\"Yes,mybrother,\"heanswered,\"becauseyoubelievemyreligiontobeidolatry,anddonotunderstandthattheSuntomeisthesymbolandgarmentofGod,andthatwhenweoftheIncablood,orthoseofuswhohavetheinnerknowledge,talkofhimasourFather,wemeanthatwearethechildrenofGod,thoughthecommonpeoplearetaughtotherwise。Fortherest,thisladytookhervowsofherownfreewillandofhersecretreasonsIknownothing,anymorethanIknowwhysheofferedherselfinmarriagetoUrcobeforeshefoundyouupontheisland。ForyouIgrieve,andforheralso;yetIwouldhaveyourememberthat,asyourownprieststeach,ineverylifethatisnotbrutaltheremustbeloss,sorrow,andsacrifice,sincebythesestepsonlymancanclimbtowardsthethingsofthespirit。PluckthensuchflowersasyouwillfromthegardenthatFategivesyou,butleavethisonewhitebloomalone。\"
Insuchwordsasthesehepreachedatme,tillatlengthIcouldbearnomore,andsaidroughly:
\"Tomeitisaveryevilthing,OInca,toseparatethosewholoveeachother,andonethatcannotbepleasingtoHeaven。Therefore,greatasyouare,andfriendofmineasyouare,ItellyoutoyourfacethatifIcantaketheladyQuillaoutofthatgoldengraveofhersIshalldoso。\"
\"Iknowit,mybrother,\"heanswered,\"andtherefore,wereIassomeIncashavebeen,IshouldcausethisholySpousetotravelmorequicklytotheskiesthanNaturewilltakeher。ButthisIwillnotdobecauseIknowalsothatDestinyisaboveallthingsandthatwhichDestinydecreeswillhappenunhelpedbyman。StillItellyouthatI
willthwartyouifIcanandthatshouldyousucceedinyourends,I
willkillyouifIcanandtheladyalso,becauseyouhavecommittedsacrilege。Yes,althoughIloveyoubetterthananyotherman,Iwillkillyou。AndifKingHuarachashouldbeabletosnatchherawaybyforceIwillmakewaronhimuntileitherIandmypeopleorheandhispeoplearedestroyed。Andnowletustalknomoreofthismatter,butratherofourplansagainstUrco,sinceintheseatleast,wherenowomanisconcerned,IknowthatyouwillbefaithfultomeandI
sorelyneedyourhelp。\"
SowithaheavyheartIwentbacktothecampofHuarachaandtoldhimKari\'swords。Hewasverywrothwhenheheardthem,sincehisgodsweredifferenttothoseoftheIncasandhethoughtnothingoftheholinessoftheVirginsoftheSun,andonceagaintalkedofrenewingthewar。Stillitcametonothingforsundryreasonsofwhichthegreatestwasthathissicknessincreasedonhimasthedayswentby。
AlsoItoldhimthatmuchasIdesiredQuilla,IcouldnotfightuponhissidesinceIwassworntoaidKariagainstUrcoandmywordmightnotbebroken。Moreover,theYuncaswhohadbeenourallies,wearyingoftheirlongabsencefromhomeandsatisfiedwiththegentleforgivenessandtheredressoftheirgrievanceswhichthenewIncahadpromisedthem,weregone,havingdepartedontheirlongmarchtothecoast,whilemanyoftheChancasthemselveswereslippingbacktotheirowncountry。ThereforeHuaracha\'shourhadpassedby。
SoatlengthweagreedthatitwouldbefoolishtoattackCuzcoinordertotrytorescueQuilla,sinceevenifHuarachawoninfaceofadesperatedefence,probablyitwouldbeonlytofindthathisdaughterwasdeadorhadvanishedawaytosomeunknownanddistantconvent。Allthatwecoulddowastotrusttofortunetodeliverherintoourhands。Weagreedfurtherthat,havingobtainedanhonourablepeaceandallelsethathedesired,itwouldbewellforHuarachatoreturntohisownland,leavingmeabodyoffivethousandpickedmenwhowerewillingtoserveunderme,toassistinthewaragainstUrco,tobemyguardandthatofQuilla,ifperchanceIcoulddeliverherfromtheHouseoftheSun。
