a piercing whisper； but without turning her head towards me。
Now an agony took hold of me for I knew that what I bade her； that she
would say； and that perchance upon my answer hung the fate of all this
great Chanca people。 If she went they would be saved； if she remained
perchance she would be my wife if only for a while。 For the Chancas I
cared nothing and for the Quichuas I cared nothing； but Quilla was all
that remained to me in the world and if she went； it was to another
man。 I would bid her bide。 And yetand yet if her case were mine and
the fate of England hung upon my breath； what then？
〃Be swift；〃 she whispered again。
Then I spoke； or something spoke through me； saying：
〃Do what honour bids you； O Daughter of the Moon； for what is love
without honour？ Perchance both shall still be yours at last。〃
〃I thank you； Lord； whose heart speaks as my heart；〃 she whispered for
the third time； then lifting her head and looking Huaracha in the
eyes； said：
〃Father； I go； but that I will wed this Urco I do not promise。〃
CHAPTER VII
THE RETURN OF KARI
So Quilla； seated in a golden litter and accompanied by maidens as
became her rank； soon was borne away in the train of the Inca Upanqui；
leaving me desolate。 Before she went； under pretence of bidding me
farewell； none denying her； she gained private speech with me for a
little while。
〃Lord and Lover；〃 she said； 〃I go to what fate I know not； leaving you
to what fate I know not； and as your lips have said； it is right that
I should go。 Now I have something to ask of youthat you will not
follow me as it is in your heart to do。 But last night I prayed of you
to dog my steps and wherever I might go to keep close to me； that the
knowledge of your presence might be my comfort。 Now my mind is
different。 If I must be married to this Urco； I would not have you see
me in my shame。 And if I escape marriage you cannot help me； since I
may only do so by death or by taking refuge where you cannot come。
Also I have another reason。〃
〃What reason； Quilla？〃 I asked。
〃This： I ask that you will stop with my father and give him your help
in the war that must come。 I would see this Urco crushed； but without
that help I am sure that the Chancas and the Yuncas are too weak to
overthrow the Inca might。 Remember that if I escape marriage thus only
can you hope to win me； namely； by the defeat and death of Urco。 Say；
then； that you will stay here and help to lead the Chanca armies； and
say it swiftly； since that dotard； Upanqui； frets to be gone。 Hark！
his messengers call and search； my women can hold them back no more。〃
〃I will stay；〃 I answered hoarsely。
〃I thank you； and now farewell； till in life or death we meet again。
Thoughts come to my mind which I have no time to utter。〃
〃To mine also； Quilla； and here is one of them。 You know the man who
was with me on the island。 Well； he is more than he seems。〃
〃So I guessed； but where is he now？〃
〃In hiding； Quilla。 If you should chance to find him； bear in mind
that he is an enemy of Urco and one not friendless； also that he loves
me after his fashion。 Trust him； I pray you。 Urco is not the only one
of the Inca blood； Quilla。〃
She glanced at me quickly and nodded her head。 Then without more
words； for officers were pressing towards us； she drew a ring off her
finger； a thick and ancient golden ring on which were cut what looked
like flowers； or images of the sun； and gave it to me。
〃Wear this for my sake。 It is very old and has a story of true love
that I have no time to tell；〃 she said。
I took it and in exchange passed to her that ancient ring which my
mother had given to me； the ring that had come down to her with the
sword Wave…Flame； saying：
〃This； too； is old and has a story； wear it in memory of me。〃
Then we parted and presently she was gone。
I stood watching her litter till it vanished in the evening haze。 Then
I turned to go to find myself face to face with Huaracha。
〃Lord…from…the…Sea；〃 he said； 〃you have played a man'sor a god's
part to…day。 Had you bidden my daughter bide here； she would have done
so for love of you and the Chanca people must have been destroyed； for
as that old Inca or his spokesman told us； the breaking of my oath
would have been taken as a declaration of instant war。 Now we have
breathing time； and in the end things may go otherwise。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃but what of Quilla and what of me？〃
〃I know not your creed or what with you is honour； White Lord； but
among us whom perhaps you think of small account； it is thought and
