a feathered headdress in front of which rose the crescent of the moon；
likewise fashioned in silver。 Also in her hand she held a little
silver spear。
I stared at her； for move I could not。 Then remembering my crazy talk
with Kari； uttered one word； only one。 It was/Quilla/。
She bowed her head and answered in a voice soft as the murmur of the
wind through rushes； speaking in the rich language called Quichua that
Kari had taught me。 In this tongue； as I have told； we talked together
for practice during our journeys and on the island。 So that now I knew
it well。
〃So indeed am I named after my mother； the 'Moon；'〃 she said。 〃But how
did you know it； O Wanderer； whose skin is white as the foam of the
sea and whose hair is yellow as the fine gold in the temples？〃
〃I think you must have told me when you knelt over me just now；〃 I
said。
I saw the red blood run to her brow； but she only shook her head； and
answered：
〃Nay； my mother； the Moon； must have told you； or perchance you
learned it in the spirit。 At least； Quilla am I named and you called
me aright。〃
Now I stood up and stared at her； overcome by the strangeness of the
business； and she stared at me。 A marvellously beautiful woman she was
in her dazzling robe and headdress； and lighter coloured than any
native I had seen； almost white； indeed； in the moonlight save for the
copper tinge that marked her race； tall； too； yet not over…tall； slim
and straight as an arrow； but high…breasted and round…limbed； and with
a wild grace in her movements like to that of a hawk upon the wing。
Also to my fancy in her face there was something more than common
youthful beauty； something spiritual； such as great artists show upon
the carven countenances of saints。
Indeed she might well have been one whose human blood was mixed with
some other alien strainas she had called herself； a daughter of the
Moon。
A question rose to my lips and burst from them； it was：
〃Tell me； O Quilla； are you wife or maid？〃
〃Maid am I；〃 she answered； 〃yet one who is promised as a wife；〃 and
she sighed； then went on quickly as though this matter were something
of which she did not wish to talk； 〃And tell me； O Wanderer； are you
god or man？〃
Now I grew cunning and answered；
〃I am a Son of the Sea as you are a Daughter of the Moon。〃
She turned her head and glanced at the radiance which lay upon the
face of the deep； then said as though to herself：
〃The moon shines upon the sea and the sea mirrors back the moon； yet
they are far apart and never may draw near。〃
〃Not so； O Quilla。 Out of the sea does the moon rise and； her course
run； into the sea's white arms she sinks to sleep at last。〃
Again the red blood ran to her brow and her great eyes fell； those
eyes of which never before had I seen the like。
〃It seems that they speak our tongue in the sea； and prettily；〃 she
murmured； adding； 〃But is it not from and into Heaven that the Moon
rises and departs？〃
At that moment to my grief our talk came to an end； for out of the hut
crept Kari。 He rose to his feet and stood there as ever calm and
dignified； looking first at Quilla and then at me。
〃What did I tell you； Master？〃 he said in English。 〃Did I not say that
prayers such as yours are answered？ Lo！ here is that Child of the Moon
for whom you sought； clothed in beauty and bringing her gifts of love
and woe。〃
〃Yes；〃 I exclaimed； 〃and I am glad that she is here。 For the rest；
were she but mine； I think I should not grudge her price whate'er it
be。〃
Quilla looked at Kari frowning over the spear that when he appeared
she had lifted； as though to defend herself； which in my case she had
not thought needful。
〃So the sea breeds men of my own race also；〃 she said； addressing him。
〃Tell me； O Stranger； how did you and yonder white god come to this
isle？〃
〃Riding on the ocean billows； riding for thousands of leagues；〃 he
answered。 〃And you； O Lady； how did you come to this isle？〃
〃Riding on the moonbeams；〃 she replied； smiling； 〃I； the daughter of
the Moon； who am named Moon and wear her symbol on my brow。〃
〃Did I not tell you so？〃 exclaimed Kari to me with a gloomy air。
Then Quilla went on：
〃Strangers； I was out fishing with two of my maidens and we had
drifted far from land。 As the sun sank I caught sight of the smoke of
your fire； and having been told that this isle was desert； my heart
drew me to discover who had lit it。 So； though my maidens were afraid；
hither I sailed and paddled； and the rest you know。 Hearken！ I will
declare myself。 I am the only child of Huaracha； King of the People of
