"Itis——deadorliving——itis————"andsheopenedherarms。
Oh!wasthereeveranythingmorebeautifulontheearththanthissightoftheblindQuillathusopeningherarmstomethereinthegorgeoushouseofdeath?
Weclungandkissed。ThenIthrustheraway,saying:
"Comeswiftlyfromthisill—omenedplace。Allisready。TheChancaswait。"
SheslippedherhandintomineandIturnedtoleadheraway。
ThenitwasthatIheardalow,mockinglaugh,Larico's,Ithought,heardalsoasoundofcreepingfootstepsaroundme。Ilooked。OutofthedarknessthathidthedoorsofthechamberontherightappearedagiantformwhichIknewforthatofUrco,andbehindhimothers。I
lookedtotheleftandthereweremoreofthem,whileinfrontbeyondthegold—laidboardstoodthetraitor,Larico,laughing。
"Youhavethefirstfruits,butitseemsthatanotherwillreaptheharvest,Lord—from—the—Sea,"hejeered。
"Seizeher,"criedUrcoinhisgutturalvoice,pointingtoQuillawithhismace,"andbrainthatwhitethief。"
IdrewWave—Flameandstrovetogetathim,butfrombothsidesmenrushedinonme。OneIcutdown,buttheotherssnatchedQuillaaway。
Iwassurrounded,withnoroomtowieldmysword,andalreadyweaponsflashedoverme。Athoughtcametome。TheChancaswereatthedoor。I
mustreachthem,forperhapssoQuillamightbesaved。Infrontwasthetablespreadforthedeathfeast。WithaboundIleaptontoit,shoutingaloudandscatteringitsgoldenfurnishingsthiswayandthat。Beyondstoodthetraitor,Larico,whohadtrappedme——IsprangathimandliftingWave—FlamewithbothhandsIsmotewithallmystrength。Hefell,asitseemedtome,cloventothemiddle。Thensomespearcastatmestruckthelamp。
Itshatteredandwentout!
CHAPTERXII
THEFIGHTTOTHEDEATH
Therewastumultinthehall;shoutings,groansfromhimwhomIhadfirststruckdown,thesoundofvasesandvesselsoverthrown,andaboveallthoseofawoman'sshrieksechoingfromthewallsandroof,sothatIcouldnottellwhencetheycame。
ThroughthegrossdarknessIwentontowardsthecurtains,orsoI
hoped。Presentlytheyweretornopen,andbythefaintlightofthebreakingdawnIsawmyeightChancasrushingtowardsme。
"Follow!"Icried,andattheheadofthemgropedmywaybackupthehall,seekingforQuilla。IstumbledoverthedeadbodyofLaricoandfeltapathroundthetable。ThensuddenlyadooratthebackofthehallwasthrownopenandbythegreylightwhichcamethroughthedoorwayIperceivedthelastoftheravishersdeparting。WescrambledacrossthedaiswherethegoldenchairwasoverthrownandtheembalmedUpanquilay,astiffandhuddledheapuponhisback,staringatmewithjewelledeyes。
Wegainedthedoorwhich,happily,nonehadrememberedtoclose,andpassedoutintotheparklikegroundsbeyond。Ahundredpacesormoreaheadofus,bytheglowinglight,Isawalitterpassingbetweenthetreessurroundedbyarmedmen,andknewthatinitwasQuillabeingbornetocaptivityandshame。
Afteritwesped。Itpassedthegateoftheparkwall,butwhenwereachedthatgateitwasshutandbarredandwemustwastetimebreakingitdown,whichwedidbyhelpofafelledtreethatlayathand。Wewerethroughit,andnowtherimofthesunhadappearedsothatthroughthemorningmist,whichclungtothehillsidebeyondthetown,wecouldseethelitter,thefullhalfofamileaway。Onwewentupthehill,gainingasweran,forwehadnolittertobear,noraughtelsesavethesackofarmourwhichoneoftheChancashadthoughttobringwithhimwhenherushedintothehall,andwithitmylongbowandshaft。