WhenthiswasknownfivethousandofthebestandbravestoftheChancas,youngsoldierswhosoughtadventureandbattleandwhomIhadtrained,steppedforwardatonceandsworethemselvestomyservice。
BiddingfarewelltoHuaracha,withthesetroopsIreturnedtoCuzco,sendingmessengersaheadtoexplainthereasonoftheircomingtoKari,whowelcomedthemwellandgavethemquartersroundthepalacewhichwasallottedtome。
AfewdayslaterweadvancedonthetownHuarina,agreathostofus,andoutsideofitmettheyetgreaterhostofUrcoinamightybattlethatenduredforadayandanight,andyet,likethatoftheFieldofBlood,remainedneitherlostnorwon。WhenthethousandsofthedeadhadbeenburiedandthewoundedsentbacktoCuzco,weattackedthecityofHuarina,IleadingthevanwithmyChancas,andstormedtheplace,drivingUrcoandhisforcesoutonthefartherside。
Theyretreatedtothemountainsandtherefollowedalongandtediouswarwithoutgreatbattles。Atlength,althoughtheInca\'sarmieshadsufferedsorely,weforcedthoseofUrcototheshoresoftheLakeTiticaca,wheremostofthemmeltedawayintotheswampsandcertaintree—clad,low—lyingvalleys。Urcohimself,however,withanumberoffollowers,escapedinboatstotheholyislandinthelake。
Webuiltafleetof/balsas/withreedsandblown—outsheepskins,andfollowedhim。LandingontheislewestormedthecityoftempleswhichweremorewondrousandevenfullerofgoldandpreciousthingsthanthoseofCuzco。HerethemenofUrcofoughtdesperately,butdrivingthemfromstreettostreet,atlengthwepennedtheminoneofthelargestofthetemplesofwhichbysomemischanceareedroofwassetonfire,sothattheretheyperishedmiserably。ItwasadreadfulscenesuchasIneverwishtobeholdagain。Also,afterallUrcoandsomeofhiscaptains,breakingoutoftheburningtempleundercoverofthesmokeescaped,eitherin/balsas/or,asmanydeclare,byswimmingthelake。Atleasttheyweregonenorsearchaswemightonthemainlandcouldtheybefound。
Soallbeingfinished,exceptfortheescapeofUrco,wereturnedtoCuzcowhichKarienteredintriumph,Imarchingathisside,weariedoutwithwarandbloodshed。
CHAPTERXI
THEHOUSEOFDEATH
NowatonetimeduringthislongwaragainstUrcovictorysmileduponhim,thoughafterwardsthescalewentdownagainsthim。KariwasdefeatedinapitchedbattleandIwhocommandedanotherarmywasalmostsurroundedinavalley。Wheneverythingseemedlost,afterwardsIescapedbyleadingmysoldiersrounduptheslopeofamountainandsurprisingUrcointherear,butasitendedwellforusIneednotspeakofthatmatter。
Itwaswhileallwasatitsblackestforusthatacertainofficerwasbroughttomewhowascapturedwhilestrivingtodesert,oratleasttopassouroutposts。AsithappenedIknewthismanagainhaving,unseenmyself,notedhimonthepreviousdaytalkingearnestlytothehigh—priestLarico,who,withotherpriests,accompaniedmyarmy,perhapstokeepawatchonme。Itookthiscaptainapartandquestionedhimalone,threateninghimwithdeathbytormentifhedidnotrevealhiserrandtome。
Intheend,beingverymuchafraid,hespoke。FromhimIlearnedthathewasamessengerfromLaricotoUrco。Believingthatourdefeatwasalmostcertain,LaricohadsenthimtomakehispeacewithUrcobybetrayingallKari\'sandmyownplanstohimandrevealinghowhemightmosteasilydestroyus。Hesaidalsothathe,Larico,hadonlyjoinedthepartyofUpanqui,andofKariafterhim,underthreatsofdeathandthatalwaysinhishearthehadbeentruetoUrco,whomheacknowledgedashisLordandastherightfulIncawhomhewouldhelptorestoretotheThronewithallthepowerofthePriesthoodoftheSun。Further,hesentbythisspyasecretmessagebymeansoflittlecordscunninglyknotted,whichknotsservedthesepeopleaswriting,sincetheycouldreadthemaswereadabook。