the Chancas； born of his wife； a princess of the Inca blood who now
has been gathered to her Father； the Sun。 I am here on a visit to my
mother's kinsman； Quismancu； the Chief of the Yuncas of the
Coastlands； to whom my father； the King； has sent an embassy on
matters of which I know nothing。 Behind yonder rock is my /balsa/ and
with it are the two maidens。 Say； is it your wish to bide here upon
this isle； or to return into the sea； or to accompany me back to the
town of Quismancu？ If so； we must sail ere the weather breaks； lest we
should be drowned。〃
〃Certainly it is my wish to accompany you； Lady； though a god of the
sea cannot be drowned；〃 I said quickly before Kari could speak。
Indeed； he did not speak at all； he only shrugged his shoulders and
sighed； like one who accepts some evil gift from Fate because he must。
〃So be it！〃 exclaimed Quilla。 〃Now I go to make ready the /balsa/ and
to warn the maidens lest they be frightened。 When you are prepared you
will find us yonder behind the rock。〃
Then she bowed in a stately fashion an departed； walking with the
proud； light step of a deer。
From our little hut I took out my armour and with Kari's help； put it
on； because he declared that thus it would be more easily carried；
though I think he had other reasons in his mind。
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃unless the /balsa/ oversets； when I shall find
mail hard to swim in。〃
〃The /balsa/ will not overset； sailing beneath the moon with that
Moon…lady for a pilot；〃 he replied heavily。 〃Had the sun been up； it
might have been different。 Moreover； the path into a net is always
wide and easy。〃
〃What net？〃 I asked。
〃One that is woven of women's hair； I think。 Already； if I mistake
not； such a net has been about your throat； Master； and next time it
will stay there。 Hearken now to me。 The gods thrust us into high
matters。 The Yuncas of whose chief this lady is a guest are a great
people whom my people have conquered in war； but who wait the
opportunity to rebel； if they have not already done so。 The Chancas；
of those king she is the daughter； are a still greater people who for
years have threatened war upon my people。〃
〃Well； what of it； Kari？ With such questions this lady will have
nothing to do。〃
〃I think she has much to do with them。 I think that she knows more
than she seems to know； and that she is an envoy from the Chancas to
the Yuncas。 To whom is she affianced； I wonder？ Some Great One；
doubtless。 Well； we shall learn in time； and meanwhile； I pray you；
Master； remember that she says she /is/ affianced； and that in this
land men are very jealous even of a white god who rises from the sea。〃
〃Of course I shall remember；〃 I answered sharply。 〃Have I not had
enough of women who are affianced？〃
〃By your prayer of the moon this night； which the moon answered so
well and quickly； one might think not。 Also this daughter of hers is
fair； and perchance when she gave her hand she kept her heart。 Listen
again； Master。 Of me and of whom I am； say nothing； save that you
found me on this island where I dwelt a hermit when you rose from the
sea。 As for my name； why； it is Zapana。 Remember that if you breathe
my rank and history； however much sweet lips may try to cozen them out
of you； you bring me to my death； who now do not wish to die； having a
vengeance to accomplish and a throne to win。 Therefore treat me as a
dog； as one of no account； and be silent even in your sleep。〃
〃I will remember； Kari。〃
〃That is not enoughswear it。〃
〃Good。 I swear itby the moon。〃
〃Nay； not by the moon； for the moon is woman and changes。 Swear it by
this；〃 and from beneath his skin robe he drew out the golden image of
Pachacamac。 〃Swear it by the Spirit of the Universe； of whom Sun and
Moon and Stars are but servants； the Spirit whom all men worship in
this shape or in that。〃
So to please him I laid my hand upon the golden symbol and swore。
Then； very hurriedly； we made up a tale of how； clad in my armour； I
had risen from the sea and found him on the island； and how knowing me
for a white god who once in ages past had visited that land and who；
as prophecy foretold； should return to it in days to come； he had
worshipped me and become my slave。
This done we went down to the rock； Kari walking after me and bearing
all our small possessions and with them Deleroy's sword。 Passing round
the rock we saw the /balsa/ drawn up to the sand； and by it the lady
Quilla； who now had put off her fine robes and again was attired as a
fishing…girl as I had seen her in my dream； and with her two tall
girls in the same scanty garments。