Bythistimewatchmen,whohadbeensettheretosearchtheseaortheboatofQuilla,hadnotedourapproach。Theyshoutedandpointedtomewhosatintheprowcladinmyarmouruponwhichthesunglittered,thenbegantoruntoandfroasthoughinfearorexcitement,sothaterewereachedtheshoreagreatcrowdhadgathered。Meanwhile,Quillahadputonhersilver—broideredmantleandherhead—dressoffeathers,crownedwiththecrescentofthemoon。Aswetouchedthebeachshecameforward,andforthefirsttimeduringthatnightspoketomesaying:
　　"Remainhereinthe/balsa/,Lord,whileItalkwiththesepeople,andwhenIsummonyoubepleasedtocome。Fearnot——nonewillharmyou。"
　　Thenshesprangfromtheprowofthe/balsa/totheshore,followedbyhertwomaidens,whodraggeditfurtherupthebeach,andwentforwardtotalkwithcertainwhite—robedmeninthecrowd。Foralongwhileshetalked,turningnowandagaintopointatme。Atlengththesemen,accompaniedbyanumberofothers,ranforward。AtfirstIthoughttheymeantmischiefandgraspedmysword—hilt,then,rememberingwhatQuillahadsaid,remainedseatedandsilent。
　　Indeed,therewasnocauseforfear,forwhenthewhite—robedchiefsorpriestsandtheirfollowingwereclosetome,suddenlytheyprostratedthemselvesandbeattheirheadsuponthesand,fromwhichI
　　learnedthatthey,too,believedmetobeagod。ThereonIbowedtothemand,drawingmysword——atthesightofwhichIsawthemstareandshiver,fortothesepeoplesteelwasunknown——helditstraightupinfrontofmeinmyrighthand,theshieldwiththecognizanceofthethreearrowsbeingonmyleftarm。
　　Nowallthemenrose,andsomeofthemofthehumblersort,creepingtothe/balsa/,suddenlyseizeditandlifteditontotheirshoulders,which,beingbutalightthingofreedsandblown—outskins,theycoulddoeasilyenough。Then,precededbythechiefs,theyadvancedupthebeachintothetown,IstillremainingseatedintheboatwithKaricrouchingbehindme。SostrangewasthebusinessthatalmostIlaughedaloud,wonderingwhatthosegravemerchantsoftheCheapwhomIhadknowninLondonwouldthinkiftheycouldseemethus。
　　"Kari,"Isaid,withoutturningmyhead,"whataretheygoingtodowithus？Setusinyondertempletobeworshippedwithnothingtoeat？"
　　"Ithinknot,Master,"answeredKari,"sincetheretheladyQuillacouldnotcometospeakwithyouifshewould。Ithinkthattheywilltakeyoutothehouseofthekingofthiscountrywhere,Iunderstand,sheisdwelling。"
　　This,indeed,provedtobethecase,forwewerebornesolemnlyupthemainstreetofthetown,thatnowwaspackedwiththousandsofpeople,someofwhomthrewflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers,bowingandstaringtillIthoughtthattheireyeswouldfallout,toalarge,flat—roofedhousesetinawalledcourtyard。Passingthroughthegatesthebearersplacedthe/balsa/onthegroundandfellback。ThenfromoutofthedoorofthehouseappearedQuilla,accompaniedbyatall,statelylookingmanwhoworeafinerobe,andawomanofmiddleagealsogorgeouslyapparelled。
　　"OLord,"saidQuilla,bowing,"beholdmykinsmanthe/Caraca/"（whichisthenameforalessersortofking）"oftheYuncas,namedQuismancu,andhiswife,Mira。"
　　"Hail,LordRisenfromtheSea！"criedQuismancu。"Hail,WhiteGodclothedinsilver！Hail,/Hurachi/！"
