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。