Now,atacertainplacebetweenthishillandanothertherewasagorgesuchasarecommoninthatcountry,agorgesodeepandnarrowthatinplacesthelightofdayscarcelystrugglestothepathwaysatitsbottom。IntothistunnelthelittervanishedandwhenwedrewnearIsawthatitsmouthwasheldbyarmedmen,sixofthemormore。
TakingmybowfromtheChancaIstrungitandshotswiftly。ThemanatwhomIaimedwentdown。AgainIshotandanotherfell,whereontherestofthemtookcoverbehindstones。
ThrowingbackthebowtotheChanca,fornowitwasuseless,wecharged。Thatbusinesswassoonover,forpresentlyallthoseofUrco'smenwhoremainedthereweredead,saveonewho,beingcutoff,fleddownhilltowardsthecity,takingwithhimthenewsofwhathadpassedinthepalaceofdeadUpanqui。
Weenteredthemouthofthegorge,plungingtowardsthegloom,thoughasitchancedthisplacefacedtowardstheeast,sothatthelowsun,whichnowwasfullyup,shonedownitandgaveuslightthatlaterwouldhavebeenlacking。
I,whowasveryswiftoffootandtowhomrageandfeargavewings,outranmycompanions。Swingingmyselfroundarockwhichlayinthepathway,Isawthelitteragainnotahundredyardsahead。Ithaltedbecause,asitseemedtome,oneormoreofthebearersstumbledandfellamongthestones。Irushedatthem,roaring。Perhapsithadbeenwisertowaitformycompanions,butIwasmadandfearednothing。
Theysawmeandacrywentupof:
"TheWhiteGod!TheterribleWhiteGod!"
Thenfeartookholdofthemandtheyfled,leavingthelitterontheground。Yes,allofthemfledsaveone,Urcohimself。
Hestoodthererollinghiseyesandgnashinghisteeth,lookinghugeandawfulinthoseshadows,lookinglikeadevilfromhell。Suddenlyathoughtseemedtotakehim,andleapingatthelitterhetoreasideitscurtainsanddraggedoutQuilla,whofellproneupontheground。
"IfImaynothaveher,youshallnot,WhiteThief。See!IgivebackhisbridetotheSun,"heshouted,andliftedhiscopperswordtopierceherthrough。
NowIwasstilltenpacesorsoawayandsawthatbeforeIcouldreachhimthatswordwouldbeinherheart。WhatcouldIdo?Oh!St。HubertmusthavehelpedmethenforIknewinaninstant。InmyhandwasWave—FlameandwithallmystrengthIhurleditathishead。
Thegreatbladehurtledhissingthroughtheair。Isawthesunlightshineonit。Hestrovetoleapclear,buttoolate,foritcaughthimonthehandthathehadliftedtoprotecthishead,andshoreofftwoofhisfingerssothathedroppedhissword。Nextinstant,stillroaring,asdoubtlessoldThorgrimmer,myforefather,usedtodowhenhefoughttothedeath,forbloodisverystrong,Ileaptonthegiant,wholikemyselfwasswordless。Thereinthegulfwewrestled。
Hewasamightyman,butnowmystrengthwasasthatoften。IthrewhimtothegroundbyaSussextrickIknewandtherewerolledoverandovereachother。OncehehadmeundermostandIthinkwouldhavechokedme,haditnotbeenthathisrighthandlackedtwofingers。
WithamightyheaveIliftedhimsothatnowwelaysidebyside。Hewasgropingforaknife——Ididnotsee,butknewit。Nearhisheadasharp—edgedstoneroseinthepathtotheheightofaman'shandormore。IsawitandbethoughtmewhattodoifIcould。AgainIheavedandasatlengthhefoundtheknifeandstabbedatme,scratchingmyface,Igothisbull'sneckuponthatstone。ThenIloosedmyhandandcaughthimbythehair。BackIpressedhisgreathead,backandbackwithallmymighttillsomethingsnapped。
Urco'sneckwasbroken。Urcoquiveredandwasdead!