　　Whyhecalledme"Hurachi"atthetimeIcouldnotguess,butafterwardsIlearnedthatitwasbecauseofthearrowspaintedonmyshield,/hurachi/beingtheirnameforarrows。Atanyrate,thenceforthbythisnameofHurachiIwasknownthroughouttheland,thoughwhenaddressedforthemostpartIwascalled"Lord—from—the—
　　Sea"or"God—of—the—Sea。"
　　ThenQuillaandtheladyMiracameforwardand,placingtheirhandsbeneathmyelbows,assistedmetoclimboutofthat/balsa/,whichI
　　thinkwasthestrangestwaythateverashipwreckedwanderercametoland。
　　Theyledmeintoalargeroomwithaflatroofthatwasbeinghastilypreparedformebythehangingofbeautifulbroideriesonthewalls,andsatmeonacarvenstool,wherepresentlyQuillaandotherladiesbroughtmefoodandakindofintoxicatingdrinkwhichtheycalled/chicha/,thataftersomanymonthsofwaterdrinkingIfoundcheeringandpleasanttothetaste。Thisfood,Inoted,wasservedtomeonplattersofgoldandsilver,andthecupsalsowereofgoldstrangelyfashioned,bywhichIknewthatIhadcometoaveryrichland。
　　AfterwardsIlearned,however,thatinittherewasnomoney,allthegoldandsilverthatitproducedbeingusedforornamentortodecoratethetemplesandthepalacesofthe/Incas/,astheycalledtheirkings,andothergreatlords。
　　CHAPTERIV
　　THEORACLEOFRIMAC
　　InthistownofQuismancuIremainedforsevendays,goingabroadbutlittle,forwhenIdidsothepeoplepressedaboutmeandstaredmeoutofcountenance。Therewasagardenatthebackofthehosesurroundedbyawallbuiltofmudbricks。HereforthemostpartIsatandherethegreatonesoftheplacecametovisitme,bringingmeofferingsofrobesandgoldenvesselsandIknownotwhatbesides。ToallofthemItoldthesamestory——or,rather,Karitolditforme——
　　namely,thatIhadrisenoutoftheseaandfoundhimahermit,namedZapana,onthedesertisland。Whatismore,theybelieveditand,indeed,itwastrue,forhadInotrisenoutofthesea？
　　FromtimetotimeQuillacametoseemealsointhisgarden,bearinggiftsofflowers,andwithherItalkedalone。Shewouldsituponalowstool,consideringmewithherbeautifuleyes,asthoughshewouldsearchoutmysoul。Onedayshesaidtome:
　　"Tellme,Lord,areyouagodoraman？"
　　"Whatisagod？"Iasked。
　　"Agodisthatwhichisadoredandloved。"
　　"Andisamanneveradoredandloved,Quilla？Forinstance,I
　　understandthatyouaretobemarried,anddoubtlessyouadoreandlovehimwhowillbeyourhusband。"
　　Sheshiveredalittleandanswered:
　　"Itisnotso。Ihatehim。"
　　"Thenwhyareyougoingtomarryhim？Areyouforcedtodoso,Quilla？"
　　"No,Lord。Imarryhimformypeople'ssake。Hedesiresmeformyinheritanceandmybeauty,andbymybeautyImayleadhimdownthatroadonwhichmypeoplewishthatheshouldgo。"
　　"Anoldstory,Quilla,butwillyoubehappythus？"
　　"No,Lord,Ishallbeveryunhappy。Butwhatdoesitmatter？Iamonlyawoman,andsuchisthelotofwomen。"
　　"Women,likegodsandmen,arealsosometimeslovedandadored,Quilla。"
　　Sheflushedatthewordsandanswered:
　　"Ah！ifthatweresolifemightbedifferent。ButevenifitweresoandIfoundthemanwhocouldloveandadoreevenforayear,formeitisnowtoolate。Iamswornawaybyanoaththatmaynotbebroken,fortobreakitmightbringdeathuponmypeople。"
　　"Towhomareyousworn？"
