THE VIRGIN OF THE SUN

By H. Rider Haggard

First Published in 1922. 

DEDICATION

My Dear Little, Some five-and-thirty years ago it was our custom to discuss manymatters, among them, I think, the history and romance of the vanishedEmpires of Central America. 

In memory of those far-off days will you accept a tale that deals withone of them, that of the marvellous Incas of Peru; with the legend alsothat, long before the Spanish Conquerors entered on their mission ofrobbery and ruin, there in that undiscovered land lived and died a WhiteGod risen from the sea?

Ever sincerely yours, H. Rider Haggard. Ditchingham, Oct. 24, 1921. 

James Stanley Little, Esq. 

THE VIRGIN OF THE SUN

INTRODUCTORY

There are some who find great interest, and even consolation, amid theworries and anxieties of life in the collection of relics of the past, drift or long-sunk treasures that the sea of time has washed up upon ourmodern shore. 

The great collectors are not of this class. Having large sums at theirdisposal, these acquire any rarity that comes upon the market and addit to their store which in due course, perhaps immediately upon theirdeaths, also will be put upon the market and pass to the possession ofother connoisseurs. Nor are the dealers who buy to sell again and thusgrow wealthy. Nor are the agents of museums in many lands, who purchasefor the national benefit things that are gathered together in certaingreat public buildings which perhaps, some day, though the thoughtmakes one shiver, will be looted or given to the flames by enemies or byfurious, thieving mobs. 

Those that this Editor has in mind, from one of whom indeed he obtainedthe history printed in these pages, belong to a quite differentcategory, men of small means often, who collect old things, for the mostpart at out-of-the-way sales or privately, because they love them, andsometimes sell them again because they must. Frequently these old thingsappeal, not because of any intrinsic value that they may have, noteven for their beauty, for they may be quite unattractive even to thecultivated eye, but rather for their associations. Such folk love toreflect upon and to speculate about the long-dead individuals who haveowned the relics, who have supped their soup from the worn Elizabethanspoon, who have sat at the rickety oak table found in a kitchen or anout-house, or upon the broken, ancient chair. They love to think of thelittle children whose skilful, tired hands wrought the faded sampler andwhose bright eyes smarted over its innumerable stitches. 

Who, for instance, was the May Shore ("Fairy" broidered in a bracketunderneath, was her pet name), who finished yonder elaborate example onher tenth birthday, the 1st of May--doubtless that is where she gother name--in the year 1702, and on what far shore does she keep herbirthdays now? None will ever know. She has vanished into the greatsea of mystery whence she came, and there she lives and has her being, forgotten upon earth, or sleeps and sleeps and sleeps. Did she die youngor old, married or single? Did she ever set _her_ children to work othersamplers, or had she none? was she happy or unhappy, was she homely orbeautiful? Was she a sinner or a saint? Again none will ever know. Shewas born on the 1st of May, 1692, and certainly she died on some dateunrecorded. So far as human knowledge goes that is all her history, justas much or as little as will be left of most of us who breathe to-daywhen this earth has completed two hundred and eighteen more revolutionsround the sun. 

But the kind of collector alluded to can best be exemplified in theindividual instance of him from whom the manuscript was obtained, ofwhich a somewhat modernized version is printed on these pages. He hasbeen dead some years, leaving no kin; and under his will, such of hismotley treasures as it cared to accept went to a local museum, whilethe rest and his other property were sold for the benefit of a mysticalbrotherhood, for the old fellow was a kind of spiritualist. Therefore, there is no harm in giving his plebeian name, which was Potts. Mr. Potts had a small draper's shop in an undistinguished and rarely visitedcountry town in the east of England, which shop he ran with the helpof an assistant almost as old and peculiar as himself. Whether he madeanything out of it or whether he lived upon private means is now unknownand does not matter. Anyway, when there was something of antiquarianinterest or value to be bought, generally he had the money to pay forit, though at times, in order to do so, he was forced to sell somethingelse. Indeed these were the only occasions when it was possible topurchase anything, indifferent hosiery excepted, from Mr. Potts. 

Now, I, the Editor, who also love old things, and to whom therefore Mr. Potts was a sympathetic soul, was aware of this fact and entered intoan arrangement with the peculiar assistant to whom I have alluded, toadvise me of such crises which arose whenever the local bank called Mr. Potts's attention to the state of his account. Thus it came about thatone day I received the following letter:--

Sir, The Guv'nor has gone a bust upon some cracked china, the ugliest thatever I saw though no judge. So if you want to get that old tall clock atthe first price or any other of his rubbish, I think now is your chance. Anyhow, keep this dark as per agreement. 

Your obedient, Tom. 

(He always signed himself Tom, I suppose to mystify, although I believehis real name was Betterly. )

The result of this epistle was a long and disagreeable bicycle ride inwet autumn weather, and a visit to the shop of Mr. Potts. Tom, aliasBetterly, who was trying to sell some mysterious undergarments to a fatold woman, caught sight of me, the Editor aforesaid, and winked. In ashadowed corner of the shop sat Mr. Potts himself upon a high stool, awizened little old man with a bent back, a bald head, and a hookednose upon which were set a pair of enormous horn-rimmed spectacles thataccentuated his general resemblance to an owl perched upon the edge ofits nest-hole. He was busily engaged in doing nothing, and in staringinto nothingness as, according to Tom, was his habit when communing withwhat he, Tom, called his "dratted speerits. "

"Customer!" said Tom in a harsh voice. "Sorry to disturb you at yourprayers, Guv'nor, but not having two pair of hands I can't serve acrowd, " meaning the old woman of the undergarments and myself. 

Mr. Potts slid off his stool and prepared for action. When he saw, however, who the customer was he bristled--that is the only word for it. The truth is that although between us there was an inward and spiritualsympathy, there was also an outward and visible hostility. Twice Ihad outbid Mr. Potts at a local auction for articles which he desired. Moreover, after the fashion of every good collector he felt it to behis duty to hate me as another collector. Lastly, several times Ihad offered him smaller sums for antiques upon which he set a certainmonetary value. It is true that long ago I had given up this bargainingfor the reason that Mr. Potts would never take less than he asked. Indeed he followed the example of the vendor of the Sibylline books inancient Rome. He did not destroy the goods indeed after the fashionof that person and demand the price of all of them for the one thatremained, but invariably he put up his figure by 10 per cent. Andnothing would induce him to take off one farthing. 

"What do _you_ want, sir?" he said grumpily. "Vests, hose, collars, orsocks?"

"Oh, socks, I think, " I replied at hazard, thinking that they wouldbe easiest to carry, whereupon Mr. Potts produced some peculiarlyobjectionable and shapeless woollen articles which he almost threw atme, saying that they were all he had in stock. Now I detest woollensocks and never wear them. Still, I made a purchase, thinking withsympathy of my old gardener whose feet they would soon be scratching, and while the parcel was being tied up, said in an insinuating voice, "Anything fresh upstairs, Mr. Potts?"

"No, sir, " he answered shortly, "at least, not much, and if there werewhat's the use of showing them to you after the business about thatclock?"

"It was £15 you wanted for it, Mr. Potts?" I asked. 

"No, sir, it was £17 and now it's 10 per cent. On to that; you can workout the sum for yourself. "

"Well, let's have another look at it, Mr. Potts, " I replied humbly, whereon with a grunt and a muttered injunction to Tom to mind the shop, he led the way upstairs. 

Now the house in which Mr. Potts dwelt had once been of considerablepretensions and was very, very old, Elizabethan, I should think, although it had been refronted with a horrible stucco to suit moderntastes. The oak staircase was good though narrow, and led to numeroussmall rooms upon two floors above, some of which rooms were panelledand had oak beams, now whitewashed like the panelling--at least they hadonce been whitewashed, probably in the last generation. 

These rooms were literally crammed with every sort of old furniture, most of it decrepit, though for many of the articles dealers would havegiven a good price. But at dealers Mr. Potts drew the line; not one ofthem had ever set a foot upon that oaken stair. To the attics the placewas filled with this furniture and other articles such as books, china, samplers with the glass broken, and I know not what besides, piled inheaps upon the floor. Indeed where Mr. Potts slept was a mystery; eitherit must have been under the counter in his shop, or perhaps at nights heinhabited a worm-eaten Jacobean bedstead which stood in an attic, forI observed a kind of pathway to it running through a number of leglesschairs, also some dirty blankets between the moth-riddled curtains. 

Not far from this bedstead, propped in an intoxicated way against thesloping wall of the old house, stood the clock which I desired. It wasone of the first "regulator" clocks with a wooden pendulum, used by themaker himself to check the time-keeping of all his other clocks, andenclosed in a chaste and perfect mahogany case of the very best style ofits period. So beautiful was it, indeed, that it had been an instance of"love at first sight" between us, and although there was an estrangementon the matter of settlements, or in other words over the question ofprice, now I felt that never more could that clock and I be parted. 

So I agreed to give old Potts the £20 or, to be accurate, £18 14s. Whichhe asked on the 10 per cent. Rise principle, thankful in my heart thathe had not made it more, and prepared to go. As I turned, however, myeye fell upon a large chest of the almost indestructible yellow cypresswood of which were made, it is said, the doors of St. Peter's at Romethat stood for eight hundred years and, for aught I know, are stillstanding, as good as on the day when they were put up. 

"Marriage coffer, " said Potts, answering my unspoken question. 

"Italian, about 1600?" I suggested. 

"May be so, or perhaps Dutch made by Italian artists; but older thanthat, for somebody has burnt 1597 on the lid with a hot iron. Not forsale, not for sale at all, much too good to sell. Just you look insideit, the old key is tied to the spring lock. Never saw such poker-work inmy life. Gods and goddesses and I don't know what; and Venus sittingin the middle in a wreath of flowers with nothing on, and holding twohearts in her hands, which shows that it was a marriage chest. Once itwas full of some bride's outfit, sheets and linen and clothes, and Godknows what. I wonder where she has got to to-day. Some place where themoth don't eat clothes, I hope. Bought it at the break-up of anancient family who fled to Norfolk on the revocation of the Edict ofNantes--Huguenot, of course. Years ago, years ago! Haven't looked intoit for many years, indeed, but think there's nothing there but rubbishnow. "

Thus he mumbled on while he found and untied the old key. The springlock had grown stiff from disuse and want of oil, but at length itturned and reopened the chest revealing the poker-work glories on theinner side of the lid and elsewhere. Glories they were indeed, never hadI seen such artistry of the sort. 

"Can't see it properly, " muttered Potts, "windows want washing, haven'tbeen done since my wife died, and that's twenty years ago. Miss hervery much, of course, but thank God there's no spring-cleaning now. Thethings I've seen broken in spring-cleaning! yes, and lost, too. It wasafter one of them that I told my wife that now I understood why theMahomedans declare that women have no souls. When she came to understandwhat I meant, which it took her a long time to do, we had a row, aregular row, and she threw a Dresden figure at my head. Luckily I caughtit, having been a cricketer when young. Well, she's gone now, and nodoubt heaven's a tidier place than it used to be--that is, if they willstand her rummagings there, which I doubt. Look at that Venus, ain't shea beauty? Might have been done by Titian when his paints ran out, andhe had to take to a hot iron to express his art. What, you can't seeher well? Wait a bit and I'll get a lantern. Can't have a naked candlehere--things too valuable; no money could buy them again. My wife andI had another row about naked candles, or it may have been a paraffinlamp. You sit in that old prayer-stool and look at the work. "

Off he went crawling down the dusky stairs and leaving me wonderingwhat Mrs. Potts, of whom now I heard for the first time, could have beenlike. An aggravating woman, I felt sure, for upon whatever points mendiffer, as to "spring-cleaning" they are all of one mind. No doubt hewas better without her, for what did that dried-up old artist want witha wife?

Dismissing Mrs. Potts from my mind, which, to tell the truth, seemedto have no room for her shadowy and hypothetical entity, I fell toexamining the chest. Oh! it was lovely. In two minutes the clock wasdeposed and that chest became the sultana in my seraglio of beauteousthings. The clock had only been the light love of an hour. Here wasthe eternal queen, that is, unless there existed a still better chestsomewhere else, and I should happen to find it. Meanwhile, whateverprice that old slave-dealer Potts wanted for it, must be paid to himeven if I had to overdraw my somewhat slender account. Seraglios, ofwhatever sort, it must be remembered, are expensive luxuries of the richindeed, though, if of antiques, they can be sold again, which cannot besaid of the human kind for who wants to buy a lot of antique frumps?

There were plenty of things in the chest, such as some odds and ends oftapestry and old clothes of a Queen Anne character, put here, no doubt, for preservation, as moth does not like this cypress wood. Also therewere some books and a mysterious bundle tied up in a curious shawl withstripes of colour running through it. That bundle excited me, and I drewthe fringes of the shawl apart and looked in. So far as I could see itcontained another dress of rich colours, also a thick packet of whatlooked like parchment, badly prepared and much rotted upon one sideas though by damp, which parchment appeared to be covered with faintblack-letter writing, done by some careless scribe with poor ink thathad faded very much. There were other things, too, within the shawl, such as a box made of some red foreign wood, but I had not time toinvestigate further for just then I heard old Potts's foot upon thestair, and thought it best to replace the bundle. He arrived with thelantern and by its light we examined the chest and the poker work. 

"Very nice, " I said, "very nice, though a good deal knocked about. "

"Yes, sir, " he replied with sarcasm, "I suppose you'd like to see itneat and new after four hundred years of wear, and if so, I think I cantell you where you can get one to your liking. I made the designs forit myself five years ago for a fellow who wanted to learn how tomanufacture antiques. He's in quod now and his antiques are for salecheap. I helped to put him there to get him out of the way as a dangerto Society. "

"What's the price?" I asked with airy detachment. 

"Haven't I told you it ain't for sale. Wait till I'm dead and come andbuy it at my auction. No, you won't, though, for it's going somewhereelse. "

I made no answer but continued my examination while Potts took hisseat on the prayer-stool and seemed to go off into one of his fits ofabstraction. 

"Well, " I said at length when decency told me that I could remain nolonger, "if you won't sell it's no use my looking. No doubt you want tokeep it for a richer man, and of course you are quite right. Will youarrange with the carrier about sending the clock, Mr. Potts, and I willlet you have a cheque. Now I must be off, as I've ten miles to ride andit will be dark in an hour. "

"Stop where you are, " said Potts in a hollow voice. "What's a ride inthe dark compared with a matter like this, even if you haven't a lampand get hauled before your own bench? Stop where you are, I'm listeningto something. "

So I stopped and began to fill my pipe. 

"Put that pipe away, " said Potts, coming out of his reverie, "pipes meanmatches; no matches here. "

I obeyed, and he went on thinking till at last what between the chestand the worm-eaten Jacobean bed and old Potts on the prayer-stool, Ibegan to feel as if I were being mesmerized. At length he rose and saidin the same hollow voice:

"Young man, you may have that chest, and the price is £50. Now forheaven's sake don't offer me £40, or it will be £100 before you leavethis room. "

"With the contents?" I said casually. 

"Yes, with the contents. It's the contents I'm told you are to have. "

"Look here, Potts, " I said, exasperated, "what the devil do you mean?There's no one in this room except you and me, so who can have told youanything unless it was old Tom downstairs. "

"Tom, " he said with unutterable sarcasm, "Tom! Perhaps you mean themawkin that was put up to scare birds from the peas in the garden, forit has more in its head than Tom. No one here? Oh! what fools some menare. Why, the place is thick with them. "

"Thick with whom?"

"Who? why, ghosts, of course, as you would call them in your ignorance. Spirits of the dead I name them. Beautiful enough, too, some of them. Look at that one there, " and he lifted the lantern and pointed to a pileof old bed posts of Chippendale design. 

"Good day, Potts, " I said hastily. 

"Stop where you are, " repeated Potts. "You don't believe me yet, butwhen you are as old as I am you will remember my words and believe--morethan I do and see--clearer than I do, because it's in your soul, yes, the seed is in your soul, though as yet it is choked by the world, theflesh, and the devil. Wait till your sins have brought you trouble; waittill the fires of trouble have burned the flesh away; wait till you havesought Light and found Light and live in Light, then you will believe;_then_ you will see. "

All this he said very solemnly, and standing there in that dusky roomsurrounded by the wreck of things that once had been dear to dead menand women, waving the lantern in his hand and staring--at what was hestaring?--really old Potts looked most impressive. His twisted shape andugly countenance became spiritual; he was one who had "found Light andlived in Light. "

"You won't believe me, " he went on, "but I pass on to you what a womanhas been telling me. She's a queer sort of woman; I never saw herlike before, a foreigner and dark-hued with strange rich garments andsomething on her head. There, that, _that_, " and he pointed through thedirty window-place to the crescent of a young moon which appeared inthe sky. "A fine figure of a woman, " he went on, "and oh! heaven, whateyes--I never saw such eyes before. Big and tender, something like thoseof the deer in the park yonder. Proud, too, she is, one who has ruled, and a lady, though foreign. Well, I never fell in love before, but Ifeel like it now, and so would you, young man, if you could see her, andso I think did someone else in his day. "

"What did she say to you?" I asked, for by now I was interested enough. Who wouldn't be when old Potts took to describing beautiful women?

"It's a little difficult to tell you for she spoke in a strange tongue, and I had to translate it in my head, as it were. But this is the gistof it. That you were to have that chest and what was in it. There's awriting there, she says, or part of a writing for some has gone--rottedaway. You are to read that writing or to get it read and to print it sothat the world may read it also. She said that 'Hubert' wishes you todo so. I am sure the name was Hubert, though she also spoke of him withsome other title which I do not understand. That's all I can remember, except something about a city, yes, a City of Gold and a last greatbattle in which Hubert fell, covered with glory and conquering. Iunderstood that she wanted to talk about that because it isn't in thewriting, but you interrupted and of course she's gone. Yes, the price is£50 and not a farthing less, but you can pay it when you like for I knowyou're as honest as most, and whether you pay it or not, you must havethat chest and what's in it and no one else. "

"All right, " I said, "but don't trust it to the carrier. I'll send acart for it to-morrow morning. Lock it now and give me the key. "

In due course the chest arrived, and I examined the bundle for the othercontents do not matter, although some of them were interesting. Pinnedinside the shawl I found a paper, undated and unsigned, but which fromthe character and style of the writing was, I should say, penned by alady about sixty years ago. It ran thus:--

"My late father, who was such a great traveller in his young days and sofond of exploring strange places, brought these things home from one ofhis journeys before his marriage, I think from South America. He toldme once that the dress was found upon the body of a woman in a tomb andthat she must have been a great lady, for she was surrounded by a numberof other women, perhaps her servants who were brought to be buried withher here when they died. They were all seated about a stone table at theend of which were the remains of a man. My father saw the bodies nearthe ruins of some forest city, in the tomb over which was heaped a greatmound of earth. That of the lady, which had a kind of shroud made of theskins of long-wooled sheep wrapped about it as though to preserve thedress beneath, had been embalmed in some way, which the natives of theplace, wherever it was, told him showed that she was royal. The otherswere mere skeletons, held together by the skin, but the man had a longfair beard and hair still hanging to his skull, and by his side was agreat cross-hilted sword that crumbled to fragments when it was touched, except the hilt and the knob of amber upon it which had turned almostblack with age. I think my father said that the packet of skins orparchment of which the underside is badly rotted with damp was set underthe feet of the man. He told me that he gave those who found the tomb agreat deal of money for the dress, gold ornaments, and emerald necklace, as nothing so perfect had been found before, and the cloth is all workedwith gold thread. My father told me, too, that he did not wish thethings to be sold. "

This was the end of the writing. 

Having read it I examined the dress. It was of a sort that I had neverseen before, though experts to whom I have shown it say that it iscertainly South American of a very early date, and like the ornaments, probably pre-Inca Peruvian. It is full of rich colours such as I haveseen in old Indian shawls which give a general effect of crimson. Thiscrimson robe clearly was worn over a skirt of linen that had a purpleborder. In the box that I have spoken of were the ornaments, all ofplain dull gold: a waist-band; a circlet of gold for the head from whichrose the crescent of the young moon and a necklace of emeralds, uncutstones now much flawed, for what reason I do not know, but polished andset rather roughly in red gold. Also there were two rings. Round oneof these a bit of paper was wrapped upon which was written, in anotherhand, probably that of the father of the writer of the memorandum:--

"Taken from the first finger of the right hand of a lady's mummy which Iam sorry, in our circumstances, it was quite impossible to carry away. "

This ring is a broad band of gold with a flat bezel upon which somethingwas once engraved that owing to long and hard wear now cannot bedistinguished. In short, it appears to be a signet of old European makebut of what age and from what country it is impossible to determine. The other ring was in a small leathery pouch, elaborately embroideredin gold thread or very thin wire, which I suppose was part of the lady'scostume. It is like a very massive wedding ring, but six or eight timesas thick, and engraved all over with an embossed conventional design ofwhat look like stars with rays round them, or possibly petalled flowers. Lastly there was the sword-hilt, of which presently. 

Such were the trinkets, if so they may be called. They are of littlevalue intrinsically except for their weight in gold, because, as I havesaid, the emeralds are flawed as though they have been through a fire orsome other unknown cause. Moreover, there is about them nothing of thegrace and charm of ancient Egyptian jewellery; evidently they belongedto a ruder age and civilization. Yet they had, and still have, to myimagining, a certain dignity of their own. 

Also--here I became infected with the spirit of the peculiarPotts--without doubt these things were rich in human associations. Whohad worn that dress of crimson with the crosses worked on it in goldwire (they cannot have been Christian crosses), and the purple-borderedskirt underneath, and the emerald necklace and the golden circlet fromwhich rose the crescent of the young moon? Apparently a mummy in a tomb, the mummy of some long-dead lady of a strange and alien race. Was shesuch a one as that old lunatic Potts had dreamed he saw standing beforehim in the filthy, cumbered upper-chamber of a ruinous house in anEngland market town, I wondered, one with great eyes like to those of adoe and a regal bearing?

No, that was nonsense. Potts had lived with shadows until he believed inshadows that came out of his own imagination and into it returned again. Still, she was a woman of some sort, and apparently she had a lover ora husband, a man with a great fair beard. How at this date, which musthave been remote, did a golden-bearded man come to foregather with awoman who wore such robes and ornaments as these? And that sword hilt, worn smooth by handling and with an amber knob? Whence came it? To mymind--this was before expert examination confirmed my view--it lookedvery Norse. I had read the Sagas and I remembered a tale recovered inthem of some bold Norsemen who about the years eight or nine hundredhad wandered to the coast of what is known now to be America--I think acertain Eric was their captain. Could the fair-haired man in the gravehave been one of these?

Thus I speculated before I looked at the pile of parchments so evidentlyprepared from sheep skins by one who had only a very rudimentaryknowledge of how to work such stuff, not knowing that in thoseparchments was hid the answer to many of my questions. To these I turnedlast of all, for we all shrink from parchments; their contents aregenerally so dull. There was a great bundle of them that had been lashedtogether with a kind of straw rope, fine straw that reminded me of thatused to make Panama hats. But this had rotted underneath together withall the bottom part of the parchments, many sheets of them, of whichonly fragments remained, covered with dry mould and crumbling. Thereforethe rope was easy to remove and beneath it, holding the sheets in place, was only some stout and comparatively modern string--it had a red threadin it that marked it as navy cord of an old pattern. 

I slipped these fastenings off and lifted a blank piece of skin set uponthe top. Beneath appeared the first sheet of parchment, closely, veryclosely covered with small "black-letter" writing, so faint and fadedthat even if I were able to read black-letter, which I cannot, of itI could have made nothing at all. The thing was hopeless. Doubtlessin that writing lay the key to the mystery, but it could never bedeciphered by me or any one else. The lady with the eyes like a deer hadappeared to old Potts in vain; in vain had she bidden him to hand overthis manuscript to me. 

So I thought at the time, not knowing the resources of science. Afterwards, however, I took that huge bundle to a friend, a learnedfriend whose business in life it was and is, to deal with and todecipher old manuscripts. 

"Looks pretty hopeless, " he said, after staring at these. "Still, let'shave a try; one never knows till one tries. "

Then he went to a cupboard in his muniment room and produced a bottlefull of some straw-coloured fluid into which he dipped an ordinarypainting brush. This charged brush he rubbed backwards and forwards overthe first lines of the writing and waited. Within a minute, before myastonished eyes, that faint, indistinguishable script turned coal-black, as black as though it had been written with the best modern inkyesterday. 

"It's all right, " he said triumphantly, "it's vegetable ink, and thisstuff has the power to bring it up as it was on the day when it wasused. It will stay like that for a fortnight and then fade away again. Your manuscript is pretty ancient, my friend, time of Richard II, Ishould say, but I can read it easily enough. Look, it begins, 'I, Hubertde Hastings, write this in the land of Tavantinsuyu, far from Englandwhere I was born, whither I shall never more return, being a wandereras the rune upon the sword of my ancestor, Thorgrimmer, foretold thatI should be, which sword my mother gave me on the day of the burning ofHastings by the French, ' and so on. " Here he stopped. 

"Then for heaven's sake, do read it, " I said. 

"My dear friend, " he answered, "it looks to me as though it would meanseveral months' work, and forgive me for saying that I am paid a salaryfor my time. Now I'll tell you what you have to do. All this stuffmust be treated, sheet by sheet, and when it turns black it mustbe photographed before the writing fades once more. Then a skilledperson--so-and-so, or so-and-so, are two names that occur to me--must beemployed to decipher it again, sheet by sheet. It will cost you money, but I should say that it was worth while. Where the devil is, or was, the land of Tavantinsuyu?"

"I know, " I answered, glad to be able to show myself superior to mylearned friend in one humble instance. "Tavantinsuyu was the native namefor the Empire of Peru before the Spanish Invasion. But how did thisHubert get there in the time of Richard II? That is some centuriesearlier than Pizarro set foot upon its shores. "

"Go and find out, " he answered. "It will amuse you for quite a longwhile and perhaps the results may meet the expenses of decipherment, ifthey are worth publishing. I expect they are not, but then, I have readso many old manuscripts and found most of them so jolly dull. "

Well, that business was accomplished at a cost that I do not like torecord, and here are the results, more or less modernised, since oftenHubert of Hastings expressed himself in a queer and archaic fashion. Also sometimes he used Indian words as though he had talked the tongueof these Peruvians, or rather the Chanca variety of it, so long that hehad begun to forget his own language. Myself I have found his story veryromantic and interesting, and I hope that some others will be of thesame opinion. Let them judge. 

But oh, I do wonder what was the end of it, some of which doubtless wasrecorded on the rotted sheets though of course there can have been noaccount of the great battle in which he fell, since Quilla could notwrite at all, least of all in English, though I suppose she survived itand him. 

The only hint of that end is to be found in old Potts's dream or vision, and what is the worth of dreams and visions?

BOOK I

CHAPTER I

THE SWORD AND THE RING

I, Hubert of Hastings, write this in the land of Tavantinsuyu, far fromEngland, where I was born, whither I shall never more return, beinga wanderer as the rune upon the sword of my ancestor, Thorgrimmer, foretold that I should be, which sword my mother gave me on the day ofthe burning of Hastings by the French. I write it with a pen that I haveshaped from a wing feather of the great eagle of the mountains, with inkthat I have made from the juices of certain herbs which I discovered, and on parchment that I have split from the skins of native sheep, withmy own hands, but badly I fear, though I have seen that art practisedwhen I was a merchant of the Cheap in London Town. 

I will begin at the beginning. 

I am the son of a fishing-boat owner and was a trader in the ancienttown of Hastings, and my father was drowned while following his tradeat sea. Afterwards, being the only child left of his, I took on hisbusiness, and on a certain day went out to sea to net fish with two ofmy serving men. I was then a young man of about three and twenty yearsof age and not uncomely. My hair, which I wore long, was fair in colourand curled. My eyes, set wide apart, were and still are large and blue, although they have darkened somewhat and sunk into the head in this landof heat and sunshine. My nose was wide-nostrilled and large, my mouthalso was over-large, although my mother and some others used to thinkit well-shaped. In truth, I was large all over though not so tall, beingburly, with a great breadth of chest and uncommon thickness through thebody, and very strong; so strong that there were few who could throw mewhen I was young. 

For the rest, like King David, I, who am now so tanned and weather wornthat at a little distance were my hair and beard hidden I might almostbe taken for one of the Indian chiefs about me, was of a ruddy and apleasant countenance, perhaps because of my wonderful health, who hadnever known a day of sickness, and of an easy nature that often goeswith health. I will add this, for why should I not--that I was no fool, but one of those who succeed in that upon which they set their minds. Had I been a fool I should not to-day be the king of a great people andthe husband of their queen; indeed, I should not be alive. 

But enough of myself and my appearance in those years that seem as faroff as though they had never been save in the land of dreams. 

Now I and my two serving men, sailors both of them like myself and mostof the folk of Hastings set out upon a summer eve, purposing to fish allnight and return at dawn. We came to our chosen ground and cast out thenet, meeting with wonderful fortune since by three in the morning thebig boat was full of every kind of fish. Never before, indeed, had wemade so large a haul. 

Looking back at that great catch, as here in this far land it is myhabit to do upon everything, however small, that happened to me in myyouth before I became a wanderer and an exile, I seem to see in it anomen. For has it not always been my lot in life to be kissed of fortuneand to gather great store, and then of a sudden to lose it all as I wasto lose that rich multitude of fishes?

To-day, when I write this, once more I have great wealth of pomp andlove and power, of gold also, more than I can count. When I go forth, myarmies, who still look on me as half a god, shout their welcome and kissthe air after their heathen fashion. My beauteous queen bows down to meand the women of my household abase themselves into the dust. Thepeople of the Ancient City of Gold turn their faces to the wall and thechildren cover their eyes with their hands that they may not look uponmy splendour as I pass, while maidens throw flowers for my feet totread. Upon my judgment hangs life or death, and my lightest word is asthough it were spoken from heaven. These and many other things are mine, the trappings of power, the prerogative of the Lord-from-the-Sea whobrought victory to the Chanca people and led them back to their ancienthome where they might live safe, far from the Inca's rage. 

And yet often, as I sit alone in my splendour upon the roof of theancient halls or wander through the starlit palace gardens, I call tomind that great catch of fishes in the English sea and of what followedafter. I call to mind also my prosperity and wealth as one of the firstmerchants of London Town and what followed after. I call to mind, too, the winning of Blanche Aleys, the lady so far above me in rank andstation and what followed after. Then it is that I grow afraid of whatmay follow after this present hour of peace and love and plenty. 

Certainly one thing will follow, and that is death. It may come lateor it may come soon. But yesterday a rumour reached me through my spiesthat Kari Upanqui, the Inca of Tavantinsuyu, he who once was as mybrother, but who now hates me because of his superstitions, and becauseI took a Virgin of the Sun to be my wife, gathers a great host to followon the path we trod many years ago when the Chancas fled from the Incatyranny back to their home in the ancient City of Gold and to smite ushere. That host, said the rumours, cannot march till next year, and thenwill be another year upon its journey. Still, knowing Kari, I am surethat it will march, yes, and arrive, after which must befall the greatbattle in the mountain passes wherein, as of old, I shall lead theChanca armies. 

Perchance I am doomed to fall in that battle. Does not the rune uponWave-Flame, the sword of Thorgrimmer my ancestor, say of him that holdsit that, "Conquering, conquered shall he be, And far away shall sleep with me"?

Well, if the Chancas conquer, what care I if I am conquered? 'Twould bea good death and a clean, to fall by Kari's spear, if I knew that Kariand his host fell also, as I swear that fall they shall, St. Huberthelping me. Then at least Quilla and her children would live on in peaceand greatness since they can have no other foe to fear. 