Ilaybyhisside,panting。Avoicecamefromthewhiteheapuponthegroundbywhomandforwhomthisdreadfulcombathadbeenfought,thevoiceofQuilla。
"Onedied,butwholives?"askedthevoice。
IcouldnotanswerbecauseIhadnobreath。Allmystrengthwasgone。
StillIsatup,supportingmyselfwithmyhandandhopingthatitwouldcomeback。Quillaturnedherfacetowardsme,orrathertowardsthesoundthatIhadmadeinmoving,andIthoughttomyselfhowsaditwasthatsheshouldbeblind。Presentlyshespokeagainandnowhervoicequavered:
"I/see/whoitisthatlives,"shesaid。"Somethinghasbrokeninmyeyesand,LordandLove,Iseethatitis/you/wholive。You,you,andoh!youbleed。"
ThentheChancascameboundingdownthegorgeandfoundus。
Theylookedatthedeadgiantandsawhowhehaddied,killedbystrength,notbythesword;theylookedandbentthekneeandpraisedme,sayingthatIwasindeedagod,sincenomancouldhavedonethisdeed,killingthehugeUrcowithhisnakedhands。ThentheyplacedQuillabackinherlitterandsixofthemboreherdownthatblackgorge。Thetwowhoremained,forinthatfightnoneofthemhadbeenhurt,supportedmetillmystrengthcameback,forthecutinthefacethatIhadreceivedfromUrco'sdaggerwasbutslight。Wereachedthemouthofthegorgeandtookcounsel。
ToreturntoCuzcoafterwhatIhaddone,wouldbetoseekdeath。Soweboreawaytotherightand,makingaround,cameaboutteno'clockofthemorningunmolestedbyany,tothatridgeonwhichIhadstoodatthebeginningofthebattleoftheFieldofBlood。ThereIfoundtheChancasencamped,somethreethousandofthem,asIhadcommanded。
Whentheysawme,livingandbutlittlehurt,theyshoutedforjoy,andwhentheylearnedwhowasinthatlittertheywentwell—nighmad。
ThentheeightwarriorswithmetoldthemallthetaleofthesavingofQuillaandthedeathofthegiantUrcoatmyhands,whereontheircaptainscameandkissedmyfeet,sayingthatIwasintruthagod,thoughheretoforesomeofthemhadheldmetobebutaman。
"Godorman,"Ianswered,"Imustrest。LetthewomentendtoladyQuilla,andgivemefoodanddrink,afterwhichIwillsleep。AtsunsetwemarchhometoHuaracha,yourkingandmine,togivehimbackhisdaughter。Tillthenthereisnaughttofear,sinceKarihasnotroopsathandwithwhichtoattackus。Still,setoutposts。"
SoIateanddrank,butlittleoftheformerandmuchofthelatter,I
fear,andafterthatIsleptassoundlyasonewhoisdead,forIwasoutworn。
Whenthesunwaswithinanhourofsetting,captainsawakenedmeandsaidthatanembassyfromCuzco,tenmenonly,waitedoutsideourlines,seekingspeechwithme。SoIrose,andmyfaceandwoundhavingbeendressed,causedwatertobepouredovermybody,andwasrubbedwithoil;afterwhich,clothedintherobesofaChancanoble,butwearingnoarmour,IwentoutwithnineChancacaptainstoreceivetheembassyontheplainatthefootofthehill,atthatveryspotwherefirstIhadfoughtwithUrco。
Whenwedrewnear,fromoutofthegroupofnoblesadvancedoneman。I
