"'Youmeanthatrobbingme,youhavetakenherforyourself,Inca,'
shoutedUrcoagain。
"ThenUpanquistoodupandsworebytheSunthatthiswasnotsoandthatwhathehaddonewasdonebythedecreeofthegodandattheprayeroftheladyQuilla,whohavingseenUrco,haddeclaredthateithershewouldbewedtothegodordiebyherownhand,whichwouldbringthevengeanceoftheSunuponthepeople。
"ThenUrcowentmad。HeravedattheIncaandwhileallpresentshiveredwithfear,hecursedtheSunourFather,yes,evenwhenacloudcameupintheclearskyandveiledthefaceofthegod,heedlessoftheomen,hecontinuedhiscursesandblasphemy。Moreover,hesaidthatsoonhewouldbeIncaandthatthen,ifhemustteartheHouseofVirginsstonefromstone,asIncahewoulddragforththeladyQuillaandmakeherhiswife。
"NowatthesewordsUpanquistoodupandrenthisrobes。
"'Mustmyearsbeoutragedwithsuchblasphemies？'hecried。'Know,SonUrco,thatthisdayIwasmindedtotakeofftheRoyalFringeandtosetitonyourhead,crowningyouIncainmyplacewhileIwithdrewtopasstheremainderofmydaysatYucayinpeaceandprayer。Mywillischanged。ThisIshallnotdo。Mylifeisnotdoneandstrengthreturnstomymindandbody。HereIstayasInca。NowIseethatIampunishedformysin。'
"'Whatsin？'shoutedUrco。
"'Thesinofsettingyoubeforemyeldestlawfulson,Kari,whosewifeyoustole;Kari,whomalsoitissaidyoupoisonedandwhoatleasthasvanishedandisdoubtlessdead。'
"Now,Lord,whenI,Kari,heardthismyheartmeltedinmeandIwasmindedtodeclaremyselftoUpanquimyfather。ButwhileIweighedthematterforamoment,knowingthatifIdidso,suchwordsasthesemightwellbemylastsinceUrcohadmanyofisfollowingpresent,whoperhapswouldfalluponandkillme,suddenlymyfatherUpanquifellforwardinaswoon。Hislordsandphysiciansborehimaway。Urcofollowedandpresentlythemultitudedepartedthiswayandthat。
AfterwardsweweretoldthattheIncahadrecoveredbutmustnotbedisturbedformanydays。"
"DidyouhearmoreofQuilla,Kari？"
"Yes,Lord,"heansweredgravely。"Itwascommonlyreportedthat,throughsomepriestessinhispay,Urcohadpoisonedher,sayingthatasshehadchosentheSunashusband,totheSunshewouldgo。"
"Poisonedher！"Imuttered,well—nighfallingtotheground。"Poisonedher！"
"Aye,Lord,butbecomfortedforthiswasadded——thatshewhogavethepoisonwastakenintheactbyherwhoisnamedtheMotheroftheVirgins,andhandedovertothewomenwhocastherintothedenofserpents,wheresheperished,screamingthatitwasUrcowhohadforcedhertothedeed。"
"Thatdoesnotcomfortme,man。WhatofQuilla？Didshedie？"
"Lord,itissaidnot。ItissaidthattheMotheroftheVirginsdashedawaythecupasittouchedherlips。Butthisissaidalso,thatsomeofthepoisonflewintohereyesandblindedher。"
Igroaned,forthethoughtofQuillablindedwashorrible。
"Againtakecomfort,Lord,sinceperchanceshemayrecoverfromthisblindness。AlsoIwastold,thatalthoughshecanseenothing,herbeautyisnotmarred;thatthevenomindeedhasmadehereyesseemlargerandmorelovelyeventhantheywerebefore。"
Imadenoanswer,whofearedthatKariwasdeceivingmeorperhapswashimselfdeceivedandthatQuillawasdead。Presentlyhecontinuedhisstoryinthesamequiet,evenvoice,saying:
"Lord,afterthisIsoughtoutcertainofmyfriendswhohadlovedmeinmyyouthandmymotheralsowhileshelived,revealingmyselftothem。Wemadeplanstogether,butbeforeaughtcouldbedoneinearnest,itwasneedfulthatIshouldseemyfatherUpanqui。WhileI