Death, what is death? I say that it is the hope of every one of us andmost of all the exile and the wanderer. At the best it may be glory; atthe worst it must be sleep. Moreover, am I so happy that I should fearto die? Quilla cannot read this writing, and therefore I will answer, No. I am a Christian, but she and those about her, aye, my own childrenwith them, worship the moon and the host of heaven. I am white-skinned, they are the hue of copper, though it is true that my little daughter, Gudruda, whom I named so after my mother, is almost white. There aresecrets in their hearts that I shall never learn and there are secretsin mine from which they cannot draw the veil because our bloods aredifferent. Yet God knows, I love them well enough, and most of all thatgreatest of women, Quilla. 

Oh! the truth is that here on earth there is no happiness for man. 

It is because of this rumour of the coming of Kari with his host that Iset myself to this task, that I have long had in my mind, to write downsomething of my history, both in England and in this land which, at anyrate for hundreds of years, mine is the first white foot to press. Itseems a foolish thing to do since when I have written who will read, andwhat will chance to that which I have written? I shall leave orders thatit be placed beneath my feet in the tomb, but who will ever find thattomb again? Still I write because something in my heart urges me to thetask. 

I return to the far-off days. Our boat being full with merry hearts weset sail before a faint wind for Hastings beach. As yet there was littlelight and much fog, still the landward breeze was enough to draw usforward. Then of a sudden we heard sounds as of men talking upon shipsand the clank of spars and blocks. Presently came a puff of air liftingthe fog for a little and we saw that we were in the midst of agreat fleet, a French fleet, for the Lilies of France flew at theirmast-heads, saw, too, that their prows were set for Hastings, thoughfor the while they were becalmed, since the wind that was enough for ourlight, large-sailed fishing-boat could not stir their bulk. Moreover, they saw us, for the men-at-arms on the nearest ship shouted threats andcurses at us and followed the shouts with arrows that almost hit us. 

Then the fog closed down again, and in it we slipped through the Frenchfleet. 

It may have been the best part of an hour later that we reachedHastings. Before the boat was made fast to the jetty, I sprang to itshouting:

"Stir! stir! the French are upon you! To arms! We have slipped through awhole fleet of them in the mist. "

Instantly the sleepy quay seemed to awaken. From the neighbouring fishmarket, from everywhere sailormen and others came running, followed bychildren with gaping mouths, while from the doors of houses far awayshot women with scared faces, like ferreted rabbits from their burrows. In a minute the crowd had surrounded me, all asking questions at once insuch a fashion that I could only answer them with my cry of:

"Stir! the French are upon you. To arms, I say. To arms!"

Presently through the throng advanced an old white-bearded man who worea badge of office, crying as he came, "Make way for the bailiff!"

The crowd obeyed, opening a path, and soon we were face to face. 

"What is it, Hubert of Hastings?" he asked. "Is there fire that youshout so loudly?"

"Aye, Worship, " I answered. "Fire and murder and all the gifts that theFrench have for England. The Fleet of France is beating up for Hastings, fifty sail of them or more. We crept through them in the fog, for thewind which would scarce move them served our turn and beyond an arrow ortwo, they took no note of a fishing-boat. "

"Whence come they?" asked the bailiff, bewildered. 

"I know not, but those in another boat we passed in the midst shoutedthat these French were ravaging the coast and heading for Hastingsto put it to fire and sword. Then that boat vanished away, I know notwhere, and that is all I have to tell save that the French will be herewithin an hour. "

Without staying to ask more questions, the bailiff turned and rantowards the town, and presently the alarm bells rang out from the towersof All Saints and St. Clement's, while criers summoned all men to themarket-place. Meanwhile I, not without a sad look at my boat and therich catch within, made my way into the town, followed by my two men. 

Presently I reached an ancient, timbered house, long, low, and rambling, with a yard by its side full of barrels, anchors, and other marinestores such as rope, that had to do with the trade I carried on at thisplace. 

I, Hubert, with a mind full of fears, though not for myself, and astirring of the blood such as was natural to my age at the approachof my first taste of battle, ran fast up to that house which I havedescribed, and paused for a moment by the big elm tree that grew infront of the door, of which the lower boughs were sawn off because theyshut out the light from the windows. I remember that elm tree verywell, first because when I was a child starlings nested in a hole in thetrunk, and I reared one in a wicker cage and made a talking bird of itwhich I kept for several years. It was so tame that it used to go aboutsitting on my shoulder, till at last, outside the town a cat frightenedit thence, and before I could recapture it, it was taken by a hawk, which hawk I shot afterwards with an arrow out of revenge. 

Also this elm is impressed upon me by the fact that on that morning whenI halted by it, I noted how green and full of leaf it was. Next morning, after the fire, I saw it again, all charred and blackened, with itsbeautiful foliage withered by the heat. This contrast remained upon mymemory, and whenever I see any great change of fortune from prosperityto ruin, or from life to death, always I bethink me of that elm. Forit is by little things which we ourselves have seen and not by thosewritten of or told by others, that we measure and compare events. 

The reason that I ran so hard and then paused by the elm, was becausemy widowed mother lived in that house. Knowing that the French meantmischief for a good reason, because one of their arrows, or perhaps aquarrel from a cross-bow, whistled just past my head out there upon thesea, my first thought was to get her away to some place of safety, noeasy task seeing that she was infirm with age. My second, that whichcaused me to pause by the tree, was how I should break the news to herin such a fashion that she would not be over-frightened. Having thoughtthis over I went on into the house. 

The door opened into the sitting-room that had a low roof of plaster andbig oak beams. There I found my mother kneeling by the table upon whichfood was set for breakfast: fried herrings, cold meat, and a jug of ale. She was saying her prayers after her custom, being very religiousthough in a new fashion, since she was a follower of a preacher calledWycliffe, who troubled the Church in those days. She seemed to have goneto sleep at her prayers, and I watched her for a moment, hesitating towaken her. My mother, as even then I noted, was a very handsome woman, though old, for I was born when she had been married twenty years ormore, with white hair and well-cut features that showed the good bloodof which she came, for she was better bred than my father and quarrelledwith her kin to marry him. 

At the sound of my footsteps she woke up and saw me. 

"Strange, " she said, "I slept at my prayers who did so little lastnight, as has become a habit with me when you are out a-fishing, forwhich God forgive me, and dreamed that there was some trouble forward. Scold me not, Hubert, for when the sea has taken the father and twosons, it is scarcely wonderful that I should be fearful for the last ofmy blood. Help me to rise, Hubert, for this water seems to gather in mylimbs and makes them heavy. One day, the leech says, it will get to theheart and then all will be over. "

I obeyed, first kissing her on the brow, and when she was seated in herarmed chair by the table, I said, "You dream too well, Mother. There is trouble. Hark! St. Clement'sbells are talking of it. The French come to visit Hastings. I know for Isailed through their fleet just after dawn. "

"Is it so?" she asked quietly. "I feared worse. I feared lest the dreammeant that you had gone to join your brothers in the deep. Well, theFrench are not here yet, as thank God you are. So eat and drink, for weof England fight best on full bellies. "

Again I obeyed who was very hungry after that long night and needed foodand ale, and as I swallowed them we heard the sound of folk shouting andrunning. 

"You are in haste, Hubert, to join the others on the quay and senda Frenchman or two to hell with that big bow of yours?" she saidinquiringly. 

"Nay, " I answered, "I am in haste to get you out of this town, which Ifear may be burnt. There is a certain cave up yonder by the Minnes Rockwhere I think you might lie safe, Mother. "

"It has come down to me from my fathers, Hubert, that it was never thefashion of the women of the north to keep their men to shield them whenduty called them otherwhere. I am helpless in my limbs and heavy, andcannot climb, or be borne up yonder hill to any cave. Here I stop whereI have dwelt these five-and-forty years, to live or die as God pleases. Get you to your duty, man. Stay. Call those wenches and bid them flyinland to their folk, out Burwash way. They are young and fleet of foot, and no Frenchman will catch them. "

I summoned the girls who were staring, white-faced, from the atticwindow-place. In three minutes they were gone, though it is true thatone of them, the braver, wished to bide with her mistress. 

I watched them start up the street with other fugitives who were pouringout of Hastings, and came back to my mother. As I did so a great shouttold me that the French fleet had been sighted. 

"Hubert, " she said, "take this key and go to the oak chest in mysleeping room, lift out the linen at the top and bring me that whichlies wrapped in cloth beneath. "

I did so, returning with a bundle that was long and thin. With a knifeshe cut the string that tied it. Within were a bag of money and a swordin an ancient scabbard covered with a rough skin which I took to be thatof a shark, which scabbard in parts was inlaid with gold. 

"Draw it, " said my mother. 

I did so, and there came to light a two-edged blade of blue steel, such as I had never seen before, for on the blade were engraved strangecharacters whereof I could make nothing, although as it chanced I couldread and write, having been taught by the monks in my childhood. Thehilt, also, that was in the form of a cross, had gold inlaid upon it;at the top of it, a large knob or apple of amber, much worn by handling. For the rest it was a beauteous weapon and well balanced. 

"What of this sword?" I asked. 

"This, Son. With the black bow that you have, " and she pointed to thecase that leaned against the table, "it has come down in my familyfor many generations. My father told me that it was the sword of oneThorgrimmer, his ancestor, a Norseman, a Viking he called him, who camewith those who took England before the Norman time; which I can wellbelieve since my father's name, like mine, till I married, was Grimmer. This sword, also, has a name and it is Wave-Flame. With it, the taletells, Thorgrimmer did great deeds, slaying many after their heathenfashion in his battles by land and sea. For he was a wanderer, and it issaid of him that once he sailed to a new land far across the ocean, andwon home again after many strange adventures, to die at last here inEngland in some fray. That is all I know, save that a learned man fromthe north once told my father's father that the writing on the swordmeans:--

 "He who lifts Wave-Flame on high In love shall live and in battle die; Storm-tossed o'er wide seas shall roam And in strange lands shall make his home. Conquering, conquered shall he be, And far away shall sleep with me. 

"Those were the words which I remember because of the jingle of them;also because such seems to have been the fate of Thorgrimmer and thesword that his grandson took from his tomb. "

Here I would have asked about this grandson and the tomb, but having notime, held my peace. 

"All my life have I kept that sword, " went on my mother, "not giving itto your father or brothers, lest the fate written on it should befallthem, for those old wizards of the north, who fashioned such weaponswith toil and skill, could foresee the future--as at times I can, forit is in my blood. Yet now I am moved to bid you take it, Hubert, and gowhere its flame leads you and dree your gloom, whatever it may be, for Iknow you will use it like Thorgrimmer's self. "

She paused for a moment, then went on:

"Hubert, perhaps we part for the last time, for I think that my houris at hand. But let not that trouble you, since I am glad to go to jointhose who went before, and others with them, perchance Thorgrimmer'sself. Hearken, Hubert. If aught befalls me, or this place, stay nothere. Go to London town and seek out John Grimmer, my brother, the richmerchant and goldsmith who dwells in the place called Cheap. He knew youas a child and loved you, and lacking offspring of his own will welcomeyou for both our sakes. My father would not give John the sword lest itsfate should be on him, but I say that John will be glad to welcome oneof our race who holds it in his hand. Take it then, and with it that bagof gold, which may prove of service ere all be done. 

"Aye, and there is one more thing--this ring which, so says the tale, came down with the sword and the bow, and once had writing on it likethe sword, though that is long since rubbed away. Take it and wear ittill perchance, in some day to come, you give it to another as I did. "

Wondering at all this tale which, after her secret fashion, my motherhad kept from me till that hour, I set the ring upon my finger. 

"I gave yonder ring to your father on the day that we were betrothed, "went on my mother, "and I took it back again from his corpse after hehad been found floating in the sea. Now I pass it on to you who soonwill be all that is left of both of us. "

"Hark!" she continued, "the crier summons all men with their arms to themarket-place to fight England's foes. Therefore one word more while Ibuckle the sword Wave-Flame on to you, as doubtless his women folk didon to Thorgrimmer, your ancestor. My blessing on you, Hubert. Be yousuch a one as Thorgrimmer was, for we of the Norse blood desire thatour loves and sons should prove not backward when swords are aloftand arrows fly. But be you more than he, be you a Christian also, remembering that however long you live, and the Battle-maidens have notmarked you yet, at last you must die and give account. 

"Hubert, you are such a one as women will love; one, too, who, I fearme, will be a lover of women, for that weakness goes with strength andmanhood by Nature's laws. Be careful of women, Hubert, and if you may, choose those who are not false and cling to her who is most true. Oh, you will wander far; I read it in your eyes that you will wander far, yet shall your heart stay English. Kiss me and begone! Lad, are youforgetting your spare arrows and the bull-hide jerkin that was yourfather's? You will want them both to-day. Farewell, farewell! God andHis Christ be with you--and shoot you straight and smite you hard. Nay, no tears, lest my eyes should be dimmed, for I'll climb to the attic andwatch you fight. "

CHAPTER II

THE LADY BLANCHE

So I went, with a sore heart, for I remembered that when my father andbrothers were drowned, although I was then but a little one, my motherhad foreseen it, and I feared much lest it might be thus in her own casealso. I loved my mother. She was a stern woman, it was true, with littlesoftness about her, which I think came with her blood, but she had ahigh heart, and oh! her last words were noble. Yet through it all Iwas pleased, as any young man would have been, with the gift of thewonderful sword which once had been that of Thorgrimmer, the sea-rover, whose blood ran in my body against which it lay, and I hoped thatthis day I might have chance to use it worthily as Thorgrimmer did inforgotten battles. Having imagination, I wondered also whether the swordknew that after its long sleep it had come forth again to drink theblood of foes. 

Also I was pleased with another thing, namely, that my mother hadtold me that I should live my life and not die that day by the handof Frenchmen; and that in my life I should find love, of which to telltruth already I knew a little of a humble sort, for I was a comelyyouth, and women did not run away from me, or if they did, soon theystopped. I wanted to live my life, I wanted to see great adventures andto win great love. The only part of the business which was not to mytaste was that command of my mother's, that I should go to London to sitin a goldsmith's shop. Still, I had heard that there was much to be seenin London, and at least it would be different from Hastings. 

The street outside our doors was crowded with folk, some of the menmaking their way to the market-place, about whom hung women and childrenweeping; others, old people, wives and girls and little ones fleeingfrom the town. I found the two sailormen who had been with me on theboat, waiting for me. They were brawny fellows named Jack Grieves andWilliam Bull, who had been in our service since my childhood, goodfishermen and fighters both; indeed one of them, William Bull, hadserved in the French wars. 

"We knew that you were coming, Master, so we bided here for you, " saidWilliam, who having once been an archer was armed with a bow and a shortsword, whereas Jack had only an axe, also a knife such as we used on thesmacks for cleaning fish. 

I nodded, and we went on to the market-place and joined the throng ofmen, a vast number of them, who were gathered there to defend Hastingsand their homes. Nor were we too soon, for the French ships were alreadybeaching within a few yards of the shore or on it, their draught beingbut small, while the sailors and men-at-arms were pushing off in smallboats or wading to the strand. 

There was great confusion in the market-place, for as is common inEngland, no preparation had been made against attack though such wasalways to be feared. 

The bailiff ran about shouting orders, as did others, but properofficers were lacking, so that in the end men acted as the fancy tookthem. Some went down towards the beach and shot with arrows at theFrenchmen. Others took refuge in houses, others stood irresolute, waiting, knowing not which way to turn. I and my two men were with thosewho went on to the beach where I loosed some arrows from my big blackbow, and saw a man fall before one of them. 

But we could do little or nothing, for these Frenchmen were trainedsoldiers under proper command. They formed themselves into companiesand advanced, and we were driven back. I stopped as long as I dared, and drawing the sword, Wave-Flame, fought with a Frenchman who was inadvance of the others. What is more, making a great blow at his headwhich I missed, I struck him on the arm and cut it off, for I saw itfall to the ground. Then others rushed up at me and I fled to save mylife. 

Somehow I found myself being pressed up the steep Castle Hill with anumber of Hastings folk, followed by the French. We reached the Castleand got into it, but the old portcullis would not close, and in sundryplaces the walls were broken down. Here we found a number of women whohad climbed for refuge, thinking that the place would be safe. Amongthese was a beautiful and high-born maiden whom I knew by sight. Herfather was Sir Robert Aleys who, I believe, was then the Warden of theCastle of Pevensey, and she was named the lady Blanche. Once, indeed, Ihad spoken with her on an occasion too long to tell. Then her large blueeyes, which she knew well how to use, had left me with a swimming head, for she was very fair and very sweet and gracious, with a most softvoice, and quite unlike any other woman I had ever seen, nor did sheseem at all proud. Soon her father, an old knight, who had no name forgentleness in the countryside, but was said to be a great lover of gold, had come up and swept her away, asking her what she did, talking with acommon fishing churl. This had happened some months before. 

Well, there I found her in the Castle, alone it seemed, and knowing meagain, which I thought strange, she ran to me, praying me to protecther. More, she began to tell me some long tale, to which I had not timeto listen, of how she had come to Hastings with her father, Sir Robert, and a young lord named Deleroy, who, I understood, was some kinsman ofhers, and slept there. How, too, she had been separated from them in thethrong when they were attempting to return to Pevensey which her fathermust go to guard, because her horse was frightened and ran away, andof how finally men took her by the arm and brought her to this castle, saying that it was the safest place. 

"Then here you must bide, Lady Blanche, " I answered, cutting her short. "Cling to me and I will save you if I can, even if it costs me my life. "

Certainly she did cling to me for all the rest of that terrible day, aswill be seen. 

From this height we saw Hastings beginning to burn, for the Frenchmenhad fired the town in sundry places, and being built of wood, it burntfuriously. Also we saw and heard horrible scenes and sounds of rapine, such as chance in this Christian world of ours where a savage foe findspeaceful folk of another race at his mercy. In the houses people wereburnt; in the streets they were being murdered, or worse. Yes, evenchildren were murdered, for afterwards I saw the bodies of some of them. 

Awhile later through the wreaths of smoke we perceived companies of theFrench advancing to attack the Castle. There may have been three hundredof them in all, and we did not count more than fifty men, some ofus ill-armed, together with a mob of aged people and many women andchildren. What had become of the other men I do not know, but ordershad been shouted from all quarters, and some had gone this way and somethat. Some, too, I think, had fled, lacking leaders. 

The French having climbed the hill, began to attack our ill-fencedgateways, bringing up beams of timber to force them in. Those of us whohad bows shot some of them, though, their armour being good, for themost part the arrows glanced. But few had bows. Moreover, whenever weshowed ourselves they poured such a rain of quarrels and other shaftsupon us that we could not face it, lacking mail as we did, and a numberof us were killed or wounded. At last they forced the easternmost gatewhich was the weakest, and got in there and over a place in the wallwere it was broken. We fought them as well as we could; myself I cutdown two with the sword, Wave-Flame, hewing right through the helm ofone, for the steel of that sword was good. Here, too, Jack Grieves waskilled by my side by a pike thrust, and died calling to me to fight onfor old England and Hastings town; after which he said something aboutbeer and breathed his last. 

The end of it was that those who were left were driven out of the Castletogether with the women and children, the murdering French killing everyman who fell wounded where he lay, and trying to make prisoner any womenthey thought young and fair enough. Especially did they seek to capturethe lady Blanche because they saw that she was beautiful and of highstation. But by good fortune more than aught else, I saved her from thisfate. 

As it chanced we were among the last to leave the Castle, whence, totell the truth, I was loath to go, for by now my blood was up, and witha few others fought till I was driven out. I prayed the lady Blanche torun forward with the other women. But she would not, answering that shetrusted no one else, but would stay to die with me, as though that wouldhelp either of us. 

Thus it came about that a tall French knight who had set his eyes onher, outclimbed his fellows upon the slope of the hill, for they wereweary and gathering to re-form, and catching her round the middle, strove to drag her away. I fell on him and we fought. He had fine armourand a shield while I had none, but I held the long sword while he onlywielded a battle-axe. I knew that if he could get in a blow with thatbattle-axe, I was sped, since the bull's hide of my jerkin would neverstand against it. Therefore it was my business to keep out of his reach. This, being young and active, for the most part I made shift to do, especially as he could not move very quickly in his mail. The end of itwas that I cut him on the arm through a joint in his harness, whereon herushed at me, swearing French oaths. 

I leapt on one side and as he passed, smote with all my strength. Theblow fell between neck and shoulder, from behind as it were, and suchwas the temper of that sword named Wave-Flame that it shore through hismail deep into the flesh beneath, to the backbone as I believe. At leasthe went down in a heap--I remember the rattle of his armour as he fell, and there lay still. Then we fled on down the steep path, I holding thebloody sword with one hand and Lady Blanche with the other, while shethanked me with her eyes. 

At length we were in the town again, running up my own street. On eitherside of us the houses burned, and behind us came another body of theFrench. The reek got into our eyes and we stumbled over dead or faintingpeople. 

Looking to the left I caught sight of the elm tree of which I havespoken, that grew in front of our door, and saw that the house behindit was burning. Yes, and I saw more, for at the attic window, which wasopen, the flames making an arch round her, sat my mother. Moreover, shewas singing for I heard her voice and the wild words she sang, thoughthis was a strange thing for a woman to do in the hour of such a death. Further, she saw and knew me, for she waved her hands to me, thenpointed towards the sea, why, I did not guess at the time. I stopped, purposing to try to rescue her though the front of the house wasflaming, and the attempt must have ended in my death. But at that momentthe roof fell in, causing the fire to spout upwards and outwards. Thiswas the last that I saw of my mother, though afterwards we found herbody and gave it burial with those of many other victims. 

There was no time to stay, for the conquering French were pouring up thestreet behind us, shooting as they came and murdering any laggards whomthey could catch. On we went up the steep slope of the Minnes Rock. Iwould have fled on into the open country, but the lady Blanche had nostrength left. Twice she sank to the ground, stricken with terror andweariness, and each time prayed me not to leave her; nor indeed did Iwish to do so. The end of it was that William Bull and I between ushalf carried her with much toil to the cave of which I had spoken to mymother. The task was heavy and slow, since always we must scramble oversheer ground. What is more, a party of the French, seeing our plight, followed us. Perhaps some of them guessed who the lady was, for therewere many spies in Hastings who might have told them, and desired tocapture and hold her to ransom. 

At the least they came on after us and a few others, women all of them, who had joined our company, being unable to travel further, or trustingto William Bull and myself to protect them. 

We reached the cave, and thrusting the women along it, William and Istood in the mouth and waited. He had no bow and all my arrows were gonesave three, but of these I, who was noted for my archery, determinedto make the best use I could. So I drew them out, and having strungthe bow, sat down to get my breath. On came the French, shouting andjabbering at us to the effect that they would cut our throats and carryoff _la belle dame_ to be their sport. 

"She shall be mine!" yelled a big fellow with a flattened nose and awide mouth who was ahead of the others, and not more than fifty yardsaway. 

I rose, and praying my patron, good St. Hubert after whom I was namedbecause I first saw light upon his day, the 23rd of November, to giveme skill, I drew the great bow to my ear, aimed, and loosed. Nor didSt. Hubert, a lover of fine shooting, fail me in my need, for that arrowrushed out and found its home in the big mouth of the Frenchman, throughwhich it passed, pinning his foul tongue to his neck bone. 

Down he went, and cheered by the sight I refitted and loosed at thenext. Him, too, the arrow caught, so that he fell almost on the other. 

I set the third and last arrow on the string and waited a space. Behindthese two was a squat, broad man, a knight I suppose, for he worearmour, and had a shield with a cock painted on it. This man, frightenedby the fate of his companions, yet not minded to give up the venturefor those in rear of him urged him on, bent himself almost double, andholding the shield over his helm which was closed, so as to protect hishead and body, came on at a good pace. 

I waited till he was within five-and-twenty yards or so, hoping thatthe roughness of the ground would cause him to stumble and the shield toshift so that I could get a chance at him behind it. But I did not, soat last, again praying to St. Hubert, I drew the big bow till the stringtouched my ear, and let drive. The shaft, pointed with tempered steel, struck the shield full in the centre, and by Heaven, pierced it, aye, and the mail behind, aye, and the flesh it covered, so that he, too, gothis death. 

"A great shot, Master, " said William, "that no other bow in Hastingscould have sped. "

"Not so ill, " I answered, "but it is my last. Now we must fight as wecan with sword and axe until we be sped. "

William nodded, and the women in the cave began to wail while I unstrungmy bow and set it in its case, from habit I think, seeing that I neverhoped to look upon it again. 

Just then from the French ships in the harbour there came a greatblaring of trumpets giving some alarm, and the Frenchmen of a sudden, ceasing from their attack, turned and ran towards the shore. I steppedout of the cave with William and looked. There on the sea, drawing nearfrom the east before a good wind, I saw ships, and saw, too, that fromtheir masts flew the pennons of England, for the golden leopards gleamedin the sun. 

"It is our fleet, William, " I said, "come to talk with these French. "

"Then I would that it had come sooner, " answered William. "Still, betternow than not at all. "

Thus were we saved, through Hamo de Offyngton, the Abbot of BattleAbbey, or so I was told afterwards, who collected a force by land andsea and drove off the French after they had ravaged the Isle of Wight, attacked Winchelsea, and burned the greater part of Hastings. So itcame about that in the end these pirates took little benefit by theirwickedness, since they lost sundry ships with all on board, and othersleft in such haste that their people remained on shore where they wereslain by the mob that gathered as soon as it was seen that they weredeserted, helped by a company of the Abbot's men who had marched fromBattle. But with all this I had nothing to do who now that the fightwas over, felt weak as a child and could think of little save that I hadseen my mother burning. 

Presently, however, that happened which woke me from my grief and causedmy blood which had grown sluggish to run again. For when she knew thatshe was safe the lady Blanche came out of the cave and addressed me as Istood there leaning against the rock with the red sword Wave-Flame in myhand, as I had drawn it to make ready for the last fight to the death. All sorts of sweet names she called me--a hero, her deliverer, and Iknow not what besides. 

In the end, as I made no answer, being dazed, also hurt by an axe blowon the breast which I had not felt before, dealt by that Frenchman whomI slew near the Castle, she did more. Throwing her arms about me shekissed me thrice, on either cheek and on the lips, doubtless because shewas overwrought, and in her thankfulness forgot her maidenly reserve, though as William Bull said afterwards, this forgetfulness did not causeher to kiss him who had also helped her up the hill. 

Those kisses were like wine to me, for it is strange how, if we loveher, by the decree of Nature the touch of a beautiful woman's lips, feltfor the first time, affects us in our youth. Whatever else we forget, that we always remember, however false those lips afterwards be proved. For then the wax is soft and the die sinks deep, so deep that noafter-heats can melt its stamp and no fretting wear it out while we livebeneath the sun. 

Now my young blood being awakened, I was minded to return those kisses, and began to do so with a Jew's interest, when I heard a rough voiceswearing many strange oaths, and heard also the other women who hadsheltered with us in the cave begin to titter, for the moment forgettingall their private woes, as those of their sex will do when there iskissing in the wind. 

"God's blood!" said the rough voice, "who is this that handles mydaughter as though they had been but an hour wed? Take those lips ofyours from her, fellow, or I'll cut them from your chops. "

I looked round astonished, to see Sir Robert Aleys mounted on a greyhorse, and followed by a company of men-at-arms who appeared to be underthe command of a well-favoured, dark-eyed young captain with long hair, and dressed more wondrously than any man I had ever seen before. Had heput on Joseph's coat over his mail, he could not have worn more colours, and I noted that the toes of his shoes curled up so high that I wonderedhowever he worked them through his stirrups, and what would happen tohim if by chance he were unhorsed. 

Being taken aback I made no answer, but William Bull, who, if a roughfellow, had a tongue in his head and a ready wit, spoke up for me. 

"If you want to know, " he said in his Sussex drawl, "I'll tell you whohe is, Sir Robert Aleys. He is my worshipful master, Hubert of Hastings, ship-owner, householder, and trader of this town. Or at least he wasthese things, but now it seems that his ships and house are burnt andhis mother with them; also that there will be no trade in Hastings formany a day. "

"Mayhap, " answered Sir Robert, adding other oaths, "but why does he bussmy daughter?"

"Perchance because he must give as good as he got, which is a law amonghonest merchants, noble Sir Robert. Or perchance because he has a betterright to buss her than any man alive, seeing that but for him, by nowshe would be but stinking clay, or a Frenchman's leman. "

Here the fine young captain cut in, saying, "Whatever else this worshipful trader may need, he does not lack atrumpeter. "

"That is so, my Lord Deleroy, " replied William, unmoved, "for when Ifind a good song I like to sing it. Go now and look at those three menwho lie yonder on the slope, and see whether the arrows in them bear mymaster's mark. Go also and look upon the Castle hill and find a knightwith his head well-nigh hewn from his shoulders, and see whether yondersword fits into the cut. Aye, and at others that I could tell you of, slain, every one of them, to save this fair lady. Aye, go you whosegarments are so fine and unstained, and then come back and talk oftrumpeters. "

"Pish!" said my Lord Deleroy with a shrug of his shoulders, "a lady whois over-wrought and hangs to some common fellow, like one who kisses thefeet of a wooden saint that she thinks has saved her from calamity!"

At these words I, who had been listening like a man in a dream, awoke, as it were, for they stung me. Moreover, I had heard that this fineDeleroy was one of those who owed his place and rank to the King'sfavour, as he did his high name, being, it was reported, by birth but aprince's bastard sprung from some relative of Sir Robert whom thereforehe called cousin. 

"Sir, " I said, "you know best whether I am more common than you are. Let that be. At least I hold in my hand the sword of one who begat myforefather hundreds of years ago, a certain Thorgrimmer who was great inhis time. Now I have had my fill of fighting to-day, and you, doubtlessthrough no fault of your own, have had none; you also are clad in mailand I, a common fellow, have none. Deign then to descend from that horseand take a turn with me though I be tired, and thus prove my commonnessupon my body. Of your nobility do this, seeing that after all we are ofone flesh. "

Now, stung in his turn, he made as though he would do what I prayed, when for the first time, after glancing at her father who satstill--puzzled, it would seem--the lady Blanche spoke. 

"Be not mad, Cousin, " she said. "I tell you that this gentleman hassaved my life and honour, twice at least to-day. Is it wonderful, then, if I thanked him in the best fashion that a woman can, and thus broughtyour insults on him?"

He hesitated, though one of his curled-up shoes was out of the stirrup, when suddenly Sir Robert broke in in his big voice, saying:

"God's truth, Cousin, I think that you will do well to leave this youngcock alone, since I like not the look of that red spur of his, " and heglanced at the sword Wave-Flame. "Though he be weary, he may have a kickor two in him yet. "

Then he turned to me and added:

"Sir, you have fought well; many a man has earned knighthood for less, and if a fair maid thanked you in her own fashion, you are not to blame. I, her father, also thank you and wish you all good fortune till we meetagain. Farewell. Daughter, make shift to share this horse with me, andlet us away out of this stricken town to Pevensey, where perchance itwill please those French to call to-morrow. "

A minute later they were gone, and I noted with a pang that as they wentthe lady Blanche, having waved her good-bye to me, talked fast to hercousin Deleroy and that he held her hand to steady her upon her father'shorse. 

CHAPTER III

HUBERT COMES TO LONDON

When the lady Blanche was out of sight, followed by the women who hadsheltered with us in the cave, William and I went to a stream we knew ofnot far away and drank our fill. Then we walked to the three whom I hadshot with my big bow, hoping to regain the arrows, for I had none left. This, however, could not be done though all the men were dead, for oneof the shafts, the last, was broken, and the other two were so fixed inflesh and bone that only a surgeon's saw would loose them. 

So we left them where they were, and before the men were buried manycame to marvel at the sight, thinking it a wonderful thing that I shouldhave killed these three with three arrows, and that any bow which armmight bend could have driven the last of them through an iron shield anda breastplate behind it. 