lookedandsawthathewasKari,yes,theIncahimself。
Iwentforwardtomeethimandwespoketogetherjustoutofearshotofourfollowers。
"Mybrother,"saidKari,"IhavelearnedallthathaspassedandI
giveyoupraisewhoarethemostdaringamongmenandthefirstamongwarriors;youwhoslewthegiantUrcowithyournakedhands。"
"Andthusmadeyourthronesafeforyou,Kari。"
"Andthusmademythronesafeforme。YoualsowhocloveLaricotothebreastinthedeath—houseofUpanqui,myfather————"
"Andthusdeliveredyoufromatraitor,Kari。"
"Andthusdeliveredmefromatraitor,asIhavelearnedalsofromyourmessengerwhohandedtometheknottedcord,andfromthespywhomyouhadinyourkeeping。Irepeatthatyouarethemostdaringamongmenandthefirstamongwarriors;almostagodasmypeoplenameyou。"
Ibowed,andafteralittlesilencehewenton:
"WouldthatthiswereallthatIhavetosay。Butalas!itisnot。YouhavecommittedthegreatsacrilegeagainsttheSun,myfather,ofwhichIwarnedyou,havingrobbedhimofhisbride,and,mybrother,youhaveliedtome,whotoldmebutyesterdaythatyouhadputallthoughtofherfromyourmind。"
"Tomethatwasnosacrilege,Kari,butratherarighteousdeed,tofreeonefromthebondsofafaithinwhichneithershenorIbelieve,andtoleadherfromalivingtombbacktolifeandlove。"
"Andwasthelierighteousalso,Brother?"
"Aye,"Iansweredboldly,"ifeveraliecanbe。Bethinkyou。Youprayedthatthisladymightdiebecauseshecamebetweenyouandme,andthosethatkingspraymaydie,dodie,ifnotwiththeirknowledgeorbytheirexpresscommand。ThereforeIsaidthatIhadputherfrommymindinorderthatshemightgoonliving。"
"Tocherishyouinherarms,Brother。Nowhearken。Becauseofthisdeedofyours,wewhoweremorethanfriendshavebecomemorethanfoes。Youhavedeclaredwaruponmygodandme;thereforeIdeclarewaruponyou。Yethearkenagain。Idonotwishthatthousandsofmenshouldperishbecauseofourquarrel。ThereforeImakeanoffertoyou。Itisthatyoushouldfightmehereandnow,mantoman,andlettheSun,orPachacamacbeyondtheSun,decidethematterasmaybedecreed。"
"Fight/you!/Fight/you/Kari,theInca,"Igasped。
"Aye,fightmetothedeath,sincebetweenusallisoveranddone。InEnglandyounurturedme。HereinthelandofTavantinsuyu,whichI
ruleto—day,Ihavenurturedyou,andinmyshadowyouhavegrowngreat,thoughitistruethathaditnotbeenforyourgeneralship,perchanceIshouldnolongerbeheretothrowtheshadow。Letusthereforesettheonethingagainsttheotherand,forgettingallbetweenusthatispast,standfacetofaceasfoes。Mayhapyouwillconquerme,beingsomightyamanofwar。Mayhap,also,ifthatchances,mypeoplewholookuponyouashalfagodwillraiseyouuptobeIncaafterme,shouldsuchbeyourdesire。"
"Itisnot,"Ibrokein。
"Ibelieveyou,"heanswered,bowinghishead,"butwillitnotbethedesireofthatfair—facedharlotwhohasbetrayedourLordtheSun?"