Now,beingalwaysdesirousofknowledge,Ihadcausedmyselftobeinstructedintheplanofthisknot—writingwhichbythistimeIcouldreadwellenough。ThereforeIwasabletospelloutthismessage。Itsaidshortlybutplainly,thatknowinghestilldesiredher,he,Larico,ashigh—priestwouldhandovertoUrcotheladyQuilla,daughtertotheKingoftheChancaswhounlawfullyhadbeenhiddenawayamongtheVirginsoftheSun,alsothathewouldbetrayme,theWhite—God—from—the—Seawhosoughttostealheraway,intoUrco\'shands,thathemightkillmeifhecould。
WhenIhadmasteredallthisIwasfilledwithrageandbethoughtmethatIwouldcauseLaricotobetakenandsufferthefateoftraitors。
Soon,however,Ichangedthismindofmineandplacingthespyinclosekeepingwherenonecouldcomeathim,IsetawatchonLaricobutsaidnothingtohimortoKariofallthatIhadlearned。
AfewdayslaterourfortuneschangedandUrco,defeated,wasinfullflighttotheshoresofLakeTiticaca。AfterthisIknewwehadnothingmoretofearfromthisfox—heartedhigh—priestwhoaboveeverythingdesiredtobeonthewinningsideandtocontinueinhisplaceandpower。SoknowingthatIheldhimfastIbidedmytime,becausethroughhimaloneIcouldhopetocomeatQuilla。ThattimecameafterthewarwasoverandwehadreturnedtoCuzcointriumph。
AssoonastherejoicingswereoverandKariwasfirmlyseatedonhisthrone,IsentforLarico,which,asthegreatestmaninthekingdomaftertheInca,Iwasabletodo。
Heappearedinanswertomysummonsandwebowedtoeachother,afterwhichhebegantopraisemeformygeneralship,sayingthathaditnotbeenforme,UrcowouldhavewonthewarandthattheIncahaddonewelltonamemehisBrotherbeforethepeopleandtosaythattomeheowedhisthrone。
\"Yes,thatistrue,\"Ianswered,\"andnow,sincethroughme,you,Larico,arethethirdgreatestmaninthekingdomandremainHigh—
PriestoftheSunandWhispererintheInca\'sear,IwouldputyouinmindofacertainbargainthatwemadewhenIpromisedyouallthesethings,Larico。\"
\"Whatbargain,Lord—of—the—Sea。\"
\"ThatyouwouldbringmeandaVirginoftheSun,whowhileshewasoftheearthwasnamedQuilla,together,Larico,andenablehertoreturnfromthoseoftheSuntomyarms,Larico。\"
Nowhisfacegrewtroubledandheanswered:
\"Lord,Ihavethoughtmuchofthismatter,desiringaboveallthingstofulfilmywordandIgrievetotellyouthatitisimpossible。\"
\"Why,Larico？\"
\"BecauseIfindthatthelawofmyfaithisagainstit,Lord。\"
\"Isthatall,Larico？\"Iaskedwithasmile。
\"No,Lord。BecauseIfindthattheIncawouldnotsufferitandswearstokillallwhoattempttotouchtheladyQuilla。\"
\"Isthatall,Larico？\"
\"No,Lord。BecauseIfindthatawomanwhohasbeenbetrothedtooneoftheroyalbloodmayneverpasstoanotherman。\"
\"Nowperhapswecomenearertoit,Larico。YoumeanthatifthishappenedandperchanceafterallUrcoshouldcometothethrone,ashemightdoifKarihisbrotherdied——asanymanmaydie——hewouldholdyoutoaccount。\"
\"Yes,Lord,ifthatchanced,aschanceitmay,sinceUrcostilllivesandIhearisgatheringnewarmiesamongthemountains,certainlyhewouldholdmetoaccountforIhaveheardasmuch。AlsoourfathertheSunwouldholdmetoaccountandsowouldtheIncawhowieldshissceptreuponearth。\"