This armour, I should tell, William took for himself, since it was ofhis size. Also on the morrow, returning to the Castle Hill, I strippedthe knight whom I had slain with the sword, Wave-Flame, of his splendidMilan mail, whereof the _plastron_, or breast-plate, was inlaid withgold, having over it a _camail_ of chain to cover the joints, throughwhich my good sword had shorn into his neck. The cognizance on hisshield strangely enough was three barbed arrows, but what was the nameof the knight who bore it I never learned. This mail, which must havecost a great sum, the Bailiff of Hastings granted me to keep, since Ihad slain its wearer and borne myself well in the fight. Moreover, Itook the three arrows for my own cognizance, though in truth I had noright to any, being in those days but a trader. (Little did I know thenhow well this mail was to serve me in the after years. )

By now night was coming on, and as we could see from the cave mouththat the part of Hastings which lies towards the village of St. Leonardsseemed to have escaped the fire, thitherward we went by the beach toavoid the heat and falling timbers in the burning town. On our way wemet others and from them heard all that had befallen. It would seem thatthe French loss in life was heavier than our own, since many of themwere cut off when they tried to fly to their ships, and some of thesecould not be floated from the beach or were rammed and sunk with allaboard by the English vessels. But the damage done to Hastings was asmuch as could scarcely be made good in a generation, for the most of itwas burnt or burning. Also many, like my own mother, had perished inthe fire, being sick or aged or in childbed, or for this reason and thatforgotten and unable to move. Indeed on the beach were hundreds offolk in despair, nor was it only the women and children who wept thatevening. 

For my part, with William I went beyond the burning to the house of acertain old priest who was my confessor, and the friend of my fatherbefore me, and there we found food and slept, he returning thanks to Godfor my escape and offering me consolation for the loss of my mother andgoods. 

I rested but ill that night, as those do who are over-weary. Moreover, this had been my first taste of battle, and again and again I saw thosemen falling before my sword and arrows. Very proud was I to have slainthem, wicked ravishers as they were, and very glad that from my boyhoodI had practised myself with sword and bow till I could fence with any, and was perhaps the most skilled marksman in Hastings, having won thesilver arrow at the butts at the last meeting, and from archers of allages. Yet the sight of their deaths haunted me who remembered how welltheir fate might have been my own, had they got in the first shot orblow. 

Where had they gone to, I wondered? To the priest's Heaven or Hell? Werethey now telling their sins to some hard-faced angel while he checkedthe count from his book, reminding them of many that they had forgotten?Or were they fast asleep for ever and ever as a shrewd thinker whom Iknew had told me secretly he was sure would be the fate of all of us, whatever the priests might teach and believe. And where was my motherwhom I had loved and who loved me well, although outwardly she was sostern a woman, my mother whom I had seen burned alive, singing as sheburned? Oh! it was a vile world, and it seemed strange that God shouldcause men and women to be born that they might come to such cruel ends. Yet who were we to question His decrees of which we knew neither thebeginning nor the finish?

Anyway, I was glad I was not dead, for now that all was over I trembledand felt afraid, which I had never done during the fighting, even whenmy hour seemed very near. 

Lastly there was this high-born lady, Blanche Aleys, with whom fortunehad thrown me so strangely that day. Those blue eyes of hers had piercedmy heart like darts, and do what I would I might not rid my mind of thethought of her, or my ears of the sound of her soft voice, while herkisses seemed still to burn upon my lips. It wrung me to think thatperhaps I should never see her again, or that if I did I might not speakwith her, being so far beneath her in condition, and having alreadyearned the wrath of her father, and, as I guessed, the jealousy of thatscented cousin of hers whom they said the King loved like a brother. 

What had my mother told me? To leave this place and go to London, thereto find my uncle, John Grimmer, goldsmith and merchant, who was mygodfather, and to ask him to take me into his business. I rememberedthis uncle of mine, for some seven or eight years before, when I was agrowing lad, because there was a plague in London he had come down toHastings to visit us. He only stayed a week, however, because he saidthat the sea air tied up his stomach and that he would rather riskthe plague with a good stomach than leave it behind him with a badone--though I think it was his business he thought of, not his stomach. 

He was a strange old man, not unlike my mother, but with a nose morehooked, small dark eyes, and a bald head on which he set a cap ofvelvet. Even in the heat of summer he was always cold and wore a frayedfur robe, complaining much if he came into a draught of air. Indeed helooked like a Jew, though a good Christian enough, and laughed aboutit, because he said that this appearance of his served him well in histrade, since Jews were always feared, and it was held to be impossibleto overreach them. 

For the rest I only recalled that he examined me as to my book learningwhich did not satisfy him, and went about valuing all our goods andfishing-boats, showing my mother how we were being cheated and mightearn more than we did. When he departed he gave me a gold piece and saidthat Life was nothing but vanity, and that I must pray for his soul whenhe was dead as he was sure it would need such help, also that I oughtto put the gold piece out to interest. This I did by buying with it acertain fierce mastiff dog I coveted that had been brought on a shipfrom Norway, which dog bit some great man in our town, who hauled mymother before the bailiff about it and caused the poor beast to bekilled, to my great wrath. 

Now that I came to think of it, I had liked my Uncle John well enoughalthough he was so different from others. Why should I not go to him?Because I did not wish to sit in a shop in London, I who loved the seaand the open air; also because I feared he might ask me what I had donewith that gold piece and make a mock of me about the dog. Yet my motherhad bidden me go, and it was her last command to me, her dying wordswhich it would be unlucky to disobey. Moreover, our boats and housewere burnt and I must work hard and long before these could be replaced. Lastly, in London I should see no more of the lady Blanche Aleys, andthere could learn to forget the lights in her blue eyes. So I determinedthat I would go, and at last fell asleep. 

Next morning I made my confession to the old priest that, amongst othermatters, he might shrive me of the blood which I had shed, though thishe said needed no forgiveness from God or man, being, as I think, astout Englishman at heart. Also I took counsel with him as to what Ishould do, and he told me it was my duty to obey my mother's wishes, since such last words were often inspired from on high and declared thewill of Heaven. Further he pointed out that I should do well to avoidthe lady Blanche Aleys who was one far above me in degree, the followingof whom might bring me to trouble, or even to death; moreover, that Imight mend my broken fortunes through the help of my uncle, a very richman as he had heard, to whom he would write a letter about me. 

Thus this matter was settled. 

Still some days went by before I left Hastings, since first I must waituntil the ashes of our house were cool enough to search in them for mymother's body. Those who found her at length said that she was not somuch burned as might have been expected, but as to this I am uncertain, since I could not bring myself to look upon her who desired to rememberher as she had been in life. She was buried by the side of my father, who was drowned, in the churchyard of St. Clement's, and when all hadgone away I wept a little on her grave. 

The rest of that day I spent making ready for my journey. As it chancedwhen the house was burnt the outbuildings which lay on the farther sideof the yard behind escaped the fire, and in the stable were two goodhorses, one a grey riding-gelding and the other a mare that used to dragthe nets to the quay and bring back the fish, which horses, althoughfrightened and alarmed, were unharmed. Also there was a quantity ofstores, nets, salt, dried fish in barrels, and I know not what besides. The horses I kept, but all the rest of the gear, together with thepremises, the ground on which the house had stood, and the otherproperty I made over to William, my man, who promised me to pay me theirvalue when he could earn it in better times. 

Next morning I rode away for London upon the grey horse, loading thearmour of the knight I had killed and such other possessions as remainedto me upon the mare which I led with a rope. Save William there was noneto say me good-bye, for the misery in Hastings was so great that allwere concerned with their own affairs or in mourning their dead. Iwas not sorry that it fell out thus, since I was so full of sadness atleaving the place where I was born and had lived all my life, that Ithink I should have shed tears if any who had been my friends had spokenkind words to me, which would have been unmanly. Never had I feltso lonely as when from the high ground I gazed back to the ruins ofHastings over which still hung a thin pall of smoke. My courage seemedto fail me altogether; I looked forward to the future with fear, believing that I had been born unlucky, that it held no good for mewho probably should end my days as a common soldier or a fisherman, ormayhap in prison or on the gallows. From childhood I had suffered thesefits of gloom, but as yet this was the blackest of them that I hadknown. 

At length, the sun that had been hidden shone out and with its coming mytemper changed. I remembered that I who might so easily have been dead, was sound, young, and healthy, that I had sword, bow, and armour of thebest, also twenty or more of gold pieces, for I had not counted them, inthe bag which my mother gave me with Wave-Flame. Further, I hoped thatmy uncle would befriend me, and if he did not, there were plenty ofcaptains engaged in the wars who might be glad of a squire, one whocould shoot against any man and handle a sword as well as most. 

So putting up a prayer to St. Hubert after my simple fashion, I pushedon blithely to the crest of a long rise and there came face to face witha gay company who, hawk on wrist and hound at heel, were, I guessed, on their way to hunt in the Pevensey marshes. While they were still alittle way off I knew these to be no other than Sir Robert Aleys, hisdaughter Blanche, and the King's favourite, young Lord Deleroy, withtheir servants, and was minded to turn aside to avoid them. Then Iremembered that I had as much right to the King's Highway as they, andmy pride aiding me, determined to ride on taking no note of them, unlessfirst they took note of me. Also they knew me, for my ears being verysharp, I heard Sir Robert say in his big voice:

"Here comes that young fisherman again. Pass him in silence, Daughter";heard, too, Lord Deleroy drawl it, "It seems that he has been gatheringgear from the slain, and like a good chapman bears it away for secretsale. "

Only the lady Blanche answered neither the one nor the other, but rodeforward with her eyes fixed before her, pretending to talk to the hawkupon her wrist, and now that she was rested and at ease, looking evenmore beautiful than she had done on the day of the burning. 

So we met and passed, I glancing at them idly and guiding my horses tothe side of the road. When there were perhaps ten yards between us Iheard Lady Blanche cry:

"Oh, my hawk!" I looked round to see that the falcon on her wrist had insome way loosed itself, or been loosed, and being hooded, had fallen tothe ground where one of the dogs was trying to catch and kill it. Nowthere was great confusion, the eyes of all being fixed upon the hawk andthe dog, in the midst of which the lady Blanche very quietly turned herhead, and lifting her hand as though to see how the hawk had fallen fromit, with a swift movement laid her fingers against her lips and threw akiss to me. 

As swiftly I bowed back and went on my way with a beating heart. For afew moments I was filled with joy, since I could not mistake the meaningof this signalled kiss. Then came sorrow like an April cloud, since mywound which was in the way of healing was all re-opened. I had begun toforget the lady Blanche, or rather by an effort of the will, to thrusther from my thought, as my confessor had bidden me. But now on the wingsof that blown kiss thither she had flown back again, not to be frightedout for many a day. 

That night I slept at an inn at Tonbridge, a comfortable place where thehost stared at the gold piece from the bag which I tendered in payment, and at first would not take what was due to him out of it, because itbore the head of some ancient king. However, in the end a merchant ofTonbridge who came in for his morning ale showed him that it was good, so that trouble passed. 

About two in the afternoon I came to Southwark, a town that to me seemedas big as Hastings before it was burned, where was a fine inn called theTabard at which I stopped to bait my horses and to take a bite and drinkof ale. Then I rode on over the great Thames where floated a multitudeof ships and boats, crossing it by London Bridge, a work so wonderfulthat I marvelled that it could be made by the hand of man, and so broadthat it had shops on either side of the roadway, in which were sold allsorts of merchandise. Thence I inquired my way to Cheapside, and camethere at last thrusting a path through a roaring multitude of people, or so it seemed to me who never before had seen so many men and womengathered together, all going on their way and, it would appear, ignorantof each other. 

Here I found a long and crowded thoroughfare with gabled houses oneither side in which all kinds of trades were carried on. Down this Iwandered, being cursed at more than once because my pack mare, growingfrightened, dragged away from me and crossed the path of carts which hadto stop till I could pull her free. After the third of these tangles Ihalted by the side of the footway behind a wain with barrels on it, andlooked about me bewildered. 

To my left was a house somewhat set back from the general line thathad a little patch of garden ground in front of it in which grew someuntended and thriftless-looking shrubs. This house seemed to be a placeof business because from an iron fastened to the front of it hung aboard on which was painted an open boat, high at the prow and stern, with a tall beak fashioned to the likeness of a dragon's head and roundshields all down the rail. 

While I was staring at this sign and wondering emptily what kind of aboat it was and of what nation were the folk who had sailed in her, aman came down the garden path and leaned upon the gate, staring in turnat me. He was old and strange-looking, being clad in a rusty gown witha hood to it that was pulled over his head, so that I could only see awhite, peaked beard and a pair of brilliant black eyes which seemed topierce me as a shoemaker's awl pierces leather. 

"What do you, young man, " he asked in a high thin voice, "cumbering mygate with those nags of yours? Would you sell that mail you have on thepack-horse? If so I do not deal in such stuff, though it seems good ofits kind. So get on with it elsewhere. "

"Nay, sir, " I answered, "I have naught to sell who in this hive oftraders seek one bee and cannot find him. "

"Hive of traders! Truly the great merchants of the Cheap would behonoured. Have they stung you, then, already, young bumpkin from thecountryside, for such I write you down? But what bee do you seek? Stay, now, let me guess. Is it a certain old knave named John Grimmer, whotrades in gold and jewels and other precious things and who, if he hadhis deserts, should be jail?"

"Aye, aye, that's the man, " I said. 

"Surely he also will be honoured, " exclaimed the old fellow with acackle. "He's a friend of mine and I will tell him the jest. "

"If you would tell me where to find him it would be more seasonable. "

"All in good time. But first, young sir, where did you get that finearmour? If you stole it, it should be better hid. "

"Stole it!" I began in wrath. "Am I a London chapman----?"

"I think not, though you may be before all is done, for who knows whatvile tricks Fortune will play us? Well, if you did not steal it, mayhapyou slew the wearer and are a murderer, for I see black blood on thesteel. "

"Murderer!" I gasped. 

"Aye, just as you say John Grimmer is a knave. But if not, thenperchance you slew the French knight who wore it on Hastings Hill, ereyou loosed the three arrows at the mouth of the cave near Minnes Rock. "

Now I gaped at him. 

"Shut your mouth, young man, lest those teeth of yours should fallout. You wonder how I know? Well, my friend John Grimmer, the goldsmithknave, has a magic crystal which he purchased from one who brought itfrom the East, and I saw it in that crystal. "

As he spoke, as though by chance he pushed back the hood that coveredhis head, revealing a wrinkled old face with a mocking mouth whichdrooped at one corner, a mouth that I knew again, although many yearshad passed since I looked upon it as a boy. 

"You are John Grimmer!" I muttered. 

"Yes, Hubert of Hastings, I am that knave himself. And now tell me, whatdid you do with the gold piece I gave you some twelve summers gone?"

Then I was minded to lie, for I feared this old man. But thinking betterof it, I answered that I had spent it on a dog. He laughed outright andsaid:

"Pray that it is not an omen and that you may not follow the goldpiece to the dogs. Well, I like you for speaking the truth when youare tempted to do otherwise. Will you be pleased to shelter for a whilebeneath the roof of John Grimmer, the merchant knave?"

"You mock me, sir, " I stammered. 

"Perhaps, perhaps! But there's many a true word spoken in jest; forif you do not know it now you will learn it afterwards that we are allknaves, each in his own fashion, who if we do not deceive others, at least deceive ourselves, and I perhaps more than most. Vanity ofvanities! All is vanity. "

Then, waiting for no reply, he drew a silver whistle from under hisdusty robe and blew it, whereon--so swiftly that I marvelled whether hewere waiting--a stout-built serving man appeared to whom he said:

"Take these horses to the stable and treat them as though they were myown. Unload the pack beast, and when it has been cleaned, set the mailand the other gear upon it in the room that has been made ready for thisyoung master, Hubert of Hastings, my nephew. "

Without a word the man led off the horses. 

"Be not afraid, " chuckled John Grimmer, "for though I am a knave, dogdoes not eat dog and what is yours is safe with me and those whoserve me. Now enter, " and he led the way into the house, opening theiron-studded oak door with a key from his pouch. 

Within was a shop where I saw precious things such as furs and goldornaments lying about. 

"The crumbs to catch the birds, especially the ladybirds, " he said witha sweep of his hand, then took me through the shop into a passageand thence to a room on the right. It was not a large room but morewonderfully furnished than any I had ever seen. In the centre was atable of black oak with cunningly carved legs, on which stood cups ofsilver and a noble centre piece that seemed to be of gold. From theceiling, too, hung silver lamps that already had been lit, for theevening was closing in, and gave a sweet smell. There was a hearth alsowith what was rare, a chimney, upon which burned a little fire of logs, while the walls were hung with tapestries and broidered silks. 

Whilst I stared about me, my uncle took off his cloak beneath which hewas clothed in some rich but rather threadbare stuff, only retaining thevelvet skullcap that he wore. Then he bade me do the same, and when Ihad laid my outer garment aside, looked me all over in the lamplight. 

"A proper young man, " he muttered to himself, "and I'd give all I haveto be his age and like him. I suppose those limbs and sinews of his camefrom his father, for I was ever thin and spare, as was my father beforeme. Nephew Hubert, I have heard all the tale of your dealings with theFrenchmen, on whom be God's curse, at Hastings yonder; and I say that Iam proud of you, though whether I shall stay so is another matter. Comehither. "

I obeyed, and taking me by my curling hair with his delicate hand, hedrew down my head and kissed me on the brow, muttering, "Neither chicknor child for me and only this one left of the ancient blood. May he doit honour. "

Then he motioned to me to be seated and rang a little silver bell thatstood upon the table. As in the case of the man without, it was answeredinstantly from which I judged that Master Grimmer was well served. Before the echoes of the bell died away a door opened, the tapestryswung aside, and there appeared two most comely serving maids, tall andwell-shaped both of them, bearing food. 

"Pretty women, Nephew, no wonder that you look at them, " he said whenthey had gone away to fetch other things, "such as I like to have aboutme although I am old. Women for within and men for without, that isNature's law, and ill will be the day when it is changed. Yet beware ofpretty women, Nephew, and I pray you kiss not those as you did the ladyBlanche Aleys at Hastings, lest it should upset my household and turnservants into mistresses. "

I made no answer, being confounded by the knowledge that my uncle showedof me and my affairs, which afterwards I discovered he had, in part atany rate, from the old priest, my confessor, who had written tocommend me to him, telling my story and sending the letter by a King'smessenger, who left for London on the morrow of the Burning. Nor did hewait for any, for he bade me sit down and eat, plying me with more meatsthan I could swallow, all most delicately dressed, also with rare winessuch as I had never tasted, which he took from a cupboard where theywere kept in curious flasks of glass. Yet as I noted, himself he ate butlittle, only picking at the breast of a fowl and drinking but the halfof a small silver goblet filled with wine. 

"Appetite, like all other good things, for the young, " he said with asigh as he watched my hearty feasting. "Yet remember, Nephew, that ifyou live to reach it, a day will come when yours will be as mine is. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher, all is vanity!"

At length, when I could eat no more, again he rang the silver bell andthose fair waiting girls dressed alike in green appeared and clearedaway the broken meats. After they were gone he crouched over the firerubbing his thin hands to warm them, and said suddenly:

"Now tell me of my sister's death and all the rest of your tale. "

So as well as I was able I told him everything from the hour when I hadfirst sighted the French fleet on board my fishing-boat to the end. 

"You are no fool, " he said when I had finished, "who can talk like anyclerk and bring things that have happened clearly to the listener's eye, which I have noted few are able to do. So that's the story. Well, yourmother had a great heart, and she made a great end, such an one as wasloved of our northern race, and that even I, the old merchant knave, desire and shall not win, who doubtless am doomed to die a cow's deathin the straw. Pray the All-Father Odin--nay, that is heresy for whichI might burn if you or the wenches told it to the priests--pray God, Imean, that He may grant you a better, as He did to old Thorgrimmer, if the tale be true, Thorgrimmer whose sword you wear and have wieldedshrewdly, as that French knight knows in hell to-day. "

"Who was Odin?" I asked. 

"The great god of the North. Did not your mother tell you of him? Nay, doubtless she was too good a Christian. Yet he lives on, Nephew. I saythat Odin lives in the blood of every fighting man, as Freya lives inthe heart of every lad and girl who loves. The gods change their names, but hush! hush! talk not of Odin and of Freya, for I say that it isheresy, or pagan, which is worse. What would you do now? Why came you toLondon?"

"Because my mother bade me and to seek my fortune. "

"Fortune--what is fortune? Youth and health are the best fortune, though, if they know how to use it, those who have wealth as well may gofurther than the rest. Also beauteous things are pleasant to the sightand there is joy in gathering them. Yet at the last they mean nothing, for naked we came out of the blackness and naked we return there. Vanityof vanities, all is vanity!"

CHAPTER IV

KARI

Thus began my life in London in the house of my uncle, John Grimmer, who was called the Goldsmith. In truth, however, he was more than this, since not only did he fashion and trade in costly things; he lent outmoneys to interest upon security to great people who needed it, andeven to the king Richard and his Court. Also he owned ships and did muchcommerce with Holland, France, yes, and with Spain and Italy. Indeed, although he appeared so humble, his wealth was very large and alwaysincreased, like a snowball rolling down a hill; moreover, he owned muchland, especially in the neighbourhood of London where it was likely togrow in value. 

"Money melts, " he would say, "furs corrupt with moth and time, andthieves break in and steal. But land--if the title be good--remains. Therefore buy land, which none can carry away, near to a market or agrowing town if may be, and hire it out to fools to farm, or sell itto other fools who wish to build great houses and spend their goods infeeding a multitude of idle servants. Houses eat, Hubert, and the largerthey are, the more they eat. "

No word did he say to me as to my dwelling on with him, yet there Iremained, by common consent, as it were. Indeed on the morrow of mycoming a tailor appeared to measure me for such garments as he thoughtI should wear, by his command, I suppose, as I was never asked forpayment, and he bade me furnish my chamber to my own liking, alsoanother room at the back of the house that was much larger than itseemed, which he told me was to be mine to work in, though at what I wasto work he did not say. 

For a day or two I remained idle, staring at the sights of Londonand only meeting my uncle at meals which sometimes we ate alone andsometimes in the company of sea-captains and learned clerks or of othermerchants, all of whom treated him with great deference and as I soonguessed, were in truth his servants. At night, however, we were alwaysalone and then he would pour out his wisdom on me while I listened, saying little. On the sixth day, growing weary of this idleness, I madebold to ask him if there was aught that I could do. 

"Aye, plenty if you have a mind to work, " he answered. "Sit down now, and take pen and paper and write what I shall tell you. "

Then he dictated a short letter to me as to shipping wine from Spain, and when it was sanded, read it carefully. 

"You have it right, " he said, seeming pleased, "and your script isclear if boyish. They taught you none so ill yonder at Hastings whereI thought you had only learned to handle ropes and arrows. Work? Yes, there is plenty of it of the more private sort which I do not give tothis scribe or to that who might betray my secrets. For know, " he wenton in a stern voice, "there is one thing which I never pardon, and it isbetrayal. Remember that, nephew Hubert, even in the arms of your loves, if you should be fool enough to seek them, or in your cups. "

So he talked on, and while he did so went to an iron chest that heunlocked, and thence drew out a parchment roll which he bade me take tomy workroom and copy there. I did so, and found that it was an inventoryof his goods and estates, and oh! before I had done I wished that therewere fewer of them. All the long day I laboured, only stopping for abite at noon, till my head swam and my fingers ached. Yet as I did soI felt proud, for I guessed that my uncle had set me this task for tworeasons: first, to show his trust in me, and, secondly, to acquaintme with the state of his possessions, but as it were in the way ofbusiness. By nightfall I had finished and checked the copy which withthe original I hid in my robe when the green-robed waiting maid summonedme to eat. 

At our meal my uncle asked me what I had seen that day and Ireplied--naught but figures and crabbed writing--and handed him theparchments which he compared item by item. 

"I am pleased with you, " he said at last, "for heresofar I find but asingle error and that is my fault, not yours; also you have done twodays' work in one. Still, it is not fit that you who are accustomedto the open air should bend continually over deeds and inventories. Therefore, to-morrow I shall have another task for you, for likeyourself your horse needs exercise. "

And so he had, for with two stout servants riding with me and guidingme, he sent me out of London to view a fair estate of his upon theborders of the Thames and to visit his tenants there and make report oftheir husbandry, also of certain woods where he proposed to fell oak forshipbuilding. This I did, for the servants made me known to the tenants, and got back at night-fall, able to tell him all which he was glad tolearn, since it seemed that he had not seen this estate for five longyears. 

On another day he sent me to visit ships in which goods of his werebeing laden at the wharf, and on another took me with him to a sale offurs that came from the far north where I was told the snow never meltsand there is always ice in the sea. 

Also he made me known to merchants with whom he traded, and to hisagents who were many, though for the most part secret, together withother goldsmiths who held moneys of his, and in a sense were partners, forming a kind of company so that they could find great sums in suddenneed. Lastly, his clerks and dependents were made to understand that ifI gave an order it must be obeyed, though this did not happen until Ihad been with him for some time. 

Thus it came about that within a year I knew all the threads of JohnGrimmer's great business, and within two it drifted more and more intomy hands. The last part of it with which he made me acquainted was thatof lending money to those in high places, and even to the State itself, but at length I was taught this also and came to know sundry of thesemen, who in private were humble borrowers, but if they met us in thestreet passed us with the nod that the great give to their inferiors. Then my uncle would bow low, keeping his eyes fixed upon the ground andbid me do the same. But when they were out of hearing he would chuckleand say, "Fish in my net, goldfish in my net! See how they shine who presentlymust wriggle on the shore. Vanity of vanities! All is vanity, anddoubtless Solomon knew such in his day. "

Hard I worked, and ever harder, toiling at the mill of all these largeaffairs and keeping myself in health during such time as I could spareby shooting at the butts with my big bow where I found that none couldbeat me, or practising sword play in a school of arms that was kept bya master of the craft from Italy. Also on holidays and on Sundays aftermass I rode out of London to visit my uncle's estates where sometimes Islept a night, and once or twice sailed to Holland or to Calais with hiscargoes. 

One day, it was when I had been with him about eighteen months, he saidto me suddenly. 

"You plough the field, Hubert, and do not tithe the crop, but live uponthe bounty of the husbandman. Henceforward take as much of it as youwill. I ask no account. "

So I found myself rich, though in truth I spent but little, both becausemy tastes were simple and it was part of my uncle's policy to make noshow which he said would bring envy on us. From this time forward hebegan to withdraw himself from business, the truth being that age tookhold of him and he grew feeble. The highest of the affairs he left tome, only inquiring of them and giving his counsel from time to time. Still, because he must do something, he busied himself in the shopwhich, as he said, he kept as a trap for the birds, chaffering inornaments and furs as though his bread depended upon his earning a goldpiece, and directing the manufacture of beautiful jewels and cups whichhe, who was an artist, designed to be made by his skilled and highlypaid workmen, some of whom were foreigners. 

"We end where we began, " he would say. "A smith was I from mychildhood and a smith I shall die. What a fate for one of the blood ofThorgrimmer! Yet I am selling you into the same bondage, or so it wouldseem. But who knows? Who knows? We design, but God decrees. "

It is to be noted that when old men cease from the occupation of theirlives, often enough within a very little time they also cease from lifeitself. So it was with my uncle. Day by day he faded till at last atthe beginning of the third winter after I came to him he took to his bedwhere he lay growing ever weaker till at length he died in the hour ofthe birth of the new year. 

To the last his mind remained clear and strong, and never more so thanon the night of his death. That evening after I had eaten I went to hisroom as usual and found him reading a beautiful manuscript of the bookof the Wisdom of Solomon that is called Ecclesiastes, a work which hepreferred to all others, since its thoughts were his. "I gathered mealso silver and gold and the peculiar treasures of kings, " he readaloud, whether to himself or to me I knew not, and went on, "So I wasgreat, and increased more than all that were before me. . . . Then Ilooked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labourthat I had laboured to do; and behold all was vanity and vexation ofspirit, and there was no profit under the sun. "

He closed the book, saying, "So shall you find, Nephew, you, and every man in the evil days of agewhen you shall say, 'I have no pleasure in them. ' Hubert, I am going tomy long home, nor do I grieve. In youth I met with sorrow, for though Ihave never told you, I was married then and had one son, a bright boy, and oh! I loved him and his mother. Then came the plague and took themboth. So having naught left and being by nature one of those who couldwean himself from women, which I fear that you are not, Hubert, notingall the misery there is in the world and how those who are called noblewhom I hate, grind down the humble and the poor, I turned myself to goodworks. Half of all my gains I have given and still give to those whominister to poverty and sickness; you will find a list of them when I amgone should you wish to continue the bounty, as to which I do not desireto bind you in any way. For know, Hubert, that I have left you all thatis mine; the gold and the ships with the movables and chattels tobe your own, but the lands which are the main wealth, for life andafterwards to be your children's, or if you should die childless, thento go to certain hospitals where the sick are tended. "

Now I would have thanked him, but he waved my words aside and went on:

"You will be a very rich man, Hubert, one of the richest in all London;yet set not your heart on wealth, and above all do not ape nobility orstrive to climb from the honest class of which you come into the ranksof those idle and dissolute cut-throats and pick-brains who are calledthe great. Lighten their pockets if you will, but do not seek to weartheir silken, scented garments. That is my counsel to you. "

He paused a while, picking at the bedclothes as the dying do, andcontinued, "You told me that your mother thought you would be a wanderer, and itis strange that now my mind should be as hers was in this matter. ForI seem to see you far away amidst war and love and splendour, holdingWave-Flame aloft as did that Thorgrimmer who begat us. Well, go whereyou are called or as occasion drives, though you have much to keep youat home. I would that you were wed, since marriage is an anchor that fewships can drag. Yet I am not sure, for how know I whom you should wed, and once that anchor is down no windlass will wind it up and death alonecan cut its chain. One word more. Though you are so young and strongremember that as I am, so shall you be. To-day for me, to-morrow forthee, said the wise old man, and thus it ever was and is. 

"Hubert, I do not know why we are born to struggle and to suffer and atlast be noosed with the rope of Doom. Yet I hope the priests are rightand that we live again, though Solomon thought not so; that is, if welive where there is neither sin nor sorrow nor fear of death. If so, besure that in some new land we shall meet afresh, and there I shall askaccount of you of the wealth I entrusted to your keeping. Think of mekindly at times, for I have learned to love you who are of my blood, andwhile we live on in the hearts of those we love, we are not truly dead. Come hither that I may bless you in your coming in and going out whileyou still look upon the sun. "

So he blessed me in beautiful and tender words, and kissed me on thebrow, after which he bade me leave him and send the woman to watch him, because he desired to sleep. 

When she looked at him at midnight just as the bells rang in the newyear, he was dead. 

According to his wish John Grimmer, the last of that name, was buried bythe bones of his forgotten wife and child, who had left the world overfifty years before, in the chancel of that church in the Cheap whichwas within a stone's throw of his dwelling house. By his desire alsothe funeral was without pomp, yet many came to it, some of them of highdistinction, although the day was cold and snowy. I noted, moreover, thedeference they showed to me who by now was known to be his heir, evenif they had never spoken with me before, as was the case with certainof them, taking occasion to draw me aside and say that they trusted thattheir ancient friendship with my honoured uncle would be continued bymyself. 

Afterwards I looked up their names in his private book and found thatone and all of those who had spoken thus owed moneys to his estate. 

When the will was sworn and I found myself the master of many legions, or rather of more money, land, and other wealth than I had ever dreamedof, at first I was minded to be rid of trade and to take up my abodeupon one or other of my manors, where I might live in plenty for therest of my days. In the end, however, I did not do so, partly becauseI shrank from new faces and surroundings, and partly because I was surethat such would not have been my uncle's wish. 