　　"TotheChildoftheSun,nolessaman;tothegodwhowillbeIncaofallthisland。"
　　"Andwhatisthisgodlike？"
　　"Theysaythatheishugeandswarthy,withalargemouth,andIknowthathehastheheartofabrute。Heiscruelandfalsealso,andhecountshiswomenbythescore。Yethisfather,theInca,loveshimmorethananyofhischildren,anderelonghewillbekingafterhim。"
　　"Andwouldyou,whoaresweetandlovelyasthemoonafterwhichyouarenamed,giveyourselfbodyandsoultosuchaone？"
　　Againsheflushed。
　　"DomyownearsheartheWhite—God—from—the—Seacallmesweetandlovelyasthemoon？Ifso,Ithankhim,andprayhimtorememberthattheperfectandlovelyarealwayschosentobethesacrificeofgods。"
　　"But,Quilla,thesacrificemaybeallinvain。Howlongwillyouholdthefancyofthisloose—livingprince？"
　　"Longenoughtoservemypurpose,Lord——or,atleast,"sheaddedwithflashingeyes,"longenoughtokillhimifhewillnotgomycountry'sroad。Oh！askmenomore,foryourwordsstirsomethinginmybreast,anewspiritofwhichIneverdreamed。HadIheardthembutthreemoonsgone,itmighthavebeenotherwise。Whydidyounotappearsoonerfromthesea,mylordHurachi,beyougodorman？"
　　Then,withsomethinglikeasob,sherose,madeobeisance,andfledaway。
　　Thatevening,whenwewerealoneinmychamberwherenonecouldhearus,ItoldKarithatQuillawaspromisedinmarriagetoaprincewhowouldbeIncaofalltheland。
　　"Isitso？"saidKari。"Well,learn,Master,thatthisprinceismybrother,hewhomIhate,hewhohasdonemebitterwrong,hewhostoleawaymywifeandpoisonedme。Urcoishisname。DoesthisladyQuillalovehim？"
　　"Ithinknot。Ithinkthatlikeyoushehateshim,yetwillmarryhimforreasonsofpolicy。"
　　"Doubtlessshehateshimnow,whatevershedidaweekago,"saidKariinadryvoice。"Butwhatfruitwillthistreebear？Master,areyoumindedtocomewithmeto—morrowtovisitthetempleofPachacamacintheinnersanctuaryofwhichsitsthegodRimacwhospeaksoracles？"
　　"Forwhatpurpose,Kari？"Iansweredmoodily。
　　"Thatwemayhearoracles,Master。IthinkthatifyouchoosetogotheladyQuillawouldcomewithus,sinceperhapsshewouldlikealsotohearoracles。"
　　"Iwillgoifitcanbedoneinsecret,sayatnight,forIwearyofbeingstaredatbythesepeople。"
　　ThisIsaidbecauseIdesiredtolearnofthereligionofthisnationandtoseenewthings。
　　"Perhapsitcanbesoordered,Master。Iwillaskofthematter。"
　　ItseemedthatKarididask,perhapsofthehighpriestofPachacamac,forbetweenalltheworshippersofthisgodtherewasabrotherhood;
　　perhapsofthelordQuismancu,orperhapsofQuillaherself——Idonotknow。Atleast,onthissamedayQuismancuinquiredwhetheritwouldpleasemetovisitthetemplethatnight,andsothematterwassettled。
　　Accordingly,afterthedarknesshadfallen,twolitterswerebroughtintowhichweentered,QuillaandawaitingwomanseatingthemselvesinoneofthemandKariandIintheother,forQuismancuandhiswifedidnotcome——whyIcannotsay。Then,precededbyanotherlitterinwhichwasapriestofthegod,andsurroundedbyaguardofsoldiers,througharain—stormwewereborneupthehill——itwasbutalittleway——tothetemple。
