Whyareyoualwaysinterferingwithme？Well,perhapsyouareright,and,LadyQuilla,ifyouareready,itistimetostart。No,no,I
　　thankyou,Curaca,butIwillnotstopforanyfeastingwhodesiretobebackatmycampbeforedark,sincewhoknowswhatmayhappentooneinthedarkinastrangecountry？"
　　ThenatlastHuarachagrewangry。
　　"Beitasyouwill,OInca,"hesaid,"butknowthatyouoffermeathreefoldinsult。Firstyourefusethefeastthathasbeenmadereadyforyouwhereatyouweretomeetallthenotablesofmykingdom。
　　Secondly,yougiveme,whoamaking,thetitleofapettychiefwhoownsyourrule。Thirdly,youthrowdoubtsuponmyhonour,hintingthatImaycauseyoutobemurderedinthedark。NowIammindedtosaytoyou,'Begonefrommypoorcountry,LordInca,insafety,butleavemydaughterbehindyou。'"
　　Nowatthesewords,I,Hubert,sawthefiresofhopeburnupinthelargeeyesofQuilla,astheydidinmyownheart,formighttheynotmeanthatshewouldescapefromUrcoafterall？But,alas,theywereextinguishedlikeabrandthatisdippedinwater。
　　"Tush,tush！"saidtheolddotard,"whatafire—eaterareyou,friendHuaracha。KnowthatInevercaretoeat,exceptatnight;alsothatthechilloftheairaftermyfathertheSunhassetmakesmybonesache,andasfortitles——takeanyoneyoulike,exceptthatofInca。"
　　"MayhapthatistheoneIshalltakebeforeallisdone,"brokeinthefuriousHuaracha,whowouldnotbequietedbythecouncillorswhisperinginhisears。
　　Itwasatthismomentthattheministerandhigh—priest,Larico,whohadbeennotingallthatpassedwithanimpassiveface,saidcoldly:
　　"Benotwroth,OKingHuaracha,andlaynottoomuchweightupontheidlewordsofthegloriousInca,sinceeventhegodswilldozeattimeswhentheyareweigheddownbythecaresofempire。NoaffrontwasmeanttoyouandleastofalldoestheIncaoranyoneofus,dreamthatyouwouldtarnishyourhonourbyofferingviolencetoyourguestsbydayorbynight。Yetknowthis,thatif,afterallthathasbeensworn,youwithholdyourdaughter,theladyQuilla,fromthehouseofUrcowhoisherlordtobe,itwillbreedinstantwar,sinceassoonaswordofitcomestoCuzco,whichwillbewithintwentyhours,formessengerswaitallalongtheroad,thegreatarmiesoftheIncathataregatheredtherewillbegintomove。Judge,then,ifyouhavethestrengthtowithstandthem,andchoosewhetheryouwillliveoningloryandhonour,orbringyourselftodeathandyourpeopletoslavery。Now,KingHuaracha,speakingonbehalfofUrco,whowithinsomefewmoonswillbeInca,Iaskyou——willyousuffertheladyQuillatojourneywithustoCuzcoandtherebyproclaimpeacebetweenourpeoplesorwillyoukeepherhereagainstyouroathandhers,andtherebydeclarewar？"
　　Huarachasatsilent,lostinthought,andtheoldIncaUpanquibegantobabbleagain,saying:
　　"Verywellput,Icouldnothavesaiditbettermyself;indeed,Ididsayit,forthiscoxcombofaLarico,whothinkshimselfsocleverjustbecauseImadehimhigh—priestoftheSunundermeandheisofmyblood,isafterallnothingbutthetongueinmymouth。Youdon'treallywanttodie,Huaracha,doyou,afterseeingmostofyourpeoplekilledandyourcountrywasted？Foryouknowthatiswhatmusthappen。
　　Ifyoudonotsendyourdaughterasyoupromised,withinafewhoursahundredthousandmenwillbemarchingonyouandanotherhundredthousandgatheringbehindthem。Anyhow,pleasemakeupyourmindonewayoranother,asIwishtoleavethisplace。"