Instead I set myself to play and outpass his game. He had died veryrich; I determined that I would die five or ten times richer; therichest man in England if I could, not because I cared for money, ofwhich indeed I spent but little upon myself, but because the gettingof it and the power that it brought, seemed to me the highest kindof sport. So bending my mind to the matter I doubled and trebled hisenterprises on this line and on that, and won and won again, for evenwhere skill and foresight failed, Fortune stood my friend with a suchstrange persistence that at length I became superstitious and grewfrightened of her gifts. Also I took pains to hide my great riches fromthe public eye, placing much of them in the names of others whom I couldtrust, and living most modestly in the same old house, lest I shouldbecome a man envied by the hungry and marked for plunder by thespendthrift great. 

It was during the summer following my uncle's death that I went to thewharves to see to the unloading of a ship that came in from Venice, bearing many goods from the East on my account, such as ivory, silks, spices, glass, carpets, and I know not what. Having finished my businessand seen these precious things warehoused, I handed over the checking ofa list of them to another and turned to seek my horse. 

Then it was that I saw a number of half-grown lads and other idlersmobbing a man who stood among them wrapped in a robe of what looked liketattered sheepskin, yet was not because the wool on it was of a reddishhue and very long and soft, which robe was thrown over his head hidinghis face. At this man--a tall figure who stood there patiently likea martyr at the stake--these lewd fellows were hurling offal, such asfishes' heads and rotted fruits that lay in plenty on the quay, togetherwith coarse words. "Blackamoor" was one I caught. 

Such sights were common enough, but there was a quiet dignity ofbearing about this victim which moved me, so that I went to the rabblecommanding them to desist. One of them, a rough bumpkin, not knowingwho I was, pushed me aside, bidding me mind my own business, whereupon, being very strong, I dealt him such a blow between the eyes that hewent down like a felled ox and lay there half stunned. His companionsbeginning to threaten me, I blew upon my whistle, whereon two of myserving-men, without whom I seldom rode in those troublous times, ranup from behind a shed, laying hands upon their short swords, on seeingwhich the idlers took to their heels. 

When they had gone I turned to look at the stranger, whose hood hadfallen back in the hustling, and saw that he was about thirty years ofage, and of a dark and noble countenance, beardless, but with straightblack hair, black flashing eyes, and an aquiline nose. Another thingI noted about him was that the lobe of his ear was pierced and in astrange fashion, since the gristle was stretched to such a size thata small apple could have been placed within its ring. For the rest theman's limbs were so thin as though from hunger, that everywhere hisbones showed, while his skin was scarred with cuts and scratches, andon his forehead was a large bruise. He seemed bewildered also and veryweak, yet I think he understood that I was playing a friend's part tohim, for he bowed towards me in a stately, courteous way and kissed theair thrice, but what this meant at the time I did not know. 

I spoke to him in English, but he shook his head gently to show that hedid not understand. Then, as though by an afterthought, he touched hisbreast several times, and after each touch, said in a voice of strangesoftness, "Kari, " which I took it he meant was his name. At any rate, from that time forward I called him Kari. 

Now the question was how to deal with him. Leave him there to be mockedor to perish I could not, nor was there anywhere whither I could sendhim. Therefore it seemed the only thing to do was to take him home withme. So grasping his arm gently I led him off the quay where our horseswere and motioned to him to mount one that had been ridden by a servantwhom I bade to walk. At the sight of these horses, however, a greatterror took hold of him for he trembled all over, a sweat burstingout upon his face, and clung to me as though for protection, making itevident that he had never seen such an animal before. Indeed, nothingwould persuade him to go near them, for he shook his head and pointedto his feet, thus showing me that he preferred to walk, however weak hisstate. 

The end of it was that walk he did and I with him from Thames side tothe Cheap, since I dared not leave him alone for fear lest he shouldrun away. A strange sight we presented, I leading this dusky wandererthrough the streets, and glad was I that night was falling so that fewsaw us and those who did thought, I believe, that I was bringing someforeign thief to jail. 

At length we reached the Boat House as my dwelling was called, from theimage of the old Viking vessel that my uncle had carved and set abovethe door, and I led him in staring about him with all his eyes, which inhis thin face looked large as those of an owl, taking him up the stairs, which seemed to puzzle him much, for at every step he lifted his leghigh into the air, to an empty guest room. 

Here besides the bed and other furniture was a silver basin with itsjug, one of the beautiful things that John Grimmer had brought I knownot whence. On these Kari fixed his eyes at once, staring at them inthe light of the candles that I had lit, as though they were familiar tohim. Indeed, after glancing at me as though for permission, he went tothe jug that was kept full of water in case of visitors of whom I hadmany on business, lifted it, and after pouring a few drops of the wateron to the floor as though he made some offering, drank deeply, thusshowing that he was parched with thirst. 

Then without more ado he filled the basin and throwing off his tatteredrobe began to wash himself to the waist, round which he wore anothergarment, of dirty cotton I thought, which looked like a woman'spetticoat. Watching him I noted two things, that his poor body was asscratched and scarred as though by old thorn wounds, as were his faceand hands, also marked with great bruises as though from kicks andblows, and secondly that hung about his neck was a wondrous golden imageabout four inches in length. It was of rude workmanship with knees bentup under the chin, but the face, in which little emeralds were set foreyes, was of a great and solemn dignity. 

This image Kari washed before he touched himself with water, bowing toit the while, and when he saw me observing him, looked upwards to thesky and said a word that sounded like _Pachacamac_, from which I tookit to be some idol that the poor man worshipped. Lastly, tied about hismiddle was a hide bag filled with I knew not what. 

Now I found a washball made of oil of olives mixed with beech ash andshowed him the use of it. At first he shrank from this strange thing, but coming to understand its office, served himself of it readily, smiling when he saw how well it cleansed his flesh. Further, I fetcheda shirt of silk with a pair of easy shoes and a fur-lined robe that hadbelonged to my uncle, also hosen, and showed him how to put them on, which he learned quickly enough. A comb and a brush that were on thetable he seemed to understand already, for with them he dressed histangled hair. 

When all was finished in a fashion, I led him down the stairs again tothe eating-room where supper was waiting, and offered him food, atthe sight of which his eyes glistened, for clearly he was well-nighstarving. The chair I gave him he would not sit on, whether from respectfor me or because it was strange to him, I do not know, but seeing a lowstool of tapestry which my uncle had used to rest his feet, he crouchedupon this, and thus ate of whatever I gave him, very delicately thoughhe was so hungry. Then I poured wine from Portugal into a goblet anddrank some myself to show him that it was harmless, which, after tastingit, he swallowed to the last drop. 

The meal being finished which I thought it was well to shorten lesthe should eat too much who was so weak, again he lifted up his eyes asthough in gratitude, and as a sign of thankfulness, or so I suppose, knelt before me, took my hand, and pressed it against his forehead, thereby, although I did not know it at the time, vowing himself tomy service. Then seeing how weary he was I conducted him back to thechamber and pointed out the bed to him, shutting my eyes to show thathe should sleep there. But this he would not do until he had dragged thebedding on to the floor, from which I gathered that his people, whoeverthey might be, had the habit of sleeping on the ground. 

Greatly did I wonder who this man was and from what race he sprang, since never had I seen any human being who resembled him at all. Of onething only was I certain, namely, that his rank was high, since no nobleof the countries that I knew had a bearing so gentle or manners so fine. Of black men I had seen several, who were called negroes, and others ofa higher sort called Moors; gross, vulgar fellows for the most part andcut-throats if in an ill-humour, but never a one of them like this Kari. 

It was long before my curiosity was satisfied, and even then I did notgather much. By slow degrees Kari learned English, or something of it, though never enough to talk fluently in that tongue into which he alwaysseemed to translate in his mind from another full of strange figures ofthought and speech. When after many months he had mastered sufficient ofour language, I asked him to tell me his story which he tried to do. AllI could make of it, however, came to this. 

He was, he said, the son of a king who ruled over a mighty empire farfar away, across thousands of miles of sea towards that part of the skywhere the sun sank. He declared that he was the eldest lawful son, bornof the King's sister, which seemed dreadful to my ideas though perhapshe meant cousin or relative, but that there were scores of otherchildren of his father, which, if true, showed that this king must bea very loose-living man who resembled in his domesticities the wiseSolomon of whom my uncle was so fond. 

It appeared, further, according to the tale, that this king, his father, had another son born of a different mother, and that of this son he wasfonder than of my guest, Kari. His name was Urco, and he was jealousof and hated Kari the lawful heir. Moreover, as is common, a woman cameinto the business, since Kari had a wife, the loveliest lady in all theland, though as I understood, not of the same tribe or blood as himself, and with this wife of his Urco fell in love. So greatly did he desireher, although he had plenty of wives of his own, that being the generalof the King's troops, he sent Kari, with the consent of their father, tocommand an army that was to fight a distant savage nation, hopingthat he would be killed, much as David did in the matter of Uriahand Bathsheba, of whom the Bible tells the story. But as it happened, instead of being killed like Uriah, Kari conquered the distant nation, and after two years returned to the King's court, where he found thathis brother Urco had led astray his wife whom he had taken into hishousehold. Being very angry, Kari recovered his wife by command of theKing, and put her to death because of her faithlessness. 

Thereon the King, his father, a stern man, ordered him into banishmentbecause he had broken the laws of the land, which did not permit ofprivate vengeance over a matter of a woman who was not even of the royalblood, however fair she might be. Before he went, however, Urco, who wasmad at the loss of his love, caused some kind of poison to be given toKari, which although it does not kill, for he dared not kill him becauseof his station, deprives him who takes it of his reason, sometimesfor ever and sometimes for a year or more. After this, said Kari, heremembered little or nothing, save long travellings in boats and throughforests, and then again upon a raft or boat on which he was drivenalone, for many, many days, drinking a jar of water which he had withhim, and eating some dried flesh and with it a marvellous drug of hispeople, some of which remained to him in the leathern bag that has powerto keep the life in a man for weeks, even if he is labouring hard. 

At last, he declared, he was picked up by a great ship such as he hadnever seen before, though of this ship he recalled little. Indeed heremembered nothing more until he found himself upon the quay where Idiscovered him, and of a sudden his mind seemed to return but he saidhe believed that he had come ashore in a boat in which were fishermen, having been thrown into it by the people on the ship which went onelsewhere, and that he had walked up the shores of a river. This storythe bruises on his forehead and body seemed to bear out, but it was farfrom clear, and by the time I learned it months afterwards of course notraces of the fishermen or their boat could be found. I asked him thename of the country from which he came. He answered that it was called_Tavantinsuyu_. He added that it was a wonderful country in which werecities and churches and great snow-clad mountains and fertile valleysand high plains and hot forests through which ran wide rivers. 

From all the learned men whom I could meet, especially those whohad travelled far, I made inquiries concerning this country calledTavantinsuyu, but none of them had so much as heard its name. Indeed, they declared that my brown man must have come from Africa, and that hismind being disordered, he had invented this wondrous land which he saidlay far away to the west where the sun sank. 

So there I must leave this matter, though for my part I was sure thatKari was not mad, whatever he might have been in the past. A greatdreamer he was, it is true, who declared that the poison which hisbrother had given him had "eaten a hole in his mind" through which hecould see and hear things which others could not. Thus he was able toread the secret motives of men and women with wonderful clearness, somuch so that sometimes I asked him, laughing, if he could not give mesome of that poison that I might see into the hearts of those with whomI dealt. Of another thing, too, he was always certain, namely, that hewould return to his country Tavantinsuyu of which he thought day andnight, and that _I should accompany him_. At this I laughed again andsaid that if so it would be after we were both dead. 

By degrees he learned English quite well and even how to read and writeit, teaching me in return much of his own language which he called_Quichua_, a soft and beautiful tongue, though he said that there werealso many others in his country, including one that was secret to theKing and his family, which he was not allowed to reveal although he knewit. In time I mastered enough of this Quichua to be able to talk to Kariin brief sentences of it when I did not wish others to understand what Isaid. 

To tell the truth, while I studied thus and listened to his marvelloustales, a great desire arose in me to see this land of his and to openup a trade with it, since there he declared gold was as plentiful aswas iron with us. I thought even of making a voyage of discovery tothe west, but when I spoke of it to certain sea-captains, even the mostventuresome mocked at me and said that they would wait for that journeytill they "went west" themselves, by which in their sea parlance thatthey had learned in the Mediterranean, they meant until they died. [*]When I told Kari this he smiled in his mysterious way and answered thatall the same, I and he should make that journey together and this beforewe died, a thing that came about, indeed, though, not by my own will orhis. 

 [*] Of late there has been much dispute as to the origin of the phrase "to go west, " or in other words, to die. Surely it arises from the custom of the Ancient Egyptians who, after death, were ferried across the Nile and entombed upon the western shore. --Ed. 

For the rest when Kari saw my workmen fashioning gold and settingjewels in it for sale to the nobles and ladies of the Court, he was muchinterested and asked if he might be allowed to follow this craft, ofwhich he said he understood something, and thus earn the bread he ate. Ianswered, yes, for I knew that it irked his proud nature to be dependenton me, and gave him gold and silver with a little room having a furnacein it where he could labour. The first thing he made was an object abouttwo inches across, round and with a groove at the back of it, on thefront of which he fashioned an image of the sun having a human face andrays of light projecting all about. I asked him what was its purpose, whereon he took the piece and thrust it into the lobe of his ear wherethe gristle had been stretched in the fashion that I have described, which it fitted exactly. Then he told me that in his country allthe nobles wore such ornaments and that those who did so were called"ear-men" to distinguish them from the common people. Also he told memany other things too long to set out, which made me desire more thanever to see this empire with my eyes, for an empire and no less hedeclared it to be. 

Afterwards Kari made many such ornaments which I sold for brooches witha pin set at the back of them. Also he shaped other things, for hisskill as a goldsmith was wonderful, such as cups and platters of strangedesign and rich ornamentation which commanded a great price. But onevery one of them, in the centre or some other part of the embossment, appeared this image of the sun. I asked him why. He answered because thesun was his god and his people were Sun-worshippers. I reminded him thathe had said that a certain Pachacamac whose image he wore about his neckwas his god. To this he replied:

"Yes, Pachacamac is the god above gods, the Creator, the Spirit of theWorld, but the Sun is his visible house and raiment that all may seeand worship, " a saying that I thought had truth in it, seeing that allNature is the raiment of God. 

I tried to instruct him in our faith, but although he listened patientlyand I think understood, he would not become a Christian, making itvery plain to me that he thought that a man should live and die in thereligion in which he was born and that from what he saw in London he didnot hold that Christians were any better than those who worshippedthe sun and the great spirit, Pachacamac. So I abandoned this attempt, although there was danger to him while he remained a heathen. Indeedtwice or thrice the priests made inquiry concerning his faith, beingcurious as to all that had to do with him. However, I silenced them bypretending that I was instructing him as well as I was able and that asyet he did not know enough English to hearken to their holy expositions. Also when they became persistent I made gifts to the monasteries towhich they belonged, or if they were parish priests, then to their curésor churches. 

Still I was troubled about this matter, for some of these priests werevery fierce and intolerant, and I was sure that in time they would pushthe business further. 

One more thing I noticed about Kari, namely, that he shrank from womenand indeed seemed to hate them. The maids who had remained with me sincemy uncle's death noticed this, by nature as it were, and in revengewould not serve him. The end of it was that, fearing lest they should dohim some evil turn with the priests or otherwise, I sent them away andhired men to take their place. This distaste of Kari for women I setdown to all that he had suffered at the hands of his false and beautifulwife not wrongly as I think. 

CHAPTER V

THE COMING OF BLANCHE

One day, it was the last of the year, the anniversary of the death of myuncle whose goodness and wisdom I pondered on more and more as time wentby, having a little time to spare from larger affairs, I chanced to bein the shop in the front of the house, which, as John Grimmer had said, he kept as a trap to "snare the ladybirds, " and I continued, because Iknew that he would not wish that anything should be changed. Here I waspleasing myself by looking over such pieces as we had to sell which thehead craftsman was showing to me, since myself I knew little of them, except as a matter of account. 

Whilst I was thus engaged there entered the shop a very fine ladyaccompanied by a still finer lordling arrayed so similarly that, atfirst sight, in their hooded ermine cloaks it was difficult to knowwhich was man and which was woman. When they threw these aside, however, for the shop was warm after the open air, I knew more than that, sincewith a sudden stoppage of the heart I saw before me none other than thelady Blanche Aleys and her relative, the lord Deleroy. 

She, who in the old days of the Hastings burnings had been but a lilybud, was now an open flower and beautiful exceedingly; indeed in her ownfashion the most beautiful woman that ever I beheld. Tall she was andstately as a lily bloom, white as a lily also, save for those wondrousblue eyes over which curled the dark lashes. In shape, too, she wasperfect, full-breasted, yet not too full, small-waisted, and withdelicate limbs, a very Venus, such an one as I had seen in ancientmarble brought in a ship from Italy and given, as I believe, to theKing, who loved such things, to be set up in his palace. 

My lord also was yet handsomer than he had been, more set and manly, though still he affected his coxcomb party-coloured dress with theturned-up shoes of which the points were fastened by little goldenchains beneath the knee. Still he was a fine man with his roving blackeyes, his loose mouth and little pointed beard from which, as from hishair, came an odour of scents. Seeing me in my merchant's gown, for Iremained mindful of my uncle's advice as regards attire, he spoke to meas great men do to shop-keepers. 

"Well met, Goldsmith, " he said in his round, well-trained voice, "Iwould make a new-year gift to the lady here, and I am told that you haveplate-wares of the best; gold cups and jewels of rich and rare design, stamped all of them with the image of the sun which one would wish toremember on such a day as this. But hearken, let John Grimmer himselfcome to serve me for I would treat with no underlings, or take me to himwhere he is. "

Now I bowed before him, rubbing my hands, and answered, for so thehumour led me: "Then I fear that I must take my lord farther than mylord would wish to travel just at present, though who knows? Perchance, like the rest of us, he may take that journey sooner than he thinks. "

Now at the sound of my voice I saw the lady Blanche stare at me, tryingto catch sight of my face beneath the hood which I wore on this coldday, while Deleroy started and said briefly:

"Your meaning?"

"It is plain, my lord. John Grimmer is dead and I know not wherehe dwells at present since he took that secret with him. But I, whounworthily carry on his trade, am at your lordship's service. "

Then I turned and bade the shopman command Kari to come hither and bringwith him the choicest of our cups and jewels. 

He went and I busied myself in setting stools for these noble customersto rest on before the fire. As I did so by chance my hand touched thatof the lady Blanche, whereat once more she strove to peer beneath myhood. It was as though the nature in her knew that touch again, as bysome instinct every woman does, if once the toucher's lips have beennear her own, though it be long ago. But I only turned my head away anddrew that hood the closer. 

Now Kari came and with him the shopman, bearing the precious wares. Kariwore a wool-lined robe, very plain, which yet became him so well thatwith his fine-cut face and flashing eyes he looked like an Easternprince disguised. At him this fine pair stared, for never had they seensuch a man, but taking no note, with many bows he showed the jewels oneby one. Among these was a gem of great value, a large, heart-shaped rubythat Kari had set in a surround of twisted golden serpents with headsraised to strike and little eyes of diamonds. Upon this brooch the ladyBlanche fixed her gaze and discarding all others, began to play with it, till at length the lord Deleroy asked the price. I consulted with Kari, explaining that myself I did not handle this branch of my business, thennamed it carelessly; it was a great sum. 

"God's truth! Blanche, " said Deleroy, "this merchant thinks I am made ofgold. You must choose a cheaper ornament for your new year's gift, or hewill have to wait for payment. "

"Which mayhap I should be willing to do from one of your quality, mylord, " I interrupted, bowing. 

He looked at me and said:

"Can I have a word apart with you, merchant?"

Again I bowed and led him to the eating-room where he gazed about him, amazed at the richness of the furnishings. He sat him down upon a carvenchair while I stood before him humbly and waited. 

"I am told, " he said at length, "that John Grimmer did other businessbesides that of selling jewels. "

"Yes, my lord, some foreign trade. "

"And some home trade also. I mean that he lent money. "

"At times, my lord, and on good security, if he chanced to have any atcommand, and at a certain interest. Perhaps my lord will come to hispoint. "

"It is short and clear. Those of us who are at Court always want moneywhere it is needful if we would have advancement and earn the royalfavour of one who does not pay, at least in gold. "

"Be pleased to state the amount and the security offered, my lord. "

He did so. The sum was high and the security was bad. 

"Are there any who would stand surety for my lord?"

"Yes, one of great estate, Sir Robert Aleys, who has wide lands inSussex. "

"I have heard the name, and if my lord will bid his lawyers put thematter in writing, I will cause the lands to be valued and give ananswer as quickly as may be. "

"For a young man you are careful, merchant. "

"Alas! such as I need to be who must guard our small earnings in thesetroublous times of war and tumult. Such a sum as you speak of would takeall that John Grimmer and I have laid by after years of toil. "

Again he looked at the furnishings of the room and shrugged hisshoulders, then said:

"Good, it shall be done for the need is urgent. To whom is the letter tobe sent?"

"To John Grimmer, at the Boat House, Cheapside. "

"But you told me that John Grimmer was dead. "

"And so he is, my lord, but his name remains. "

Then we returned to the sop and as we went I said, "If your lordship's lady should set her heart upon the ruby the cost ofit can stand over a while, since I know that it is hard for a husband todisappoint a wife of what she desires. "

"Man, she is my distant cousin, not my wife. I would she were, but howcan two high-placed paupers wed?"

"Perhaps it is for this reason that my lord wishes to borrow money. "

Again he shrugged his shoulders, and as we entered the shop I threw backthe hood from off my head upon which I wore a merchant's cap of velvet. The lady Blanche caught sight of me and started. 

"Surely, surely, " she began, "you are he who shot the three arrows atthe cave's mouth at Hastings. "

"Yes, my lady, and did your hawk escape the dogs upon the London road?"

"Nay, it was crippled and died, which was the first of many troubles, for I think my luck rode away with you that day, Master Hubert ofHastings, " she added with a sigh. 

"There are other hawks and luck returns, " I replied, bowing. "Perhapsthis trinket will bring it back to you, my lady, " and taking thesnake-surrounded ruby heart, I proffered it to her with another bow. 

"Oh!" she said, her blue eyes shining with pleasure, "oh! it isbeautiful, but whence is the price to come for so costly a thing?"

"I think the matter is one that can wait. "

At that moment the lord Deleroy broke in, saying, "So you are the man who slew the French knight with an ancient sword, and afterwards shot three other Frenchmen with three shafts, sendingone of them through shield and mail and body, a tale that was spoken ofafterwards, even in London. God's truth! you should be serving the Kingin the wars, not yourself behind the counter. "

"There are many ways of serving, my lord, " I answered, "by pen andmerchandise as well as by steel and shafts. Now with me it is the turnof the former, though perhaps the ancient sword and the great black bowwait till their time comes again. "

He stared at me and muttered, half to himself:

"A strange merchant and a grim, as those dead Frenchmen may havethought. I tell you, Sir Trader, that your talk and the eyes of thattall Moor of yours turn my back cold; it is as though someone walkedover my grave. Come, Blanche, let us begone ere our horses be chilled asI am. Master Grimmer, or Hastings, you shall hear from me, unless I cando my business otherwise, and for the trinket send me a note at yourleisure. "

Then they went, but as the lady Blanche left the shop she caught herrobe and turned to free it, while she did so flashing at me one of hersweet looks such as I remembered well. 

Kari followed to the door and watched them mount their horses at thegate, then he searched the ground with his eyes. 

"What was it hooked her cloak?" I asked. 

"A dream, or the air, Master, for there is nothing else to which itcould have hung. Those who would throw spears behind them must firstturn round. "

"What think you of those two, Kari?"

"I think that they will not pay for your jewel, but perhaps this was buta bait upon the hook. "

"And what more, Kari?"

"I think that the lady is very fair and false, and that the great lord'sheart is as black as are his eyes. Also I think that they are dear toeach other and well matched. But it seems that you have met them bothbefore, Master, so you will know better about them than your slave. "

"Yes, I have met them, " I answered sharply, for his words about Blancheangered me, adding, "I have noted, Kari, that you have never a good wordfor any one whom I favour. You are jealous-natured, Kari, especially ofwomen. "

"You ask, I answer, " he replied, falling into broken English, as was hisfashion when moved, "and it is true that those who have much love, aremuch jealous. That is a fault in my people. Also I love not women. NowI go make another piece for that which Master give the lady. Only thistime it all snake and no heart. "

He went, taking the tray of jewels with him, and I, too, went to theeating-room to think. 

How strange was this meeting. I had never forgotten the lady Blanche, but in a sense I had lived her memory down and mindful of my uncle'scounsel, had not sought to look upon her again, for which reason I keptaway from Hastings where I thought that I should find her. And now hereshe was in London and in my house, brought thither by fate. Nor was thatall, since those blue eyes of hers had re-lighted the dead fires in myheart and, seated there alone, I knew that I loved her; indeed had neverceased to love her. She was more to me than all my wealth, more thananything, and alas! between us there was still a great gulf fixed. 

She was not wed, it was true, but she was a highly placed lady, and Ibut a merchant who could not even call myself a squire, or by law weargarments made of certain stuffs which I handled daily in my trade. Howmight that gulf be crossed?

Then as I mused there rose in my mind a memory of certain sayings of mywise old uncle, and with it an answer to the question. Gold would bridgethe widest streams of human difference. These fine folk for all theirflauntings were poor. They came to me to borrow money wherewith to gildtheir coronets and satisfy the importunate creditors at their door, lestthey should be pulled from their high place and forced back into thenumber of the common herd as those who could no longer either give orpay. 

And after all, was this difference between them and me so wide? Thegrandsire of Sir Robert Aleys, I had been told, gathered his wealth bytrade and usury in the old wars; indeed, it was said that he was one whodealt in cattle, while Lord Deleroy was reported to be a bastard, if ofthe bluest blood, so blue that it ran nigh to the royal purple. Well, what was mine? On the father's side, Saxon descended from that of Thaneswho went down before the Normans and thereafter became humble landedfolk of the lesser sort. On the mother's, of the race of the oldsea-kings who slew and conquered through all the world they knew. Was Ithen so far beneath these others? Nay, but like my father and my uncle Iwas one who bought and sold and the hand of the dyer was stained to thecolour of his vat. 

Thus stood the business. I, a stubborn man, not ill-favoured, to whomFortune had given wealth, was determined to win this woman who, itseemed to me, looked upon me with no unkind eye since I had saved herfrom certain perils. To myself then and there I swore I would win her. The question was--how could it be done? I might enter the service ofthe King and fight his battles and doubtless win myself a knighthood, ormore, which would open the closed gate. 

Nay, it would take too long, and something warned me that time pressed. That strange foreign man, Kari, said that Blanche was enamoured of thisDeleroy, and although I was wrath with him, setting his words down tojealousy of any on whom I looked with kindness, I knew well that Karisaw far. If I tarried, this rare white bird would slip from my hand intoanother's cage. I must stir at once or let the matter be. Well, I hadwealth, so let wealth be my friend. Time enough to try war when itfailed me. 

On the third day of the new year, which at this time of Court revelryshowed that the matter must indeed be pressing, I received thoseparticulars for which I had asked, together with a list of the lands andtenements that Sir Robert Aleys was ready to put in pawn on behalf ofhis friend and relative, the lord Deleroy. Why should he do this, Iwondered? There could only be one answer: because he and not Deleroy wasto receive the money, or most of it. 

Nay, another came into my mind as probable. Because he looked uponDeleroy as his heir, which, should he marry the lady Blanche, he wouldbecome. If this were so I must act, and quickly, that is, if I wouldever see more of the lady Blanche, as perchance I might do by treadingthis gold-paved road, but not otherwise. I studied the list of lands. As it chanced I knew most of them, for they lay about Pevensey andHastings, and saw that they were scarcely worth the moneys which wereasked of me. Well, what of it? This matter was not one of trade andlarge as the sum might be, I would risk it for the chance of winningBlanche. 

The end of it was that waiting for no valuings I wrote that on proof oftitle clean and unencumbered and completion of all deeds, I would payover the gold to whoever might be appointed to receive it. 

This letter of mine proved to be but the beginning of a long businesswhereof the details may be left untold. On the very next day indeedI was summoned to the house of Sir Robert Aleys which was near to thepalace and abbey of Westminster. Here I found the gruff old knight growngreyer and having, as it seemed to me, a hunted air, and with him thelord Deleroy and two foxy lawyers of whom I did not like the look. Indeed, for the first, I suspected that I was being tricked and had itnot been for the lady Blanche, would have broken off the loan. Becauseof her, however, this I did not do, but having stated my terms anew, andthe rate and dates of interest, sat for a long while saying as littleas possible, while the others unfolded parchments and talked and talked, telling tales that often contradicted each other, till at length thelord Deleroy, who seemed ill at ease, grew weary and left the chamber. At last all was done that could be done at that sitting and it beingpast the hour of dinner, I was taken in to eat, consenting, because Ihoped that I should see the lady Blanche. 

A butler, or chamber-groom, led me to the dining-hall and sat me withthe lawyers at a table beneath the dais. Presently on this dais appearedSir Robert Aleys, his daughter Blanche, the lord Deleroy, and perhapseight or ten other fine folk whom I had never seen. She, looking abouther, saw me seated at the lower table, and spoke to her father andDeleroy, reasoning with the latter, as it would appear. Indeed, ina sudden hush I caught some of her words. They were, "If you are notashamed to take his money, you should not be ashamed to sit at meat withhim. "

Deleroy stamped his foot, but the end of it was that I was summonedto the high table where the lady Blanche made place for me beside her, while Deleroy sat himself down between two splendid dames at the otherend of the board. 

Here, then, I stayed by Blanche who, I noted, wore the ruby heartencircled by serpents. Indeed, this was the first thing of which shespoke to me, saying, "It looks well upon my robe, does it not, and I thank you for it, MasterHubert, who know surely that it is not my cousin Deleroy's gift, butyours, since for it you will never see your money. "

By way of answer I looked at the sumptuous plate and furnishings, theprofusion of the viands, and the number of the serving-men. Reading mythought, she replied, "Aye, but pledged, all of it. I tell you, Master Hubert, that we arestarved hounds, though we live in a kennel with golden bars. And nowthey would pawn you that kennel also. "

Then, while I wondered what to say, she began to talk of our greatadventure in bygone years, recalling every tiny thing that had happenedand every word that had been spoken between us, some of which I hadforgotten. Of one thing only she said nothing--the kisses with which weparted. Amongst much else, she spoke of how the ancient sword had shornthrough the armour of the French knight, and I told her that the swordwas named Wave-Flame and that it had come down to me from my ancestor, Thorgrimmer the Viking, and of what was written on its blade, to all ofwhich she listened greedily. 

"And they thought you not fit to sit at meat with them, you whose raceis so old and who are so great a warrior, as you showed that day. Andit is to you that I owe my life and more than life, to you and not tothem. "

So saying she shot a glance at me that pierced me through and through, as my arrows had pierced the Frenchmen, and what is more beneath thecover of the board for a moment let her slim hand rest upon my own. 

