。WhatcouldIdo？Oh！St。HubertmusthavehelpedmethenforIknewinaninstant。InmyhandwasWave—FlameandwithallmystrengthIhurleditathishead。

Thegreatbladehurtledhissingthroughtheair。Isawthesunlightshineonit。Hestrovetoleapclear,buttoolate,foritcaughthimonthehandthathehadliftedtoprotecthishead,andshoreofftwoofhisfingerssothathedroppedhissword。Nextinstant,stillroaring,asdoubtlessoldThorgrimmer,myforefather,usedtodowhenhefoughttothedeath,forbloodisverystrong,Ileaptonthegiant,wholikemyselfwasswordless。Thereinthegulfwewrestled。

Hewasamightyman,butnowmystrengthwasasthatoften。IthrewhimtothegroundbyaSussextrickIknewandtherewerolledoverandovereachother。OncehehadmeundermostandIthinkwouldhavechokedme,haditnotbeenthathisrighthandlackedtwofingers。

WithamightyheaveIliftedhimsothatnowwelaysidebyside。Hewasgropingforaknife——Ididnotsee,butknewit。Nearhisheadasharp—edgedstoneroseinthepathtotheheightofaman"shandormore。IsawitandbethoughtmewhattodoifIcould。AgainIheavedandasatlengthhefoundtheknifeandstabbedatme,scratchingmyface,Igothisbull"sneckuponthatstone。ThenIloosedmyhandandcaughthimbythehair。BackIpressedhisgreathead,backandbackwithallmymighttillsomethingsnapped。

Urco"sneckwasbroken。Urcoquiveredandwasdead！

Ilaybyhisside,panting。Avoicecamefromthewhiteheapuponthegroundbywhomandforwhomthisdreadfulcombathadbeenfought,thevoiceofQuilla。

"Onedied,butwholives？"askedthevoice。

IcouldnotanswerbecauseIhadnobreath。Allmystrengthwasgone。

StillIsatup,supportingmyselfwithmyhandandhopingthatitwouldcomeback。Quillaturnedherfacetowardsme,orrathertowardsthesoundthatIhadmadeinmoving,andIthoughttomyselfhowsaditwasthatsheshouldbeblind。Presentlyshespokeagainandnowhervoicequavered:

"I/see/whoitisthatlives,"shesaid。"Somethinghasbrokeninmyeyesand,LordandLove,Iseethatitis/you/wholive。You,you,andoh！youbleed。"

ThentheChancascameboundingdownthegorgeandfoundus。

Theylookedatthedeadgiantandsawhowhehaddied,killedbystrength,notbythesword;theylookedandbentthekneeandpraisedme,sayingthatIwasindeedagod,sincenomancouldhavedonethisdeed,killingthehugeUrcowithhisnakedhands。ThentheyplacedQuillabackinherlitterandsixofthemboreherdownthatblackgorge。Thetwowhoremained,forinthatfightnoneofthemhadbeenhurt,supportedmetillmystrengthcameback,forthecutinthefacethatIhadreceivedfromUrco"sdaggerwasbutslight。Wereachedthemouthofthegorgeandtookcounsel。

ToreturntoCuzcoafterwhatIhaddone,wouldbetoseekdeath。Soweboreawaytotherightand,makingaround,cameaboutteno"clockofthemorningunmolestedbyany,tothatridgeonwhichIhadstoodatthebeginningofthebattleoftheFieldofBlood。ThereIfoundtheChancasencamped,somethreethousandofthem,asIhadcommanded。

Whentheysawme,livingandbutlittlehurt,theyshoutedforjoy,andwhentheylearnedwhowasinthatlittertheywentwell—nighmad。

ThentheeightwarriorswithmetoldthemallthetaleofthesavingofQuillaandthedeathofthegiantUrcoatmyhands,whereontheircaptainscameandkissedmyfeet,sayingthatIwasintruthagod,thoughheretoforesomeofthemhadheldmetobebutaman。

"Godorman,"Ianswered,"Imustrest。LetthewomentendtoladyQuilla,andgivemefoodanddrink,afterwhichIwillsleep。AtsunsetwemarchhometoHuaracha,yourkingandmine,togivehimbackhisdaughter。Tillthenthereisnaughttofear,sinceKarihasnotroopsathandwithwhichtoattackus。Still,setoutposts。"