　　Huarachathoughtonawhile。ThenhedescendedfromhisthroneandbeckonedtoQuilla。ShecameandheledhertowardsthebackpartofthepavilionbehindandalittletotheleftofthechaironwhichI
　　satwherenonecouldheartheirtalksaveme,ofwhomheseemedtotakenonote,perhapsbecausehehadforgottenme,orperhapsbecausehedesiredthatIshouldknowall。
　　"Daughter,"hesaidinalowvoice,"whatword？BeforeyouanswerrememberthatifIrefusetosendyou,nowforthefirsttimeIbreakmyoath。"
　　"OfsuchoathsIthinklittle,"answeredQuilla。"YetofanotherthingIthinkmuch。Tellme,myfather,iftheIncadeclareswarandattacksus,canwewithstandhisarmies？"
　　"No,Daughter,notuntiltheYuncasjoinusforwelacksufficientmen。Moreover,wearenotready,norshallbeforanothertwomoons,ormore。"
　　"Thenitstandsthus,Father。IfIdonotgothewarwillbegin,andifIdogoitseemsthatitwillbestavedoffuntilyouareready,orperhapsforalways,becauseIshallbethepeace—offeringanditwillbethoughtthatI,yourheiress,takeyourkingdomasmymarriageportiontobejoinedtothatoftheIncasatyourdeath。Isitthus？"
　　"Itis,Quilla。OnlythenyouwillworktobringitaboutthattheLandoftheIncasshallbejoinedtotheLandoftheChancas,andnotthatoftheChancastothatoftheIncas,sothatinadaytocomeasQueenoftheChancasyoushallreignoverbothofthemandyourchildrenafteryou。"
　　NowI,Hubert,watchingQuillaoutofthecornersofmyeyes,sawherturnpaleandtremble。
　　"Speaknottomeofchildren,"shesaid,"forIthinkthattherewillbenone,andtalknotoffutureglories,sincefortheseIcarenothing。ItisforourpeoplethatIcare。YousweartomethatifI
　　donotgoyourarmieswillbedefeatedandthatthosewhoescapethespearwillbeenslaved？"
　　"Aye,IswearitbytheMoonyourmother,alsothatIwilldiewithmysoldiers。"
　　"YetifIgoIleavebehindmethatwhichIlove,"heresheglancedtowardsme,"andgivemyselftoshame,whichisworsethandeath。Isthatyourdesire,myfather？"
　　"Thatisnotmydesire。Remember,Daughter,thatyouwerepartytothisplan,aye,thatitsprangfromyourfar—seeingmind。Still,nowthatyourhearthaschanged,Iwouldnotholdyoutoyourbargain,whodesiremostofallthingstoseeyouhappyatmyside。Choose,therefore,andIobey。Onyourheadbeit。"
　　"WhatshallIsay,OLord,whomIsavedfromthesea？"askedQuillainapiercingwhisper,butwithoutturningherheadtowardsme。
　　NowanagonytookholdofmeforIknewthatwhatIbadeher,thatshewouldsay,andthatperchanceuponmyanswerhungthefateofallthisgreatChancapeople。Ifshewenttheywouldbesaved,ifsheremainedperchanceshewouldbemywifeifonlyforawhile。FortheChancasI
　　carednothingandfortheQuichuasIcarednothing,butQuillawasallthatremainedtomeintheworldandifshewent,itwastoanotherman。Iwouldbidherbide。Andyet——andyetifhercaseweremineandthefateofEnglandhunguponmybreath,whatthen？
　　"Beswift,"shewhisperedagain。
　　ThenIspoke,orsomethingspokethroughme,saying:
　　"Dowhathonourbidsyou,ODaughteroftheMoon,forwhatislovewithouthonour？Perchancebothshallstillbeyoursatlast。"
　　"Ithankyou,Lord,whoseheartspeaksasmyheart,"shewhisperedforthethirdtime,thenliftingherheadandlookingHuarachaintheeyes,said:
　　"Father,Igo,butthatIwillwedthisUrcoIdonotpromise。"
　　CHAPTERVII
　　THERETURNOFKARI