　　Here,beforethegoldendoorsonwhichthelightningglimmeredfitfully,wedescendedandwereledbywhite—robedmenbearinglanterns,throughvariouscourtstotheinnersanctuaryofthegod,onthethresholdofwhichIcrossedmyself,notlovingthecompanyofheathenidols。SofarasIcouldseebythelamplightitwasagreatandgloriousplace,andeverywherethattheeyefellwasgold——placesofgoldonthewalls,offeringsofgolduponthefloor,starsofgoldupontheroof。Thestrangethingaboutthisholyplace,however,wasthatitseemedtobequiteemptyexceptfortheaforesaidgold。Therewasneitheraltarnorimage——nothingbutalamp—litvoid。
　　Hereallprostratedthemselves,saveIalone,andprayedinsilence。
　　Whentheyroseagain,inawhisperIaskedofKariwherewasthegod。
　　Towhichheanswered:"Nowhere,yeteverywhere。"ThisIthoughtatruesaying,andindeedsosolemnwasthatplacethatIfeltasthoughI
　　weresurroundedbythatwhichisdivine。
　　Afterawhilethepriests,whoweregorgeouslyapparelled,ledusacrossthesanctuarytoadoorthatopeneduponsomestairs。Downthesestairswewentintoalongpassagethatseemedtorunbeneaththeearth,fortheairinitwasheavy。Whenwehadwalkedahundredpacesormoreinthisnarrowplace,wecametootherstepsandanotherdoor,passingthroughwhichwefoundourselvesinasecondtemple,smallerthanthatwhichwehadvisited,butliketoitrichwithgold。
　　Inthecentreofthistemplesattheimageofamanrudelyfashionedofgold。
　　"BeholdRimactheSpeaker！"whisperedKari。
　　"Howcangoldspeak？"Iasked。
　　Karimadenoanswer。
　　PresentlythepriestsbegantomutterprayersandincantationsthatI
　　thoughtunholy,afterwhichtheylaidofferingsofwhatlookedlikerawfleshsetincupsofgoldbeforetheidol,thatIthoughtunholierstill。Lastlytheydrewbackandaskedofwhatwewouldlearn。
　　Imadenoanswerwhodidnotlikethebusiness。NordidKarisayanything,butQuillaspokeoutboldly,sayingthatwewouldlearnofthefutureandwhatwouldbefallus。
　　Nowtherewasalongsilence,andIconfessthatfeargotholdofme,foritseemedtomeasthoughspiritsweremovingintheairandthroughthedarknessbehindus——yes,asthoughIcouldheartheirwhisperingsandtherustleoftheirwings。Suddenly,attheendofthissilence,thegoldenimageinfrontofusbegantoglowasthoughitweremolten,andtheemeraldeyesthatweresetinitsheadtosparkleterribly,whichfrightenedmesomuchthathaditnotbeenforshame'ssakeIwouldhaverunaway,butbecauseofthisstoodstillandprayedtoSt。Huberttoprotectmefromthedevilandhisworks。
　　PresentlyIprayedstillharder,fortheimagebegantospeak——yes,inahorrid,whistlingvoiceitspoke,althoughnoonewasneartoit。
　　Thesewerethewordsitsaid:
　　"Whoisthiscladinsilverwhoseskiniswhiteandwhosehairisyellow？SuchanoneIhavenotseenforathousandyears,andsuchasheitisthatshallpossessthemselvesoftheLandofTavantinsuyu,shallstealitswealth,shallslayitspeople,andshallcastdownitsgods。Butnotyet,notyet！ThereforethisisthecommandofPachacamac,utteredbythevoiceofRimactheSpeaker,thatnonedoharmtoorcrossthewillofthismightyseabornlord,sinceheshallbeasastrongwalltomanyandhisswordshallberedwiththebloodofthewicked。"
　　Thewhistlingvoiceceasedwhilethepriestsandalltherestaredatme,fortheyseemedtothinkitswordsfateful。Thensuddenlyitbeganagain:
　　"AndwhoisthisthatcameoutoftheseawiththeShiningOne,havingwanderedfurtherthananyofhisancientblood？Iknow。Iknow,yetI
　　maynotsay,sincetheSpiritofspiritswhoseimagehewearsuponhisheartbidsmebesilent。Bebold！Bebold！Prosperandgrowgreat,ChildofPachacamac,forthywanderingsarenotyetdone。Stillthereisamountaintobeclimbed,andonthecrestofithangsafringeofHeaven'sgold。"
　　Againthevoiceceased,whilethistimeallstaredatKari,whoshookhisheadhumblyasthoughbewilderedbywhathecouldnotunderstand。
　　Oncemoretheimagespoke:
　　"WhoisthisdaughteroftheSun,inwhoseveinsplaymoonbeamsandwhoisfairerthantheeveningstar？One,Ithink,whommenshalldesireandbecauseofwhomshallflowthebloodofthegreat。Onewhosethoughtisswiftasthelightningandsubtleasthesnake,oneinwhompassionburnslikefireinthewombofthemountain,butwhoisfilledwithspiritthatdancesabovethefireandwholongsforthingsthatareafar。DaughteroftheSuninwhosebloodrunthemoonbeams,thoushaltslipfromthehatedarmsandtheSunshallbethyshelter,andinthebelovedarmsthoushaltsleepatlast。Yetfromthevengeanceofthegodbetrayedflyfastandfar！"
　　Againthevoiceceased,andIthoughtthatallwasover。Butitwasnotso,forafteralittlespacethegoldenfigureoftheoracleglowedmorefiercelythanbeforeandtheemeraldeyesshonemoreterribly,andinakindofscreamitspoke,saying:
　　"ThesnowsofTavantinsuyushallberedwithblood,thewatersofherriversshallbefullofblood。Yes,yethreeshallwadethroughblood,andinarainofbloodshallpluckthefruitofyourdesires。StillforawhilethegodsofTavantinsuyushallendureanditskingsshallreignanditschildrenshallbefree。Butintheenddeathforthegodsanddeathforthekingsanddeathforthepeople。Still,notyet——notyet！Nonewholiveshallseeit,northeirchildren,northeirchildren'schildren。RimactheVoicehasspoken;treasureyehiswordsandinterpretthemasyewill。"
　　Thewhistlingvoicediedawaylikethethincryofsomestarvingchildinadesert,andtherewasagreatsilence。Theninamomentthefigureofgoldceasedtoglowandtheeyesofemeraldtoburn,leavingthethingbutadeadlumpofmetal。Thepriestsprostratedthemselves,andrising,ledusfromtheplacewithoutaword,butinthelightofthelampsIsawthattheirfaceswerefullofterror——sofullthatI
　　doubtedwhetheritcouldbefeigned。
　　Aswehadcome,sowewent,andatlastfoundourselvesoutsidetheglitteringtempledoorswherethelittersawaitedus。
　　"Whatdiditmean？"IwhisperedtoQuilla,whowasbymyside。
　　"ForyouandtheotherIknownot,"sheansweredhurriedly;"butformeIthinkthatitmeansdeath。Yet,notuntil——notuntil————"Andsheceased。
　　Atthatmomentthemoonappearedfrombehindtherain—cloudsandshoneuponherupturnedface,andinhereyestherewasaglory。
　　Now,asIlearnedafterwards,thesewordsofitsmostfamousoraclewentallthroughthelandandcausedgreattalkandwondermixedwithfear,fornoneofsuchimporthadbeenspokenbyitforgenerations。