AtthiswordIstartedandbitmylip。
"Ah!thatstingsyou,"hewenton,"asthetruthalwaysstings,anditiswell。Understand,WhiteLordwhowereoncemybrother,thateitheryoumustfightmetothedeath,orIdeclarewaruponyouandupontheChancapeople,whichwarIwillwagefrommonthtomonthandfromyeartoyearuntilyouarealldestroyed,asdestroyedyoushallbe。ButshouldyoufightandshouldtheSungivemethevictory,thenjusticewillbeaccomplishedandIwillkeepthepeacethatIhaveswornwiththeChancapeople。Further,shouldyouconquerme,inthenameofmypeopleIswearthatthereshallstillbepeacebetweenthemandtheChancas,sinceIshallhaveatonedyoursacrilegewithmyblood。NowsummonthoselordsofyoursandIwillsummonmine,andsetoutthemattertothem。"
SoIturnedandbeckonedtomycaptains,andKaribeckonedtohis。
Theycame,andinthehearingofall,veryclearlyandquietlyaswashisfashion,herepeatedeverywordthathehadsaidtome,addingtothemothersoflikemeaning。WhilehespokeIthought,notlisteningover—much。
Thisthingwashatefultome,yetIwasinasnare,sinceaccordingtothecustomsofallthesepeoplesIcouldnotrefusesuchachallengeandremainunshamed。Moreover,itwastotheadvantageoftheChancas,aye,andoftheQuichuasalso,thatIshouldnotrefuseitseeingthatwhetherIlivedordied,peacewouldthenreignbetweenthemwhootherwisemustbothbedestroyedbywar。IrememberedhowonceQuillahadsacrificedherselftopreventsuchawar,thoughintheendthatwarhadcome;andwhatQuillahaddone,shouldInotdoalso?WearythoughIwasIdidnotfearKari,braveandswiftashemightbe,indeedIthoughtthatIcouldkillhimandperhapstakehisthrone,sincetheQuichuasworshippedme,whosooftenhadledtheirarmiestotriumph,almostasmuchasdidtheChancas。But——IcouldnotkillKari。AssoonwouldIkillonebornofmyownmother。Wastherethennoescape?
Theanswerroseinmymind。Therewasanescape。IcouldsufferKaritokillme。OnlyifIdidthis,whatofQuilla!Afterallthathadcomeandgone,mustIloseQuillathus,andmustQuillaloseme?
Surelyshewouldbreakherheartanddie。Myplightwasdesperate。I
knewnotwhattodo。Thenofasudden,whileIwavered,somevoiceseemedtowhisperinmyear;IthoughtitmustbethatofSt。Hubert。
Itseemedtosaytome,"Karitruststohisgod,cannotyoutrusttoyours,HubertofHastings,youwhoareaChristianman?Goforward,andtrusttoyours,HubertofHastings。"
Kari'sgentlevoicediedaway;hehadfinishedhisspeechandallmenlookedatme。
"Whatword?"Isaidroughlytomycaptains。
"Onlythis,Lord,"answeredtheirspokesman,"Fightyoumust,ofthattherecanbenodoubt,butwewouldfightwithyou,thetenoftheChancasagainstthetenoftheQuichuas。"
"Aye,thatisgood,"repliedthefirstofKari'snobles。"Thisbusinessistoogreattosetupononeman'sskillandstrength。"
"Havedone!"Isaid。"ItliesbetweentheIncaandmyself,"whileKarinodded,andrepeated"Havedone!"afterme。
ThenIsentoneofthecaptainsbacktothecampformyswordandKaricommandedthathisshouldbebroughttohim,sinceaccordingtothecustomofthesepeoplewhenambassadorsmeet,neitherofuswasarmed。
Presently,thecaptainholdingmyswordreturned,andwithhimservantswhobroughtmyarmour。AlsoafterthemstreamedallthearmyoftheChancasamongwhomthenewshadspreadlikewind—drivenfire,andlinedthemselvesupontheridgetowatch。Ashecame,too,I
noticedthatthiscaptainsharpenedWave—Flamewithacertainkindofstonethatwasusedtogiveakeenedgetoweapons。