waswaitingtillhehadrecoveredfromthestrokethatfelluponhim,somespybetrayedmetoUrco,whosearchedformetokillmeandwell—
nighfoundme。TheendofitwasthatIwasforcedtofly,thoughbeforeIdidsomanysworethemselvestomycausewhowouldescapefromthetyrannyofUrco。Moreover,itwasagreedthatifIreturnedwithsoldiersatmyback,theyandtheirfollowerswouldcomeouttojoinmetothenumberofthousands,andhelpmetotakemyownagainsothatImaybeIncaafterUpanquimyfather。ThereforeIhavecomebackheretotalkwithyouandHuaracha。
"Suchismytale。"
CHAPTERVIII
THEFIELDOFBLOOD
WhenonthemorrowHuaracha,KingoftheChancas,heardallthisstoryandthatUrcohadgivenpoisontohisdaughterQuilla,who,ifshestilllivedatall,didso,itwassaid,asablindwoman,akindofmadnesstookholdofhim。
"Nowletwarcome;Iwillnotrestorstay,"hecried,"tillIseethishound,Urco,dead,andhanguphisskinstuffedwithstrawasanofferingtohisowngod,theSun。"
"Yetitwasyou,KingHuaracha,whosenttheladyQuillatothisUrcoforyourownpurposes,"saidKariinhisquietfashion。
"Whoandwhatareyouthatreproveme？"askedHuarachaturningonhim。
"IonlyknowyouastheservantorslaveoftheWhite—Lord—from—the—
Sea,thoughitistrueIhaveheardstoriesconcerningyou,"headded。
"IamKari,thefirst—bornlawfulsonofUpanquiandbyrightheirtotheIncathrone,noless,OHuaracha。Urcomybrotherrobbedmeofmywife,asthroughthefollyofmyfather,uponwhoseheartUrco'smotherworked,hehadalreadyrobbedmeofmyinheritance。Then,tomakesure,hestrovetopoisonmeashehaspoisonedyourdaughter,withapoisonthatwouldmakememadandincapableofrule,yetleavemeliving——becausehefearedlestthecurseoftheSunshouldfalluponhimifhemurderedme。Irecoveredfromthatbaneandwanderedtoafarland。NowIhavereturnedtotakemyown,ifIamable。AllthatIsayIcanprovetoyou。"
ForawhileHuarachastaredathimastonished,thensaid:
"Andifyouproveit,whatdoyouaskofme,OKari？"
"ThehelpofyourarmiestoenablemetooverthrowUrco,whoisverystrong,beingtheCommanderoftheQuichuahosts。"
"AndifyourtalebetrueandUrcoisoverthrown,whatdoyoupromisemeinreturn？"
"TheindependenceoftheChancapeople,whootherwisemustsoonbedestroyed,andcertainotheraddedterritorieswhichyoucovet,whileIamInca。"
"Andwiththismydaughter,ifshestilllives？"askedHuarachalookingathim。
"Nay,"repliedKarifirmly。"AstotheladyQuillaIpromisenothing。
ShehasvowedherselftomyFathertheSun,andwhatIhavealreadytoldtheLordHurachihere,wholovesherItellyou。Henceforwardnomanmaylookuponher,whoistheBrideoftheSun,forifIsufferedthis,certainlythecurseoftheSunwouldfalluponmeanduponmypeople。HewholaysahanduponherIwillstrivetoslay"——herehelookedatmewithmeaning——"becauseImustorbeaccurst。Takeallelse,butlettheladyQuillabe。WhattheSunhas,heholdsforever。"
"PerhapstheMoon,hermother,mayhavesomethingtosayinthatmatter,"saidHuarachagloomily。"Still,letitlieforthewhile。"
Thentheyfelltodiscussingthetermsoftheirallianceand,whenitcametobattle,whathelpKaricouldbringfromamongthosewhoclungtohiminCuzco。
AfterthisHuarachatookmetoanotherchamber,wherewedebatedthebusiness。
"ThisKari,ifhebeKarihimself,isabigot,"hesaid,"andifhehashisway,neitheryounorIwilleverseteyesonQuillaagain,becausetohimitissacrilege。So,whatsayyou？"