SoIateanddrank,butlittleoftheformerandmuchofthelatter,I

fear,andafterthatIsleptassoundlyasonewhoisdead,forIwasoutworn。

Whenthesunwaswithinanhourofsetting,captainsawakenedmeandsaidthatanembassyfromCuzco,tenmenonly,waitedoutsideourlines,seekingspeechwithme。SoIrose,andmyfaceandwoundhavingbeendressed,causedwatertobepouredovermybody,andwasrubbedwithoil;afterwhich,clothedintherobesofaChancanoble,butwearingnoarmour,IwentoutwithnineChancacaptainstoreceivetheembassyontheplainatthefootofthehill,atthatveryspotwherefirstIhadfoughtwithUrco。

Whenwedrewnear,fromoutofthegroupofnoblesadvancedoneman。I

lookedandsawthathewasKari,yes,theIncahimself。

Iwentforwardtomeethimandwespoketogetherjustoutofearshotofourfollowers。

"Mybrother,"saidKari,"IhavelearnedallthathaspassedandI

giveyoupraisewhoarethemostdaringamongmenandthefirstamongwarriors;youwhoslewthegiantUrcowithyournakedhands。"

"Andthusmadeyourthronesafeforyou,Kari。"

"Andthusmademythronesafeforme。YoualsowhocloveLaricotothebreastinthedeath—houseofUpanqui,myfather————"

"Andthusdeliveredyoufromatraitor,Kari。"

"Andthusdeliveredmefromatraitor,asIhavelearnedalsofromyourmessengerwhohandedtometheknottedcord,andfromthespywhomyouhadinyourkeeping。Irepeatthatyouarethemostdaringamongmenandthefirstamongwarriors;almostagodasmypeoplenameyou。"

Ibowed,andafteralittlesilencehewenton:

"WouldthatthiswereallthatIhavetosay。Butalas！itisnot。YouhavecommittedthegreatsacrilegeagainsttheSun,myfather,ofwhichIwarnedyou,havingrobbedhimofhisbride,and,mybrother,youhaveliedtome,whotoldmebutyesterdaythatyouhadputallthoughtofherfromyourmind。"

"Tomethatwasnosacrilege,Kari,butratherarighteousdeed,tofreeonefromthebondsofafaithinwhichneithershenorIbelieve,andtoleadherfromalivingtombbacktolifeandlove。"

"Andwasthelierighteousalso,Brother？"

"Aye,"Iansweredboldly,"ifeveraliecanbe。Bethinkyou。Youprayedthatthisladymightdiebecauseshecamebetweenyouandme,andthosethatkingspraymaydie,dodie,ifnotwiththeirknowledgeorbytheirexpresscommand。ThereforeIsaidthatIhadputherfrommymindinorderthatshemightgoonliving。"

"Tocherishyouinherarms,Brother。Nowhearken。Becauseofthisdeedofyours,wewhoweremorethanfriendshavebecomemorethanfoes。Youhavedeclaredwaruponmygodandme;thereforeIdeclarewaruponyou。Yethearkenagain。Idonotwishthatthousandsofmenshouldperishbecauseofourquarrel。ThereforeImakeanoffertoyou。Itisthatyoushouldfightmehereandnow,mantoman,andlettheSun,orPachacamacbeyondtheSun,decidethematterasmaybedecreed。"

"Fight/you！/Fight/you/Kari,theInca,"Igasped。

"Aye,fightmetothedeath,sincebetweenusallisoveranddone。InEnglandyounurturedme。HereinthelandofTavantinsuyu,whichI

ruleto—day,Ihavenurturedyou,andinmyshadowyouhavegrowngreat,thoughitistruethathaditnotbeenforyourgeneralship,perchanceIshouldnolongerbeheretothrowtheshadow。Letusthereforesettheonethingagainsttheotherand,forgettingallbetweenusthatispast,standfacetofaceasfoes。Mayhapyouwillconquerme,beingsomightyamanofwar。Mayhap,also,ifthatchances,mypeoplewholookuponyouashalfagodwillraiseyouuptobeIncaafterme,shouldsuchbeyourdesire。"

