would die。 Go your ways； Brother and Friend； and when you grow weary
of kingship if it comes to you； as to tell truth already I grow weary；
return to me。 Perchance； forgetting that we had been kings； we might
journey hence together over the world's edge。〃
Then he stood up on his throne and bowed towards me； kissing the air
as though to a god； and taking the royal chain that every Inca wore
from about his neck； set it upon mine。 This done； turning； he left me
without another word。
With a heavy heart I returned to my palace where I dwelt。 At sundown I
ate according to my custom； and dismissed those who waited upon me to
the servants' quarters。 There were but two of them for my private life
was simple。 Then I slept till past midnight and rising； went into the
courtyard where I found the eight Chanca captains disguised as litter…
bearers and with them the litter。 I led them to an empty guard…house
and bade them stay there in silence。 After this I returned to my
chamber and waited。
About two hours before the dawn Larico came； knocking on the side…door
as we had planned。 I opened to him and he entered disguised in a
hooded cloak of sheep's wool which covered his robes and his face；
such as priests wear when the weather is cold。 He gave to me the
garments of a priest of the Sun which he had brought with him in a
cloth。 I clothed myself in them though because of the fashion of them
to do this I must be rid of my armour which would have betrayed me。
Larico desired that I should take off the sword Wave…Flame also； but；
mistrusting him； this I would not do； but made shift to hide it and my
dagger beneath the priest's cloak。 The armour I wrapped in a bundle
and took with me。
Presently we went out； having spoken few words since the time for
speech had gone by and peril or some fear of what might befall weighed
upon our tongues。 In the guard…house I found the Chancas at whom
Larico looked curiously but said nothing。 To them I gave the bundle of
armour to be hidden in the litter and with it my long bow； having
first revealed myself to them by lifting the hood of my cloak。 Then I
bade them follow me。
Larico and I walked in front and after us came the eight men； four of
them bearing the empty litter； and the other four marching behind。
This was well planned since if any saw us or if we met guards as once
or twice we did； these thought that we were priests taking one who was
sick or dead to be tended or to be made ready for burial。 Once；
however； we were challenged； but Larico spoke some word and we passed
on without question。
At length in the darkness before the dawn we came to the private
palace of dead Upanqui。 At its garden gate Larico would have had me
leave the litter with the eight Chanca warriors disguised as bearers。
I refused； saying that they must come to the doors of the palace； and
when he grew urgent； tapped my sword； whispering to him fiercely that
he had best beware lest it should be he who stayed at the gate。 Then
he gave way and we advanced all of us across the garden to the door of
the palace。 Larico unlocked the door with a key and we entered； he and
I alone； for here I bade the Chancas await my return。
We crept down a short passage that was curtained at its end。 Passing
the curtains I found myself in Upanqui's banqueting…hall。 This hall
was dimly lit with one hanging golden lamp。 By its light I saw
something more wondrous and of its sort more awful than ever I had
seen in that strange land。
There； on a dais； in his chair of gold； sat dead Upanqui arrayed in
all his gorgeous Inca robes and so marvellously preserved that he
might have been a man asleep。 With arms crossed and his sceptre at his
side； he sat staring down the hall with fixed and empty eyes； a
dreadful figure of life in death。 About him and around the dais were
set all his riches； vases and furniture of gold； and jewels piled in
heaps； there to remain till the roof fell in and buried them； since on
this hallowed wealth the boldest dared not lay a hand。 In the centre
of the hall； also； was a table prepared as though for feasters； for
amid jewelled cups and platters stood the meats and wines which day by
day were brought afresh by the Virgins of the Sun。 Doubtless there
were more wonders； but these I could not see because the light did not
reach them； or to the doorways of the chambers that opened from the
hall。 Moreover； there was something else which caught my eye。
At the foot of the dais crouched a figure which at first I took to be
that of some dead one also embalmed； perhaps a wife or daughter of the