IansweredthatitwouldbebesttomakeanalliancewithKari,whomI
knewtobehonestandnoPretender,sincewithouthishelpIdidnotthinkthatitwouldbepossibletodefeatthearmiesofthePeopleoftheIncas。Fortherest,wemusttrusttochance,makingnopromisesastoQuilla。
"Ifwedidtheywouldavaillittle,"saidHuaracha,"seeingthatwithoutdoubtsheisdeadandonlyvengeanceremainstous。ThereismorepoisoninCuzco,WhiteLord！"
EightdayslaterweweremarchingonCuzco,agreathostofus,numberingatleastfortythousandChancasandtwenty—fivethousandoftherebelliousYuncas,whohadjoinedourstandard。
Onwemarchedbythegreatroadovermountainsandacrossplains,drivingwithusnumberlessherdsofthenativesheepforfood,butmeetingnoman,sincesosoonaswewereoutoftheterritoryoftheChancasallfledatourapproach。AtlengthonenightwecampeduponahillnamedCarmencaandsawbeneathusatadistancethemightycityofCuzcostandinginavalleythroughwhichariverran。Thereitwaswithitshugefortressesbuiltofgreatblocksofstone,itstemples,itspalaces,itsopensquares,anditscountlessstreetsborderedbylowhouses。Moreover,beyondandarounditwesawotherthings,namely,thecampsofavastarmydottedwiththousandsofwhitetents。
"Urcoisreadyforus,"saidKaritomegrimlyashepointedtothesetents。
WecampeduponthehillCarmencaandthatnighttherecametousanembassywhichspokeinthenamesofUpanquiandUrco,asthoughtheyreignedjointly。Thisembassyofgreatlordswhoallworediscsofgoldintheirearsaskeduswhatwasourpurpose。Huarachaanswered——
toavengethemurderoftheladyQuilla,hisdaughter,thatheheardhadbeenpoisonedbyUrco。
"Howknowyouthatsheisdead？"askedthespokesman。
"Ifsheisnotdead,"repliedHuaracha,"showhertous。"
"Thatmaynotbe,"repliedthespokesman,"sinceifshelives,itisintheHouseoftheVirginsoftheSun,whencenonecomeoutandwherenonegoin。Hearken,OHuaracha。Gobackwhenceyoucame,orthecountlessarmyoftheIncaswillfalluponyouanddestroyyou,youandyourhandfultogether。"
"Thatisyettobeseen,"answeredHuaracha,andwithoutmorewordstheembassywithdrew。
Thatnightalsomencreptintoourcampsecretly,whowereofthepartyofKari。OfQuillatheyseemedtoknownothing,fornonespokeofthoseoverwhomtheveiloftheSunhadfallen。Theytoldus,however,thattheoldInca,Upanqui,wasstillinCuzcoandhadrecoveredsomewhatfromhissickness。AlsotheysaidthatnowthefeudbetweenhimandUrcowasbitter,butthatUrcohadtheupperhandandwasstillincommandofthearmies。Thesearmies,theydeclared,wereimmenseandwouldfightusonthemorrow,adding,however,thatcertainregimentsofthemwhowereofthepartyofKariwoulddeserttousinthebattle。Lastly,theysaidthattherewasgreatfearinCuzco,sincenoneknewhowthatbattlewouldend,whichwasunderstoodbyalltobeoneforthedominionofTavantinsuyu。
TheyhadnothingmoretosayexceptthattheyprayedtheSunforoursuccesstosavethemfromthetyrannyofUrco。Thisprince,itappeared,suspectedtheirconspiracy,fornowtherumourthatKarilivedwaseverywhere,andhavingobtainedthenamesofsomewhowereconnectedwithitthroughhisspies,hepursuedthemwithmurderandsuddendeath。Theywerepoisonedattheirfood;theywerestabbedastheywalkedthroughthestreetsatnight;theirwives,ifyoungandfair,vanishedaway,astheybelievedintothehousesofthosewhodesiredthem;eventheirchildrenwerekidnapped,doubtlesstobecometheservantsofwhomtheyknewnot。TheyhadcomplainedofthesethingstotheoldIncaUpanqui,butwithoutavail,sinceinsuchmattershewaspowerlessbeforeUrcowhohadcommandofthearmies。