"Itisnot,"Ibrokein。

"Ibelieveyou,"heanswered,bowinghishead,"butwillitnotbethedesireofthatfair—facedharlotwhohasbetrayedourLordtheSun？"

AtthiswordIstartedandbitmylip。

"Ah！thatstingsyou,"hewenton,"asthetruthalwaysstings,anditiswell。Understand,WhiteLordwhowereoncemybrother,thateitheryoumustfightmetothedeath,orIdeclarewaruponyouandupontheChancapeople,whichwarIwillwagefrommonthtomonthandfromyeartoyearuntilyouarealldestroyed,asdestroyedyoushallbe。ButshouldyoufightandshouldtheSungivemethevictory,thenjusticewillbeaccomplishedandIwillkeepthepeacethatIhaveswornwiththeChancapeople。Further,shouldyouconquerme,inthenameofmypeopleIswearthatthereshallstillbepeacebetweenthemandtheChancas,sinceIshallhaveatonedyoursacrilegewithmyblood。NowsummonthoselordsofyoursandIwillsummonmine,andsetoutthemattertothem。"

SoIturnedandbeckonedtomycaptains,andKaribeckonedtohis。

Theycame,andinthehearingofall,veryclearlyandquietlyaswashisfashion,herepeatedeverywordthathehadsaidtome,addingtothemothersoflikemeaning。WhilehespokeIthought,notlisteningover—much。

Thisthingwashatefultome,yetIwasinasnare,sinceaccordingtothecustomsofallthesepeoplesIcouldnotrefusesuchachallengeandremainunshamed。Moreover,itwastotheadvantageoftheChancas,aye,andoftheQuichuasalso,thatIshouldnotrefuseitseeingthatwhetherIlivedordied,peacewouldthenreignbetweenthemwhootherwisemustbothbedestroyedbywar。IrememberedhowonceQuillahadsacrificedherselftopreventsuchawar,thoughintheendthatwarhadcome;andwhatQuillahaddone,shouldInotdoalso？WearythoughIwasIdidnotfearKari,braveandswiftashemightbe,indeedIthoughtthatIcouldkillhimandperhapstakehisthrone,sincetheQuichuasworshippedme,whosooftenhadledtheirarmiestotriumph,almostasmuchasdidtheChancas。But——IcouldnotkillKari。AssoonwouldIkillonebornofmyownmother。Wastherethennoescape？

Theanswerroseinmymind。Therewasanescape。IcouldsufferKaritokillme。OnlyifIdidthis,whatofQuilla！Afterallthathadcomeandgone,mustIloseQuillathus,andmustQuillaloseme？

Surelyshewouldbreakherheartanddie。Myplightwasdesperate。I

knewnotwhattodo。Thenofasudden,whileIwavered,somevoiceseemedtowhisperinmyear;IthoughtitmustbethatofSt。Hubert。

Itseemedtosaytome,"Karitruststohisgod,cannotyoutrusttoyours,HubertofHastings,youwhoareaChristianman？Goforward,andtrusttoyours,HubertofHastings。"

Kari"sgentlevoicediedaway;hehadfinishedhisspeechandallmenlookedatme。

"Whatword？"Isaidroughlytomycaptains。

"Onlythis,Lord,"answeredtheirspokesman,"Fightyoumust,ofthattherecanbenodoubt,butwewouldfightwithyou,thetenoftheChancasagainstthetenoftheQuichuas。"

"Aye,thatisgood,"repliedthefirstofKari"snobles。"Thisbusinessistoogreattosetupononeman"sskillandstrength。"

"Havedone！"Isaid。"ItliesbetweentheIncaandmyself,"whileKarinodded,andrepeated"Havedone！"afterme。

ThenIsentoneofthecaptainsbacktothecampformyswordandKaricommandedthathisshouldbebroughttohim,sinceaccordingtothecustomofthesepeoplewhenambassadorsmeet,neitherofuswasarmed。