After this for a while we were silent, for indeed I could not speak. Then we talked on as we could do well enough, since there was no one onmy left where the board ended, and on Blanche's right was a fat oldlord who seemed to be deaf and occupied himself in drinking more than heshould have done. I told her much about myself, also what my mother hadsaid to me on the day of the Burning, and of how she had prophesied thatI should be a wanderer, words at which Blanche sighed and answered:

"Yet you seem to be well planted in London and in rich soil, MasterHubert. "

"Aye, Lady, but it is not my native soil and for the rest we go whereFate leads us. "

"Fate! What does that word bring to my mind? I have it; yonder Moor ofyours who makes those jewels. He has the very eyes of Fate and I fearhim. "

"That is strange, Lady, and yet not so strange, for about this man thereis something fateful. Ever he swears to me that I shall accompany him tosome dim land where he was born, of which land he is a prince. "

Then I told her all the story of Kari, to which she listened open-eyedand wondering, saying when I had finished, "So you saved this poor wanderer also, and doubtless he loves you well. "

"Yes, Lady, almost too well, seeing that at times he is jealous of me, though God knows I did little for him save pick him from a crowd uponthe quay. "

"Ah! I guess it, who saw him watching you the other day. Yet it isstrange, for I thought that only women could be jealous of men, and menof women. Hush! they are mocking us because we talk so friendly. "

I looked up, following her glance, and saw that Deleroy and the two fineladies between whom he sat, all of whom appeared to have had enough ofwine, were pointing at us. Indeed, in a silence, such as now and againhappens at feasts, I heard one of them say, "You had best beware lest that fair white dove of yours does not slipyour hand and begin to coo in another's ear, my Lord Deleroy, " and heardhis answer, "Nay, I have her too fast, and who cares for a pining dove whereof thefeathers adorn another's cap?"

Whilst I was wondering what this dark talk might mean the company brokeup, the lady Blanche gliding away through a door at the back of thedais, followed, as I noted, by Deleroy who seemed flushed and angry. 

Many times I visited that prodigal house which seemed to me to be thehaunt of folk who, however highly placed and greatly favoured atCourt, were as loose in their lives as they were in their talk. Indeed, although I was no saint, I liked them not at all, especially the menwith their scented hair, turned-up shoes, and party-coloured clothes. Nor as I thought, did Sir Robert Aleys like them, who, whatever hisfaults, was a bluff knight of the older sort, who had fought with creditin the French wars. Yet I noted that he seemed to be helpless in theirhands, or rather in those of Deleroy, the King's favourite, who was thechief of all the gang. It was as though that gay and handsome young manhad some hold over the old soldier, yes, and over his daughter also, though what this might be I could not guess. 

Now I will move on with the tale. In due course the parchments weresigned and delivered, and the money in good gold was paid over on mybehalf, after which the great household at Westminster became moreprodigal than before. But when the time came for the discharge of theinterest due not a groat was forthcoming. Then afterwards there was talkof my taking over certain of the pledged lands in lieu of this interest. Sir Robert suggested this and I assented, because Blanche had told methat it would help her father. Only when the matter was set on footby my lawyers was it found that these lands were not his to transfer, inasmuch as they had been already mortgaged to their value. 

Then there was a fierce quarrel between Sir Robert Aleys and the lordDeleroy, at which I was present. Sir Robert with many oaths accused hiscousin of having forged his name when he was absent in France, whileDeleroy declared that what he did was done with due authority. Almostthey drew swords on each other, till at length Deleroy took Aleys asideand with a fierce grin whispered something into his ear which caused theold knight to sink down on a stool and call out, "Get you gone, you false rogue! Get out of this house, aye, and outof England. If I meet you again, by God's Blood I swear that King'sfavourite or no King's favourite, I'll throat you like a hog!"

To which Deleroy mocked in answer:

"Good! I'll go, my gentle cousin, which it suits me well to do who havecertain business of the King's awaiting me in France. Aye, I'll go andleave you to settle with this worthy trader who may hold that you haveduped him. Do it as you will, except in one fashion, of which you know. Now a word with my cousin Blanche and another at the Palace and I ridefor Dover. Farewell, Cousin Aleys. Farewell, worthy merchant for whoseloss I should grieve, did I not know that soon you will recoup yourselfout of gentle pockets. Mourn not over me over much, either of you, sincedoubtless ere so very long I shall return. "

Now my blood flamed up and I answered:

"I pray you do not hurry, my lord, lest you should find me waiting foryou with a shield and a sword in place of a warrant and a pen. "

He heard and called out, "Fore God, this chapman thinks himself aknight!"

Then with a mocking laugh he went. 

CHAPTER VI

MARRIAGE--AND AFTER

Sir Robert and I stood facing each other speechless with rage, both ofus. At length he said in a hoarse voice:

"Your pardon, Master Hastings, for the affronts that this bastardlordling has put upon you, an honest man. I tell you that he is aloose-living knave, as you would agree if you knew all his story, acockatrice that for my sins I have nurtured in my bosom. 'Tis he thathas wasted all my substance; 'tis he that has made free of my name, sothat I fear me you are defrauded. 'Tis he that uses my house as thoughit were his own, bringing into it vile women of the Court, and men thatare viler still, however high their names and gaudy their attire, " andhe choked with his wrath and stopped. 

"Why do you suffer these things, sir?" I asked. 

"Forsooth because I must, " he answered sullenly, "for he has me and mineby the throat. This Deleroy is very powerful, Master Hastings. At a wordfrom him whispered in the King's ear, I, or you, or any man might findourselves in the Tower accused of treason, whence we should appear nomore. "

Then, as though he wished to get away from the subject of Deleroy andhis hold upon him, he went on:

"I fear me that your money, or much of it, is in danger for Deleroy'sbond is worthless, and since the land is already pledged without myknowledge, I have nowhere to turn for gold. I tell you that I am anhonest man if one who has fallen into ill company, and this wickednesscuts me deep, for I know not how you will be repaid. "

Now a thought came to me, and as was my bold fashion in all business, Iacted on it instantly. 

"Sir Robert Aleys, " I said, "should it be pleasing to you and another, I can see a way in which this debt may be cancelled without shame to youand yet to my profit. "

"Then in God's name speak it! For I see none. "

"Sir, in bygone time, as it chanced I was able yonder at Hastings to dosome service to your daughter and in that hour she took my heart. "

He started but motioned to me to continue. 

"Sir, I love her truly and desire more than anything to make her mywife. I know she is far above me in station, still although but amerchant, I am of good descent as I can prove to you. Moreover, Iam rich, for this money that I have advanced to you, or to the lordDeleroy, is but a small part of my wealth which grows day by day throughhonest trade. Sir, if my suit were accepted I should be ready, not onlyto help you further on certain terms, but by deed and will to settlemost of it upon the lady Blanche and upon our children. Sir, what sayyou?"

Sir Robert tugged at his red beard and stared down at the floor. Presently he lifted his head and I saw that his face was troubled, theface of a man, indeed, who is struggling with himself, or, as I thought, with his pride. 

"A fair offer fairly put, " he said, "but the question is, not what Isay, but what says Blanche. "

"Sir, I do not know who have never asked her. Yet at times I havethought that her mind towards me is not unkind. "

"Is it so? Well, perhaps now that he--well, let that lie. MasterHastings, you have my leave to try your fortune and I tell you straightthat I hope it will be good. With your wealth your rank may be soonmended and you are an honest man whom I should be glad to welcome as ason, for I have had enough of these Court knaves and painted Jezebels. But if such is your fancy towards Blanche, my counsel to you is that youput it quickly to the proof--aye, man, at once. Mark my words, for sucha swan as she is many snares are set beneath the dirty waters of thisCourt. "

"The sooner the better, sir. "

"Good. I'll send her to you and, one word more--be not over shy, orready to take the first 'no' for an answer, or to listen to the tale ofbygone fancies, such as all women have. "

Then suddenly he went, leaving me there wondering at his words andmanner, which I did not understand. This I understood, however, that hedesired that I should marry Blanche, which considering all things I heldsomewhat strange, although I had the wealth she lacked. Doubtless, Ithought, it must be because his honour had been touched on the matterof the trick that had been played upon him without his knowledge. Then Iceased from these wonderings and gave my thought to what I should say toBlanche. 

I waited a long while and still she did not come, till at last Ibelieved that she was away from the house, or guessing my business, hadrefused to see me. At length, however, she entered the room, so silentlythat I who was staring at the great abbey through a window-place neverheard the door open or close. I think that some sense of her presencemust have drawn me, since suddenly I turned to see her standing beforeme. She was clad all in white, having a round cap or coronet upon herhead beneath which her shining fair hair was looped in braids. Herlittle coat, trimmed with ermine, was fastened with a single jewel, thatruby heart embraced by serpents which I had given her. She wore no otherornament. Thus seen she looked most lovely and most sweet and all myheart went out in yearning for her. 

"My father tells me that you wish to speak with me, so I have come, " shesaid in her low clear voice, searching my face curiously with her largeeyes. 

I bowed my head and paused, not knowing how to begin. 

"How can I serve you, who, I fear, have been ill served?" she went onwith a little smile as though she found amusement in my confusion. 

"In one way only, " I exclaimed, "by giving yourself in marriage to me. For that I seek, no less. "

Now her fair face that had been pale became stained with red and shelet her eyes fall as though she were searching for something among therushes that strewed the floor. 

"Hearken before you answer, " I continued. "When first I spoke with youon that bloody day at Hastings and you had but just come to womanhood, Iloved you and swore to myself that I would die to save you. I saved youand we kissed and were parted. Afterwards I tried to put you out of myheart, knowing that you were set far above me and no meat for such as I, though still for your sake I wooed no other woman in marriage. The yearswent by and fortune brought us together again, and lo! the old love wasstronger than before. I know that I am not worthy of you who are so highand good and pure. Still----" and I stopped, lacking words. 

She moved uneasily and the red colour left her cheeks as though she hadbeen suddenly pained. 

"Bethink you, " she said with a touch of hardness in her voice, "canone who lives the life I live and keeps my company, remain as holy andunstained as you believe? If you would gather such a lily, surely youshould seek it in a country garden, not in the reek of London. "

"I neither know nor care, " I answered, whose blood was all afire. "Iknow only that wherever you grow and from whatever soil, you are theflower I would pluck. "

"Bethink you again; an ugly slug might have smeared my whiteness. "

"If so the honest sun and rain will recover and wash it and I am agardener who scatters lime to shrivel slugs. "

"If to this one you will not listen, then hear another argument. Perchance I do not love you. Would you win a loveless bride?"

"Perchance you can learn of love, or if not, I have enough to serve fortwo. "

"By my faith! it should not be difficult with a man so honest and sowell favoured. And yet--a further plea. My cousin Deleroy has cheatedyou" (here her face hardened), "and I think I am offered to you by myfather in satisfaction of his honour, as men who have no gold offer ahouse or a horse to close a debt. "

"It is not so. I prayed you of your father. The loss, if loss there be, is but a chance of trade, such as I face every day. Still, I will beplain and tell you that I risked it with open eyes, expecting nothingless, that I might come near to you. "

Now she sat herself down in a chair, covering her face with her hands, and I saw from the trembling of her body that she was sobbing. While Iwondered what to do, for the sight wrung me, she let fall her hands andthere were tears upon her face. 

"Shall I tell you all my story, you good, simple gentleman?" she asked. 

"Nay, only two things. Are you the wife of some other man?"

"Not so, though perhaps--once I went near to it. What is the otherquestion?"

"Do you love some other man so that your heart tells you it is notpossible that you should ever love me?"

"No, I do not, " she answered almost fiercely, "but by the Rood! I hateone. "

"Which is no affair of mine, " I said, laughing. "For the rest, let itsleep. Few are they that know life's wars who have no scar to hide, andI am not one of them, though in truth your lips made the deepest yonderby the cave at Hastings. "

When she heard this she coloured to her brow and forgetting her tears, laughed outright, while I went on:

"Therefore let the past be and if it is your will, let us set our eyesupon the future. Only one promise would I ask of you, that never againwill you be alone with the lord Deleroy, since one so light-fingeredwith a pen would, I think, steal other things. "

"By my soul! the last thing I desire is to be alone with my cousinDeleroy. "

Now she rose from the chair and for a little while we stood facingeach other. Then she very slightly opened her arms and lifted her facetowards me. 

Thus did Blanche Aleys and I become affianced, though afterwards, when Ithought the business over, I remembered that never once did she say thatshe would marry me. This, however, troubled me little, since in suchmatters it is what women do that weighs, not what they say. For the restI was mad with love of her, also both then and as the days went by, moreand more did she seem to be travelling on this same road of Love. Ifnot, indeed she acted well. 

Within a month we were wed on a certain October day in the church ofSt. Margaret's at Westminster. Once it was agreed all desired to push onthis marriage, and not least Blanche herself. Sir Robert Aleys said thathe wished to be gone from London to his estates in Sussex, having hadenough of the Court and its ways, desiring there to live quietly tillthe end; I, being so much in love, was on fire for my bride, and Blancheherself vowed that she was eager to become my wife, saying that ourcourtship, which began on Hastings Hill, had lasted long enough. For therest, there was nothing to cause delay. I cancelled Sir Robert's debtto me and signed a deed in favour of his daughter and her offspring, whereof I gave a copy to his lawyer and there was nought else to be doneexcept to prepare my house for her which, with money at command, waseasy. 

No great business was made of this marriage, since neither his kin norSir Robert himself wished to noise it about that his only child, thelast of his House, was taking a merchant for her husband to save her andhim from wreck. Nor did I, the merchant, wish to provoke talk amongstthose of my own station, especially as it was known that I had advancedmoneys to these fine folks of the Court. So it came about that few wereasked to the ceremony that was fixed for an early hour, and of thesenot many came, because on that day, although it was but October, a greatgale with storms of rain began to blow, the greatest indeed that I hadknown in my life. 

Thus it chanced that we were wed in an almost empty church while thefierce wind, thundering against the windows, overcame the feeble voiceof the old priest, so that he looked like one acting in a show withoutwords. The darkness caused by the thick rain was so deep, also, thatscarce could I see my bride's lovely face or find the finger upon whichI must set the ring. 

At length it was done and we went down the aisle to find our horseswhereon we must ride to my house in Cheapside, where there was to bea feast for my dependents and such of my few friends as cared to come, among whom were not numbered any grand folk from Westminster. As wedrew near the church door I noted among those who were present thosetwo gaudy ladies between whom Deleroy had sat at that meal after thebusiness of the loan was settled. Moreover, I heard one of them say:

"What will Deleroy do when he comes back to find his darling gone?" andthe other answer with a high laugh:

"Seek another, doubtless, or borrow more money from the merchant, and----" Here I lost their talk in the rush of the wind through theopened door. 

In the porch was old Sir Robert Aleys. 

"Mother of God!" he shouted, "may the rest of the lives of you two besmoother than your nuptials. No Cheapside feast for me, I'm for homein such fiend's weather. Farewell, son Hubert, and all joy to you. Farewell, Blanche. Learn to be obedient as a wife and keep your eyes foryour husband's face, that is my counsel to you. Till we meet again atChristmastide in Sussex, whither I ride to-morrow, farewell to both ofyou. "

Farewell, it was indeed, for never did either of us look on him again. 

Wrapped close in our cloaks we battled through the storm and at length, somewhat breathless, reached my house in the Cheap where the garlands ofautumn flowers and greenery that I had caused to be wreathed from postsbefore the door were all torn away by the gale. Here I welcomed my wifeas best I could, kissing her as she crossed the threshold and sayingcertain sweet words that I had prepared, to which she smiled an answer. Then the women took her to her chamber to make herself ready andafterwards came the feast, which was sumptuous of its sort, though theevil weather kept some of the guests away. 

Scarcely had it begun when Kari, who of late had been sad-faced andbrooding, and who did not eat with us, entered and whispered to me thatmy Master of Lading from the docks prayed to see me at once on a matterwhich would brook no delay. Making excuse to Blanche and the company, I went out to see him in the shop and found the man much disturbed. Itseemed that a certain vessel of mine that I had rechristened _Blanche_in honour of my wife, which lay in the stream ready to sail, was ingreat danger because of the tempest. Indeed, she was dragging at heranchor, and it was feared that unless more anchors could be let down shewould come ashore and be wrecked against the jetty-heads or otherwise. The reason why this had not been done, was that only the master and onesailor were on board the vessel; the rest were feasting ashore in honourof my marriage, and refused to row out to her, saying that the boatwould be swamped in the gale. 

Now this ship, although not very large, was the best and staunchest thatI owned, being almost new; moreover, the cargo on board of her, ladenfor the Mediterranean, was of great value, so great indeed that its losswould have been very grievous to me. Therefore, it was plain that I mustsee to the matter without delay, since from my servant's account therewas no hope that these rebellious sailors would listen to any lesser manthan myself. So, if I would save the ship and her cargo, I must ride forthe docks at once. 

Going back to the eating-chamber, in a few words I told my wife and theguests how the matter stood, praying the oldest man among the latterto take my place by the bride, which he did unwillingly, muttering thatthis was an unlucky marriage feast. 

Then it was that Blanche rose, beseeching me earnestly and almost withtears that I would take her with me to the docks. I laughed at her, asdid the company, but still she besought with much persistence, till Ibegan to believe that she must be afraid of something, though the otherscried that it was but love and fear lest I should come to harm. 

In the end I made her drink a cup of wine with me, but her hand shook somuch that she spilled the cup and the rich red wine ran down her breast, staining the whiteness of her robe, whereat some women among the companymurmured, thinking it a bad omen. At length with a kiss I tore myselfaway, for I could bide no longer and the horses were waiting presently. So I was riding for the docks as fast as the storm would suffer, withtiles from the roofs, and when we were clear of these the torn-off limbsof trees hurtling round me. Kari, I should say, would have accompaniedme, but I took a serving-man, bidding Kari bide where he was in thehouse in case he might be of service. 

At last we came safely to the docks where I found all as my cargo-masterhad described. The ship _Blanche_ was in great peril and dragging everyminute towards a pierhead which, if she struck, would stave her in andmake an end of her. The men, too, were still feasting in the inn withtheir wharfside trollops, and some of them half drunk. I spoke to them, showing them their shame, and saying that if they would not come, I andmy man would take a boat and get aboard alone and this upon my weddingday. Then they hung their heads and came. 

We won to the ship safely though with much toil and danger, and therefound the master almost crazed with fear and doubt of the issue, and theman with him injured by a falling block. Indeed, this poor captain clungto the rail, watching the cable as it dragged the anchor and fearingevery moment lest it should part. 

The rest is soon told. We got out two more anchors and did other thingssuch as sailors know, to help in such a case. When all was as safe asit could be made, I and my man and four sailors started for the quay, telling the master that I would return upon the morrow. The wind andcurrent aiding us, we landed safe and sound and at once I rode back toCheapside. 

Now, though it is short to tell, all this had taken a long while, alsothe way was far to ride in such a storm. Thus it came about that it wasnigh to ten o'clock at night when, thanking God, I dismounted at thegate of my house and bade the servant take the horses to the stable. AsI drew near the door, it opened, which astonished me and, as the lightwithin showed, there stood Kari. What astonished me still more, he hadthe great sword, Wave-Flame, in his hand, though not drawn, which swordhe must have fetched from where it was kept with the French knight'sarmour and the shield that bore three arrows as a cognizance. 

Laying his finger on his lips he shut the door softly, then said in alow voice:

"Master, there is a man up yonder with the lady. "

"What man?" I asked. 

"That same lord, Master, who came here with her once before to buyjewels and borrow gold. Hearken. The feast being finished the guestswent away at fall of night, but the wife-lady withdrew herself into thechamber that is called sun-room (the solar), that up the stairs, whichlooks out on the street. About one hour gone there came a knock at thedoor. I who was watching, opened, thinking it was you returned, andthere stood that lord. He spoke to me, saying:

"'Moor-man, I know that your master is from home, but that the lady ishere. I would speak with her. '

"Now I would have turned him away, but at that moment the lady herself, who it seemed was watching, came down the stairs, looking very white, and said:

"'Kari, let the lord come in. I have matters of your master's businessabout which I must talk with him. ' So, Master, knowing that you had lentmoney to this lord, I obeyed, though I liked it not, and having fetchedthe sword which I thought perchance might be needed, I waited. "

This was the substance of what he said, though his talk was more brokensince he never learned to speak English well and helped it out withwords of his own tongue, of which, as I have told, he had taught mesomething. 

"I do not understand, " I exclaimed, when he had finished. "Doubtlessit is little or nothing. Yet give me the sword, for who knows? and comewith me. "

Kari obeyed, and as I went up the stairs I buckled Wave-Flame about me. Also Kari brought two candles of Italian wax lighted upon their stands. Coming to the door of the solar I tried to open it, but it was bolted. 

"God's truth!" I said, "this is strange, " and hammered on the panel withmy fist. 

Presently it opened, but before entering it, for I feared some trick, I stood without and looked in. The room was lit by a hanging lamp anda fire burned brightly on the hearth, for the night was cold. In an oakchair by the fire and staring into it sat Blanche still as any statue. She glanced round and saw me in the light of the candles that Kari held, and again stared into the fire. Half-way between her and the door stoodDeleroy, dressed as ever in fine clothes, though I noted that his capewas off and hung over a stool near the fire as though to dry. I notedalso that he wore a sword and a dagger. I entered the room, followed byKari, shut the door behind me and shot the bolt. Then I spoke, asking:

"Why are you here with my wife, Lord Deleroy?"

"It is strange, Master merchant, " he answered, "but I was about to putmuch the same question to you: namely, why is _my_ wife in your house?"

Now, while I reeled beneath these words, without turning her head, Blanche by the fire said:

"He lies, Hubert. I am not his wife. "

"Why are you here, my Lord Deleroy?" I repeated. 

"Well, if you would know, Master merchant, I bring a paper for you, orrather a copy of it, for the writ itself will be served on you to-morrowby the King's officers. It commits you to the Tower under the royalseal for trading with the King's enemies, a treason that can be provedagainst you, of which as you know, or will shortly learn, the punishmentis death, " and as he spoke he threw a writing down upon a side table. 

"I see the plot, " I answered coldly. "The King's unworthy favourite, forger and thief, uses the King's authority to try to bring the King'shonest subject to bonds and death by a false accusation. It is a commontrick in these days. But let that be. For the third time I ask you--whyare you here with my new-wed wife and at this hour of the night?"

"So courteous a question demands a courteous answer, Master merchant, but to give it I must trouble you to listen to a tale. "

"Then let it be like my patience, brief, " I replied. 

"It shall, " he said with a mocking bow. 

Then very clearly and quietly he set out a dreadful story, giving datesand circumstances. Let that story be. The substance of it was that hehad married Blanche soon after she reached womanhood and that she hadborne him a child which died. 

"Blanche, " I said when he had done, "you have heard. Is this true?"

"Much of it is true, " she answered in that strange, cold voice, stillstaring at the fire. "Only the marriage was a false one by which Iwas deceived. He who celebrated it was a companion of the Lord Deleroytricked out as a priest. "

"Do not let us wrangle of this matter, " said Deleroy. "A man who mixeswith the world like yourself, Master merchant, will know that women in atrap rarely lack excuses. Still if it be admitted that this marriagedid not fulfil all formalities, then so much the better for Blancheand myself. If she be your lawful wife and not mine, you, I learn, havesigned a writing in her favour under which she will inherit your greatwealth. That indenture I think you can find no opportunity to dispute, and if you do I have a promise that the property of a certain traitorshall pass to me, the revealer of his treachery. Let it console you inyour last moments, Master merchant, to remember that the lady whom youhave honoured with your fancy will pass her days in wealth and comfortin the company of him whom she has honoured with her love. "

"Draw!" I said briefly as I unsheathed my sword. 

"Why should I fight with a base, trading usurer?" he asked, stillmocking me, though I thought that there was doubt in his voice. 

"Answer your own question, thief. Fight if you will, or die withoutfighting if you will not. For know that until I am dead you do not leavethis room living. "

"Until I dead too, O Lord, " broke in Kari in his gentle voice, bowing inhis courteous foreign fashion. 

As he did so with a sudden motion Kari shook the cloak back from hisbody and for the first time I saw that thrust through his leathern beltwas a long weapon, half sword and half dagger, also that its sharpenedsteel was bare. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Deleroy, "now I understand that I am trapped and thatwhen you told me, Blanche, that this man would not return to-night andthat therefore we were safe together, you lied. Well, my Lady Blanche, you shall pay for this trick later. "

Whilst he spoke thus, slowly, as though to gain time, he was lookingabout him, and as the last word left his lips, knowing that the door waslocked, he dashed for the window, hoping, I suppose, to leap through thecasement, or if that failed, to shout for help. But Kari, who had setthe candles he bore on a side table, that where the writing lay, readhis mind. With a movement more swift than that of a polecat leaping onits prey, the swiftest indeed that ever I saw, he sprang between him andthe casement, so that Deleroy scarce escaped pinning himself upon thesteel that he held in his long, outstretched arm. Indeed, I think itpricked his throat, for he checked himself with an oath and drewhis sword, a double-edged weapon with a sharp point, as long as mineperhaps, but not so heavy. 

"I see that I must finish the pair of you. Perchance, Blanche, you willprotect my back as a loving wife should do, until this lout is donewith, " he said, swaggering to the last. 

"Kari, " I commanded, "hold the candles aloft that the light may be good, and leave this man to me. "

Kari bowed and took the copper taper stands, one in either hand, andheld them aloft. But first he placed his long dagger, not back in hisbelt, but between his teeth with the handle towards his right hand. Eventhen in some strange fashion I noted how terrible looked this grim darkman holding the candles high with the knife gripped between his whiteteeth. 

Deleroy and I faced each other in the open space between the fire andthe door. Blanche turned round upon her stool and watched, uttering nosound. But I laughed aloud for of the end I had no doubt. Had there beenten Deleroys I would have slain them all. Still presently I found therewas cause to doubt, for when, parrying his first thrust, I drove at himwith all my strength, instead of piercing him through and through theancient sword, Wave-Flame, bent in my hand like a bow as it is strung, telling me that beneath his Joseph's coat of silk Deleroy wore a shirtof mail. 

Then I cried: "_A-hoi!_" as Thorgrimmer my ancestor may have done whenhe wielded this same sword, and while Deleroy still staggered beneathmy thrust I grasped Wave-Flame with both hands, wheeled it aloft, andsmote. He lifted his arm round which he had wound his cloak, to protecthis head, but the sword shore through cloak and arm, so that his handwith the glittering rings upon it fell to the floor. 

Again I smote for, as both of us knew, this business was to the death, and Deleroy fell down dead, smitten through the brain. 

Kari smiled gently, and lifting the cloak, shook it out and threw itover what had been Deleroy. Then he took my sword and while I watchedhim idly, cleansed it with rushes from the floor. 

Next I heard a sound from the neighbourhood of the fire, and bethinkingme of Blanche turned to speak to her, though what I was going to say Godknows for I do not. 

A terrible sight met my eyes and burned itself into my very soul so thatit could never be forgot. Blanche was leaning back in the oak chair overwhich flowed her long, fair locks, and the front of her robe was red. Iremembered how she had spilt the wine at the feast and thought I saw itsstain, till presently, still staring, I noted that it grew and knew itto be caused by another wine, that of her blood. Also I noted that fromthe midst of it seen in the lamplight, just beneath the snake-encircledruby heart, appeared the little handle of a dagger. 

I sprang to her, but she lifted her hand and waved me back. 

"Touch me not, " she whispered, "I am not fit, also the thrust is mortal. If you draw the knife I shall die at once, and first I would speak. Iwould have you know that I love you and hoped to be a good wife to you. What I said was true. That dead man tricked me with a false marriagewhen I was scarcely more than a child, and afterwards he would notmend it with an honest. Perchance he himself was wed, or he had otherreasons, I do not know. My father guessed much but not all. I triedto warn you when you offered yourself, but you were deaf and blind andwould not see or listen. Then I gave way, liking you well and thinkingthat I should find rest, as indeed I do; thinking also that I should bewealthy and able to shut that villain's mouth with gold. I never knewhe was coming here or even that he had sailed home from France, but hebroke in upon me, having learned that you were away, and was about toleave when you returned. He came for money for which he believed thatI had wed, and thinking to win me back from one doomed by his lies to atraitor's death. You know the rest, and for me there was but one thingto do. Be glad that you are no longer burdened with me and go findhappiness in the arms of a more fortunate or a better woman. Fly, andswiftly, for Deleroy had many friends and the King himself loved himas a brother--as well he may. Fly, I say, and forgive--forgive! Hubert, farewell!"

Thus she spoke, ever more slowly and lower, till with the last word herlife left her lips. 

Thus ended the story of my marriage with Blanche Aleys. 

BOOK II

CHAPTER I

THE NEW WORLD

They were forever silent now, who, but a breath before, had been so fullof life and the stir of mortal passion; Deleroy dead beneath the cloakupon the floor, Blanche dead in the oaken chair. We who remained alivewere silent also. I glanced at Kari's face; it was as that of a stonestatue on a tomb, only in it his large eyes shone, noting all thingsand, as I imagined in my distraught fancy, filled with triumph andforeknowledge. Considering it in that strange calm of the spirit whichsometimes supervenes on great and terrible events that for a while crushits mortality from the soul and set it free to marvel at the temporalpettiness of all we consider immediate and mighty, I wondered what wasthe aspect of my own. 

At the moment, I, who on this day had passed the portals of so manyemotions: that of the lover's longing for his bride won at last, only tobe lost again, that of acute and necessary business, that of the ancientjoy of battle and vengeance wreaked upon an evil man; that of theunshuttering of my own eyes to the flame of a hellish truth, that of theself-murder and turning to cold clay before those same eyes of her whomI had hoped to clasp in honest love--I, I say, felt as though I, too, were dead. Indeed all within was dead, only the shell of flesh remainedalive, and in my heart I echoed the words of my old uncle and of a wiserthan he who went before him--"Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!"

It was Kari who spoke first, Kari as ever calm and even-voiced, sayingin his broken English of which but the substance is recorded:

"Things have happened, good things I hold, though you, Master, may thinkotherwise for a little while. Yet in this rough land of savages andsmall justice these things may bring trouble. That lord brought awriting, " and he nodded towards the document on the table, "and talkedof death for _you_, Master--not for himself. And the lady, while shestill lived, she say--'Fly, fly or die!' And now?" and he glanced at thetwo bodies. 

I looked at him vacantly for the numbness following the first shock waspassing away and all the eating agony of my loss began to fix its fangsupon my heart. 

"Whither can I fly?" I asked. "And why should I fly? I am an innocentman and for the rest, the sooner I am dead the better. "

"My Master must fly, " answered Kari in swift, broken words, "because hestill live and is free. Also sorrow behind, joy before. Kari, who hatewomen and read heart, Kari who drink this same bitter water long ago, guess these things coming and think and think. No need that Mastertrouble, Kari settle all and tell Master that if he do what he say, everything come right. "

"What am I to do?" I asked with a groan. 

"Ship _Blanche_ on great river ready for sea. Master and Kari sail inher before daybreak. Here leave everything: much land, much wealth--whatmatter? Life more than these things which can get again. Come. No, oneminute, wait. "

Then he went to the body of Deleroy and with wonderful swiftness tookoff it the chain coat he wore beneath his tunic, which he put on hisown body. Also he took his sword and buckled it about him, while theparchment writ he threw upon the fire. Then he extinguished the hanginglamp and gave me one of the candles, taking the other himself. 

At the door I held up my candle and by the light of it looked my lastupon the ashen face of Blanche, which face I knew must go with methrough all my life's days. 

Kari locked the stout oaken door of the solar from the outside and tookme into my chamber, where was the armour of the knight whom I had killedon Hastings Hill, which armour I had caused to be altered to fit myself. Swiftly he buckled it on to me, throwing over all a long, dark robe suchas merchants wear. From the cupboard, too, he brought the big black bowand a sheath of arrows, also a purseful of gold pieces from where theywere kept, and with them the leathern bag which he had worn when I foundhim on the quay. 

We went into the room where the feast had been held and there dranksome wine, though eat I could not. The cup from which I drank was, as itchanced, the same in which I had pledged Blanche at the bride feast. NowI pledged her spirit whereon I prayed God's mercy. 

We left the house and in the stable saddled two horses, strong, quietbeasts. Then by way of the back yard we rode out into the night, noneseeing us, for by now all were asleep, and in that weather the streetswere empty, even of such as walked them in darkness. 