　　SoQuilla,seatedinagoldenlitterandaccompaniedbymaidensasbecameherrank,soonwasborneawayinthetrainoftheIncaUpanqui,leavingmedesolate。Beforeshewent,underpretenceofbiddingmefarewell,nonedenyingher,shegainedprivatespeechwithmeforalittlewhile。
　　"LordandLover,"shesaid,"IgotowhatfateIknownot,leavingyoutowhatfateIknownot,andasyourlipshavesaid,itisrightthatIshouldgo。NowIhavesomethingtoaskofyou——thatyouwillnotfollowmeasitisinyourhearttodo。ButlastnightIprayedofyoutodogmystepsandwhereverImightgotokeepclosetome,thattheknowledgeofyourpresencemightbemycomfort。Nowmymindisdifferent。IfImustbemarriedtothisUrco,Iwouldnothaveyouseemeinmyshame。AndifIescapemarriageyoucannothelpme,sinceI
　　mayonlydosobydeathorbytakingrefugewhereyoucannotcome。
　　AlsoIhaveanotherreason。"
　　"Whatreason,Quilla？"Iasked。
　　"This:Iaskthatyouwillstopwithmyfatherandgivehimyourhelpinthewarthatmustcome。IwouldseethisUrcocrushed,butwithoutthathelpIamsurethattheChancasandtheYuncasaretooweaktooverthrowtheIncamight。RememberthatifIescapemarriagethusonlycanyouhopetowinme,namely,bythedefeatanddeathofUrco。Say,then,thatyouwillstayhereandhelptoleadtheChancaarmies,andsayitswiftly,sincethatdotard,Upanqui,fretstobegone。Hark！
　　hismessengerscallandsearch;mywomencanholdthembacknomore。"
　　"Iwillstay,"Iansweredhoarsely。
　　"Ithankyou,andnowfarewell,tillinlifeordeathwemeetagain。
　　ThoughtscometomymindwhichIhavenotimetoutter。"
　　"Tominealso,Quilla,andhereisoneofthem。Youknowthemanwhowaswithmeontheisland。Well,heismorethanheseems。"
　　"SoIguessed,butwhereishenow？"
　　"Inhiding,Quilla。Ifyoushouldchancetofindhim,bearinmindthatheisanenemyofUrcoandonenotfriendless;alsothathelovesmeafterhisfashion。Trusthim,Iprayyou。UrcoisnottheonlyoneoftheIncablood,Quilla。"
　　Sheglancedatmequicklyandnoddedherhead。Thenwithoutmorewords,forofficerswerepressingtowardsus,shedrewaringoffherfinger,athickandancientgoldenringonwhichwerecutwhatlookedlikeflowers,orimagesofthesun,andgaveittome。
　　"Wearthisformysake。ItisveryoldandhasastoryoftruelovethatIhavenotimetotell,"shesaid。
　　Itookitandinexchangepassedtoherthatancientringwhichmymotherhadgiventome,theringthathadcomedowntoherwiththeswordWave—Flame,saying:
　　"This,too,isoldandhasastory;wearitinmemoryofme。"
　　Thenwepartedandpresentlyshewasgone。
　　Istoodwatchingherlittertillitvanishedintheeveninghaze。ThenIturnedtogotofindmyselffacetofacewithHuaracha。
　　"Lord—from—the—Sea,"hesaid,"youhaveplayedaman's——oragod's——
　　partto—day。Hadyoubiddenmydaughterbidehere,shewouldhavedonesoforloveofyouandtheChancapeoplemusthavebeendestroyed,forasthatoldIncaorhisspokesmantoldus,thebreakingofmyoathwouldhavebeentakenasadeclarationofinstantwar。Nowwehavebreathingtime,andintheendthingsmaygootherwise。"
　　"Yes,"Ianswered,"butwhatofQuillaandwhatofme？"
　　"Iknownotyourcreedorwhatwithyouishonour,WhiteLord,butamonguswhomperhapsyouthinkofsmallaccount,itisthoughtandheldthattherearetimeswhenamanorawoman,especiallyiftheybehighlyplaced,mustdosacrificeforthegoodofthemanywhoclingtothemforguidanceandforsafety。ThisyouandmydaughterhavedoneandthereforeIhonourbothofyou。"