Presently,thecaptainholdingmyswordreturned,andwithhimservantswhobroughtmyarmour。AlsoafterthemstreamedallthearmyoftheChancasamongwhomthenewshadspreadlikewind—drivenfire,andlinedthemselvesupontheridgetowatch。Ashecame,too,I

noticedthatthiscaptainsharpenedWave—Flamewithacertainkindofstonethatwasusedtogiveakeenedgetoweapons。

Hebroughttheancientweaponandhandedittomeonhisknee。TheInca"smanalsobroughthisswordandhandedittohim,ashedidso,bowinghisforeheadtothedust。WellIknewthatweapon,sinceoncebeforeIhadfaceditindesperatebattleformylife。Itwastheivory—handledswordofthelordDeleroywhichKarihadtakenfromhisdeadhandafterIslewhimintheSolarofmyhouseintheCheapatLondon。Thentheservantcametomewiththearmour,butIsenthimaway,sayingthatastheIncahadnone,Iwouldnotwearit,atwhichmypeoplemurmured。

Karisawandheard。

"Nobleasever,"hesaidaloud。"Oh！thatsuchbrighthonourshouldhavebeentarnishedbyawoman"sbreath。"

Ourlordsdiscussedthemannerofourfighting,buttothemIpaidlittleheed。

Atlengthallwasreadyandwesteppedforwardtofaceeachotheratagivenword,cladmuchalike。Ihadthrownoffmyoutergarmentandstoodbareheadedinajerkinofsoftsheepskin。Kari,too,wasstrippedofhissplendiddressandcladinatunicofsheepskin。Also,thatwemightbequiteequal,hehadtakenoffhisturban—likeheadgearandeventheroyalFringe,whereathislordsstaredateachotherfortheythoughtthisabadomen。

ItwasjustthenIheardasoundbehindme,andturningmyheadIsawQuillastumblingtowardsusdownthestonyslopeasbestherhalf—

blindeyeswouldlether,andcryingasshecame:

"Oh！myLord,fightnot。Inca,IwillreturntotheHouseoftheSun！"

"Silence,accursedwoman！"saidKari,frowning。"DoestheSuntakebacksuchasyou？Silenceuntilthewoethatyouhavewroughtisfinished,andthenwailonforever。"

Sheshrankbackathisbitter,unjustwords,andguidedbythewomenwhohadfollowedher,sankuponastone,whereshesatstillasastatueorasdeadUpanquiinhishall。

NowonecalledaloudthepledgesofthefightwhichwereasKarihadspokenthem。Helistenedandadded:

"Beitknown,also,thatthisbattleistothedeathofoneorbothofus,sinceifweliveItakebackmyoathsandIwillburnyonderwitchasasacrificetotheSunwhomshehasbetrayed,anddestroyherpeopleandhercityaccordingtotheancientlawofVengeanceontheHouseofthosewhohavedeceivedtheSun。"

Iheardbutmadenoanswer,whodidnotwishtowastemybreathinbandyingwordswithagreatman,whosebrainhadbeenturnedbybigotryandwoman—hatred。

Amomentlaterthesignalwasgivenandwewereatit。Karileaptatmelikethetree—lionofhisownforests,butIavoidedandparried。

ThriceheleaptandthriceIdidthis;yes,evenwhenIsawanopeningandmighthavecuthimdown。AlmostIstruck,thencouldnot。TheChancaswatchedme,wonderingwhatgameIplayedwhowasnotwonttofightinthisfashion,andIalsowondered,whostillknewnotwhattodo。SomethingImustdo,orpresentlyIshouldbeslain,sincesoonmyguardwouldfailandDeleroy"sswordgethomeatlast。

IthinkthatKarigrewperplexedatthispatientdefenceofmine,andneverablowstruckback。Atleasthewithdrawalittle,thencameformewitharush,holdinghisswordhighabovehisheadwiththepurposeofstrikingmeabovethatguard,orsoIsupposed。Then,ofasudden,Iknewwhattodo。WheelingWave—Flamewithallmystrengthinbothhands,Ismote,notatKaributattheivoryhandleofhissword。Thekeenandancientsteelthatmightwellhavebeensomeofthatwhich,aslegendtold,wasforgedbythedwarfsinNorseland,fellupontheivorybetweenhishand—gripandthecross—pieceandshorethroughitasIhadhopedthatitwoulddo,sothatthebladeofKari"ssword,severedjustabovethehilt,felltothegroundandthehiltitselfwasjarredfromhishand。