We reached the quay I know not how long afterwards whose mind wasfull of thoughts that blotted out all else. How strange had been mylife--that was one of them. Within a few years I had risen to greatwealth, and won the woman I desired. And now where was the wealth andwhere was the woman, and what was I? One flying his native land by nightwith blood upon his hands, the blood of a King's favourite that, if hewere taken, would bring him to the noose. Oh! how great was the contrastbetween the morn and the midnight of that day for me! "Vanity ofvanities. All is vanity!"

I think that my mind must have wandered, for when my soul was swallowedin this deepest pit of hell, it seemed to me that he whom I hadworshipped as a heavenly patron, St. Hubert, appeared striding by myhorse with a shining countenance and said to me:

"Have good courage, Godson, and remember your mother's words--a wanderershall you be, but where'er you go the good bow and the good sword shallkeep you safe and I wander with you. Nor does all love die with onewoman's passing breath. "

This phantasy, as it were, lanced the abscess of my pain and for awhile I was easier. Also something of hope came back to me. I no longerdesired to die but rather to live and in life, not in the tomb, to findforgetfulness. 

We reached the quay and placed the horses in a shed that served asstables there, ridding them of their bits and saddles that they mighteat of the hay in the racks. The thought to do this came to me, whichshowed that my mind was working again since still I could attend to thewants of other creatures. Then we went to the quayside where was madefast that boat in which I had come ashore some hours gone. There was amoon which now and again showed between the drifting clouds, and bythe light of it I saw that the _Blanche_ lay safe at her anchors not abowshot away. The gale had fallen much with the rising of the moon, as it often does, and so it came about that although the boat wasover-large for two men to handle rightly, Kari and I, by watching ourchance, were able to row it to the ship, on to which we climbed by theladder. 

Here we found a sailor on watch who was amazed to see us, and with hishelp, made the boat fast by the tow rope to the stern of the ship. 

This done I caused the captain to be awakened and told him briefly thatas the gale had abated and tide and wind served, I desired to sailat once. He stared at me, thinking me mad, whom he knew to have beenmarried but that day. 

Surely, he said, I should wait for the light and to gather up those ofthe ship's company who were still ashore. I answered that I would waitfor nothing, and when he asked why, was inspired to tell him that it wasbecause I went about the King's business, having letters from his Graceto deliver to his Envoys in the South Seas that brooked of no delay, since on them hung peace or war. 

"Beware, " I said to him, "how you, or any of you, dare to disobey theKing's orders, for you know that the fate of such is a short shrift anda long rope. "

Then that captain grew frightened and summoned the sailors, who bynow had slept off their drink, and to them he told my commands. Theymurmured, pointing to the sky, but when they saw me standing there, wearing a knight's armour and looking very stern with my hand upon mysword, when also through Kari I promised them double pay for the voyage, they, too, grew frightened, and having set some small sails, got up theanchors. 

So it came about that within little more than an hour of our boarding ofthat ship she was running out towards the sea as fast as tide and windcould drive her. I think that it was not too soon, for as the quayvanished in the gloom I saw men with lanterns moving on it, and thoughtto myself that perhaps an alarm had been given and they were come totake me. 

This captain was one who knew the river well, and with the help ofanother sailor he steered us down its reaches safely. By dawn we hadpassed Tilbury and at full light were off Gravesend racing for the opensea. Now it was that behind us we perceived from the rushing clouds thatthe gale, which had lulled during the night, was coming up more stronglythan ever and still easterly. The sailors grew afraid again and togetherwith the captain vowed that it was madness to face the sea in suchweather, and that we must anchor, or make the shore if we could. 

I refused to listen to them, whereat they seemed to give way. 

At that moment Kari, who had gone forward, called to me. I went tohim and he pointed out to me men galloping along the bank and wavingkerchiefs, as though to signal to us to stop. 

"I think, Master, " said Kari, "that some have entered the sun-room atyour house. "

I nodded and watched the men who galloped and waved. For some minutes Iwatched them till suddenly I saw that the ship was altering her courseso that her bow pointed first one way and then another, as though shewere no longer being steered. We ran aft to learn the cause, and foundthis. 

That crew of dastards, every man of them and the captain with them, haddrawn up the boat in which Kari and I came aboard, that was still tiedto the ship's stern, and slid down the rope into her, purposing towin ashore before it was too late. Kari smiled as though he were notastonished, but in my rage I shouted at them, calling them curs andtraitors. I think that the captain heard my words for I saw him turnhis head and look away as though in shame, but not the others. They wereengaged in hunting for the oars, only to find them gone, for it wouldseem that they had been washed or had fallen overboard. 

Then they tried to set some kind of sail by aid of a boathook, but whilethey were doing this, the boat, which had drifted side on to the greatwaves raised by the gale upon the face of the broad river, overturned. Isaw some of the men clinging to the boat and one or two scrambling on toher keel, but what chanced to them and the others I do not know, who hadrushed to the steering gear to set the ship upon her course again, lest her fate should be that of the boat, or we should go ashore and becaptured by those who galloped on the bank, or be drowned. This was thelast I ever saw or heard of the crew of the _Blanche_. 

The ship's bow came round and, driven by the ever-increasing gale, sherushed on her course towards the sea, bearing us with her, two weak andlonely men. 

"Kari, " I said, "what shall we do? Try to run ashore, or sail on?"

He thought awhile then answered, pointing to those who galloped, now buttiny figures on the distant bank:

"Master, yonder is death, sure death; and yonder, " here he pointed tothe sea, "is death--perhaps. Master, you have a God, and I, Kari, haveanother God, mayhap same God with different name. I say--Trust our Godsand sail on, for Gods better than men. If we die in water, what matter?Water softer than rope, but I think not die. "

I nodded, for the reasoning seemed good. Rather would I be drowned thanfall into the hands of those who were galloping on the shore, to bedragged back to London and a felon's doom. 

So I pressed upon the tiller to bring the _Blanche_ more intomid-channel, and headed for the sea. Wider and wider grew the estuaryand farther and farther away the shores as the _Blanche_ scudded onbeneath her small sails with the weight of the gale behind her, till atlast there was the open sea. 

Within a few feet of the tiller was a deck-house, in which the crew ate, built of solid oak and clamped with iron. Here was food in plenty, ale, too, and with these we filled ourselves. Also, leaving Kari to hold thetiller, I took off my armour and in place of it clothed myself in therough sea garments that lay about with tall greased boots, and then senthim to do likewise. 

Soon we lost sight of land and were climbing the great ocean billows, whose foamy crests rolled and spurted wherever the eye fell. We couldset no course but must go where the gale drove us, away, away we knewnot whither. As I have said, the _Blanche_ was new and strong and thebest ship that ever I had sailed in upon a heavy sea. Moreover, herhatches were closed down, for this the sailors had done after weweighed, so she rode the waters like a duck, taking no harm. Oh! wellit was for me that from my childhood I had had to do with ships and thesailing of them, and flying from the following waves thus was able tosteer and keep the _Blanche's_ poop right in the wind, which seemed toblow first from one quarter and then from that. 

Now over my memory of these events there comes a great confusion andsense of amazement. All became fragmentary and disjointed, separatedalso by what seemed to be considerable periods of time--days or weeksperhaps. There was a sense of endless roaring seas before which the shipfled on and on, driven by a screaming gale that I noted dimly seemed toblow first from the northwest and then steadily from the east. 

I see myself, very distinctly, lashing the tiller to iron rings thatwere screwed in the deck beams, and know that I did this because Iwas too weak to hold it any longer and desired to set it so that the_Blanche_ should continue to drive straight before the gale. I seemyself lying in the deck-house of which I have spoken, while Kari fed mewith food and water and sometimes thrust into my mouth little pellets ofI knew not what, which he took from the leathern bag he wore about him. I remembered that bag. It had been on his person when I rescued him atthe quay, for I had seen it first as he washed himself afterwards, halffull of something, and wondered what it contained. Later, I had seen itin his hand again when we left my house after the death of Blanche. Inoted that whenever he gave me one of these pellets I seemed to growstrong for a while, and then to fall into sleep, deep and prolonged. 

After more days--or weeks, I began to behold marvels and to hear strangevoices. I thought that I was talking with my mother and with my patron, St. Hubert; also that Blanche came to me and explained everything, showing how little she had been to blame for all that had happened to meand her. These things made me certain that I was dead and I was glad tobe dead, since now I knew there would be no more pain or strivings; thatthe endeavours which make up life from hour to hour had ceased andthat rest was won. Only then appeared my uncle, John Grimmer, who keptquoting his favourite text at me--"Vanity of vanities. All is vanity, "he said, adding: "Did I not tell you that it was thus years ago? Now youhave learned it for yourself. Only, Nephew Hubert, don't think that youhave finished with vanities yet, as I have, for I say that there areplenty more to come for you. "

Thus he seemed to talk on about this and other matters, such as whatwould happen to his wealth and whether the hospitals would be quickto seize the lands to which he had given it the reversion, till I grewquite tired of him and wished that he would go away. 

Then at length there was a great crash that I think disturbed him, for he did go, saying that it was only another "vanity, " after which Iseemed to fall asleep for weeks and weeks. 

I woke up again for a warmth and brightness on my face caused me to openmy eyes. I lifted my hand to shield them from the brightness and notedwith a kind of wonder that it was so thin that the light shone throughit as it does through parchment, and that the bones were visible beneaththe skin. I let it fall from weakness, and it dropped on to hair which Iknew must be that of a beard, which set me wondering, for it had been myfashion to go clean-shaven. How, then, did I come by a beard? I lookedabout me and saw that I was lying on the deck of a ship, yes, of the_Blanche_ itself, for I knew the shape of her stern, also certain knotsin one of the uprights of the deck-house that formed a rude resemblanceto a human face. Nothing of this deck-house was left now, except thecorner posts between which I lay, and to the tops of these was lashed apiece of canvas as though to keep off the sun and the weather. 

With difficulty I lifted my head a little and looked about me. Thebulwarks of the ship had gone, but some of the uprights to whichthe planks had been nailed remained, and between them I perceivedtall-stemmed trees with tufts of great leaves at the top of them, whichtrees seemed to be within a few yards of me. Bright-winged birds flewabout them and in their crowns I saw apes such as the sailors used tobring home from Barbary. It would seem, then, that I must be in a river(in fact, it was a little bay or creek, on either side of which thesetrees appeared). 

Noting these and the creeping plants with beautiful flowers, such as Ihad never seen, that climbed up them, and the sweet scents that floatedon the air, and the clear light, now I grew sure that I was dead and hadreached Paradise. Only then how came it that I still lay on the ship, for never had I heard that such things also went to Paradise? Nay, I must dream; it was nothing but a dream that I wished were true, remembering as I did the terrors of that gale-tossed sea. Or, if I didnot dream, then I was in some new world. 

While I mused thus I heard a sound of soft footsteps and presently sawa figure bending over me. It was Kari, very thin and hollow-eyed, much, indeed, as he had been when I found him on the quay in London, but stillKari without doubt. He looked at me in his grave fashion, then saidsoftly:

"Master awake?"

"Yes, Kari, " I said, "but tell me, where am I?"

He did not answer at once but went away and returned presently witha bowl from which he bade me drink, holding it to my lips. I didso, swallowing what seemed to be broth though I thought it strangelyflavoured, after which I felt much stronger, for whatever was in thatbroth ran through my veins like wine. At last he spoke in his queerEnglish. 

"Master, " he said, "when we still in Thames River, you ask me whether weshould run ashore into the hands of the hunters who try to catch us, or sail on. I answer, 'You have God and I have God and better fall intohands of gods than into hands of men. ' So we sail on into the big storm. For long we sail, and though once it turn, always the great wind blew, behind us. You grow weak and your mind leave you, but I keep you alivewith medicine that I have and for many days I stay awake and steer. Thenat last my mind leave me, too, and I know no more. Three days ago I wakeup and find the ship in this place. Then I eat more medicine and getstrength, also food from people on the shore who think us gods. That allthe story, except that you live, not die. Your God and my God bring ushere safe. "

"Yes, Kari, but where are we?"

"Master, I think in that country from which I come; not in my own landwhich is still far away, but still in that country. You remember, " headded with a flash of his dark eyes, "I always say that you and I gothere together one day. "

"But what is the country, Kari?"

"Master, not know its name. It big and have many names, but you firstwhite man who ever come here, that why people think you God. Now you gosleep again; to-morrow we talk. "

I shut my eyes, being so very tired, and as I learned afterwards, sleptfor twelve hours or more, to awake on the morning of the following day, feeling wonderfully stronger and able to eat with appetite. Also Karibrought me water and washed me, and clean clothes which he had found inthe ship that I put on. 

Thus it went on for a long while and day by day I recovered strengthtill at length I was almost as I had been when I married Blanche Aleysin the church of St. Margaret at Westminster. Only now sorrow hadchanged me within and without my face had grown more serious, whileto it hung a short yellow beard which, when I looked at my reflection, seemed to become me well enough. That beard puzzled me much, sincesuch are not grown in a day, although it is true that as yet it was notover-long. Weeks must have passed since it began to sprout upon my chinand as we had been but three days in this place when I woke up, thoseweeks without doubt were spent upon the sea. 

Whither, then, had we come? Driving all the while before a great gale, that for most of our voyage had blown from the east, as, if Kari wereright, we had done, this country must be very far away from England. That it was so, indeed there could be no doubt, since here everythingwas different. For example, having been a mariner from my childhood, Ihad been taught and observed something of the stars, and noted that theconstellations had changed their places in the heavens, also thatsome with which I was familiar were missing, while other new ones hadappeared. Further, the heat was great and constant, even at nightbeing more than that of our hottest summer day, and the air was full ofstinging insects, which at first troubled me much, though afterwardsI grew hardened to them. In short, everything was changed, and I wasindeed in a new world that was not told of in Europe, but what world?What world? At least the sea joined it to the old, for beneath me wasstill the _Blanche_, which timber by timber I had seen built up upon theshores of Thames from oaks cut in my own woods. 

As soon as I was strong enough, I went over the ship, or what was leftof her. It was a marvel that she had floated for so long, since her hullwas shattered. Indeed, I do not think she could have done so, save forthe fine wool that was packed into the lower part of her, which woolseemed to have swollen when it grew wet and to have kept the water out. For the rest she was but a hulk, since both her masts were gone, andmuch of the deck with them. Still she had kept afloat and driving intothis creek, had beached herself upon the mud as though it were theharbour that she sought. 

How had we lived through such a journey? The answer seemed to be, afterwe were too weak to find or take food, by means of the drug that Karicherished in his skin bag, and water of which there was plenty left athand in barrels, since the _Blanche_ had been provisioned for a longvoyage to Italy and farther. At least we had lived for weeks, and weeks, being still young and very strong, and not having been called uponto suffer great cold, since it would appear that although the galecontinued after the first few days of our flight before it, the weatherhad turned warm. 

During this time of my recovery, every morning Kari would go ashore, which he did by means of planks set upon the mud, since we were withina few feet of the bank of the creek into which a streamlet ran. Laterhe would return, bringing with him fish and wildfowl, and corn of asort that I did not know, for its grains were a dozen times the size ofwheat, flat-sided, and if ripe, of a yellow colour, which he said hehad purchased from those who dwelt upon the land. On this good foodI feasted, washing it down with ale and wine from the ship's stores;indeed never before did I eat so much, not even when I was a boy. 

At length, one morning Kari made me put on my armour, the same which Ihad taken from the French knight, and fled in from London, that he hadburnished till it shone like silver, and seat myself in a chair uponwhat remained of the poop of the ship. When I asked him why, he answeredin order that he might show me to the inhabitants of that land. In thischair he bade me sit and wait, holding the shield upon my arm and thebare sword in my right hand. 

As I had come to know that Kari never did anything without a reason andremembered that I was in a strange country where, lacking him, I shouldnot have lived or could continue to do so, I fell into his humour. Moreover, I promised that I would remain still and neither speak, nor smile, nor rise from my chair unless he bade me. So there I satglittering in the hot sunshine which burned me through the armour. 

Then Kari went ashore and was absent for some time. At length among thetrees and undergrowth I heard the sound of people talking in a strangetongue. Presently they appeared on the bank of the creek, a great numberof them, very curious people, brown-skinned with long, lank black hairand large eyes, but not over-tall in stature; men, women and childrentogether. 

Among them were some who wore white robes whom I took to be theirgentlefolk, but the most of them had only cloths or girdles about theirmiddles. Leading the throng was Kari, who, as it appeared from thebushes, waved his hand and pointed me out seated in the shining armouron the ship, the visor up to show my face and the long sword in my hand. They stared, then, with a low, sighing exclamation, one and all fellupon their faces and rubbed their brows upon the ground. 

As they lay there Kari addressed them, waving his arms and pointingtowards me from time to time. Afterwards I learned that he was tellingthem I was a god, for which lie may his soul be forgiven. 

The end of it was that he bade them rise and led certain of them whowore the white robes across the planks to the ship. Here, while theyhung back, he advanced towards me, bowing and kissing the air tillhe drew near, then he went upon his knees and laid his hands upon mysteel-clad feet. More, from the bosom of his robe he drew out flowerswhich he placed upon my knees as though in offering. 

"Now, Master, " he whispered to me, "rise and wave your sword and shoutaloud, to show that you are alive and not an image. "

So up I sprang, circling Wave-Flame about my head and roaring like anybull of Bashan, for my voice was always loud and carried far. Whenthey saw the bright sword whirling through the air and heard thesebellowings, uttering cries of fear, those poor folk fled. Indeed most ofthem fell from the plank into the mud, where one stuck fast and was liketo drown, had not Kari rescued him, which his brethren were in too greathaste to do. 

After they had gone Kari came and said that everything went well andthat henceforward I was not a man but the Spirit of the Sea come toearth, such a spirit as had never been dreamed of even by the wizards. 

Thus then did Hubert of Hastings become a god among those simple people, who had never before so much as heard of a white man, or seen armour ora sword of steel. 

CHAPTER II

THE ROCKY ISLE

For another week or more I remained upon the _Blanche_ waiting tillmy full strength returned, also because Kari said I must do so. WhenI asked him why, he replied for the reason that he wished news of mycoming to spread far and wide throughout the land from one tribe toanother, which it would do with great swiftness, flying, as he put it, like a bird. Meanwhile, every day I sat upon the poop in the armour foran hour or more, and both these people and others from afar came to lookat me, bringing me presents in such quantity that we knew not what to dowith them. Indeed, they built an altar and sacrificed wild creatures tome, and birds, burning them with fire. Both those that I had seen andthe other folk from a long way off made this offering. 

At last one night, when, having eaten, Kari and I were seated togetherin the moonshine before we slept, I turned on him suddenly, hoping thusto surprise the truth out of his secret heart, and said:

"What is your plan, Kari? For, know, I weary of this life. "

"I was waiting for the Master to ask that question, " he replied withhis gentle smile. (Again, I give not the very words he spoke in his badEnglish, but the substance of them. ) "Now will the Master be pleased tolisten? As I have told the Master, I believe that the gods, his God andmy God, have brought me back to that part of the world which is unknownto the Master, where I was born. I believed this from the first hourthat my eyes opened on it after our swoon, for I knew the trees andthe flowers and the smell of the earth, and saw that the stars in theheavens stood where I used to see them. When I went ashore and mingledwith the natives, I discovered that this belief was right, since I couldunderstand something of their talk and they could understand somethingof mine. Moreover, among them was a man who came from far away, who saidthat he had seen me in past years, wandering like one mad, only thatthis man whom he had seen wore the image of a certain god about hisneck, whose name was too high for him to mention. Then I opened my robeand showed him that which I wear about my neck, and he fell down andworshipped it, crying out that I was the very man. "

"If so, it is marvellous, " I said. "But what shall we do?"

"The Master can do one of two things. He can stop here, where thesesimple people will make him their king and give him wives and all thathe desires, and so live out his life, since of return to the land whencehe came there is no hope. "

"And if there were I would not go, " I interrupted. 

"Or, " went on Kari, "he can try to travel to my country. But that isvery far away. Something of the journey which I made when I was madcomes back and tells me that it is very, very far away. First, yondermountains must be crossed till another sea is reached, which is nogreat journey, though rough. Then the coast of that sea must be followedsouthward, for I know not how far, but, as I think, for months or yearsof journeying, till at length the country of my people is reached. Moreover, that journeying is hard and terrible, since the road runsthrough forests and deserts where dwell savage tribes and huge snakesand wild beasts, like those planted on the flag of your country, andwhere famine and sicknesses are common. Therefore my counsel to theMaster is that he should leave it unattempted. "

Now I thought awhile, and asked what he meant to do if I took thiscounsel of his. To which he replied:

"I shall wait here awhile till I see the Master made a king among thesepeople and established in his rule. Then I shall start on that journeyalone, hoping that what I could do when I was mad I shall be able to doagain when I am not mad. "

"I thought it, " I said. "But tell me, Kari, if we were to make thisjourney and perchance live to reach your people, how would they welcomeus?"

"I do not know, Master; but I think that of the master they would makea god, as will all the other people of this country. Perhaps, too, theywill sacrifice this god that his strength and beauty may enter intothem. As for me, some of them will try to kill me and others will clingto me. Who will conquer I do not know, and to me it matters little. Igo to take my own and to be avenged, and if in seeking vengeance Idie--well, I die in honour. "

"I understand, " I said. "And now, Kari, let us start as soon as possiblebefore I become as mad from staring at those trees and flowers and thosebig-eyed natives, that you say would make me a king, as you tell me youwere when you left your country. Whether we shall ever find that countryI cannot say. But at least we shall have done our best and, if we fail, shall perish seeking, as in this way or in that it is the lot of allbrave men to do. "

"The Master has spoken, " said Kari, even more quietly than usual, thoughas he spoke I saw his dark eyes flash and a trembling as of joy run downhis body. "Knowing all, he has made his choice, and whatever happens, being what it is, he will not blame me. Yet because the Master has thuschosen, I say this--that if we reach my country, and if, perchance, I become a king there, even more than before I shall be the Master'sservant. "

"That is easy to promise now, Kari, but it will be time to talk of itwhen we do reach your land, " I said, laughing, and asked him when wewere to start. 

He replied not yet awhile, as he must make plans, and that in themeantime I must walk upon the shore so that my legs might grow strongagain. So there every day I walked in the cool of the morning and in theevening, not going out of sight of the wreck. I went armed and carryingmy big bow, but saw no one, since the natives had been warned that Ishould walk and must not be looked upon while I did so. Therefore, evenwhen I passed through one of their villages of huts built of mud andthatched with leaves, it seemed to be deserted. 

Still, in the end the bow did not come amiss, for one evening, hearing alittle noise in a big tree under which I was about to pass that remindedme of the purring of a cat, I looked up and saw a great beast of thetiger sort lying on the bough of the tree and watching me. Then I drewthe bow and sent an arrow through that beast, piercing it from side toside, and down it came roaring and writhing, and biting at the arrowtill it died. 

After this I returned to the ship and told Kari what had happened. Hesaid it was fortunate I had killed the beast, which was of a very fiercekind, and if I had not seen it, would have leapt on me as I passed underthe tree. Also he sent natives to skin it who when they saw that it waspierced through and through by the arrow, were amazed and thought me aneven greater god than before, their own bows being but feeble and theirarrows tipped with bone. 

Three days after the killing of this beast we started on our journeyinto a land unknown. For a long while before Kari and I had been engagedin collecting all the knives we could find in the ship, also arrows, nails, axes, tools of carpentering, clothes, and I know not what elsebesides, which goods we tied up in bundles wrapped in sailcloth, eachbundle weighing from thirty to forty pounds, to serve as presents tonatives or to trade away with them. When I asked who would carry them, Kari answered that I should see. This I did at dawn on the followingmorning when there arrived upon the shore a great number of men, quitea hundred indeed, who brought with them two litters made of light woodjointed like reeds, only harder, in which Kari said he and I were to becarried. Among these men he parcelled out the loads which they were tobear upon their heads, and then said that it was time for us to start inthe litters. 

So we started, but first I went down into a cabin and kneeling on myknees, thanked God for having brought me safe so far, and prayed Himand St. Hubert to protect me on my further wanderings, and if I died, toreceive my soul. This done I left the ship and while the natives bowedthemselves about me, entered my litter, which was comfortable enough, having grass mats to lie on and other mats for curtains, very finelywoven, so that they would turn even the heaviest rain. 

Then away we went, eight men bearing the pole to which each litter wasslung on their shoulders, while others carried the bundles upon theirheads. Our road ran through forest uphill, and on the crest of the firsthill I descended from the litter and looked back. 

There in the creek below lay the wreck of the _Blanche_, now but a smallblack blot showing against the water, and beyond it the great sea overwhich we had travelled. Yonder broken hulk was the last link which boundme to my distant home thousands of miles across the ocean, that home, which my heart told me I should never see again, for how could I winback from a land that no white foot had ever trod?

On the deck of this ship Blanche herself had stood and smiled andtalked, for once we visited it together shortly before our marriage, andI remembered how I had kissed her in its cabin. Now Blanche was deadby her own hand and I, the great London merchant, was an outcast amongsavages in a country of which I did not even know the name, whereeverything was new and different. And there the ship with her richcargo, after bearing us so bravely through weeks of tempest, must lieuntil she rotted in the sun and rain and never again would my eyesbehold her. Oh! then it was that a sense of all my misery and lonelinessgripped my heart as it had not done before since I rode away afterkilling Deleroy with the sword Wave-Flame, and I wondered why I had beenborn, and almost hoped that soon I might die and go to seek the reason. 

Back into the litter I crept and there hid my face and wept like achild. Truly I, the prosperous merchant of London town who might havelived to become its mayor and magistrate and win nobility, was now anoutcast adventurer of the humblest. Well, so God had decreed, and therewas no more to say. 

That night we encamped upon a hilltop past which rushed a river in thevale below and were troubled with heat and insects that hummed and bit, for to these as yet I was not accustomed, and ate of the food that wehad brought with us, dried flesh and corn. 

Next morning with the light we started on again, up and down mountainsand through more forests, following the course of the river and theshores of a lake. So it went on until on the third evening from highland we saw the sea beneath us, a different sea from that which we hadleft, for it seemed that we had been crossing an isthmus, not so widebut that if any had the skill, a canal might be cut across it joiningthose two great seas. 

Now it was that our real travels began, for here, after staring at thestars and brooding apart for a long while, Kari turned southwards. Withthis I had nothing to do who did not greatly care which way he turned. Nor did he speak to me of the matter, except to say that his god andsuch memory as remained to him through his time of madness told him thatthe land of his people lay towards the south, though very far away. 

So southwards we went, following paths through the forests with theocean on our right hand. After a week of this wearisome marching we cameto another tribe of natives of whose talk those with us could understandenough to tell them our story. Indeed the rumour that a white godhad appeared in the land out of the sea had already reached them, andtherefore they were prepared to worship me. Here our people left us, saying that they dared not go further from their own country. 

The scene of the departure was strange, since every one of them came andrubbed his forehead in the dust before me and then went away, walkingbackwards and bowing. Still their going did not make a great differenceto us, since the new tribe was much as the old one, though if anything, rather less clothed and more dirty. Also it accepted me as a god withoutquestion and gave us all the food we needed. Moreover, when we lefttheir land men were provided to carry the litters and the loads. 

Thus, then, passing from tribe to tribe, we travelled on southward, eversouthwards, finding always that the rumour of the coming of "the god"had gone before us. So gentle were all these people, that not once didwe meet with any who tried to harm us or to steal our goods, or whorefused us the best of what they had. Our adventures, it is true, weremany. Thus, twice we came to tribes that were at war with other tribes, though on my appearance they laid down their arms, at any rate, for atime, and bore our litters forward. 

Again, sometimes we met tribes who were cannibals and then we sufferedmuch from want of meat, since we dared not touch their food unless itwere grain. In the town of the first of these cannibal people, beingmoved with fury, I killed a man whom I found about to murder a child andeat her, sweeping off his head with my sword. For this deed I expectedthat they would murder us, but they did not. They only shrugged theirshoulders and saying that a god can do as he pleases, took away theslain man and ate him. 

Sometimes our road ran through terrible forests where the great treesshut out the light of day, and a path must be hacked through theundergrowth. Sometimes it was haunted by tigers or tree lions such as Ihave spoken of, against which we must watch continuously, especiallyat night, keeping the brutes off by means of fires. Sometimes we wereforced to wade great rivers, or worse still, to walk over them onswaying bridges made of cables of twisted reeds that until I grewaccustomed to them caused my head to swim, though never did I permitmyself to show fear before the natives. Again, once we came to swampylands that were full of snakes which terrified me much, especially afterI had seen some natives whom they bit, die within a few minutes. 

Other snakes there were also, as thick as a man's body, and four or fivepaces in length, which lived in trees and killed their food by coilinground it and pressing it to death. These snakes, it was said, would takemen in this fashion, though I never saw one of them do so. At any rate, they were terrible to look on, and reminded me of their forefatherthrough whose mouth Satan talked with Mother Eve in the Garden of Eden, and thus brought us all to woe. 

Once, too, on the bank of a great river, I saw such a snake that atthe sight of it my knees knocked together. By St. Hubert, the beast wassixty feet or more in length; its head was of the bigness of a barrel, and its skin was of all the colours of the rainbow. Moreover, it seemedto hold me with its eyes, for till it slipped away into the river Icould not move a foot. 

Month after month we travelled thus, covering a matter of perhaps fivemiles a day, since sometimes the country was open and we crossed it withspeed. Yet although our dangers were so many, strangely enough, duringall this time, even in that heat neither of us fell sick, as I thinkbecause of the herb which Kari carried in his bag, that I found wasnamed _Coca_, whereof we obtained more as we went and ate from time totime. Nor did we ever really suffer from starvation, since when we werehungry we took more of this herb which supported us until we couldfind food. These mercies I set down to the good offices of St. Hubertwatching from Heaven over me, his poor namesake and godson, thoughperhaps the skill and courage of Kari which provided against everythinghad something to do with them. 

At length, in the ninth month of our travelling, as Kari reckoned it bymeans of knots which he tied on pieces of native string, for I had longlost count of time, we came to the borders of a great desert that thenatives said stretched southwards for a hundred leagues and more andwas without water. Moreover, to the east of this desert rose a chainof mountains bordered by precipices up which no man could climb. Here, therefore, it seemed as though our journey must end, since Kari had noknowledge of how he crossed or went round this desert in his madness ofbygone years, if indeed he ever travelled that road at all, a matter ofwhich I was not certain. 

For a week or more we remained among the tribe that lived in a beautifulwatered valley upon the borders of this desert, wondering what we shoulddo. For my part I was by now so tired of travelling upon an endlessquest that I should have been glad to stay among that tribe, a verygentle and friendly people, who like all the rest believed me to be agod, and make my home there till I died. But this was not Kari's mind, which was set fiercely upon winning back to his own country that hebelieved to lie towards the south. 

Day by day we sat there regaining our strength upon the good food ofthat valley, and staring first at the desert to the south, then at theprecipices on our left hand, and lastly at the ocean upon our right. Now this people, I should say, drew their wealth from the sea as well asfrom the land, since they were great fishermen and went out upon it inrude boats or rafts made of a wooden frame to which were lashed blown-upskins and bundles of dried reeds. Upon these boats, frail as theyseemed, such as further south were called balsas, they made considerablejourneys to distant islands where they caught vast quantities of fish, some of which they used to manure their land. Moreover, besides theoars, they rigged a square cotton sail upon the balsas which enabledthem to run before the wind without labour, steering the craft by meansof a paddle at the stern. 

While we were there I observed that on the springing up of a wind fromthe north, although it was of no great strength, the _balsas_ all cameto shore and were drawn up out of reach of the waves. When I inquiredwhy through Kari, the answer given was because the fishing season wasover, since that wind from the north would blow for a long time withoutchanging and those who went out in it upon the sea might be drivensouthwards to return no more. They stated, indeed, that often this hadhappened to venturesome men who had vanished away and been lost. 