　　"Towhatendisthesacrificemade？"Iaskedbitterly。"Thatonepeoplemaystrugglefordominionoveranotherpeople,nomore。"
　　"Youaremistaken,Lord。NotforvictoryortoincreasemydominionsdoIdesiretowarupontheIncas,butbecauseunlessIstrikeIshallpresentlybestruck,thoughforalittlewhilethismarriagemightholdbacktheblow。AloneinthemidstofthevastterritoriesoverwhichtheIncasrule,theChancasstemtheirtideofconquestandremainfreeamongstmanynationsofslaved。ThereforeforagestheseIncas,likethosewhoruledbeforethematCuzco,havesworntodestroyus,andUrcohasswornitaboveall。"
　　"Urcomightdieorbedeposed,Huaracha。"
　　"IfsoanotherwouldputontheFringeandbevowedtotheancientpolicythatdoesnotchangefromgenerationtogeneration。ThereforeI
　　mustfightorperishwithmypeople。Hearken,Lord—from—the—Sea！Stayherewithmeandbecomeasmybrotherandageneralofmyarmies,forwherewilltheynotfollowwhenyoulead,whoareheldtobeagod？
　　Thenifweconquer,inreward,fromabrotheryoushallbecomeason,andtoyouaftermeIswearshallpasstheChancacrown。Moreover,toyou,ifshecanbesaved,Iwillgiveinmarriageherwhomyoulove。
　　Thinkbeforeyourefuse。Iknownotwhenceyoucome,butthisIknow:
　　thatyoucanreturnthithernomore,unless,indeed,youareaspirit。
　　Hereyourlotiscasttilldeath。Thereforemakeitglorious。
　　PerchanceyoumightflytotheIncaandtherebecomeamarvelandashow,furnishedwithgoldandpalacesandlands,butalwaysyouwouldbeaservant,whileIoffertoyouacrownandtheruleofapeoplegreatandfree。"
　　"Icarenothingforcrowns,"Ianswered,sighing。"Still,suchwasQuilla'sprayer,perchancethelastthatevershewillmaketome。
　　ThereforeIacceptandwillserveyouandyourcause,thatseemsnoble,faithfullytotheend,OHuaracha。"
　　ThenIstretchedoutmyhandtohimandsoourcompactwassealed。
　　Ontheverynextdaymyworkbegan。Huarachamademeknowntohiscaptains,commandingthemtoobeymeinallthings,which,lookingonmeashalfdivine,theydidreadilyenough。
　　Now,ofsoldieringIknewlittlewhowasaseamanbred,yetasIhadlearned,amanoftheEnglishraceinhoweverstrangeacountryhefindshimselfcanmakeapaththeretohisends。
　　Moreover,inLondonIhadheardmuchtalkofarmiesandtheirorderingandoftenwatchedtroopsattheirexercise;alsoIknowhowtohandlebowandsword,andwasaccustomedtothemanagementofmen。Soputtingallthesememoriestogether,Isetmyselftothetaskofturningamobofhalf—savagefellowswitharmsintoanorderedhost。IcreatedregimentsandofficeredthemwiththebestcaptainsthatIcouldfind,collectingineachregimentsofaraspossiblethepeopleofacertaintownordistrict。ThesecompaniesIdrilledandexercised,teachingthemtousesuchweaponsastheyhadtothebestpurpose。
　　AlsoIcausedthemtoshapestrongerbowsonthemodelofmyownwithwhichIhadshotthethreeFrenchmenfarawayatHastingsthat,asitwassaid,oncehadbeenthebattle—bowofThorgrimmertheNorsemanmyancestor,astheswordWave—Flamewashisbattle—sword。WhentheseChancassawhowfarandwithwhatagoodaimIcouldshootwiththisbow,theystrovedayandnighttolearntoequalme,thoughitistruetheyneverdid。AlsoIbetteredtheirbody—armourofquiltingbysettingssheetsofleather（sinceinthatcountrythereisnoiron）
　　takenfromthehidesofwildanimalsandoftheirlong—hairednativesheep,betweenthelayersofcotton。OtherthingsIdidalso,toomanyandlongtorecord。