ThereforetheywouldevenwelcomethetriumphofHuaracha,whichmeantthatKariwouldbecomeIncaifwithlessenedterritory。
Beforetheypartedtoplaytheirparts,Karibroughtthembeforeme,whomintheirfoolishnesstheyworshipped,believingmetobeintruthagod。Thenhetoldthemtohavenofear,sinceIwouldcommandthearmiesofHuarachainthebattle。
Havingsurveyedthegroundwhilethelightlasted,forthemostofthatnight,togetherwithHuarachaandKari,Itoiled,makingplansforthegreatfightthatwastocome。Allbeingready,Ilaydowntosleepawhile,wonderingwhetheritwerethelasttimeIshoulddosoupontheearthand,totellthetruth,notcaringovermuchwho,believingthatQuillawasdead,haditnotbeenformysinswhichweigheduponmewithnonetowhomImightconfessthem,shouldhavebeengladtoleavetheworldanditstroublesforwhatevermightliebeyond,evenifitwerebutsleep。
Therecomesatimetomostmenwhenaboveeverythingtheydesirerest,andnowthathourwaswithme,theexiledandthedesolate。HereinthisstrangecountryandamongthesealienpeopleIhadfoundonesoulwhichwasakintomine,thatofabeautifulwomanwholovedmeandwhomIhadcometoloveanddesire。Butwhatwastheendofit？Owingtothenecessitiesofstatecraftandherownnobleness,shehadbeenseparatedfrommeandalthough,asitwouldseem,shehadasyetescapeddefilement,wasspiritedawayintothetempleofsomebarbarousworshipwhereIwasalmostsuredeathhadfoundher。
Atthebestshewasblinded,andwhereshelayinherdarknessnomanmightcomebecauseofthesuperstitionsofthesefolk。EvenifKaribecameInca,itwouldnothelpmeorher,shouldshestilllive,sincehewasthefiercestbigotofthemallandsworethathewouldkillme,hisfriend,ratherthanthatIshouldtouchher,thevowedtohisfalsegods。
Orperhaps,throughthepriests,tosavehimselfsuchsorrow,hewouldkillher。Attheleast,deadornot,shewaslosttome,whileI——
utterlyalone——mustfightforacauseinwhichIhadbutoneconcern,tobringsomesavageprincetohisendbecauseofhiscrimeagainstQuilla。And,ifthingswentwellandthischanced,whatoftheFuture？
OfwhatusetomewererewardsthatIdidnotwant,andtheworshipofthevulgarwhichIhated？RatherwouldIhavelivedoutmylifeasthehumblestfishermanonHastingsbeach,thanbemadeakingovertheseglitteringbarbarianswiththeirgoldandgemswhichcouldbuynothingthatIneeded,notevenaBookofHourstofeedmysoul,orthesoundoftheEnglishtonguetocomfortmyemptyheart。
AtlengthIfellasleep,andasitseemedbutafewminuteslater,thoughreallysixhourshadgoneby,wasawakenedbyKari,whotoldmethatthedawnwasnotfaroffandcametohelpmetobuckleonmyarmour。ThenIwentforthandtogetherwithHuarachaarrangedourarmyforbattle。OurplanwastoadvancefromourrisinggroundacrossagreatplainbeneathuswhichwascalledXaqui,butafterwardsbecameknownbythenameofYahuar—pampa,orFieldofBlood。
ThisplainlaybetweenusandthecityofCuzco,andmythoughtwasthatwewouldmarchorfightourwayacrossitandrushintothecitywhichwasunwalled,andthereamidstitsstreetsandhousesawaittheattackoftheIncahoststhatwereencampeduponitsfartherside,forthusprotectedbytheirwallswehopedthatweshouldbemoreequaltothem。Yetthingshappenedotherwise,sincewiththefirstlight,withoutwhichwedidnotdaretomoveoverunknownground,weperceivedthatduringthedarknesstheIncaarmieshadmovedroundandthroughthetownandweregatheredbythetenthousandindensebattalionsuponthefarthersideoftheplain。