"If you wish to travel south, there is a way of doing so, " I said toKari. 

At the time he made no answer, but on the following day asked mesuddenly if I dared attempt such a journey. 

"Why not?" I answered. "It is as easy to die in the water as on land andI weary of journeying through endless swamps and forests or of crossingtorrents and climbing mountain ridges. "

The end of it was that for a knife and a few nails Kari purchased thelargest _balsa_ that these people had, provisioning it with as muchdried fish, corn and water in earthenware jars as it would carrytogether with ourselves, and such of our remaining goods as we wished totake with us. Then we announced that I, the god who had come out of thesea, desired to return into the sea with himself, my servant. 

So on a certain fine morning when the wind was blowing steadily but nottoo strongly from the north, we embarked upon that _balsa_ while thesimple savages made obeisance with wonder in their eyes, hoisted thesquare canvas, and sailed away upon what I suppose was one of themaddest voyages ever made by man. 

Although it was so clumsy the _balsa_ moved through the water at a goodrate, covering quite two leagues the hour, I should say, before thatstrong and steady wind. Soon the village that we had left vanished; thenthe mountains behind it grew dim and in time vanished also, and thereremained nothing but the great wilderness upon our left and the vastsea around. Steering clear of the land so as to avoid sunken rocks, wesailed on all that day and all the night that followed, and when thelight came again perceived that we were running past a coastline thatwas backed by high mountains on some of which lay snow. By the secondevening these mountains had become tremendous, and between them I sawvalleys down which ran streams of water. 

Thus we went on for three days and nights, the wind from the northblowing all the while and the _balsa_ taking no hurt, by the end ofwhich time I reckon that we had travelled as far along the coast as wehad done in six months when we journeyed over land, at which I rejoiced. Kari rejoiced also, because he said that the shape and greatness of themountains we were passing reminded him of those of his own country, towhich he believed that we were drawing near. 

On the fourth morning, however, our troubles began, since the friendlywind from the north grew steadily stronger, till at length it rose to agale. Soon our little rag of canvas was torn away, but still we rushedon before the following seas at a very great speed. 

Now I thought of trying to make the land, but found that we could not doso with the oars, because of the current that set out towards the oceanagainst which it was impossible to urge our clumsy craft. Therefore wemust content ourselves with trying to keep her head straight with thesteering oar, but even then we were often whirled round and round. 

About two hours after noon the sky clouded over, and there burst upon usa great thunder-storm with torrents of rain; also the wind grew strongerand stronger. 

Now we could no longer steer or do anything except lie flat uponthe bottom of the _balsa_, gripping the cords with which it was tiedtogether, to save ourselves from being washed overboard, since oftenthe foaming crests of the waves broke upon us. Indeed, it was marvellousthat this frail craft should hang together at all, but owing to thelightness of the reeds and the blown-up skins that were tied in them, still she floated and, whirling round and round, sped upon her southwardpath. Yet I knew that this could not endure for very long, and committedmy soul to God as well as I was able in my half-drowned state, wishingthat my miseries were ended. 

The darkness came down, but still the thunder roared and the lightningblazed, and by the flare of it I caught sight of snow-capped mountainsfar away upon the coast, also of Kari clinging to the reeds of the_balsa_ at my side, and from time to time kissing the golden image ofPachacamac which hung about his neck. Presently he set his lips againstmy ear and shouted:

"Be bold! Our gods are still with us in storm. "

"Yes, " I answered, "and soon we shall be with our gods--in peace. "

After this I heard no more of him, and fell to thinking with such witsas were left to me of how many perils we had passed since we saw theshores of Thames, and that it seemed sad that all should have been fornothing, since it would have been better to die at the beginning thannow at the end, after so much misery. Then the glare of the lightningshone upon the handle of the sword Wave-Flame, which was still strappedabout me, and I remembered the rune written upon it which my mother hadrendered to me upon the morning of the fight against the Frenchmen. Howdid it run?

 He who lifts Wave-Flame on high In love shall live and in battle die. Storm-tossed o'er wide seas shall roam And in strange lands shall make his home. Conquering, conquered shall he be And far away shall sleep with me. 

It fitted well, though of the love I had known little and that mostunhappy, and the battle in which I must die was one with water. Also, I had conquered nothing who myself was conquered by Fate. In short, thething could be read two ways, like all prophecies, and only one line ofit was true beyond a doubt--namely, that Wave-Flame and I should sleeptogether. 

Awhile later the lightning shone awesomely, like to the swords of awhole army of destroying angels, so that the sky became alive with fire. In its light for an instant I saw ahead of us great breakers, and beyondthem what looked like a dark mass of land. Now we were in them, forthe first of those hungry, curling waves got a hold of the _balsa_ andtossed it up dizzily, then flung it down into a deep valley of water. Another came and another, till my senses reeled and went. I cried toSt. Hubert, but he was a land saint and could not help me; so I cried toAnother greater than he. 

My last vision was of myself riding a huge breaker as though it were ahorse. Then there came a crash and darkness. 

Lo! it seemed to me as though one were calling me back from the depthsof sleep. With trouble I opened my eyes only to shut them again becauseof the glare of the light. Then after a while I sat up, which gave mepain, for I felt as if I had been beaten all over, and looked once more. Above me shone the sun in a sky of deepest blue; before me was the seaalmost calm, while around were rocks and sand, among which crawled greatreptiles that I knew for turtles, as I had seen many of them in ourwanderings. Moreover, kneeling at my side, with the sword that he hadtaken from the body of Deleroy still strapped about him, was Kari, who bled from some wound and was almost white with encrusted salt, butotherwise seemed unharmed. I stared at him, unable to open my mouth fromamazement, so it was he who spoke the first, saying, in a voice that hada note of triumph in it:

"Did I not tell you that the gods were with us? Where is your faith, O White Man! Look! They have brought me back to the land of which I amPrince. "

Now there was that in Kari's tone which in my weak state angered me. Why did he scold me about faith? Why did he address me as "White Man"instead of "Master"? Was it because he had reached a country where hewas great and I was nothing? I supposed so, and answered;

"And are these your subjects, O noble Kari?" and I pointed to thecrawling turtles. "And is this the rich and wondrous land where gold andsilver are as mud?" and I pointed to the barren rocks and sand around. 

He smiled at my jest, and answered more humbly:

"Nay, Master, yonder is my land. "

Then I looked, following his glance, and saw many leagues way across thewater two snowclad peaks rising above a bank of clouds. 

"I know those mountains, " he went on; "without doubt they are one of thegateways of my land. "

"Then we might as well be in London for all the hope we have of passingthat gate, Kari. But tell me what has chanced. "

"This, I think. A very great wave caught us and threw us right overthose rocks on to the shore. Look--there is the _balsa_, " and he pointedto a broken heap of reeds and pierced skins. 

With his help I rose and went to it. Now none could know that it hadbeen a boat. Still, the _balsa_ it was and nothing else, and tied in itstangled mass still remained those things which we had brought with us, such as my black bow and armour, though all the jars were broken. 

"It has borne us well, but will never bear us again, " I said. 

"That is so, Master. But if we were in my own country yonder I would setits fragments in a case of gold and place them in the Temple of the Sunas a memorial. "

Then we went to a pool of rainwater that lay in a hollow rock near by, and drank our fill, for we were very thirsty. Also among the ruins ofthe _balsa_ we found some of the dried fish that was left to us, andhaving washed it, filled ourselves. After this we limped to the crest ofthe land behind and perceived that we were on a little island, perhapstwo hundred English acres in extent, whereon nothing grew except somecoarse grass. This island, however, was the haunt of great numbers ofseafowl which nested there, also of the turtles that I have mentioned, and of certain beasts like seals or otters. 

"At least we shall not starve, " I said, "though in the dry season we maydie of thirst. "

Now there on that island we remained for four long months. For food weate the turtles, which we cooked over fires that Kari made by cunninglytwirling a pointed piece of driftwood in the hollow of another piecethat he filled with the dust of dried grass. Had he lacked thatknowledge we must have starved or lived on raw flesh. As it was, we hadplenty with this meat and that of birds and their eggs, also of fishthat we caught in the pools when the tide was down. From the shells ofthe turtles, by the help of stones, we built us a kind of hut tokeep off the sun and the rain, which in that hot place was sufficientshelter; also, when the stench was out of them, we used other shells inwhich to catch rainwater that we stored as best we could against seasonsof drought. Lastly, with my big bow which was saved with the armour, Ishot sea-otters, and from their pelts we made us garments after rubbingthe skins with turtle fat and handling them to make them soft. 

Thus, then, we lived from moon to moon upon that desert place, till Ithought I should go mad with loneliness and despair, for no help camenear us. There were the mountains of the mainland far away, but betweenthem and us stretched leagues of sea that we could not swim, nor had weanything of which to make a boat. 

"Here we must remain until we die!" at last I cried in my wretchedness. 

"Nay, " answered Kari, "our gods are still with us and will save us intheir season. "

This, indeed, they did in a strange fashion. 

CHAPTER III

THE DAUGHTER OF THE MOON

For the fourth time since we were cast away on this island the huge fullmoon shone in a sky of wondrous blue. Kari and I watched it rise betweenthe two snow-clad peaks far away that he had called a gateway to hisland, which was so near to us and yet it would seem more distant thanHeaven itself. Heaven we might hope to reach upon the wings of spiritwhen we died, but to that country how could we come?

We watched that great moon climb higher and higher up a ladder of littlebar-like clouds, till wearying we let our eyes fall upon the glitteringpathway which its light made upon the bosom of the placid sea. SuddenlyKari stared and stared. 

"What is it?" I asked idly. 

"I thought I saw something yonder far away where Quilla's footsteps makethe waters bright, " he said, speaking in his own language in which nowwe often talked together. 

"Quilla's?" I exclaimed. "Oh! I forgot: that is the lady moon's name inyour tongue, is it not? Well, come, Quilla, and I will wed and worshipyou, as 'tis said the ancients did, and never turn to look upon another, be she woman, or goddess, or both. Only come and take me from thisaccursed isle and in payment I'll die for you, if need be, when firstI've taught you how to love as star or woman never loved before. "

"Hush!" said Kari in a grave voice, when he had listened to this madstuff that burst through my lips from the spring of a mind distraught bymisery and despair. 

"Why should I hush?" I asked. "Is it not pleasant to think of the moonwearing a lovely woman's shape and descending to give a lonely mortallove and comfort?"

"Because, Master, to me and my people the moon is a goddess who hearsprayer and answers it. Suppose, then, that she heard you and answeredyou and came to you and claimed your love, what then?"

"Why, then, friend Kari, " I raved on, "then I should welcome her, forlove goes a begging, ready as ripe fruit to be plucked by the first handif it be fair enough, ready to melt beneath the first lips if they bewarm enough. 'Tis said that it is the man who loves and the woman whoaccepts the love. But that is not true. It is the man, Kari, who waitsto be loved and pays back just as much as is given to him, and no more, like an honest merchant; for if he does otherwise, then he suffers forit, as I have learned. Therefore, come, Quilla, and love as a Celestialcan and I swear that step by step I'll keep pace with you in fleshand spirit through Heaven, or through Hell, since love I must have, ordeath. "

"I pray you, talk not so, " said Kari again, in a frightened voice, "since those words of yours come from the heart and will be heard. Thegoddess is a woman, too, and what woman will turn from such a bait?"

"Let her take it, then. Why not?"

"Because, O friend, because _Quilla_ is wed to _Yuti_; the Moon is theSun's wife, and if the Sun grows jealous what will happen to the man whohas robbed the greatest of the world's gods?"

"I do not know and I do not care. If Quilla would but come and love me, I'd take my chance of Yuti whom as a Christian I defy. "

Kari shuddered at this blasphemy, then having once more scanned thatsilver pathway on the waters, but without avail for the great fishor drifting tree or whatever he had seen, was gone, prayed after hisfashion at night, to Pachacamac, Spirit of the Universe, or to the Sunhis servant, god of the world, I know not which, and rolling himself inhis rug of skins, crept into our little hut to sleep. 

But as yet I did not sleep, for though Kari hated both, this talk oflove and women had stirred my blood and made me wakeful. So I took arough comb that I had fashioned from the shell of a turtle, and draggedit through my long fair beard, which, growing fast, now hung down farupon my breast, and through the curling hair that lay upon my shoulders, for I had become as other wild men are, and sang to myself there by thelittle fire which we kept burning day and night and tried to think ofhappy things that never should I know again. 

At length the fit passed and I grew weary and laid myself down by thefire, for the night being so fine and warm I would not go into the hut, and there sleep found me. 

I dreamed in my sleep. I dreamed that a very beautiful woman who woreupon her naked breast the emblem of the moon fashioned in crystal, stoodover me, looking down upon me with large dark eyes. And as she lookedshe sighed. Thrice she sighed, each time more deeply than the last. Thenshe knelt down by me--or so it seemed in my dream, and laid a tress ofher long dark hair against my yellow locks, as though she would matchthem together. She did more, indeed--in my dream--for lifting that tressof fragrant hair, she let it fall like thistledown across my face andmouth, and then kissed the hair, for I felt her breath reach me throughits strands. 

The dream ended thus, though I wished very much that it would go on, andI felt as though it had gone away as such visions do. Awhile later, as Isuppose, I awoke quite suddenly, and opened my eyes. There, near to me, glittering in the full light of the brilliant moon, stood the woman ofmy dream, only now her naked breast was covered with a splendid cloakbroidered with silver, and on her dark locks was a feathered headdressin front of which rose the crescent of the moon, likewise fashioned insilver. Also in her hand she held a little silver spear. 

I stared at her, for move I could not. Then remembering my crazy talkwith Kari, uttered one word, only one. It was--_Quilla_. 

She bowed her head and answered in a voice soft as the murmur of thewind through rushes, speaking in the rich language called Quichua thatKari had taught me. In this tongue, as I have told, we talked togetherfor practice during our journeys and on the island. So that now I knewit well. 

"So indeed am I named after my mother, the 'Moon, '" she said. "But howdid you know it, O Wanderer, whose skin is white as the foam of the seaand whose hair is yellow as the fine gold in the temples?"

"I think you must have told me when you knelt over me just now, " I said. 

I saw the red blood run to her brow, but she only shook her head, andanswered:

"Nay, my mother, the Moon, must have told you; or perchance you learnedit in the spirit. At least, Quilla am I named and you called me aright. "

Now I stood up and stared at her, overcome by the strangeness of thebusiness, and she stared at me. A marvellously beautiful woman she wasin her dazzling robe and headdress, and lighter coloured than any nativeI had seen, almost white, indeed, in the moonlight save for the coppertinge that marked her race; tall, too, yet not over-tall; slim andstraight as an arrow, but high-breasted and round-limbed, and with awild grace in her movements like to that of a hawk upon the wing. Alsoto my fancy in her face there was something more than common youthfulbeauty, something spiritual, such as great artists show upon the carvencountenances of saints. 

Indeed she might well have been one whose human blood was mixed withsome other alien strain--as she had called herself, a daughter of theMoon. 

A question rose to my lips and burst from them; it was:

"Tell me, O Quilla, are you wife or maid?"

"Maid am I, " she answered, "yet one who is promised as a wife, " and shesighed, then went on quickly as though this matter were something ofwhich she did not wish to talk, "And tell me, O Wanderer, are you god orman?"

Now I grew cunning and answered, "I am a Son of the Sea as you are a Daughter of the Moon. "

She turned her head and glanced at the radiance which lay upon the faceof the deep, then said as though to herself:

"The moon shines upon the sea and the sea mirrors back the moon, yetthey are far apart and never may draw near. "

"Not so, O Quilla. Out of the sea does the moon rise and, her courserun, into the sea's white arms she sinks to sleep at last. "

Again the red blood ran to her brow and her great eyes fell, those eyesof which never before had I seen the like. 

"It seems that they speak our tongue in the sea, and prettily, " shemurmured, adding, "But is it not from and into Heaven that the Moonrises and departs?"

At that moment to my grief our talk came to an end, for out of thehut crept Kari. He rose to his feet and stood there as ever calm anddignified, looking first at Quilla and then at me. 

"What did I tell you, Master?" he said in English. "Did I not say thatprayers such as yours are answered? Lo! here is that Child of the Moonfor whom you sought, clothed in beauty and bringing her gifts of loveand woe. "

"Yes, " I exclaimed, "and I am glad that she is here. For the rest, wereshe but mine, I think I should not grudge her price whate'er it be. "

Quilla looked at Kari frowning over the spear that when he appeared shehad lifted, as though to defend herself, which in my case she had notthought needful. 

"So the sea breeds men of my own race also, " she said, addressing him. "Tell me, O Stranger, how did you and yonder white god come to thisisle?"

"Riding on the ocean billows, riding for thousands of leagues, " heanswered. "And you, O Lady, how did you come to this isle?"

"Riding on the moonbeams, " she replied, smiling, "I, the daughter of theMoon, who am named Moon and wear her symbol on my brow. "

"Did I not tell you so?" exclaimed Kari to me with a gloomy air. 

Then Quilla went on:

"Strangers, I was out fishing with two of my maidens and we had driftedfar from land. As the sun sank I caught sight of the smoke of your fire, and having been told that this isle was desert, my heart drew me todiscover who had lit it. So, though my maidens were afraid, hitherI sailed and paddled, and the rest you know. Hearken! I will declaremyself. I am the only child of Huaracha, King of the People of theChancas, born of his wife, a princess of the Inca blood who now has beengathered to her Father, the Sun. I am here on a visit to my mother'skinsman, Quismancu, the Chief of the Yuncas of the Coastlands, to whommy father, the King, has sent an embassy on matters of which I knownothing. Behind yonder rock is my _balsa_ and with it are the twomaidens. Say, is it your wish to bide here upon this isle, or to returninto the sea, or to accompany me back to the town of Quismancu? If so, we must sail ere the weather breaks, lest we should be drowned. "

"Certainly it is my wish to accompany you, Lady, though a god of the seacannot be drowned, " I said quickly before Kari could speak. Indeed, hedid not speak at all, he only shrugged his shoulders and sighed, likeone who accepts some evil gift from Fate because he must. 

"So be it!" exclaimed Quilla. "Now I go to make ready the _balsa_ and towarn the maidens lest they be frightened. When you are prepared you willfind us yonder behind the rock. "

Then she bowed in a stately fashion an departed, walking with the proud, light step of a deer. 

From our little hut I took out my armour and with Kari's help, putit on, because he declared that thus it would be more easily carried, though I think he had other reasons in his mind. 

"Yes, " I answered, "unless the _balsa_ oversets, when I shall find mailhard to swim in. "

"The _balsa_ will not overset, sailing beneath the moon with thatMoon-lady for a pilot, " he replied heavily. "Had the sun been up, itmight have been different. Moreover, the path into a net is always wideand easy. "

"What net?" I asked. 

"One that is woven of women's hair, I think. Already, if I mistake not, such a net has been about your throat, Master, and next time it willstay there. Hearken now to me. The gods thrust us into high matters. TheYuncas of whose chief this lady is a guest are a great people whom mypeople have conquered in war, but who wait the opportunity to rebel, if they have not already done so. The Chancas, of those king she is thedaughter, are a still greater people who for years have threatened warupon my people. "

"Well, what of it, Kari? With such questions this lady will have nothingto do. "

"I think she has much to do with them. I think that she knows more thanshe seems to know, and that she is an envoy from the Chancas to theYuncas. To whom is she affianced, I wonder? Some Great One, doubtless. Well, we shall learn in time; and meanwhile, I pray you, Master, remember that she says she _is_ affianced, and that in this land men arevery jealous even of a white god who rises from the sea. "

"Of course I shall remember, " I answered sharply. "Have I not had enoughof women who are affianced?"

"By your prayer of the moon this night, which the moon answered so welland quickly, one might think not. Also this daughter of hers is fair, and perchance when she gave her hand she kept her heart. Listen again, Master. Of me and of whom I am, say nothing, save that you found me onthis island where I dwelt a hermit when you rose from the sea. As formy name, why, it is Zapana. Remember that if you breathe my rank andhistory, however much sweet lips may try to cozen them out of you, youbring me to my death, who now do not wish to die, having a vengeance toaccomplish and a throne to win. Therefore treat me as a dog, as one ofno account, and be silent even in your sleep. "

"I will remember, Kari. "

"That is not enough--swear it. "

"Good. I swear it--by the moon. "

"Nay, not by the moon, for the moon is woman and changes. Swear it bythis, " and from beneath his skin robe he drew out the golden image ofPachacamac. "Swear it by the Spirit of the Universe, of whom Sun andMoon and Stars are but servants, the Spirit whom all men worship in thisshape or in that. "

So to please him I laid my hand upon the golden symbol and swore. Then, very hurriedly, we made up a tale of how, clad in my armour, I had risenfrom the sea and found him on the island, and how knowing me for a whitegod who once in ages past had visited that land and who, as prophecyforetold, should return to it in days to come, he had worshipped me andbecome my slave. 

This done we went down to the rock, Kari walking after me and bearingall our small possessions and with them Deleroy's sword. Passing roundthe rock we saw the _balsa_ drawn up to the sand, and by it the ladyQuilla, who now had put off her fine robes and again was attired as afishing-girl as I had seen her in my dream, and with her two tall girlsin the same scanty garments. When these saw me in the glittering armour, which in our long idle hours we had polished till it shone like silver, with the shield upon my arm and the casque upon my head and the greatsword girded about my middle and the black bow in my hand, they screamedwith fear and fell upon their faces, while even Quilla started back andglanced towards the boat. 

"Fear not, " I said. "The gods are kind to those who do them service, though to those who would harm them they are terrible. "

Kari also went to them and whispered in their ears what tale I know not. In the end they rose trembling, and having motioned to me to be seatedin it, with the help of Kari pushed the _balsa_, which I noted with joywas large and well made, down into the sea. Then one by one they climbedin, Quilla taking the steering-oar, while Kari and the two maidenshoisted the little sail and paddled till we were clear of the island, where the gentle wind caught the _balsa_. Then they shipped the paddles, and although full laden, we sailed quietly towards the mainland. 

Now I was at the bow of the _balsa_ and Quilla was at its stern, andbetween us were the others, so that during all that long night's journeyI had no speech with her and must content myself with gazing over myshoulder at her beauty as best I could, which was not well, because ofKari, who ever seemed to come between my eyes and hers. 

Thus the long hours went by till at length when we were near the landthe moon sank, and we sailed on through the twilight. Then came thedawn, and there in front of us we saw the lovely strand green with palmswithin a ring of snow-clad mountains, two of them the great peaks thatwe had seen from our isle. 

On the shore was a city of white, flat-roofed houses, and rising aboveit, perchance the half of a mile from the sea, a hill four or fivehundred feet in height and terraced. On the top of the hill stood amighty building, painted red, that from the look of it I took to be oneof the churches of these people, in the centre of which gleamed greatdoors that, as I found afterwards, were covered with plates of gold. 

"Behold the temple of Pachacamac, Master, " whispered Kari, bowing hishead and kissing the air in token of reverence. 

By this time watchmen, who had been set there to search the sea or theboat of Quilla, had noted our approach. They shouted and pointed to mewho sat in the prow clad in my armour upon which the sun glittered, thenbegan to run to and fro as though in fear or excitement, so that ere wereached the shore a great crowd had gathered. Meanwhile, Quilla had puton her silver-broidered mantle and her head-dress of feathers, crownedwith the crescent of the moon. As we touched the beach she came forward, and for the first time during that night spoke to me saying:

"Remain here in the _balsa_, Lord, while I talk with these people, andwhen I summon you be pleased to come. Fear not--none will harm you. "

Then she sprang from the prow of the _balsa_ to the shore, followed byher two maidens, who dragged it further up the beach, and went forwardto talk with certain white-robed men in the crowd. For a long whileshe talked, turning now and again to point at me. At length these men, accompanied by a number of others, ran forward. At first I thought theymeant mischief and grasped my sword-hilt, then, remembering what Quillahad said, remained seated and silent. 

Indeed, there was no cause for fear, for when the white-robed chiefs orpriests and their following were close to me, suddenly they prostratedthemselves and beat their heads upon the sand, from which I learned thatthey, too, believed me to be a god. Thereon I bowed to them and, drawingmy sword--at the sight of which I saw them stare and shiver, for tothese people steel was unknown--held it straight up in front of me in myright hand, the shield with the cognizance of the three arrows being onmy left arm. 

Now all the men rose, and some of them of the humbler sort, creepingto the _balsa_, suddenly seized it and lifted it on to their shoulders, which, being but a light thing of reeds and blown-out skins, they coulddo easily enough. Then, preceded by the chiefs, they advanced up thebeach into the town, I still remaining seated in the boat with Karicrouching behind me. So strange was the business that almost I laughedaloud, wondering what those grave merchants of the Cheap whom I hadknown in London would think if they could see me thus. 

"Kari, " I said, without turning my head, "what are they going to do withus? Set us in yonder temple to be worshipped with nothing to eat?"

"I think not, Master, " answered Kari, "since there the lady Quilla couldnot come to speak with you if she would. I think that they will takeyou to the house of the king of this country where, I understand, she isdwelling. "

This, indeed, proved to be the case, for we were borne solemnly up themain street of the town, that now was packed with thousands of people, some of whom threw flowers before the feet of the bearers, bowing andstaring till I thought that their eyes would fall out, to a large, flat-roofed house set in a walled courtyard. Passing through the gatesthe bearers placed the _balsa_ on the ground and fell back. Then fromout of the door of the house appeared Quilla, accompanied by a tall, stately looking man who wore a fine robe, and a woman of middle age alsogorgeously apparelled. 

"O Lord, " said Quilla, bowing, "behold my kinsman the _Caraca_" (whichis the name for a lesser sort of king) "of the Yuncas, named Quismancu, and his wife, Mira. "

"Hail, Lord Risen from the Sea!" cried Quismancu. "Hail, White Godclothed in silver! Hail, _Hurachi_!"

Why he called me "Hurachi" at the time I could not guess, but afterwardsI learned that it was because of the arrows painted on my shield, _hurachi_ being their name for arrows. At any rate, thenceforth by thisname of Hurachi I was known throughout the land, though when addressedfor the most part I was called "Lord-from-the-Sea" or "God-of-the-Sea. "

Then Quilla and the lady Mira came forward and, placing their handsbeneath my elbows, assisted me to climb out of that _balsa_, which Ithink was the strangest way that ever a shipwrecked wanderer came toland. 

They led me into a large room with a flat roof that was being hastilyprepared for me by the hanging of beautiful broideries on the walls, and sat me on a carven stool, where presently Quilla and other ladiesbrought me food and a kind of intoxicating drink which they called_chicha_, that after so many months of water drinking I found cheeringand pleasant to the taste. This food, I noted, was served to me onplatters of gold and silver, and the cups also were of gold strangelyfashioned, by which I knew that I had come to a very rich land. Afterwards I learned, however, that in it there was no money, all thegold and silver that it produced being used for ornament or to decoratethe temples and the palaces of the _Incas_, as they called their kings, and other great lords. 

CHAPTER IV

THE ORACLE OF RIMAC

In this town of Quismancu I remained for seven days, going abroad butlittle, for when I did so the people pressed about me and stared me outof countenance. There was a garden at the back of the hose surroundedby a wall built of mud bricks. Here for the most part I sat and here thegreat ones of the place came to visit me, bringing me offerings of robesand golden vessels and I know not what besides. To all of them I toldthe same story--or, rather, Kari told it for me--namely, that I hadrisen out of the sea and found him a hermit, named Zapana, on the desertisland. What is more, they believed it and, indeed, it was true, for hadI not risen out of the sea?

From time to time Quilla came to see me also in this garden, bearinggifts of flowers, and with her I talked alone. She would sit upon alow stool, considering me with her beautiful eyes, as though she wouldsearch out my soul. One day she said to me:

"Tell me, Lord, are you a god or a man?"

"What is a god?" I asked. 

"A god is that which is adored and loved. "

"And is a man never adored and loved, Quilla? For instance, I understandthat you are to be married, and doubtless you adore and love him whowill be your husband. "

She shivered a little and answered:

"It is not so. I hate him. "

"Then why are you going to marry him? Are you forced to do so, Quilla?"

"No, Lord. I marry him for my people's sake. He desires me for myinheritance and my beauty, and by my beauty I may lead him down thatroad on which my people wish that he should go. "

"An old story, Quilla, but will you be happy thus?"

"No, Lord, I shall be very unhappy. But what does it matter? I am only awoman, and such is the lot of women. "

"Women, like gods and men, are also sometimes loved and adored, Quilla. "

She flushed at the words and answered:

"Ah! if that were so life might be different. But even if it were so andI found the man who could love and adore even for a year, for me it isnow too late. I am sworn away by an oath that may not be broken, for tobreak it might bring death upon my people. "

"To whom are you sworn?"

"To the Child of the Sun, no less a man; to the god who will be Inca ofall this land. "

"And what is this god like?"

"They say that he is huge and swarthy, with a large mouth, and I knowthat he has the heart of a brute. He is cruel and false also, and hecounts his women by the score. Yet his father, the Inca, loves him morethan any of his children, and ere long he will be king after him. "

"And would you, who are sweet and lovely as the moon after which you arenamed, give yourself body and soul to such a one?"

Again she flushed. 

"Do my own ears hear the White-God-from-the-Sea call me sweet and lovelyas the moon? If so, I thank him, and pray him to remember that theperfect and lovely are always chosen to be the sacrifice of gods. "

"But, Quilla, the sacrifice may be all in vain. How long will you holdthe fancy of this loose-living prince?"

"Long enough to serve my purpose, Lord--or, at least, " she added withflashing eyes, "long enough to kill him if he will not go my country'sroad. Oh! ask me no more, for your words stir something in my breast, a new spirit of which I never dreamed. Had I heard them but three moonsgone, it might have been otherwise. Why did you not appear sooner fromthe sea, my lord Hurachi, be you god or man?"

Then, with something like a sob, she rose, made obeisance, and fledaway. 

That evening, when we were alone in my chamber where none could hear us, I told Kari that Quilla was promised in marriage to a prince who wouldbe Inca of all the land. 

"Is it so?" said Kari. "Well, learn, Master, that this prince is mybrother, he whom I hate, he who has done me bitter wrong, he who stoleaway my wife and poisoned me. Urco is his name. Does this lady Quillalove him?"

"I think not. I think that like you she hates him, yet will marry himfor reasons of policy. "

"Doubtless she hates him now, whatever she did a week ago, " said Kari ina dry voice. "But what fruit will this tree bear? Master, are you mindedto come with me to-morrow to visit the temple of Pachacamac in the innersanctuary of which sits the god Rimac who speaks oracles?"

"For what purpose, Kari?" I answered moodily. 

"That we may hear oracles, Master. I think that if you choose to go thelady Quilla would come with us, since perhaps she would like also tohear oracles. "

"I will go if it can be done in secret, say at night, for I weary ofbeing stared at by these people. "

This I said because I desired to learn of the religion of this nationand to see new things. 

"Perhaps it can be so ordered, Master. I will ask of the matter. "

It seemed that Kari did ask, perhaps of the high priest of Pachacamac, for between all the worshippers of this god there was a brotherhood;perhaps of the lord Quismancu, or perhaps of Quilla herself--I do notknow. At least, on this same day Quismancu inquired whether it wouldplease me to visit the temple that night, and so the matter was settled. 

Accordingly, after the darkness had fallen, two litters were broughtinto which we entered, Quilla and a waiting woman seating themselves inone of them and Kari and I in the other, for Quismancu and his wife didnot come--why I cannot say. Then, preceded by another litter in whichwas a priest of the god, and surrounded by a guard of soldiers, througha rain-storm we were borne up the hill--it was but a little way--to thetemple. 