　　TheendofitwasthatwithinthreemonthsHuarachahadanarmyofsomefiftythousandmenwho,ifnotwelltrained,stillkeptdiscipline,andcouldmoveinregiments;whoknewalsohowtoshootwiththeirbowsandtousetheircopper—headedspearsandaxesofthatmetal,orofhardstone,tothebestpurpose。
　　ThenatlengthcametheYuncastojoinus,thirtyorfortythousandofthem,wildfellowsandbraveenough,butundisciplined。WiththeseI
　　coulddolittlesincetimewaslacking,savesendsomeoftheofficerswhomIhadtrainedtoteachtheirchiefsandcaptainswhattheywereable。
　　ThusIwasemployedfromdawntilldarkandoftenafterit,intalkwithHuarachaandhisgenerals,orindrawingplanswithinkthatI
　　foundameanstomake,uponparchmentofsheepskinandnotingdownnumbersandotherthings,asightatwhichthesepeoplewhoknewnothingofwritingmarvelledverymuch。Greatweremylabours,yetinthemIfoundmorehappinessthanIhadknownsincethatfataldaywhenI,therichLondonmerchant,HubertofHastings,hadstoodbeforethealtarofSt。Margaret'schurchwithBlancheAleys。Indeed,everycrannyofmytimeandmindbeingthusfilledwiththingsfinishedorattempted,Iforgotmygreatlonelinessasanalieninastrangeland,andoncemorebecameasIhadbeenwhenItraffickedintheCheap。
　　ButtoilasIwould,IcouldnotforgetQuilla。DuringthedayImightmaskhermemoryinitsurgentbusiness,butwhenIlaydowntorestsheseemedtocometomeasaghostmightdoandtostandbymybed,lookingatmewithsadandlongingeyes。SorealwasherpresencethatsometimesIbegantobelievethatshemusthavediedtotheworldandwasintruthaghost,orelsethatshehadfoundthepowertothrowhersoulafar,asitissaidcertainoftheseIndianfolk,ifsotheyshouldbecalled,cando。AtleasttheresheseemedtobewhileI
　　remainedawakeandafterwardswhenIslept,andIknownotwhetherherstrangecompanyjoyedorpainedmemore。Foralas！shecouldnottalktome,ortellmehowitfaredwithher,and,tospeaktruth,nowthatshewasthewifeofanotherman,asIsupposed,IdesiredtoforgetherifIcould。
　　ForofQuillanowordreachedus。WeheardthatshehadcomesafelytoCuzcoandafterthatnothingmore。Ofhermarriagetherewasnotidings;indeedsheseemedtohavevanishedaway。CertainofHuaracha'sspiesreportedtohim,however,thatthegreatarmywhichUrcohadgatheredtoattackhimhadbeenpartlydisbanded,whichseemedtoshowthattheIncanolongerpreparedforimmediatewar。
　　OnlythenwhathadhappenedtoQuilla,whosepersonwasthepriceofpeace？Perhapsshewashiddenawayduringthepreparationsforhernuptials;atleastIcouldthinkofnothingelse,unlessindeedshehadchosentokillherselfordiednaturally。
　　Soon,however,allnewsceased,forHuarachashuthisfrontiers,hopingthatthusUrcomightnotlearnthathewasgatheringarmies。
　　Atlength,whenourforceswerealmostreadytomarch,Karicame,KariwhomIthoughtlost。
　　OnenightwhenIwasseatedatmyworkbylamplight,writingdownnumbersuponaparchment,ashadowfellacrossit,andlookingupI
　　sawKaristandingbeforeme,travel—wornandweary,butKariwithoutdoubt,unlessIdreamed。
　　"Haveyoufood,Lord？"heaskedwhileIstaredathim。"IneeditandwouldeatbeforeIspeak。"
　　Ifoundmeatandnativebeerandbroughtthemtohim,foritwaslateandmyservantswereasleep,waitingtillhehadfilledhimself,forbythistimeIhadlearnedsomethingofthepatienceofthesepeople。
