no woman is concerned； I know that you will be faithful to me and I
sorely need your help。〃
So with a heavy heart I went back to the camp of Huaracha and told him
Kari's words。 He was very wroth when he heard them； since his gods
were different to those of the Incas and he thought nothing of the
holiness of the Virgins of the Sun； and once again talked of renewing
the war。 Still it came to nothing for sundry reasons of which the
greatest was that his sickness increased on him as the days went by。
Also I told him that much as I desired Quilla； I could not fight upon
his side since I was sworn to aid Kari against Urco and my word might
not be broken。 Moreover； the Yuncas who had been our allies； wearying
of their long absence from home and satisfied with the gentle
forgiveness and the redress of their grievances which the new Inca had
promised them； were gone； having departed on their long march to the
coast； while many of the Chancas themselves were slipping back to
their own country。 Therefore Huaracha's hour had passed by。
So at length we agreed that it would be foolish to attack Cuzco in
order to try to rescue Quilla； since even if Huaracha won in face of a
desperate defence； probably it would be only to find that his daughter
was dead or had vanished away to some unknown and distant convent。 All
that we could do was to trust to fortune to deliver her into our
hands。 We agreed further that； having obtained an honourable peace and
all else that he desired； it would be well for Huaracha to return to
his own land； leaving me a body of five thousand picked men who were
willing to serve under me； to assist in the war against Urco； to be my
guard and that of Quilla； if perchance I could deliver her from the
House of the Sun。
When this was known five thousand of the best and bravest of the
Chancas； young soldiers who sought adventure and battle and whom I had
trained； stepped forward at once and swore themselves to my service。
Bidding farewell to Huaracha； with these troops I returned to Cuzco；
sending messengers ahead to explain the reason of their coming to
Kari； who welcomed them well and gave them quarters round the palace
which was allotted to me。
A few days later we advanced on the town Huarina； a great host of us；
and outside of it met the yet greater host of Urco in a mighty battle
that endured for a day and a night； and yet； like that of the Field of
Blood； remained neither lost nor won。 When the thousands of the dead
had been buried and the wounded sent back to Cuzco； we attacked the
city of Huarina； I leading the van with my Chancas； and stormed the
place； driving Urco and his forces out on the farther side。
They retreated to the mountains and there followed a long and tedious
war without great battles。 At length； although the Inca's armies had
suffered sorely； we forced those of Urco to the shores of the Lake
Titicaca； where most of them melted away into the swamps and certain
tree…clad； low…lying valleys。 Urco himself； however； with a number of
followers； escaped in boats to the holy island in the lake。
We built a fleet of /balsas/ with reeds and blown…out sheepskins； and
followed him。 Landing on the isle we stormed the city of temples which
were more wondrous and even fuller of gold and precious things than
those of Cuzco。 Here the men of Urco fought desperately； but driving
them from street to street； at length we penned them in one of the
largest of the temples of which by some mischance a reed roof was set
on fire； so that there they perished miserably。 It was a dreadful
scene such as I never wish to behold again。 Also； after all Urco and
some of his captains； breaking out of the burning temple under cover
of the smoke escaped； either in /balsas/ or； as many declare； by
swimming the lake。 At least they were gone nor search as we might on
the mainland could they be found。
So all being finished； except for the escape of Urco； we returned to
Cuzco which Kari entered in triumph； I marching at his side； wearied
out with war and bloodshed。
CHAPTER XI
THE HOUSE OF DEATH
Now at one time during this long war against Urco victory smiled upon
him； though afterwards the scale went down against him。 Kari was
defeated in a pitched battle and I who commanded another army was
almost surrounded in a valley。 When everything seemed lost； afterwards
I escaped by leading my soldiers round up the slope of a mountain and
surprising Urco in the rear； but as it ended well for us I need not
speak of that matter。
It was while all was at its blackest for us that a certain officer was