held that there are times when a man or a woman； especially if they be
highly placed； must do sacrifice for the good of the many who cling to
them for guidance and for safety。 This you and my daughter have done
and therefore I honour both of you。〃
〃To what end is the sacrifice made？〃 I asked bitterly。 〃That one
people may struggle for dominion over another people； no more。〃
〃You are mistaken； Lord。 Not for victory or to increase my dominions
do I desire to war upon the Incas； but because unless I strike I shall
presently be struck； though for a little while this marriage might
hold back the blow。 Alone in the midst of the vast territories over
which the Incas rule； the Chancas stem their tide of conquest and
remain free amongst many nations of slaved。 Therefore for ages these
Incas； like those who ruled before them at Cuzco； have sworn to
destroy us； and Urco has sworn it above all。〃
〃Urco might die or be deposed； Huaracha。〃
〃If so another would put on the Fringe and be vowed to the ancient
policy that does not change from generation to generation。 Therefore I
must fight or perish with my people。 Hearken； Lord…from…the…Sea！ Stay
here with me and become as my brother and a general of my armies； for
where will they not follow when you lead； who are held to be a god？
Then if we conquer； in reward； from a brother you shall become a son；
and to you after me I swear shall pass the Chanca crown。 Moreover； to
you； if she can be saved； I will give in marriage her whom you love。
Think before you refuse。 I know not whence you come； but this I know：
that you can return thither no more； unless； indeed； you are a spirit。
Here your lot is cast till death。 Therefore make it glorious。
Perchance you might fly to the Inca and there become a marvel and a
show； furnished with gold and palaces and lands； but always you would
be a servant； while I offer to you a crown and the rule of a people
great and free。〃
〃I care nothing for crowns；〃 I answered； sighing。 〃Still； such was
Quilla's prayer； perchance the last that ever she will make to me。
Therefore I accept and will serve you and your cause； that seems
noble； faithfully to the end； O Huaracha。〃
Then I stretched out my hand to him and so our compact was sealed。
On the very next day my work began。 Huaracha made me known to his
captains； commanding them to obey me in all things； which； looking on
me as half divine； they did readily enough。
Now； of soldiering I knew little who was a seaman bred； yet as I had
learned； a man of the English race in however strange a country he
finds himself can make a path there to his ends。
Moreover； in London I had heard much talk of armies and their ordering
and often watched troops at their exercise； also I know how to handle
bow and sword； and was accustomed to the management of men。 So putting
all these memories together； I set myself to the task of turning a mob
of half…savage fellows with arms into an ordered host。 I created
regiments and officered them with the best captains that I could find；
collecting in each regiment so far as possible the people of a certain
town or district。 These companies I drilled and exercised； teaching
them to use such weapons as they had to the best purpose。
Also I caused them to shape stronger bows on the model of my own with
which I had shot the three Frenchmen far away at Hastings that； as it
was said； once had been the battle…bow of Thorgrimmer the Norseman my
ancestor； as the sword Wave…Flame was his battle…sword。 When these
Chancas saw how far and with what a good aim I could shoot with this
bow； they strove day and night to learn to equal me； though it is true
they never did。 Also I bettered their body…armour of quilting by
settings sheets of leather （since in that country there is no iron）
taken from the hides of wild animals and of their long…haired native
sheep； between the layers of cotton。 Other things I did also； too many
and long to record。
The end of it was that within three months Huaracha had an army of
some fifty thousand men who； if not well trained； still kept
discipline； and could move in regiments； who knew also how to shoot
with their bows and to use their copper…headed spears and axes of that
metal； or of hard stone； to the best purpose。
Then at length came the Yuncas to join us； thirty or forty thousand of
them； wild fellows and brave enough； but undisciplined。 With these I
could do little since time was lacking； save send some of the officers
whom I had trained to teach their chiefs and captains what they were
able。
Thus I was