Hebroughttheancientweaponandhandedittomeonhisknee。TheInca'smanalsobroughthisswordandhandedittohim,ashedidso,bowinghisforeheadtothedust。WellIknewthatweapon,sinceoncebeforeIhadfaceditindesperatebattleformylife。Itwastheivory—handledswordofthelordDeleroywhichKarihadtakenfromhisdeadhandafterIslewhimintheSolarofmyhouseintheCheapatLondon。Thentheservantcametomewiththearmour,butIsenthimaway,sayingthatastheIncahadnone,Iwouldnotwearit,atwhichmypeoplemurmured。
Karisawandheard。
"Nobleasever,"hesaidaloud。"Oh!thatsuchbrighthonourshouldhavebeentarnishedbyawoman'sbreath。"
Ourlordsdiscussedthemannerofourfighting,buttothemIpaidlittleheed。
Atlengthallwasreadyandwesteppedforwardtofaceeachotheratagivenword,cladmuchalike。Ihadthrownoffmyoutergarmentandstoodbareheadedinajerkinofsoftsheepskin。Kari,too,wasstrippedofhissplendiddressandcladinatunicofsheepskin。Also,thatwemightbequiteequal,hehadtakenoffhisturban—likeheadgearandeventheroyalFringe,whereathislordsstaredateachotherfortheythoughtthisabadomen。
ItwasjustthenIheardasoundbehindme,andturningmyheadIsawQuillastumblingtowardsusdownthestonyslopeasbestherhalf—
blindeyeswouldlether,andcryingasshecame:
"Oh!myLord,fightnot。Inca,IwillreturntotheHouseoftheSun!"
"Silence,accursedwoman!"saidKari,frowning。"DoestheSuntakebacksuchasyou?Silenceuntilthewoethatyouhavewroughtisfinished,andthenwailonforever。"
Sheshrankbackathisbitter,unjustwords,andguidedbythewomenwhohadfollowedher,sankuponastone,whereshesatstillasastatueorasdeadUpanquiinhishall。
NowonecalledaloudthepledgesofthefightwhichwereasKarihadspokenthem。Helistenedandadded:
"Beitknown,also,thatthisbattleistothedeathofoneorbothofus,sinceifweliveItakebackmyoathsandIwillburnyonderwitchasasacrificetotheSunwhomshehasbetrayed,anddestroyherpeopleandhercityaccordingtotheancientlawofVengeanceontheHouseofthosewhohavedeceivedtheSun。"
Iheardbutmadenoanswer,whodidnotwishtowastemybreathinbandyingwordswithagreatman,whosebrainhadbeenturnedbybigotryandwoman—hatred。
Amomentlaterthesignalwasgivenandwewereatit。Karileaptatmelikethetree—lionofhisownforests,butIavoidedandparried。
ThriceheleaptandthriceIdidthis;yes,evenwhenIsawanopeningandmighthavecuthimdown。AlmostIstruck,thencouldnot。TheChancaswatchedme,wonderingwhatgameIplayedwhowasnotwonttofightinthisfashion,andIalsowondered,whostillknewnotwhattodo。SomethingImustdo,orpresentlyIshouldbeslain,sincesoonmyguardwouldfailandDeleroy'sswordgethomeatlast。
IthinkthatKarigrewperplexedatthispatientdefenceofmine,andneverablowstruckback。Atleasthewithdrawalittle,thencameformewitharush,holdinghisswordhighabovehisheadwiththepurposeofstrikingmeabovethatguard,orsoIsupposed。Then,ofasudden,Iknewwhattodo。WheelingWave—Flamewithallmystrengthinbothhands,Ismote,notatKaributattheivoryhandleofhissword。Thekeenandancientsteelthatmightwellhavebeensomeofthatwhich,aslegendtold,wasforgedbythedwarfsinNorseland,fellupontheivorybetweenhishand—gripandthecross—pieceandshorethroughitasIhadhopedthatitwoulddo,sothatthebladeofKari'ssword,severedjustabovethehilt,felltothegroundandthehiltitselfwasjarredfromhishand。
HisnoblessawandgroanedwhiletheChancasshoutedwithjoy,fornowKariwasdefencelessandsaveforthedeathitself,thisfighttothedeathwasended。
Karifoldedhisarmsuponhisbreastandbenthishead。
"Itisthedecreeofmygod,"hesaid,"andIdidilltotrusttotheswordofavillainwhomyouslew。Strike,Conqueror,andmakeanend。"
IrestedmyselfuponWave—Flameandanswered:
"IfIstrikenot,OInca,willyoutakebackyourwordsandletpeacereignbetweenyourpeopleandtheChancas?"