Iaskedhimwhyhedidnotthinkofallthesethingsbeforewhenhehadmuchtogaininsteadofnowwhenhehadgainedthemthroughme,andheansweredbecausehehadnotconsideredthemenough。ThenI
pretendedtogrowangryandexclaimed:
\"Youarearogue,Larico！Youpromiseandtakeyourpayandyoudonotperform。HenceforthIamyourenemyandonetowhomtheIncahearkens。\"
\"HehearkensstillmoretothisgodtheSunandtomewhoamthevoiceofGod,WhiteMan,\"heanswered,addinginsolently,\"Youwouldstriketoolate;yourpowerovermeandmyfortunesisgone,WhiteMan。\"
\"Ifearitisso,\"Ireplied,pretendingtobefrightened,\"soletussaynomoreofthematter。Afterall,thereareotherwomeninCuzcobesidesthisfairbrideoftheSun。Nowbeforeyougo,High—Priest,willyouwhoaresolearnedhelpmewhoamignorant？Ihavebeenstrivingtomasteryourmethodofconveyingthoughtsbymeansofknots。HereIhaveabundleofstringswhichIcannotaltogetherunderstand。Bepleasedtointerpretthemtome,OmostholyanduprightHigh—Priest。\"
ThenfrommyrobeIdrewoutthoseknottedfibresthatIhadtakenfromhismessengerandheldthembeforeLarico\'seyes。
Hestaredatthemandturnedpale。HishandgropedforhisdaggertillhesawthatminewasonthehiltofWave—Flame,whereonheletitfall。NextthethoughttookhimthatintruthIcouldnotreadtheknotswhichhebegantointerpretfalsely。
\"Havedone,Traitor,\"Ilaughed,\"forIknowthemall。SoUrcomaywedQuillaandImaynot。Alsoceasetofretastothatmessengerofyoursforwhomyouseekfarandnear,sinceheissafeinmykeeping。
To—morrowItakehimtodeliverhismessagenottoUrco,buttoKari——
andthen,Traitor？\"
NowLaricowho,notwithstandinghissternfaceandproudmanner,wasacowardatheart,felluponhiskneesbeforemetremblingandprayedmetosparehislifewhichlayinmyhand。WellheknewthatifonceitcametoKari\'sears,evenahighpriestoftheSuncouldnothopetoescapetherewardofsuchtreacheryashis。
\"IfIpardonyou,whatwillyougiveme？\"Iasked。
\"Theonlythingthatyouwilltake,Lord——theladyQuillaherself。
Hearken,Lord。OutsidethecityisthepalaceofUpanquiwhomUrcoslew。ThereinthegreathallthedivineIncasitsembalmedandintothatholypresencenonedareentersavetheVirginsoftheSunwhoseofficeitistowaituponthemightydead。To—morrowonehourbeforethedawn,whenallmensleep,IwillleadyoutothishalldisguisedintherobesofapriestoftheSun,sothatonthewaythithernonecanknowyou。ThereyouwillfindbutoneVirginoftheSun,theladywhomyouseek。Takeherandbegone。TherestIleavetoyou。\"
\"HowdoIknowthatyouwillnotsetsometrapforme,Larico？\"
\"Thus,Lord,thatIshallbewithyouandshareyoursacrilege。Alsomylifewillbeinyourhand。\"
\"Aye,Larico,\"Iansweredgrimly,\"andifaughtofillbefallsme,rememberthatthis,\"andItouchedtheknottedcords,\"willfinditswaytoKari,andwithitthemanwhowasyourmessenger。\"
Henoddedandanswered:
\"BesurethatIhavebutonedesire,toknowyou,Lord,andthiswomanwhom,beingmad,youseeksomadly,farfromCuzcoandnevertolookuponyourfaceagain。\"
Thenwemadeourplansastowhenandwhereweshouldmeetandothermatters,afterwhichhedeparted,bowinghimselfawaywithmanysmiles。