dead Inca who had been set with him in this place。 While I stared at
it the figure stirred； having heard our footsteps； rose and turned；
standing so that the light from the hanging lamp fell full upon it。 It
was Quilla clad in white and purple with a golden likeness of the Sun
blazoned upon her breast！
So beauteous did she look searching the darkness with great blind eyes
and her rich flowing hair flowing from beneath her jewelled headdress；
a diadem fashioned to resemble the Sun's rays； that my breath failed
me and my heart stood still。
〃There stands she whom you seek；〃 muttered Larico in a mocking
whisper； for here even he did not seem to dare to talk aloud。 〃Go take
her； you whom men call a god； but I call a drunken fool ready to risk
all for a woman's lips。 Go take her and ask the blessing upon your
kisses of yonder dead king whose holy rest you break。〃
〃Be silent；〃 I whispered back and passed round the table till I came
face to face with Quilla。 Then a strange dumbness fell upon me like a
spell or dead Upanqui's curse； so that I could not speak。
I stood there staring at those beautiful blind eyes and the blind eyes
stared back at me。 Presently a look of understanding gathered on the
face and Quilla spoke； or rather murmured to herself。
〃Strangebut I could have sworn！ Strange； but I seemed to feel！ Oh！ I
slept in my vigils upon that dead old man who in life was so foolish
and in death appears to have become so wise； and sleeping I dreamed。 I
dreamed I heard a step I shall never hear again。 I dreamed one was
near me whom I shall never touch again。 I will sleep once more； for in
my darkness what are left to me save sleep anddeath？〃
Then at last I found my tongue and said hoarsely；
〃Love is left； Quilla； andlife。〃
She heard and straightened herself。 Her whole body seemed to become
rigid as though with an agony of joy。 Her blind eyes flashed； her lips
quivered。 She stretched out her hand； feeling at the darkness。 Her
fingers touched my forehead； and thence she ran them swiftly over my
face。
〃It isdead or livingit is〃 and she opened her arms。
Oh！ was there ever anything more beautiful on the earth than this
sight of the blind Quilla thus opening her arms to me there in the
gorgeous house of death？
We clung and kissed。 Then I thrust her away； saying：
〃Come swiftly from this ill…omened place。 All is ready。 The Chancas
wait。〃
She slipped her hand into mine and I turned to lead her away。
Then it was that I heard a low； mocking laugh； Larico's； I thought；
heard also a sound of creeping footsteps around me。 I looked。 Out of
the darkness that hid the doors of the chamber on the right appeared a
giant form which I knew for that of Urco； and behind him others。 I
looked to the left and there were more of them； while in front beyond
the gold…laid board stood the traitor； Larico； laughing。
〃You have the first fruits； but it seems that another will reap the
harvest； Lord…from…the…Sea；〃 he jeered。
〃Seize her；〃 cried Urco in his guttural voice； pointing to Quilla with
his mace； 〃and brain that white thief。〃
I drew Wave…Flame and strove to get at him； but from both sides men
rushed in on me。 One I cut down； but the others snatched Quilla away。
I was surrounded； with no room to wield my sword； and already weapons
flashed over me。 A thought came to me。 The Chancas were at the door。 I
must reach them； for perhaps so Quilla might be saved。 In front was
the table spread for the death feast。 With a bound I leapt on to it；
shouting aloud and scattering its golden furnishings this way and
that。 Beyond stood the traitor； Larico； who had trapped meI sprang
at him and lifting Wave…Flame with both hands I smote with all my
strength。 He fell； as it seemed to me； cloven to the middle。 Then some
spear cast at me struck the lamp。
It shattered and went out！
CHAPTER XII
THE FIGHT TO THE DEATH
There was tumult in the hall； shoutings； groans from him whom I had
first struck down； the sound of vases and vessels overthrown； and
above all those of a woman's shrieks echoing from the walls and roof；
so that I could not tell whence they came。
Through the gross darkness I went on towards the curtains； or so I
hoped。 Presently they were torn open； and by the faint light of the
breaking dawn I saw my eight Chancas rushing towards me。
〃Follow！〃 I cried； and at the head of them groped my way back up the
hall； seeking for Quilla。 I stumbled over the dead body of Larico and
felt a path round the table。 Then suddenly a door at the back of the
hall was thrown open