　　Atlengthhespoke,saying:
　　"Huaracha'swatchisgood,andtopassitImustjourneyfarintothemountainsandsleepthreenightswithoutfoodamidtheirsnows。"
　　"Whencecomeyou？"Iasked。
　　"FromCuzco,Lord。"
　　"ThenwhatoftheladyQuilla？Doesshestilllive？IsshewedtoUrco？"
　　"Shelives,orlivedfourteendaysago,andsheisnotwed。Butwheresheisnomanmayevercome。YouhavelookedyourlastupontheladyQuilla,Lord。"
　　"Ifshelivesandisunwed,why？"Iasked,trembling。
　　"BecausesheisnumberedamongtheVirginsoftheSunourFather,andthereforeinviolatetoman。WereItheInca,thoughIloveyouandknowall,shouldyouattempttotakeher,yes,evenyou,IwouldkillyouifIcould,andwithmyownsword。Inourland,Lord,thereisonecrimewhichhasnoforgiveness,andthatistolayhandsuponaVirginoftheSun。Webelieve,Lord,thatifthisisdone,greatcurseswillfalluponourcountry,whileasforthemanwhoworksthecrime,beforehepassestoeternalvengeanceheandallhishouseandthetownwhencehecamemustperishutterly,andthatfalsevirginwhohasbetrayedourfather,theSun,mustdieslowlyandbyfire。"
　　"Hasthiseverchanced？"Iasked。
　　"Historydoesnottellit,Lord,sincenonehavebeensowicked,butsuchisthelaw。"
　　Ithoughttomyselfthatitwasaveryevillaw,andcruel;alsothatIwouldbreakitifIfoundopportunity,butmadenoanswer,knowingwhentobesilentandthatImightaswellstrivetomoveamountainfromitsbaseastoturnKarifromtheblindnessofhisfollybredoffalsefaith。Afterall,couldIblamehim,seeingthatweheldthesameofthesacrednessofnunsand,itwassaid,killedthemiftheybroketheirvows？
　　"Whatnews,Kari？"Iasked。
　　"Much,Lord。Hearken。DisguisedasapeasantwhohadcomeintothiscountrytobarterwoolfromavillageneartoCuzco,IjoinedmyselftothetrainoftheIncaUpanqui,amongwhoselordsIfoundafriendwhohadlovedmeinpastyearsandkeptmysecretashewasboundtodo,havingpassedintothebrotherhoodofknightswithmewhilewewerelads。Throughhim,inplaceofamanwhowassick,IbecameoneofthebearersoftheladyQuilla'slitterandthuswasalwaysaboutherandattimeshadspeechwithherinsecret,forsheknewmeagainnotwithstandingmydisguiseanduniform。SoIbecameoneofthosewhowaitedonherwhensheateandnotedallthatpassed。
　　"AfterthefirstdaytheIncaUpanqui,hewhoismyfatherandwhoselawfulheirIam,althoughhediscardedmeforUrcoandbelievesmedead,madeitahabittotakehisfoodinthesametentorrest—housechamberastheladyQuilla。Lord,beingveryclever,shesetherselftocharmhim,sothatsoonhebegantodoteuponher,asold,worn—outmensometimesdouponyoungandbeautifulwomen。She,too,pretendedtogrowfondofhimandatlasttoldhiminsomanywordsthatshegrieveditwasnothethatshewastomarrywhosewisdomshehungupon,inplaceofaprincewho,sheheard,wasnotwise。This,shesaid,becausesheknewwellthattheIncawouldnevermarryanymoreandindeedhadlivedaloneforyears。Still,beingflattered,hetoldheritwashardthatsheshouldbeforcedtowedonetowhomshehadnomind,whereonsheprayedhim,evenwithtears,tosaveherfromsuchafate。AtlasthevowedthathewoulddosobysettingheramongtheVirginsoftheSunonwhomnomanmaylook。Shethankedhimandsaidthatshewouldconsiderthematter,since,forreasonsthatyoumayguess,Lord,shedidnotdesiretobecomeaVirginoftheSunandtopasstherestofherdaysinprayerandtheweavingoftheInca'sgarments。