IthoughttomyselfthattherewentasbigarogueasIhadeverknown,inLondonorelsewhere,andfelltowonderingwhatsnarehewouldsetforme,sincethatheplannedsomesnareIwassure。Why,then,didIpreparetofallintoit？Iaskedmyself。Theanswerwas,foradoublereason。First,althoughmywholeheartwassickwithlongingforthesightofher,now,aftermonthsofseeking,IwasnonearertoQuillathanwhenwehadpartedinthecityoftheChancas,norevershouldbewithoutLarico\'said。Secondly,somevoicewithinmetoldmetogoforwardtakingallhazards,sinceifIdidnot,ourpartingwouldbeforalwaysinthisworld。Yes,thevoicewarnedmethatunlessIsavedhersoon,Quillawouldbenomore。AsHuarachahadsaid,therewasmorepoisoninCuzco,andmurdererswerenotfartoseek。Ordespairmightdoitsworkwithher。Orshemightkillherselfasonceshehadproposedtodo。SoIwouldgoforwardeventhoughthepathIwalkedshouldleadmetomydoom。
ThatdayIdidmanythings。Now,beingsogreatageneralandman——orgod——amongthesepeople,IhadthoseaboutmewhoweresworntomyserviceandwhomIcouldtrust。Foroneofthese,aprinceoftheIncablood,oftheHouseofKari\'smother,IsentandgavetohimthoseknottedcordsthatweretheproofofLarico\'streachery,biddinghimifaughtofevilovertookme,orifIcouldnotbefound,todeliverthemtotheIncaonmybehalfandwiththemtheprisonedmessengerwhowasinhiskeeping,butmeanwhiletoshowthemtonoman。HebowedandsworebytheSuntodomybidding,thinkingdoubtlessthat,myworkfinishedinthisland,IpurposedtoreturnintotheseaoutofwhichIhadrisen,asdoubtlessagodcoulddo。
NextIsummonedthecaptainsoftheChancaswhohadfoughtundermethroughoutthecivilwar,ofwhomabouthalfremainedalive,andbadethemgathertheirmenupontheridgewhereIhadstoodatthebeginningofthebattleoftheFieldofBlood,andwaituntilIjoinedthemthere。Ifitchanced,however,thatIdidnotappearwithinsixdaysIcommandedthattheyshouldmarchbacktotheirowncountryandmakereporttoKingHuarachathatIhad\"returnedintothesea\"forreasonsthathewouldguess。AlsoIcommandedthateightfamouswarriorswhomInamed,menofmyownbodyguardwhohadfoughtwithmeinallourbattlesandwouldhavefollowedmethroughfireorwaterorthegatesofHellthemselves,shouldcometothecourtyardofmypalaceafternightfall,bringingalitteranddisguisedasitsbearers,buthavingtheirarmshiddenbeneaththeircloaks。
Thesematterssettled,IwaitedupontheIncaKariandcravedofhimleavetotakeajourney。ItoldhimthatIwaswearywithsomuchfightinganddesiredtorestamidstmyfriendstheChancas。
Hegazedatmeawhile,thenstretchedouthissceptretomeintokenthatmyrequestwasgranted,andsaidinasadvoice:
\"Soyouwouldleaveme,mybrother,becauseIcannotgiveyouthatwhichyoudesire。Bethinkyou。YouwillbenonearertotheMoon（bywhichhemeantQuilla）atChancathanyouareatCuzcoandhere,nexttotheInca,youarethegreatestintheEmpirewhobydecreearenamedhisbrotherandthegeneralofhisarmies。\"
Now,thoughmygorgeroseatit,Iliedtohim,saying:
\"TheMoonissetforme,solethersleepwhomIshallseenomore。
Fortherest,learn,OKari,thatHuarachahassworntomethatI
shallbe,nothisbrotherbuthisson,andHuarachaissick——theysaytodeath。\"
\"YoumeanthatyouwouldchoosetobeKingovertheChancasratherthanstandnexttothethroneamongtheQuichuas？\"hesaid,scanningmesharply。
\"Aye,Kari,\"Ireplied,stilllying。\"SinceImustdwellinthisstrangeland,Iwoulddosoasaking——noless。\"
\"Tothatyouhavearight,Brother,whoarefaraboveusall。Butwhenyouareaking,whatisyourplan？DoyoupurposetostrivetoconquermeandruleoverTavantinsuyu,asperchanceyoucoulddo？\"
\"Nay,Ishallnevermakewaruponyou,Kari,unlessyoubreakyourtreatywiththeChancasandstrivetosubduethem。\"
\"WhichIshallneverdo,Brother。\"
ThenhepausedawhileandspokeagainwithmorepassionthatIhadeverknowninhim,saying:
\"Wouldthatthiswomanwhocomesbetweenusweredead。Wouldthatshehadneverbeenborn。Intruth,Iammindedtopraytomyfather,theSun,thathewillbepleasedtotakehertohimself,forthenperchancewetwomightbeaswewereintheoldtimeyonderinyourEngland,andwhenwefacedperilssidebysideupontheoceanandintheforests。AcurseonWomantheDivider,andallthecursesofallthegodsuponthiswomanwhomImaynotgivetoyou。HadshebeenofmyHouseholdIwouldhavebiddenyoutotakeher,yes,evenifsheweremywife,butsheisthewifeofthegodandthereforeImaynot——
alas！Imaynot,\"andhehidhisfaceinhisrobeandgroaned。
NowwhenIheardthesewordsIgrewafraidwhoknewwellthatsheofwhomtheIncapraystheSunthatshemaydie,doesdie,andswiftly。
\"Donotaddtothislady\'swrongsbyrobbingheroflifeaswellasofsightandliberty,Kari,\"Isaid。
\"Havenofear,Brother,\"heanswered,\"sheissafefromme。NowordshallpassmylipsthoughitistruethatinmyheartIwishthatshewoulddie。Goyourways,BrotherandFriend,andwhenyougrowwearyofkingshipifitcomestoyou,astotelltruthalreadyIgrowweary,returntome。Perchance,forgettingthatwehadbeenkings,wemightjourneyhencetogetherovertheworld\'sedge。\"
Thenhestooduponhisthroneandbowedtowardsme,kissingtheairasthoughtoagod,andtakingtheroyalchainthateveryIncaworefromabouthisneck,setituponmine。Thisdone,turning,heleftmewithoutanotherword。
WithaheavyheartIreturnedtomypalacewhereIdwelt。AtsundownI
ateaccordingtomycustom,anddismissedthosewhowaiteduponmetotheservants\'quarters。Therewerebuttwoofthemformyprivatelifewassimple。ThenIslepttillpastmidnightandrising,wentintothecourtyardwhereIfoundtheeightChancacaptainsdisguisedaslitter—
bearersandwiththemthelitter。Iledthemtoanemptyguard—houseandbadethemstaythereinsilence。AfterthisIreturnedtomychamberandwaited。
AbouttwohoursbeforethedawnLaricocame,knockingontheside—dooraswehadplanned。Iopenedtohimandheentereddisguisedinahoodedcloakofsheep\'swoolwhichcoveredhisrobesandhisface,suchaspriestswearwhentheweatheriscold。HegavetomethegarmentsofapriestoftheSunwhichhehadbroughtwithhiminacloth。IclothedmyselfinthemthoughbecauseofthefashionofthemtodothisImustberidofmyarmourwhichwouldhavebetrayedme。
LaricodesiredthatIshouldtakeofftheswordWave—Flamealso,but,mistrustinghim,thisIwouldnotdo,butmadeshifttohideitandmydaggerbeneaththepriest\'scloak。ThearmourIwrappedinabundleandtookwithme。
Presentlywewentout,havingspokenfewwordssincethetimeforspeechhadgonebyandperilorsomefearofwhatmightbefallweigheduponourtongues。Intheguard—houseIfoundtheChancasatwhomLaricolookedcuriouslybutsaidnothing。TothemIgavethebundleofarmourtobehiddeninthelitterandwithitmylongbow,havingfirstrevealedmyselftothembyliftingthehoodofmycloak。ThenI
badethemfollowme。
LaricoandIwalkedinfrontandafteruscametheeightmen,fourofthembearingtheemptylitter,andtheotherfourmarchingbehind。
Thiswaswellplannedsinceifanysawusorifwemetguardsasonceortwicewedid,thesethoughtthatwewereprieststakingonewhowassickordeadtobetendedortobemadereadyforburial。Once,however,wewerechallenged,butLaricospokesomewordandwepassedonwithoutquestion。
AtlengthinthedarknessbeforethedawnwecametotheprivatepalaceofdeadUpanqui。AtitsgardengateLaricowouldhavehadmeleavethelitterwiththeeightChancawarriorsdisguisedasbearers。