Nowwetookcounciltogetherandintheenddecidednottoattackaswehadproposed,buttoawaittheironslaughtontherockyridgeupwhichtheymustclimb。Sowecommandedthatourarmy,whichwasmarshalledinthreedivisionsabreastandtwowingswiththeYuncasasareservebehind,shouldeatandmakeready。Inthecentreofourmaindivision,whichnumberedsomefifteenthousandoftheChancatroops,andalittleinfrontofit,wasalowlonghilluponthehighestpointofwhichItookmyplace,standinguponarockwithagroupofcaptainsandmessengersbehindmeandaguardofaboutathousandpickedmenmassedupontheslopesandaroundthehill。FromthishighpointIcouldseeeverything,andinmyglitteringarmourwasvisibletoall,friendsandfoestogether。
Afterapause,duringwhichthepriestsoftheChancasandoftheYuncasbehindussacrificedsheeptothemoonandthemanyothergodstheyworshipped,andthoseoftheQuichuas,asIcouldseefrommyrock,madeprayersandofferingstotherisingsun,withamightyshoutingtheIncahostsbegantoadvanceacrosstheplaintowardsus。
ReckoningthemwithmyeyeIsawthattheyoutnumberedusbytwoorthreetoone;indeedtheirhordesseemedtobecountless,andalwaysmoreofthemcameonbehindfromthedimrecessesofthecity。Dividedintothreegreatarmiestheycreptacrosstheplain,awildandgorgeousspectacle,thesunlightshiningupontheforestoftheirspearsandontheirrichbarbaricuniforms。
Afurlongormoreawaytheyhaltedandtookcounsel,pointingtomewiththeirspearsasthoughtheyfearedme。Westoodquitestill,thoughsomeofourgeneralsurgedthatweshouldcharge,butthisI
counselledHuarachanottodo,whodesiredthattheQuichuasshouldbreaktheirstrengthuponus。Atlengthsomewordwasgiven;thesplendid"rainbowBanner"oftheIncaswasunfurledand,stilldividedintothreearmieswithawidestretchofplainbetweeneachofthemtheyattacked,yellinglikeallthefiendsofhell。
Nowtheyhadreachedusandtherebeganthemostterriblebattlethatwastoldofinthehistoryofthatland。Waveafterwaveofthemrolledupagainstus,butourbattalionswhichIhadnottrainedinvainstoodlikerocksandslewandslewandslewtillthedeadcouldbecountedbythethousand。AgainandagaintheystrovetostormthehillonwhichIstood,hopingtokillme,andeachtimewebeatthemback。PickingouttheirgeneralsIloosedshaftaftershaftfrommylongbow,andseldomdidImiss,norcouldtheircotton—quiltedarmourturnthosebitterarrows。
"/Theshaftsofthegod！Theshaftsofthegod！/"theycried,andshrankbackfrombeforeme。
Thereappearedamanwithayellowfilletonhisheadandarobethatwasstuddedwithpreciousstones;ahugemanwithgreatlimbsandflamingeyes;aloose—mouthed,hideousmanwhowieldedabigaxeofcopperandcarriedabowlongerthananyIhadseeninthatland。
Hookingtheaxetohisbelt,hesetanarrowonthebowandletdriveatme。Itspedtrueandstruckmefulluponthebreast,onlytoshatteronthegoodFrenchmail,whichcoppercouldnotpierce。
Againheshot,andthistimethearrowglancedfrommyhelm。ThenI
drewonhimandmyshaft,thatIhadaimedathishead,cutawaythefringeabouthisbrowandcarrieditfaraway。Atthissightagroanwentupfromthelordsabouthim,andonecried:
"Anomen,OUrco,anevilomen！"
"Aye,"heshouted,"fortheWhiteWizardwhoshotthearrow。"
Droppingthebow,herushedupthehillatmeroaring,axealoft,andfollowedbyhiscompany。Hesmote,andIcaughttheblowuponmyshield,andstrikingbackwithWave—Flame,shorethroughtheshaftoftheaxethathehadliftedtoguardhisheadasthoughithadbeenmadeofreed,aye,andthroughthequiltedcottononhisshoulderstrengthenedwithstripsofgold,andtothebonebeneath。
Thenamanslippedpastme。ItwasKari,strikingatUrcowithDeleroy'ssword。Theyclosedandrolleddowntheslopelockedineachother'sarms。WhatchancedafterthisIdonotknow,forothersrushedinandallgrewconfused,butpresentlyKarilimpedbacksomewhatshakenandbleeding,andIcaughtsightofUrco,littlehurt,asitseemed,amidsthislordsatthebottomoftheslope。
AtthismomentIheardagreatshoutingandlookinground,sawthattheQuichuashadbrokenthroughourleftandwereslaughteringmany,whiletherestfled,alsothatourrightwaswavering。IsentmessengerstoHuaracha,biddinghimcalluptheYuncarearguard。TheywereslowincomingandIbegantofearthatallwaslostforlittlebylittlethehordesofthemenofCuzcoweresurroundingus。
ThenitwasthatKari,orsomewithhim,liftedabannerthathadbeenwrappeduponapole,abluebanneruponwhichwasembroideredagoldensun。AtthesightofittherewastumultintheIncaranks,andpresentlyagreatbodyofmen,fiveorsixthousandofthemthathadseemedtobeinreserve,ranforwardshouting,"/Kari！Kari！/"andfelluponthosewhowerepursuingourshatteredleft,breakingthemupanddispersingthem。AlsoatlasttheYuncascameupanddrovebacktheregimentsthatassailedourright,whilefromUrco'sarmiesthereroseacryof"Treachery！"
TrumpetsblewandtheIncahost,gatheringitselftogetherandabandoningitsdeadandwounded,drewbacksullenlyontotheplain,andtherehaltedinthreebodiesasbefore,thoughmuchlessenedinnumber。
Huarachaappeared,saying:
"Strike,WhiteLord！Itisourhour！Theheartisoutofthem。"
Thesignalwasgiven,androaringlikeahurricane,presentlytheChancascharged。Downtheslopetheywent,IattheheadofthemwithHuarachaononesideandKariontheother。Theswift—footedChancasoutranmewhowashinderedbymymail。Wechargedinthreemassesaswehadstoodontheridge,followingthoseopenlanesofgroundupwhichthefoehadnotcome,becausethesewerelesscumberedwithdeadandwounded。PresentlyIsawwhythoseofCuzcohadlefttheselanesuntrod,forofasuddensomewarriors,whohadoutstrippedme,vanished。Theyhadfallenintoapitcoveredoverwithearthlaiduponcanes,ofwhichthebottomwassetwithsharpstakes。Others,whowererunningalongthelanesofopengroundtorightandleft,alsofellintopitsofwhichtherewerescoresallcarefullypreparedagainstthedayofbattle。WithtroubletheChancaswerehalted,butnotbeforewehadlostsomehundredsofmen。ThenweadvancedagainacrossthatgroundoverwhichtheIncahosthadretreated。
Atlengthwereachedtheirlines,passingthroughastormofarrows,andtherebegansuchabattleasIhadneverheardoforevendreamed。
Withaxes,stone—headedclubsandspears,botharmiesfoughtfuriously,andthoughtheIncasstilloutnumberedusbytwotoone,becauseofmytrainingourregimentsdrovethemback。Lordafterlordrushedatmewithglaringeyes,butmymailturnedtheircopperspearsandknivesofflint。Oh！Wave—Flamefedfullthatday,andifThorgrimmermyforefathercouldhaveseenusfromhishomeinValhalla,surelyhemusthaveswornbyOdinthatneverhadhegivenitsuchafeast。