　　More,theyshapedmyownfortunes,for,asIcametoknow,QuismancuandhispeoplehaddeterminedthatIshouldnotbeallowedtogofromamongthem。Noteverydaydidawhitegodrisefromthesea,andtheydesiredthathavingcometothem,thereheshouldbidetobetheirdefenceandboast,andwithhimthathermitnamedZapana,towhom,astheybelieved,hehadappeareduponthedesertisle。ButafterRimachadspokenallthiswaschanged,andwhenIsaiditwasmywilltodepartandaccompanyQuillauponherjourneyhometoherfather,Huaracha,KingoftheChancas,asbyswiftmessengerthisKinginvitedmetodo,QuismancuansweredthatifIsodesiredImustbeobeyedasthegodRimachadcommanded,butthatneverthelesshewassurethatweshouldmeetagain。
　　Now,thinkingthesethingsover,IwonderedmuchwhetherthatoraclecameoutofthegoldenRimacorperchancefromtheheartofQuilla,orofKari,orofbothofthem,whodesiredthatIshouldleavetheYuncasandtraveltotheChancasandfurther。Ididnotknow,norwasIevertolearn,sinceaboutmatterstodowiththeirgodsthesepeopleareassecretasthegrave。IaskedKariandIaskedQuilla,butbothofthemstaredatmewithinnocenteyes,andrepliedwhoweretheytoinspirethegoldentongueofRimac？Nor,indeed,didIeverlearnwhetherRimactheSpeakerwasaspiritorbutalumpofmetalthroughwhichsomepriesttalked。AllIknowisthatfromoneendofTavantinsuyutotheotherhewasbelievedtobeaspiritwhospoketheverywillofGodtothosewhocouldunderstandhiswords,thoughthisasaChristianmanIcouldnotcredit。
　　Soitcameaboutthatsomedayslater,withQuillaandKariandcertainoldmenwho,Itookit,werepriestsorambassadors,orboth,Idepartedonourjourney。Aswewentthepeopleweptaroundmylitterforsorrow,realorfeigned,forwetravelledinlittersguardedbysometwohundredsoldiersarmedwithaxesofcopperandbows,andcastflowersbeforethefeetofthebearers。ButIdidnotweep,forthoughIhadbeenverykindlytreatedthereand,indeed,worshipped,gladwasItoseethelastofthatcityanditspeoplewhoweariedme。
　　Moreover,IfeltthatthereIwasinthemidstofplots,thoughofwhatthesewereIknewnothing,savethatQuilla,whototheoutwardeyewasbutalovely,innocentmaiden,hadahandinthem。Plotstherewereindeed,for,asIcametounderstandintime,theywerenothinglessthanthepreparingofagreatwarwhichtheChancasandtheYuncasweretowageagainsttheirover—lord,theInca,thekingofthemightynationoftheQuichuas,whohadhishomeatacitycalledCuzcofarinland。Indeed,thereandthenthisalliancewasarranged,andbyQuilla——Quilla,whoproposedtosacrificeherselfandbythegiftofherpersontohisheir,tothrowdustintheeyesoftheInca,whosedominionherfatherplannedtotakeandwithittheimperialcrownofTavantinsuyu。
　　Leavingthecoastland,wewereborneforwardthroughthepassesofgreatmountains,uponawonderfulroadsofinelymadethatneverhadI
　　seenitslikeinEngland。Attimeswecrossedrivers,butoverthesewerethrownbridgesofstone。Ormayhapwecametoswamps,yettheretheroadstillran,builtupondeepfoundationsinthemud。Neverdiditturnaside;alwaysitwenton,conqueringeveryhindrance,forthiswasoneoftheInca'sroadsthatpiercedTavantinsuyufromendtoend。
　　Wecametomanytowns,forthislandwasthicklypopulated,andforthemostpartsleptinoneofthemeachnight。Butalwaysmyfamehadgonebeforeme,andthe/Curacas/,orchiefsofthetowns,waiteduponmewithofferingsasthoughIwereindeeddivine。
