spears and on their rich barbaric uniforms。
A furlong or more away they halted and took counsel； pointing to me
with their spears as though they feared me。 We stood quite still；
though some of our generals urged that we should charge； but this I
counselled Huaracha not to do； who desired that the Quichuas should
break their strength upon us。 At length some word was given； the
splendid 〃rainbow Banner〃 of the Incas was unfurled and； still divided
into three armies with a wide stretch of plain between each of them
they attacked； yelling like all the fiends of hell。
Now they had reached us and there began the most terrible battle that
was told of in the history of that land。 Wave after wave of them
rolled up against us； but our battalions which I had not trained in
vain stood like rocks and slew and slew and slew till the dead could
be counted by the thousand。 Again and again they strove to storm the
hill on which I stood； hoping to kill me； and each time we beat them
back。 Picking out their generals I loosed shaft after shaft from my
long bow； and seldom did I miss； nor could their cotton…quilted armour
turn those bitter arrows。
〃/The shafts of the god！ The shafts of the god！/〃 they cried； and
shrank back from before me。
There appeared a man with a yellow fillet on his head and a robe that
was studded with precious stones； a huge man with great limbs and
flaming eyes； a loose…mouthed； hideous man who wielded a big axe of
copper and carried a bow longer than any I had seen in that land。
Hooking the axe to his belt； he set an arrow on the bow and let drive
at me。 It sped true and struck me full upon the breast； only to
shatter on the good French mail； which copper could not pierce。
Again he shot； and this time the arrow glanced from my helm。 Then I
drew on him and my shaft； that I had aimed at his head； cut away the
fringe about his brow and carried it far away。 At this sight a groan
went up from the lords about him； and one cried：
〃An omen； O Urco； an evil omen！〃
〃Aye；〃 he shouted； 〃for the White Wizard who shot the arrow。〃
Dropping the bow； he rushed up the hill at me roaring； axe aloft； and
followed by his company。 He smote； and I caught the blow upon my
shield； and striking back with Wave…Flame； shore through the shaft of
the axe that he had lifted to guard his head as though it had been
made of reed； aye； and through the quilted cotton on his shoulder
strengthened with strips of gold； and to the bone beneath。
Then a man slipped past me。 It was Kari； striking at Urco with
Deleroy's sword。 They closed and rolled down the slope locked in each
other's arms。 What chanced after this I do not know； for others rushed
in and all grew confused； but presently Kari limped back somewhat
shaken and bleeding； and I caught sight of Urco； little hurt； as it
seemed； amidst his lords at the bottom of the slope。
At this moment I heard a great shouting and looking round； saw that
the Quichuas had broken through our left and were slaughtering many；
while the rest fled； also that our right was wavering。 I sent
messengers to Huaracha； bidding him call up the Yunca rear guard。 They
were slow in coming and I began to fear that all was lost for little
by little the hordes of the men of Cuzco were surrounding us。
Then it was that Kari； or some with him； lifted a banner that had been
wrapped upon a pole； a blue banner upon which was embroidered a golden
sun。 At the sight of it there was tumult in the Inca ranks； and
presently a great body of men； five or six thousand of them that had
seemed to be in reserve； ran forward shouting； 〃/Kari！ Kari！/〃 and
fell upon those who were pursuing our shattered left； breaking them up
and dispersing them。 Also at last the Yuncas came up and drove back
the regiments that assailed our right； while from Urco's armies there
rose a cry of 〃Treachery！〃
Trumpets blew and the Inca host； gathering itself together and
abandoning its dead and wounded； drew back sullenly on to the plain；
and there halted in three bodies as before； though much lessened in
number。
Huaracha appeared； saying：
〃Strike； White Lord！ It is our hour！ The heart is out of them。〃
The signal was given； and roaring like a hurricane； presently the
Chancas charged。 Down the slope they went； I at the head of them with
Huaracha on one side and Kari on the other。 The swift…footed Chancas
outran me who was hindered by my mail。 We charged in three masses as
we had stood on the ridge； following those open lanes of ground up
which the foe had not come； because these were less cumbered with dead