HisnoblessawandgroanedwhiletheChancasshoutedwithjoy,fornowKariwasdefencelessandsaveforthedeathitself,thisfighttothedeathwasended。

Karifoldedhisarmsuponhisbreastandbenthishead。

"Itisthedecreeofmygod,"hesaid,"andIdidilltotrusttotheswordofavillainwhomyouslew。Strike,Conqueror,andmakeanend。"

IrestedmyselfuponWave—Flameandanswered:

"IfIstrikenot,OInca,willyoutakebackyourwordsandletpeacereignbetweenyourpeopleandtheChancas？"

"Nay,"heanswered。"WhatIhavesaid,Ihavesaid。IfyonderfalsewomanisgivenuptosufferthefateofthosewhohavebetrayedtheSun,thenthereshallbepeacebetweenthepeoples,butnototherwise,sincewhileIliveIwillwagewaruponherandyou,andupontheChancaswhoshelterbothofyou。"

Nowragetookholdofme,whorememberedthatwhilethiswoman—haterlivedbloodmustflowinstreams,butthatifhediedtherewouldbepeaceandQuillawouldbesafe。SoIliftedmyswordalittle,andasIdidsoQuillarosefromherstoneandstumbledforward,crying:

"OLord,shednottheInca"sholybloodforme。Letmebegivenup！

Letmebegivenup！"

ThensomespiritenteredintomeandIspoke,saying:

"Lady,halfofyourprayerIgrantandhalfIdeny。IwillnotshedtheInca"sblood;assoonwouldIshedyours。NorwillIsufferyoutobegivenupwhohavedonenowrong,sinceitwasIwhotookyouawaybyforce,asUrcowouldhavedone。Kari,hearkentome。Notonceonlywhenwewereindangertogetherinpastdayshaveyousaidtomethatwemustputourfaithinthegodsweworship,andthuswedid。NowagainIhearkentothatcounselofyoursandputmyfaithintheGodI

worship。Youthreatentogatherallthestrengthofyourmightyempire,andbecauseofwhatIholdtobeyoursuperstitions,todestroytheChancapeopletothelastbabeandtoleveltheircitytothelaststone。IdonotbelievethattheGodIworshipwillsufferthistocomeabout,thoughhowhewillstayyourvengeanceIdonotknow。Kari,greatIncaofTavantinsuyu,Lordofallthisstrangenewworld,I,theWhiteWanderer—from—the—Sea,giveyouyourlifeandsaveyouasoncebeforeIsavedyouinafarland,andwithyourlifeI

giveyoumyblessinginallmattersbutthisonealone。Kari,mybrother,lookyourlastonmeandgoinpeace。"

TheIncaheard,andraisinghishead,staredatmewithhisfine,melancholyeyes。Thensuddenlyfromthoseeyestherecameagushoftears。More,hekneltbeforemeandkissedtheground,asthehumblestofhisslavesmightdobeforehisownmajesty。

"Mostnobleofmen,"hesaid,liftinghimselfupagain,"Iworshipyou。Yes,I,theInca,worshipyou。WouldthatImighttakebackmyoath,butthisIcannotdobecausemygodhardensmyheartandthenwoulddecreedestructiononmypeople。Mayhaphewhomyouservewillbringthingstopassasyouforetell,asitwouldseemhehasbroughtittopassthatIshouldeatthedustbeforeyou。Ihopethatitmaybesowholovenotthesightofblood,butwholiketheshotarrowmustyetfollowmycourse,drivenbythestrengththatloosedme。

Brother,honouredandbeloved,fareyouwell！Mayhappinessbeyoursinlifeanddeath,andthereindeathmaywemeetagainandoncemorebebrotherswherenowomencometopartus。"

ThenKariturnedandwentwithbowedhead,togetherwithhisnobles,whofollowedhimassadlyasthosewhosurroundacorpse,butnotuntiltheyhadgiventomethatroyalsalutewhichisonlyrenderedtotheIncainhisglory。