TheIncawarriorsgrewafraidandshrankback。
"ThisRed—Beardfromtheseaisindeedagod。Hecannotbeslain！"I
heardthemcry。
ThenUrcoappeared,bloodyandfurious,shouting:
"Cowards！Iwillshowyouwhetherhecannotbeslain。"
Herushedonwardtomeet——notme,butHuaracha,whoseeingthatIwasweary,hadleaptinfrontofme。Theyfought,andHuarachawentdownandwasdraggedawaybysomeofhisservants。
NowUrcoandIwerefacetoface,hewieldingahugecopper—headedclubwithwhich,asmymailcouldnotbepierced,hethoughttobatteroutmylife。Icaughttheblowuponmyshield,butsogreatwasthegiant'sstrengththatitbroughtmetomyknees。NextsecondIwasupandathim。Shouting,Ismotewithbothhands,formyshieldhadfallen。Thethick,turban—likeheaddressthatUrcoworewassevered,cutthroughastheaxehadbeen,andWave—Flamebitdeepintotheskullbeneath。
UrcofelllikeastunnedoxandIspranguponhimtomakeanend。Thenitwasthataropewasflungaboutmyshoulders,anoosedropethatwashauledtight。InvainIstruggled。Iwasthrowndown;IwasseizedbyascoreofhandsanddraggedawayintotheheartofUrco'shost。
Waitingtillalittercouldbebrought,theysetmeonmyfeetagain,myarmsstillboundbythenoosethattheseIndianscall/laso/,whichtheyknowsowellhowtothrow,theredswordWave—Flamestillhangingbyitsthongfrommyrightwrist。WhilstIstoodthus,likeabullinanet,theygatheredround,staringatme,notwithhateasitseemedtome,butinfearandwithreverence。Whenatlengththelittercametheyaidedmetoenteritquitegently。
AsIdidsoIlookedback。Thebattlestillragedbutitseemedtomewithlessfurythanbefore。Itwasasthoughbothsideswerewearyofslaughter,theirleadersbeingfallen。Thelitterwasborneforward,tillatlengththenoiseofshoutingandtumultgrewlow。TwistingmyselfroundIpeeredthroughthebackcurtainsandsawthattheIncahostandthatoftheChancaswereseparatingsullenly,neitherofthembrokensincetheycarriedtheirwoundedawaywiththem。Itwasplainthatthebattleremaineddrawnfortherewasnoroutandnotriumph。
Isaw,too,thatIwasenteringthegreatcityofCuzco,wherewomenandchildrenstoodatthedoorsofthehousesgazing,andsomeofthemwringingtheirhandswithtearsupontheirfaces。
Passingdownlongstreetsandacrossabridge,Icametoavastsquareroundwhichstoodmightybuildings,low,massive,andconstructedofhugestones。AtthedoorofoneofthesethelitterhaltedandIwashelpedtodescend。MenbeautifullycladinbroideredlinenledmethroughagatewayandacrossagardenwhereInotedamarvellousthing,namely:thatalltheplantsthereinwerefashionedofsolidgoldwithsilverflowers,orsometimesofsilverwithgoldenflowers。
Alsothereweretreesonwhichwereperchedbirdsofgoldandsilver。
WhenIsawthisIthoughtthatImustbemad,butitwasnotso,forhavingnootheruseforthepreciousmetals,ofwhichtheyhadsomuchabundance,thusdidtheseIncasadorntheirpalaces。
Leavingthegoldengarden,Ireachedacourtyardsurroundedbyrooms,tooneofwhichIwasconducted。Passingitsdoor,Ifoundmyselfinasplendidchamberhungwithtapestriesfantasticallywroughtandhavingcushionedseats,andtablesofrichwoodsincrustedwithpreciousstones。HereservantsorslavesappearedwithachamberlainwhoboweddeeplyandwelcomedmeinthenameoftheInca。