Irefused,sayingthattheymustcometothedoorsofthepalace,andwhenhegrewurgent,tappedmysword,whisperingtohimfiercelythathehadbestbewarelestitshouldbehewhostayedatthegate。Thenhegavewayandweadvancedallofusacrossthegardentothedoorofthepalace。Laricounlockedthedoorwithakeyandweentered,heandIalone,forhereIbadetheChancasawaitmyreturn。
Wecreptdownashortpassagethatwascurtainedatitsend。PassingthecurtainsIfoundmyselfinUpanqui\'sbanqueting—hall。Thishallwasdimlylitwithonehanginggoldenlamp。ByitslightIsawsomethingmorewondrousandofitssortmoreawfulthaneverIhadseeninthatstrangeland。
There,onadais,inhischairofgold,satdeadUpanquiarrayedinallhisgorgeousIncarobesandsomarvellouslypreservedthathemighthavebeenamanasleep。Witharmscrossedandhissceptreathisside,hesatstaringdownthehallwithfixedandemptyeyes,adreadfulfigureoflifeindeath。Abouthimandaroundthedaisweresetallhisriches,vasesandfurnitureofgold,andjewelspiledinheaps,theretoremaintilltherooffellinandburiedthem,sinceonthishallowedwealththeboldestdarednotlayahand。Inthecentreofthehall,also,wasatablepreparedasthoughforfeasters,foramidjewelledcupsandplattersstoodthemeatsandwineswhichdaybydaywerebroughtafreshbytheVirginsoftheSun。Doubtlessthereweremorewonders,buttheseIcouldnotseebecausethelightdidnotreachthem,ortothedoorwaysofthechambersthatopenedfromthehall。Moreover,therewassomethingelsewhichcaughtmyeye。
AtthefootofthedaiscrouchedafigurewhichatfirstItooktobethatofsomedeadonealsoembalmed,perhapsawifeordaughterofthedeadIncawhohadbeensetwithhiminthisplace。WhileIstaredatitthefigurestirred,havingheardourfootsteps,roseandturned,standingsothatthelightfromthehanginglampfellfulluponit。ItwasQuillacladinwhiteandpurplewithagoldenlikenessoftheSunblazoneduponherbreast！
Sobeauteousdidshelooksearchingthedarknesswithgreatblindeyesandherrichflowinghairflowingfrombeneathherjewelledheaddress,adiademfashionedtoresembletheSun\'srays,thatmybreathfailedmeandmyheartstoodstill。
\"Therestandsshewhomyouseek,\"mutteredLaricoinamockingwhisper,forhereevenhedidnotseemtodaretotalkaloud。\"Gotakeher,youwhommencallagod,butIcalladrunkenfoolreadytoriskallforawoman\'slips。Gotakeherandasktheblessinguponyourkissesofyonderdeadkingwhoseholyrestyoubreak。\"
\"Besilent,\"IwhisperedbackandpassedroundthetabletillIcamefacetofacewithQuilla。ThenastrangedumbnessfelluponmelikeaspellordeadUpanqui\'scurse,sothatIcouldnotspeak。
Istoodtherestaringatthosebeautifulblindeyesandtheblindeyesstaredbackatme。PresentlyalookofunderstandinggatheredonthefaceandQuillaspoke,orrathermurmuredtoherself。
\"Strange——butIcouldhavesworn！Strange,butIseemedtofeel！Oh！I
sleptinmyvigilsuponthatdeadoldmanwhoinlifewassofoolishandindeathappearstohavebecomesowise,andsleepingIdreamed。I
dreamedIheardastepIshallneverhearagain。IdreamedonewasnearmewhomIshallnevertouchagain。Iwillsleeponcemore,forinmydarknesswhatarelefttomesavesleepand——death？\"
ThenatlastIfoundmytongueandsaidhoarsely,\"Loveisleft,Quilla,and——life。\"
Sheheardandstraightenedherself。Herwholebodyseemedtobecomerigidasthoughwithanagonyofjoy。Herblindeyesflashed,herlipsquivered。Shestretchedoutherhand,feelingatthedarkness。Herfingerstouchedmyforehead,andthencesheranthemswiftlyovermyface。