brought to me who was captured while striving to desert； or at least
to pass our outposts。 As it happened I knew this man again having；
unseen myself； noted him on the previous day talking earnestly to the
high…priest Larico； who； with other priests； accompanied my army；
perhaps to keep a watch on me。 I took this captain apart and
questioned him alone； threatening him with death by torment if he did
not reveal his errand to me。
In the end； being very much afraid； he spoke。 From him I learned that
he was a messenger from Larico to Urco。 Believing that our defeat was
almost certain； Larico had sent him to make his peace with Urco by
betraying all Kari's and my own plans to him and revealing how he
might most easily destroy us。 He said also that he； Larico； had only
joined the party of Upanqui； and of Kari after him； under threats of
death and that always in his heart he had been true to Urco； whom he
acknowledged as his Lord and as the rightful Inca whom he would help
to restore to the Throne with all the power of the Priesthood of the
Sun。 Further； he sent by this spy a secret message by means of little
cords cunningly knotted； which knots served these people as writing；
since they could read them as we read a book。
Now； being always desirous of knowledge； I had caused myself to be
instructed in the plan of this knot…writing which by this time I could
read well enough。 Therefore I was able to spell out this message。 It
said shortly but plainly； that knowing he still desired her； he；
Larico； as high…priest would hand over to Urco the lady Quilla；
daughter to the King of the Chancas who unlawfully had been hidden
away among the Virgins of the Sun； also that he would betray me； the
White…God…from…the…Sea who sought to steal her away； into Urco's
hands； that he might kill me if he could。
When I had mastered all this I was filled with rage and bethought me
that I would cause Larico to be taken and suffer the fate of traitors。
Soon； however； I changed this mind of mine and placing the spy in
close keeping where none could come at him； I set a watch on Larico
but said nothing to him or to Kari of all that I had learned。
A few days later our fortunes changed and Urco； defeated； was in full
flight to the shores of Lake Titicaca。 After this I knew we had
nothing more to fear from this fox…hearted high…priest who above
everything desired to be on the winning side and to continue in his
place and power。 So knowing that I held him fast I bided my time；
because through him alone I could hope to come at Quilla。 That time
came after the war was over and we had returned to Cuzco in triumph。
As soon as the rejoicings were over and Kari was firmly seated on his
throne； I sent for Larico； which； as the greatest man in the kingdom
after the Inca； I was able to do。
He appeared in answer to my summons and we bowed to each other； after
which he began to praise me for my generalship； saying that had it not
been for me； Urco would have won the war and that the Inca had done
well to name me his Brother before the people and to say that to me he
owed his throne。
〃Yes； that is true；〃 I answered； 〃and now； since through me； you；
Larico； are the third greatest man in the kingdom and remain High…
Priest of the Sun and Whisperer in the Inca's ear； I would put you in
mind of a certain bargain that we made when I promised you all these
things； Larico。〃
〃What bargain； Lord…of…the…Sea。〃
〃That you would bring me and a Virgin of the Sun； who while she was of
the earth was named Quilla； together； Larico； and enable her to return
from those of the Sun to my arms； Larico。〃
Now his face grew troubled and he answered：
〃Lord； I have thought much of this matter； desiring above all things
to fulfil my word and I grieve to tell you that it is impossible。〃
〃Why； Larico？〃
〃Because I find that the law of my faith is against it； Lord。〃
〃Is that all； Larico？〃 I asked with a smile。
〃No； Lord。 Because I find that the Inca would not suffer it and swears
to kill all who attempt to touch the lady Quilla。〃
〃Is that all； Larico？〃
〃No； Lord。 Because I find that a woman who has been betrothed to one
of the royal blood may never pass to another man。〃
〃Now perhaps we come nearer to it； Larico。 You mean that if this
happened and perchance after all Urco should come to the throne； as he
might do if Kari his brother diedas any man may diehe would hold
you to account。〃
〃Yes； Lord； if that chanced； as chance it may； since Urco still lives
and I hear is gathering new armies among th