　　ForthefirstfivedaysofthatjourneyIsawlittleofQuilla,butatlengthonenightwewereforcedtocampatakindofrest—houseuponthetopofahighmountainpass,whereitwasverycold,forthedeepsnowlayallabout。Atthisplace,asherewereno/Curacas/totroubleme,IwentoutalonewhenKariwaselsewhere,andclimbedacertainpeakwhichwasnotfarfromtherest—house,thatthenceI
　　mightseethesunsetandthinkinquiet。
　　Verygloriouswasthescenefromthathighpoint。Allroundmestoodthecoldcrestsofsnow—cladmountainstoweringtotheveryskies,whilebetweenthemlaydeepvalleyswhereriversranlikeveinsofsilver。Soimmensewasthelandscapethatitseemedtohavenoend,andsograndthatitcrushedthespirit,whileabovearchedtheperfectskyinwhoserichbluethegorgeouslightsofeveningbegantogatherasthegreatsunsankbehindthesnowypeaks。
　　Farupintheheavensfloatedonewide—wingedbird,theeagleofthemountains,whichislargerthananyotherfowlthatIhaveeverseen,andtheredlightplayingonitturnedittoathingoffire。I
　　watchedthatbirdandwishedthatItoohadpinionswhichcouldbearmefarawaytotheseaandoverit。
　　AndyetdidIwishtogowhohadnohomeleftonalltheearthandnokindheartthatwouldwelcomeme？AwhileagoIshouldhaveanswered,"Yes,anywhereoutofthisloneliness,"butnowIwasnotsosure。
　　HereatleastKariwasmyfriendifajealousone,thoughoflate,asIcouldsee,hewasthinkingofotherthingsthanfriendship——darkplottingsandhighambitionsofwhichasyethesaidlittletome。
　　Thentherewasthatstrangeandbeautifulwoman,Quilla,towhommyheartwentoutandnotonlybecauseshewasbeautiful,andwho,asI
　　thought,attimeslookedkindlyonme。Butifso,whatdiditavail;
　　seeingthatshewaspromisedinmarriagetosomehigh—placednativemanwhowouldbeaking？SurelyIhadknownenoughofwomenwhowerepromisedinmarriagetoothermen,andshoulddowelltoletherbe。
　　Thinkingthus,desolationtookholdofmeandIsatmyselfdownonarockandcoveredmyfacewithmyhandsthatImightnotseethetears,whichIknewweregatheringinmyeyes,astheyfellfromthem。Yes,thereinthemidstofthatawfulsolitude,I,HubertofHastings,whosesoulitfilled,satdownlikealostchildandwept。
　　PresentlyIfeltatouchuponmyshoulderandletfallmyhands,thinkingthatKarihadfoundmeout,tohearasoftvoice,thevoiceofQuilla,say:
　　"Soitseemsthatthegodscanweep。Whydoyouweep,OGod—from—the—
　　WaveswhoherearenamedHurachi？"
　　"Iweep,"Ianswered,"becauseIamastrangerinastrangeland;I
　　weepbecauseIhavenotwingswhereonIcanflyawaylikethatgreatbirdaboveus。"
　　Shelookedatmeawhile,thensaid,mostgently:
　　"Andwhitherwouldyoufly,OGod—from—the—Sea？Backintothesea？"
　　"Ceasetocallmeagod,"Ianswered,"who,asyouknowwell,ambutamanthoughofanotherracethanyours。"
　　"IthoughtitbutIdidnotknow。Butwhitherwouldyoufly,OLordHurachi？"
　　"TothelandwhereIwasborn,LadyQuilla;thelandthatIshallneverseeagain。"
　　"Ah！doubtlessthereyouhavewivesandchildrenforwhomyourheartishungry。"
　　"Nay,nowIhaveneitherwifenorchild。"
　　"Thenonceyouhadawife。Tellmeofthatwife。Wasshefair？"
　　"WhyshouldItellyouasadstory？Sheisdead。"
　　"Deadorliving,youstillloveher,andwherethereislovethereisnodeath。"
　　"Nay,IonlylovewhatIthoughtshewas。"
　　"Wasshefalse,then？"