and wounded。 Presently I saw why those of Cuzco had left these lanes
untrod； for of a sudden some warriors； who had outstripped me；
vanished。 They had fallen into a pit covered over with earth laid upon
canes； of which the bottom was set with sharp stakes。 Others； who were
running along the lanes of open ground to right and left； also fell
into pits of which there were scores all carefully prepared against
the day of battle。 With trouble the Chancas were halted； but not
before we had lost some hundreds of men。 Then we advanced again across
that ground over which the Inca host had retreated。
At length we reached their lines； passing through a storm of arrows；
and there began such a battle as I had never heard of or even dreamed。
With axes； stone…headed clubs and spears； both armies fought
furiously； and though the Incas still outnumbered us by two to one；
because of my training our regiments drove them back。 Lord after lord
rushed at me with glaring eyes； but my mail turned their copper spears
and knives of flint。 Oh！ Wave…Flame fed full that day； and if
Thorgrimmer my forefather could have seen us from his home in
Valhalla； surely he must have sworn by Odin that never had he given it
such a feast。
The Inca warriors grew afraid and shrank back。
〃This Red…Beard from the sea is indeed a god。 He cannot be slain！〃 I
heard them cry。
Then Urco appeared； bloody and furious； shouting：
〃Cowards！ I will show you whether he cannot be slain。〃
He rushed onward to meetnot me； but Huaracha； who seeing that I was
weary； had leapt in front of me。 They fought； and Huaracha went down
and was dragged away by some of his servants。
Now Urco and I were face to face； he wielding a huge copper…headed
club with which； as my mail could not be pierced； he thought to batter
out my life。 I caught the blow upon my shield； but so great was the
giant's strength that it brought me to my knees。 Next second I was up
and at him。 Shouting； I smote with both hands； for my shield had
fallen。 The thick； turban…like headdress that Urco wore was severed；
cut through as the axe had been； and Wave…Flame bit deep into the
skull beneath。
Urco fell like a stunned ox and I sprang upon him to make an end。 Then
it was that a rope was flung about my shoulders； a noosed rope that
was hauled tight。 In vain I struggled。 I was thrown down； I was seized
by a score of hands and dragged away into the heart of Urco's host。
Waiting till a litter could be brought； they set me on my feet again；
my arms still bound by the noose that these Indians call /laso/； which
they know so well how to throw； the red sword Wave…Flame still hanging
by its thong from my right wrist。 Whilst I stood thus； like a bull in
a net； they gathered round； staring at me； not with hate as it seemed
to me； but in fear and with reverence。 When at length the litter came
they aided me to enter it quite gently。
As I did so I looked back。 The battle still raged but it seemed to me
with less fury than before。 It was as though both sides were weary of
slaughter； their leaders being fallen。 The litter was borne forward；
till at length the noise of shouting and tumult grew low。 Twisting
myself round I peered through the back curtains and saw that the Inca
host and that of the Chancas were separating sullenly； neither of them
broken since they carried their wounded away with them。 It was plain
that the battle remained drawn for there was no rout and no triumph。
I saw； too； that I was entering the great city of Cuzco； where women
and children stood at the doors of the houses gazing； and some of them
wringing their hands with tears upon their faces。
Passing down long streets and across a bridge； I came to a vast square
round which stood mighty buildings； low； massive； and constructed of
huge stones。 At the door of one of these the litter halted and I was
helped to descend。 Men beautifully clad in broidered linen led me
through a gateway and across a garden where I noted a marvellous
thing； namely： that all the plants therein were fashioned of solid
gold with silver flowers； or sometimes of silver with golden flowers。
Also there were trees on which were perched birds of gold and silver。
When I saw this I thought that I must be mad； but it was not so； for
having no other use for the precious metals； of which they had so much
abundance； thus did these Incas adorn their palaces。
Leaving the golden garden； I reached a courtyard surrounded by rooms；
to one of which I was conducted。 Passing its door； I found myself in a
splendid chamber hung with tapestries fantastically wrought and having
cushioned seats；