\"\'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。
