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  \"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。

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