"Nay,"heanswered。"WhatIhavesaid,Ihavesaid。IfyonderfalsewomanisgivenuptosufferthefateofthosewhohavebetrayedtheSun,thenthereshallbepeacebetweenthepeoples,butnototherwise,sincewhileIliveIwillwagewaruponherandyou,andupontheChancaswhoshelterbothofyou。"
Nowragetookholdofme,whorememberedthatwhilethiswoman—haterlivedbloodmustflowinstreams,butthatifhediedtherewouldbepeaceandQuillawouldbesafe。SoIliftedmyswordalittle,andasIdidsoQuillarosefromherstoneandstumbledforward,crying:
"OLord,shednottheInca'sholybloodforme。Letmebegivenup!
Letmebegivenup!"
ThensomespiritenteredintomeandIspoke,saying:
"Lady,halfofyourprayerIgrantandhalfIdeny。IwillnotshedtheInca'sblood;assoonwouldIshedyours。NorwillIsufferyoutobegivenupwhohavedonenowrong,sinceitwasIwhotookyouawaybyforce,asUrcowouldhavedone。Kari,hearkentome。Notonceonlywhenwewereindangertogetherinpastdayshaveyousaidtomethatwemustputourfaithinthegodsweworship,andthuswedid。NowagainIhearkentothatcounselofyoursandputmyfaithintheGodI
worship。Youthreatentogatherallthestrengthofyourmightyempire,andbecauseofwhatIholdtobeyoursuperstitions,todestroytheChancapeopletothelastbabeandtoleveltheircitytothelaststone。IdonotbelievethattheGodIworshipwillsufferthistocomeabout,thoughhowhewillstayyourvengeanceIdonotknow。Kari,greatIncaofTavantinsuyu,Lordofallthisstrangenewworld,I,theWhiteWanderer—from—the—Sea,giveyouyourlifeandsaveyouasoncebeforeIsavedyouinafarland,andwithyourlifeI
giveyoumyblessinginallmattersbutthisonealone。Kari,mybrother,lookyourlastonmeandgoinpeace。"
TheIncaheard,andraisinghishead,staredatmewithhisfine,melancholyeyes。Thensuddenlyfromthoseeyestherecameagushoftears。More,hekneltbeforemeandkissedtheground,asthehumblestofhisslavesmightdobeforehisownmajesty。
"Mostnobleofmen,"hesaid,liftinghimselfupagain,"Iworshipyou。Yes,I,theInca,worshipyou。WouldthatImighttakebackmyoath,butthisIcannotdobecausemygodhardensmyheartandthenwoulddecreedestructiononmypeople。Mayhaphewhomyouservewillbringthingstopassasyouforetell,asitwouldseemhehasbroughtittopassthatIshouldeatthedustbeforeyou。Ihopethatitmaybesowholovenotthesightofblood,butwholiketheshotarrowmustyetfollowmycourse,drivenbythestrengththatloosedme。
Brother,honouredandbeloved,fareyouwell!Mayhappinessbeyoursinlifeanddeath,andthereindeathmaywemeetagainandoncemorebebrotherswherenowomencometopartus。"
ThenKariturnedandwentwithbowedhead,togetherwithhisnobles,whofollowedhimassadlyasthosewhosurroundacorpse,butnotuntiltheyhadgiventomethatroyalsalutewhichisonlyrenderedtotheIncainhisglory。