　　"Soitwentonuntilwhenwewereaday'smarchfromCuzco,Urco,mybrother,cametomeethispromisedbride。Now,Urcoisahugemanandhideous,onewhomnonewouldbelievetohavebeenbornoftheIncablood。Coarseheis,anddissolute,giventodrinkalso,thoughagreatfighterandbraveinbattle,andquick—brainedwhenheissober。
　　IwaspresentwhentheymetandIsawtheladyQuillashiverandturnpaleatthesightofhim,whileheonhispartdevouredherbeautywithhiseyes。Theyspokebutfewwordstogether,yetbeforetheseweredone,hetoldheritwashiswillthattheyshouldbewedatonceonthedayaftershecametoCuzco,norwouldhelistentotheIncaUpanquiwhosaid,beingcunningandwishingtogaintime,thatduepreparationmustbemadeforsogreatabusiness。
　　"ThereuponUrcogrewangrywithhisfather,whobothfearsandloveshim,andansweredthat,beingalmostInca,thismatterwasonewhichhewouldsettleforhimself。SofiercewashethatUpanquibecameafraidandwentaway。WhentheywerealoneUrcostrovetoembraceQuilla,butshefledfromhimandhidwithhermaidensinaprivateplace。Afterthis,atthefeastUrcotooktoomuchdrinkaccordingtohiscustomandwasledawaytosleepbyhislords。ThenQuillawaitedupontheIncaandsaid:
　　"'OInca,IhaveseenthePrinceandIclaimyourpromisetosavemefromhim。OInca,abandoningallthoughtofmarriage,IwillbecomethebrideofourFathertheSun。'
　　"Upanqui,whowaswrothwithUrcobecausehehadcrossedhiswill,sworebytheSunitselfthathewouldnotfailher,comewhatmight,sinceUrcoshouldlearnthathewasnotyetInca。"
　　"Whathappenedthen？"Iasked,staringhimintheeyes。
　　"Afterthis,Lord,whenwewerehaltedbeforemakingthestateentryintoCuzco,foramomenttheladyQuillafoundopportunityforprivatespeechwithme。Thisiswhatshesaid:
　　"'Tellmyfather,KingHuaracha,thatIhavefulfilledhisoath,butthatIcannotmarryUrco。ThereforeIseekrefugeinthearmsoftheSun,astheoracleRimacforetoldthatIshoulddo,havingtochoosebetweenthisfateandthatofdeath。TellmyLord—from—the—Seawhathasbefallenmeandbidhimfarewelltome。Stillsaythathemustkeepagoodheart,sinceIdonotbelievethatallisendedbetweenus。'
　　"ThenwewerepartedandIsawhernomore。"
　　"Anddidyouhearnomore,Kari？"
　　"Iheardmuch,Lord。IheardthatwhenUrcolearnedthattheladyQuillahadvanishedawayintotheHouseofVirgins,whitherhemightnotcome,andthathewasrobbedofthebridewhomhedesired,hegrewmadwithrage。Indeed,ofthisIsawsomethingmyself。Twodayslater,withthousandsofothersIwasinthegreatsquareinfrontoftheTempleoftheSun,wheretheIncaUpanquisatinstateuponagoldenthronetoreceivethepraiseofhispeopleuponhissafereturnafterhislongandhardjourney,andassomereported,tolaydownhislordshipinfavourofUrco;alsototellthepeoplethatthedangerofwarwiththeChancashadpassedaway。ScarcelyhadtheceremonybegunwhenUrcoappearedattheheadofanumberoflordsandprincesoftheIncablood,whoareofhisclan,andInoticedthathewasdrunkandfurious。Headvancedtothefootofthethrone,almostwithoutobeisance,andshouted:
　　"'WhereistheladyQuilla,daughterofHuaracha,whoispromisedtomeinmarriage,Inca？Whyhaveyouhiddenheraway,Inca？'
　　"'BecausetheSun,ourFather,hasclaimedherashisbrideandhastakenhertodwellinhisholyhouse,whereneveragainmaytheeyesofmanbeholdher,Prince！'answeredUpanqui。