Here, before the golden doors on which the lightning glimmered fitfully, we descended and were led by white-robed men bearing lanterns, throughvarious courts to the inner sanctuary of the god, on the threshold ofwhich I crossed myself, not loving the company of heathen idols. So faras I could see by the lamplight it was a great and glorious place, andeverywhere that the eye fell was gold--places of gold on the walls, offerings of gold upon the floor, stars of gold upon the roof. Thestrange thing about this holy place, however, was that it seemed to bequite empty except for the aforesaid gold. There was neither altar norimage--nothing but a lamp-lit void. 

Here all prostrated themselves, save I alone, and prayed in silence. When they rose again, in a whisper I asked of Kari where was the god. To which he answered: "Nowhere, yet everywhere. " This I thought a truesaying, and indeed so solemn was that place that I felt as though I weresurrounded by that which is divine. 

After a while the priests, who were gorgeously apparelled, led us acrossthe sanctuary to a door that opened upon some stairs. Down these stairswe went into a long passage that seemed to run beneath the earth, forthe air in it was heavy. When we had walked a hundred paces or morein this narrow place, we came to other steps and another door, passingthrough which we found ourselves in a second temple, smaller than thatwhich we had visited, but like to it rich with gold. In the centre ofthis temple sat the image of a man rudely fashioned of gold. 

"Behold Rimac the Speaker!" whispered Kari. 

"How can gold speak?" I asked. 

Kari made no answer. 

Presently the priests began to mutter prayers and incantations that Ithought unholy, after which they laid offerings of what looked likeraw flesh set in cups of gold before the idol, that I thought unholierstill. Lastly they drew back and asked of what we would learn. 

I made no answer who did not like the business. Nor did Kari sayanything, but Quilla spoke out boldly, saying that we would learn of thefuture and what would befall us. 

Now there was a long silence, and I confess that fear got hold of me, for it seemed to me as though spirits were moving in the air and throughthe darkness behind us--yes, as though I could hear their whisperingsand the rustle of their wings. Suddenly, at the end of this silence, thegolden image in front of us began to glow as though it were molten, andthe emerald eyes that were set in its head to sparkle terribly, whichfrightened me so much that had it not been for shame's sake I would haverun away, but because of this stood still and prayed to St. Hubertto protect me from the devil and his works. Presently I prayed stillharder, for the image began to speak--yes, in a horrid, whistling voiceit spoke, although no one was near to it. These were the words it said:

"Who is this clad in silver whose skin is white and whose hair isyellow? Such an one I have not seen for a thousand years, and such as heit is that shall possess themselves of the Land of Tavantinsuyu, shallsteal its wealth, shall slay its people, and shall cast down its gods. But not yet, not yet! Therefore this is the command of Pachacamac, uttered by the voice of Rimac the Speaker, that none do harm to or crossthe will of this mighty seaborn lord, since he shall be as a strong wallto many and his sword shall be red with the blood of the wicked. "

The whistling voice ceased while the priests and all there stared atme, for they seemed to think its words fateful. Then suddenly it beganagain:

"And who is this that came out of the sea with the Shining One, havingwandered further than any of his ancient blood? I know. I know, yet Imay not say, since the Spirit of spirits whose image he wears upon hisheart bids me be silent. Be bold! Be bold! Prosper and grow great, Childof Pachacamac, for thy wanderings are not yet done. Still there isa mountain to be climbed, and on the crest of it hangs a fringe ofHeaven's gold. "

Again the voice ceased, while this time all stared at Kari, who shookhis head humbly as though bewildered by what he could not understand. Once more the image spoke:

"Who is this daughter of the Sun, in whose veins play moonbeams and whois fairer than the evening star? One, I think, whom men shall desire andbecause of whom shall flow the blood of the great. One whose thoughtis swift as the lightning and subtle as the snake, one in whom passionburns like fire in the womb of the mountain, but who is filled withspirit that dances above the fire and who longs for things that areafar. Daughter of the Sun in whose blood run the moonbeams, thou shaltslip from the hated arms and the Sun shall be thy shelter, and in thebeloved arms thou shalt sleep at last. Yet from the vengeance of the godbetrayed fly fast and far!"

Again the voice ceased, and I thought that all was over. But it was notso, for after a little space the golden figure of the oracle glowed morefiercely than before and the emerald eyes shone more terribly, and in akind of scream it spoke, saying:

"The snows of Tavantinsuyu shall be red with blood, the waters of herrivers shall be full of blood. Yes, ye three shall wade through blood, and in a rain of blood shall pluck the fruit of your desires. Still fora while the gods of Tavantinsuyu shall endure and its kings shall reignand its children shall be free. But in the end death for the gods anddeath for the kings and death for the people. Still, not yet--not yet!None who live shall see it, nor their children, nor their children'schildren. Rimac the Voice has spoken; treasure ye his words andinterpret them as ye will. "

The whistling voice died away like the thin cry of some starving childin a desert, and there was a great silence. Then in a moment the figureof gold ceased to glow and the eyes of emerald to burn, leaving thething but a dead lump of metal. The priests prostrated themselves, andrising, led us from the place without a word, but in the light of thelamps I saw that their faces were full of terror--so full that I doubtedwhether it could be feigned. 

As we had come, so we went, and at last found ourselves outside theglittering temple doors where the litters awaited us. 

"What did it mean?" I whispered to Quilla, who was by my side. 

"For you and the other I know not, " she answered hurriedly; "but forme I think that it means death. Yet, not until--not until----" And sheceased. 

At that moment the moon appeared from behind the rain-clouds and shoneupon her upturned face, and in her eyes there was a glory. 

Now, as I learned afterwards, these words of its most famous oracle wentall through the land and caused great talk and wonder mixed with fear, for none of such import had been spoken by it for generations. More, they shaped my own fortunes, for, as I came to know, Quismancu and hispeople had determined that I should not be allowed to go from amongthem. Not every day did a white god rise from the sea, and they desiredthat having come to them, there he should bide to be their defence andboast, and with him that hermit named Zapana, to whom, as they believed, he had appeared upon the desert isle. But after Rimac had spoken allthis was changed, and when I said it was my will to depart and accompanyQuilla upon her journey home to her father, Huaracha, King of theChancas, as by swift messenger this King invited me to do, Quismancuanswered that if I so desired I must be obeyed as the god Rimac hadcommanded, but that nevertheless he was sure that we should meet again. 

Now, thinking these things over, I wondered much whether that oraclecame out of the golden Rimac or perchance from the heart of Quilla, orof Kari, or of both of them, who desired that I should leave the Yuncasand travel to the Chancas and further. I did not know, nor was I everto learn, since about matters to do with their gods these people are assecret as the grave. I asked Kari and I asked Quilla, but both of themstared at me with innocent eyes, and replied who were they to inspirethe golden tongue of Rimac? Nor, indeed, did I ever learn whether Rimacthe Speaker was a spirit or but a lump of metal through which somepriest talked. All I know is that from one end of Tavantinsuyu to theother he was believed to be a spirit who spoke the very will of God tothose who could understand his words, though this as a Christian man Icould not credit. 

So it came about that some days later, with Quilla and Kari and certainold men who, I took it, were priests or ambassadors, or both, I departedon our journey. As we went the people wept around my litter for sorrow, real or feigned, for we travelled in litters guarded by some two hundredsoldiers armed with axes of copper and bows, and cast flowers beforethe feet of the bearers. But I did not weep, for though I had been verykindly treated there and, indeed, worshipped, glad was I to see the lastof that city and its people who wearied me. 

Moreover, I felt that there I was in the midst of plots, though of whatthese were I knew nothing, save that Quilla, who to the outward eyewas but a lovely, innocent maiden, had a hand in them. Plots there wereindeed, for, as I came to understand in time, they were nothing lessthan the preparing of a great war which the Chancas and the Yuncas wereto wage against their over-lord, the Inca, the king of the mighty nationof the Quichuas, who had his home at a city called Cuzco farinland. Indeed, there and then this alliance was arranged, and byQuilla--Quilla, who proposed to sacrifice herself and by the gift ofher person to his heir, to throw dust in the eyes of the Inca, whosedominion her father planned to take and with it the imperial crown ofTavantinsuyu. 

Leaving the coastland, we were borne forward through the passes of greatmountains, upon a wonderful road so finely made that never had I seenits like in England. At times we crossed rivers, but over these werethrown bridges of stone. Or mayhap we came to swamps, yet there the roadstill ran, built upon deep foundations in the mud. Never did it turnaside; always it went on, conquering every hindrance, for this was oneof the Inca's roads that pierced Tavantinsuyu from end to end. We cameto many towns, for this land was thickly populated, and for the mostpart slept in one of them each night. But always my fame had gone beforeme, and the _Curacas_, or chiefs of the towns, waited upon me withofferings as though I were indeed divine. 

For the first five days of that journey I saw little of Quilla, but atlength one night we were forced to camp at a kind of rest-house upon thetop of a high mountain pass, where it was very cold, for the deep snowlay all about. At this place, as here were no _Curacas_ to trouble me, Iwent out alone when Kari was elsewhere, and climbed a certain peak whichwas not far from the rest-house, that thence I might see the sunset andthink in quiet. 

Very glorious was the scene from that high point. All round me stoodthe cold crests of snow-clad mountains towering to the very skies, whilebetween them lay deep valleys where rivers ran like veins of silver. Soimmense was the landscape that it seemed to have no end, and so grandthat it crushed the spirit, while above arched the perfect sky in whoserich blue the gorgeous lights of evening began to gather as the greatsun sank behind the snowy peaks. 

Far up in the heavens floated one wide-winged bird, the eagle of themountains, which is larger than any other fowl that I have ever seen, and the red light playing on it turned it to a thing of fire. I watchedthat bird and wished that I too had pinions which could bear me far awayto the sea and over it. 

And yet did I wish to go who had no home left on all the earth and nokind heart that would welcome me? Awhile ago I should have answered, "Yes, anywhere out of this loneliness, " but now I was not so sure. Hereat least Kari was my friend if a jealous one, though of late, as I couldsee, he was thinking of other things than friendship--dark plottings andhigh ambitions of which as yet he said little to me. 

Then there was that strange and beautiful woman, Quilla, to whom myheart went out and not only because she was beautiful, and who, as Ithought, at times looked kindly on me. But if so, what did it avail;seeing that she was promised in marriage to some high-placed nativeman who would be a king? Surely I had known enough of women who werepromised in marriage to other men, and should do well to let her be. 

Thinking thus, desolation took hold of me and I sat myself down on arock and covered my face with my hands that I might not see the tears, which I knew were gathering in my eyes, as they fell from them. Yes, there in the midst of that awful solitude, I, Hubert of Hastings, whosesoul it filled, sat down like a lost child and wept. 

Presently I felt a touch upon my shoulder and let fall my hands, thinking that Kari had found me out, to hear a soft voice, the voice ofQuilla, say:

"So it seems that the gods can weep. Why do you weep, OGod-from-the-Waves who here are named Hurachi?"

"I weep, " I answered, "because I am a stranger in a strange land; I weepbecause I have not wings whereon I can fly away like that great birdabove us. "

She looked at me awhile, then said, most gently:

"And whither would you fly, O God-from-the-Sea? Back into the sea?"

"Cease to call me a god, " I answered, "who, as you know well, am but aman though of another race than yours. "

"I thought it but I did not know. But whither would you fly, O LordHurachi?"

"To the land where I was born, Lady Quilla; the land that I shall neversee again. "

"Ah! doubtless there you have wives and children for whom your heart ishungry. "

"Nay, now I have neither wife nor child. "

"Then once you had a wife. Tell me of that wife. Was she fair?"

"Why should I tell you a sad story? She is dead. "

"Dead or living, you still love her, and where there is love there is nodeath. "

"Nay, I only love what I thought she was. "

"Was she false, then?"

"Yes, false and yet true. So true that she died because she was false. "

"How can a woman be both false and true?"

"Woman can be all things. Ask the question of your own heart. Can younot perchance be both false and true?"

She thought awhile and, leaving this matter, said:

"So, having once loved, you can never love again. "

"Why not? Perchance I can love too much. But what would be the use whenmore love would but mean more loss and pain?"

"Whom should you love, my lord Hurachi, seeing that the women of yourown folk are far away?"

"I think one who is very near, if she would pay back love for love. "

Quilla made no answer, and I thought that she was angry and would goaway. But she did not; indeed, she sat herself down upon the stone at myside and covered her face with her hands as I had done and began to weepas I had done. Now in my turn I asked her:

"Why do you weep?"

"Because I, too, must know loneliness, and with it shame, Lord Hurachi. "

At these words my heart beat and passion flamed up in me. Stretchingout my hand I drew hers away and in the dying light gazed at the facebeneath. Lo! on its loveliness there was a look which could not bemisread. 

"Do you, then, also love?" I whispered. 

"Aye, more, I think, than ever woman loved before. From the moment whenfirst I saw you sleeping in the moonbeams on the desert isle, I knew myfate had found me, and that I loved. I fought against it because I must, but that love has grown and grown, till now I am all love, and, havinggiven everything, have no more left to give. "

When I heard this, making no answer, I swept her into my arms and kissedher, and there she lay upon my breast and kissed me back. 

"Let me go, and hear me, " she murmured presently, "for you are strongand I am weak. "

I obeyed, and she sank back upon the stone. 

"My lord, " she said, "our case is very sad, or at least my case is sad, since though you being a man may love often, I can love but once, and, my lord, it may not be. "

"Why not?" I asked hoarsely. "Your people think me a god; cannot a godtake whom he wills to wife?"

"Not when she is vowed to another god, he who will be Inca; not when onher, mayhap, hangs the fate of nations. "

"We might fly, Quilla. "

"Whither could the God-from-the-Sea fly and whither could fly thedaughter of the Moon, who is vowed to the son of the Sun in marriage, save to death?"

"There are worse things than death, Quilla. "

"Aye, but my life is in pawn. I must live that my people may not die. Myself I offered it to this cause and now, being royal, I cannot take itback again for my own joy. It is better to be shamed with honour than tobe loved in the lap of shame. "

"What then?" I asked hopelessly. 

"Only this, that above us are the gods, and--heard you not the oracle ofRimac that declared to me that I should slip from the hated arms, thatthe Sun should be my shelter, and in the beloved arms I should sleep atlast, though from the vengeance of the god betrayed I must fly fastand far? I think that this means death, but also it means life in deathand--O arms beloved, you shall fold me yet. I know not how, but havefaith--for you shall fold me yet. Meanwhile, tempt me not from the pathof honour, since this I know, that it alone can lead me to my home. Yetwho is the god betrayed from whom I must fly? Who, who?"

Thus she spoke and was silent, and I, too, was silent. Yes, there wesat, both silent in the darkness, searching the heavens for a guidingstar. And as we sat, presently I heard the voice of Kari saying:

"Have I found you, Lord, and you also, Lady Quilla? Return, I pray you, for all search and are frightened. "

"Why?" I answered. "The lady Quilla and I study this wondrous scene. "

"Yes, Lord, though to those who are not god-born it would be difficultin this darkness. Suffer, now that I show you the path. "

CHAPTER V

KARI GOES

As it chanced during the remaining days of that journey, Quilla and Iwere not again alone together (that is to say, except once for a fewminutes), for we were never out of eyeshot of someone in our company. Thus Kari clung to me very closely, indeed, and when I asked him why, told me bluntly that it was for my safety's sake. A god to remain a god, he said, should live alone in a temple. When he began to mix with othersof the earth and to do those things they did, to eat and to drink, to laugh and to frown; even to slip in the mud or to stumble over thestones in the common path, those others would come to think that therewas small difference between god and man. Especially would they thinkso if he were observed to love the company of women or to melt beneaththeir soft glances. 

Now I grew sore at the sting of these arrows which of late he hadloved to shoot at me, and without pretending to misunderstand him, saidoutright:

"The truth is, Kari, that you are jealous of the lady Quilla as once youwere jealous of another. "

He considered the matter in his grave fashion, and answered:

"Yes, Master, that is the truth, or part of it. You saved my life, andsheltered me when I was alone in a strange land, and for this and foryourself I came to love you very greatly, and love, if it be true, isalways jealous and always hates a rival. "

"There are different sorts of loves, " I said; "that of a man for man isone, that of man for woman is another. "

"Yes, Master, and that of woman for man is a third; moreover, there isthis about it--it is the acid which turns all other loves sour. Whereare a man's friends when a woman has him by the heart?--althoughperchance they love him better than ever will the woman who at bottomloves herself best of all. Still, let that be, for so Nature works, andwho can fight against Nature? What Quilla takes, Kari loses, and Karimust be content to lose. "

"Have you done?" I asked angrily, who wearied of his homilies. 

"No, Master. The matter of jealousy is small and private; so is thematter of love. But, Master, you have not told me outright whether youlove the lady Quilla, and, what is more important, whether she lovesyou. "

"Then I will tell you now. I do and she does. "

"You love the lady Quilla and she says that she loves you, which may ormay not be true, or if true to-day may be false to-morrow. For your sakeI hope that it is not true. "

"Why?" I said in a rage. 

"Because, Master, in this land there are many sorts of poison, as I havelearned to my cost. Also there are knives, if not of steel, and many whomight wish to discover whether a god who courts women like a man can beharmed by poisons or pierced by knives. Oh!" he added, in another tone, ceasing from his bitter jests, "believe me that I would shield, not mockyou. This Lady Quilla is a queen in a great game of pieces such as youtaught me to play far away in England, and without her perchance thatgame cannot be won, or so those who play it think. Now you would stealthat queen and thereby, as they also think, bring death and destructionon a country. It is not safe, Master. There are plenty of fair women inthis land; take your pick of them, but leave that one queen alone. "

"Kari, " I answered, "if there be such a game, are you not perchance oneof the players on this side or on that?"

"It may be so, Master, and if you have not guessed it, perhaps one dayI will tell you upon which side I play. It may even be that for my ownsake I should be glad to see you lift this queen from off the board, andthat what I tell you is for love of you and not of myself, also of thelady Quilla, who, if you fall, falls with you down through the blacknight into the arms of the Moon, her mother. But I have said enough, andindeed it is foolish to waste breath in such talk, since Fate will haveits way with both of you, and the end of the game in which we play isalready written in Pachacamac's book for every one of us. Did not Rimacspeak of it the other night? So play on, play on, and let Destiny fulfilitself. If I dared to give counsel it was only because he who watchesthe battle with a general's eye sees more of it than he who fights. "

Then he bowed in his stately fashion and left me, and it was long ere hespoke to me again of this matter of Quilla and our love for one another. 

When he was gone my anger against him passed, since I saw that he waswarning me of more than he dared to say, not for himself, but becausehe loved me. Moreover, I was afraid, for I felt that I was moving in theweb of a great plot that I did not understand, of which Quilla and thosecold-eyed lordlings of her company and the chief whose guest I hadbeen, and Kari himself, and many others as yet unknown to me, spun theinvisible threads. One day these might choke me. Well, if they did, whatthen? Only I feared for Quilla--greatly I feared for Quilla. 

On the day following my talk with Kari at length we reached the greatcity of the Chancas, which, after them, was called Chanca--at least Ialways knew it by that name. From the dawn we had been passing throughrich valleys where dwelt thousands of these Chancas who, I could see, were a mighty people that bore themselves proudly and like soldiers. In multitudes they gathered themselves together upon either side of theroad, chiefly to catch a sight of me, the white god who had risen fromthe ocean, but also to greet their princess, the lady Quilla. 

Indeed, now I learned for the first time how high a princess she was, since when her litter passed, these folk prostrated themselves, kissingthe air and the dust. Moreover, as soon as she came among them Quilla'sbearing changed, for her carriage grew more haughty and her wordsfewer. Now she seldom spoke save to issue a command, not even to myself, although I noted that she studied me with her eyes when she thought thatI was not observing her. 

During our midday halt I looked up and saw that an army was approachingus, five thousand men or more, and asked Kari its meaning. 

"These, " he answered, "are some of the troops of Huaracha, King of theChancas, whom he sends out to greet his daughter and only child, alsohis guest, the White God. "

"Some of the troops! Has he more, then?"

"Aye, Master, ten times as many, as I think. This is a great people;almost as great as that of the Incas who live at Cuzco. Come now intothe tent and put on your armour, that you may be ready to meet them. "

I did so, and, stepping forth clad in the shining steel, took my standwhere Kari showed me, upon a rise of ground. On my right at a littledistance stood Quilla, more splendidly arrayed than I had ever seenher, and behind her her maidens and the captains and counsellors of herfollowing. 

The army drew nearer, marshalled in regiments and halted on the plainsome two hundred yards away. Presently from it advanced generals andold men, clad in white, whom I took to be priests and elders. Theyapproached to the number of twenty or more and bowed deeply, first toQuilla, who bent her head in acknowledgment and then to myself. Afterthis they went to speak with Quilla and her following, but what theysaid I did not know. All the while, however, their eyes were fixed onme. Then Quilla brought them to me and one by one they bowed before me, saying something in a language which I did not understand well, for itwas somewhat different from that which Kari had taught me. 

After this we entered the litters, and, escorted by that great army, were borne forward down valleys and over ridges till about sunset wecame to a large cup-like plain in the centre of which stood the citycalled Chanca. Of this city I did not see much except that it was verygreat as the darkness was falling when we entered, and afterwards Icould not go out because of the crowds that pressed about me. I wasborne down a wide street to a house that stood in a large garden whichwas walled about. Here in this fine house I found food prepared for me, and drink, all of it served in dishes and cups of gold and silver; alsothere were women who waited upon me, as did Kari who now was calledZapana and seemed to be my slave. 

When I had eaten I went out alone into the garden, for on this plainthe air was very warm and pleasant. It was a beautiful garden, andI wandered about among its avenues and flowering bushes, glad to besolitary and to have time to think. Amongst other things I wonderedwhere Quilla might be, for of her I had seen nothing from the time thatwe entered the town. I hated to be parted from her, because in this vaststrange land into which I had wandered she was the only one for whom Ihad come to care and without whom I felt I should die of loneliness. 

There was Kari, it is true, who I knew loved me in his fashion, butbetween him and me there was a great gulf fixed, not only of race andfaith, but of something now which I did not wholly understand. In Londonhe had been my servant and his ends were my ends; on our wandering hehad been my companion in great adventures. But now I knew that otherinterests and desires had taken a hold of him, and that he trod a roadof which I could not see the goal; and no longer thought much of me savewhen what I did or desired to do came between him and that goal. 

Therefore Quilla alone was left to me, and Quilla was about to be takenaway. Oh! I wearied of this strange land with its snowclad mountains andrich valleys, its hordes of dark-skinned people with large eyes, smilingfaces, and secret hearts; its great cities, temples, and palaces filledwith useless gold and silver; its brilliant sunshine and rushing rivers, its gods, kings, and policies. They were alien to me, every one ofthem, and if Quilla were taken away and I were left quite alone, then Ithought that it would be well to die. 

Something moved behind a palm trunk of the avenue in which I walked, andnot knowing whether it were beast or man, I laid my hand upon my swordwhich I still wore, although I had taken off the armour. Before I coulddraw it my wrist was grasped and a soft voice whispered in my ear:

"Fear nothing; it is I--Quilla. "

Quilla it was, wrapped in a long hooded cloak such as the peasant womenwear in the cold country, for she threw back the hood and a beam ofstarlight fell upon her face. 

"Hearken!" she said. "It is dangerous to both of us, but I have come tobid you farewell. "

"Farewell! I feared it would be thus, but why so soon, Quilla?"

"For this reason, Love and Lord. I have seen my father the King, andmade my report to him of the matter with which I was sent to deal amongthe Yuncas. It pleased him, and since his mood was gracious, I openedmy heart to him and told him that no longer did I wish to be given inmarriage to Urco, who will soon put on the Inca fringe, for, as youknow, it is to him that I am promised!"

"What did he answer, Quilla?"

"He answered: 'This means, Daughter, that you have met some other man towhom you do wish to be given in marriage. I will not ask his name, sinceif I knew it it would be my duty to kill him, however high and noble hemight be. '"

"Then he guesses, Quilla?"

"I think he guesses; I think that already some have whispered in hisear, but he does not wish to listen who desires to remain deaf andblind. "

"Did he say no more, Quilla?"

"He said much more; he said this--now I tell you secrets, Lord, andplace my honour in your keeping, for having given you all the rest, whyshould I not give you that also? He said: 'Daughter, you who have beenmy ambassador, you, my only child, who know all my counsel, know alsothat there is about to be the greatest war that the land of Tavantinsuyuhas ever known, war between the two mighty nations of the Quichuas ofCuzco whereof the old Upanqui is king and god, and the Chancas whereofI am king and you, if you live, in a day to come will be the queen. Nolonger can these two lions dwell in the same forest; one of them mustdevour the other; nor shall I fight alone, since on our side are all theYuncas of the coast who, as you report to me, are ripe for rebellion. But, as you also report, and as I have learned from others, they are notyet ready. Moons must go by before their armies are joined to mine and Ithrow off the mask. Is it not so?'

"I answered that it was so, and my father went on:

"'Then during that time, Daughter, a dust must be raised that will hidethe shining of my spears, and, Daughter, you are that dust. To-morrowthe old Inca Upanqui visits me here with a small army. I read yourthought. It is--Why do you not kill him and his army? Daughter, for thisreason. He is very aged and about to lay down his sceptre, who growsfeeble of mind and body. If I killed him what would it serve me, seeingthat he has left his son, Urco, who will be Inca, ruling at Cuzco, andthat of his soldiers not one in fifty will be with him here? Moreover, he is my guest, and the gods frown on those who slay their guests, norwill men ever trust them more. '

"Now I answered: 'You spoke of me as a cloud of dust, Father; how, then, can this poor dust serve your ends and those of the Chanca people?'

"'Thus Daughter, ' he answered. 'With your own consent you are promisedin marriage to Urco. Upanqui the Inca has heard rumours that the Chancasprepare for war. Therefore, he who travels on his last journey throughcertain of his dominions comes to lead you away, to be Urco's bride, saying to himself, "If those rumours are true, King Huaracha willwithhold his only child and heiress, since never will he make war uponCuzco if she rules there as its queen. " Therefore, if I refuse you tohim, he will withdraw and begin the war, rolling down his thousandsupon us before we are ready, and bringing the Chancas to destruction andenslavement. Therefore also not only my fate, but the fate of all yourcountry lies in your hand. '

"'Father, ' I said, 'tell me, who was ever dear to you that lack sons, isthere no escape? Must I eat this bitter bread? Before you answer, learnthat you have guessed aright, and that I who, when I made that promise, cared for no man, have come to feel the burning of love's fire!'

"Now he looked at me awhile, then said: 'Child of the Moon, there is butone escape, and it must be sought--in the moon. The dead cannot be givenin marriage. If your strait is so sore, though it would cut me tothe heart, perchance it is better that you should die and go whitherdoubtless he whom you love will soon follow you. Depart now and counselwith Heaven in your sleep. To-morrow, before Upanqui comes, we will talkagain. '

"So I knelt and kissed the hand of the King, my father, and left him, wondering at his nobleness who could show such a road to his only child, though its treading would mean woe to him and mayhap the ruin of hishopes. Still that road is an old one among the women of my people, andwhy should I not walk it, as thousands have done before me?"

"How came you here?" I asked hoarsely. 

"Lord, I guessed that you would be walking in this garden which joins onto that of the palace, and--none were about, and--the door in thewall was open. Indeed, it was almost as though I were left alone andunwatched of set purpose. So I came and sought--and found, having aquestion to put to you. "

"What question, Quilla?"

"This: Shall I live or shall I die? Speak the word and I obey. Yet ereyou speak, remember that if I live we meet for the last time, since verysoon I go hence to become the wife of Urco and play the part that isprepared for me?"

Now when I, Hubert, heard these words, I felt as though my heart wouldburst within my breast and knew not what to say. So to gain time I askedher:

"Which do you desire--to live or to die?"

She laughed a little as she answered:

"That is a strange question, Lord. Have I not told you that if I liveI must do so befouled as one of Urco's women, whereas, if I die, I dieclean and take my love with me to where Urco cannot come, but where, mayhap, another may follow at the appointed time. "

"Which time would be very soon, I think, Quilla, seeing that he who hadspoiled all this pretty plot would scarcely be left long upon the earth, even if he wished to stay there. Yet I say: Do not die--live on. "

"To become Urco's woman! That is strange counsel from a lover's lips, Lord; such as would scarcely have been given by any of our nobles. "

"Aye, Quilla, and it is given because I am not of your people and do notthink as they think, who reject their customs. You are not yet Urco'swife, and may be rid of him by other paths than that of death, but fromthe grave there is no escape. "

"And in the grave there is no more fear, Lord. Thither Urco cannot come;there are neither wars nor plottings; there honour does not beckonand love hold back. I say that I will die and make an end, as for likecauses many of my blood have done, though not here and now. When I amabout to be delivered to Urco then I will die, and perchance not alone. Perchance he will accompany me, " she added slowly. 

"And if this happens, what shall I do?"

"Live on, Lord, and find other women to love you, as a god should. Thereare many in this land fairer and wiser than I, and, save myself, you maytake whom you will. "

"Listen, Quilla. I have a story to tell you. "

Then, as briefly as I could, I set out the tale of Blanche and of herend, while she hung upon my every word. 

"Oh! I grieve for you, " she said, when I had finished. 

"You grieve for me, and yet, what she did for my sake you would do also, so that, as it were, both my hands must be dyed with blood. This firstterror I have borne, but if a second falls upon me then I know that Ishall go mad and perish in this way or in that, and you, Quilla, will bemy murderess. "

"No, no, not that!" she murmured. 

"Then swear to me by your god and by your spirit, that you will doyourself no harm, whatever chances, and that if die you must, it shallbe with me for company. "

"Is your love so great that you would dare this for my sake, Lord?"

"I think so, though not till all else had failed. I think that if youwere taken from me, Quilla, I could not live on here in loneliness andexile--however great the sin. But do you swear?"

"Aye, Love and Lord, I swear, for your sake. Moreover, I add to theoath. If perhaps we should escape these perils and come together, I willbe such a wife to you as never man has had. I will wrap you round withlove and lift you up to be a king, that you may live in glory forgettingyour home across the sea, and all the sorrows that befell you there. Children you shall have also of whom you need not be ashamed, though mydark blood runs in them, and armies at command and palaces filled withgold, and all royal joys. And if perchance the gods declare against us, and we pass from the world together, then I think, oh! then I think thatI shall give you finer gifts than these, though what they are I know notyet, since to the power of love there is no end--here on earth or yonderin the skies. "

I stared at her face in the starlight, and oh! it had grown splendid. No longer was it that of a woman, since through it, like light throughpearl, shone a soul divine. It might have been a goddess who stoodbeside me, for those eyes were holy and her embrace that wrapped meclose was not that of the flesh alone. 

"I must be gone, " she whispered, "but now I go without fear. Perchancewe may not speak again for long, but trust me always. Play your part andI will play mine. Follow me wherever I am taken and keep near to me, if you may, as ever my spirit shall be near to you. Then what mattersanything, even if we are slain? Farewell, beloved, kiss me andfarewell. "

Another moment and she had glided away and was lost in the shadows. 

She was gone, and I stood amazed and overcome. Oh! what a love it wasthat this alien woman had given to me and how could I be worthy of it?Now I forgot my griefs; now I no longer mourned because I was an outcastwho nevermore might look upon the land where I was born, nor see theface of one my own race or blood. All my loss was paid back to me againand yet again, in the coin of the glory of this woman whom I had won. Dangers rose about us, but I feared them no more, because I knew thather love's conquering feet would stamp them flat and lead me safe to ajoyful treasure-house of splendour of spirit and of body where we shoulddwell side by side, triumphant and unafraid. 

Whilst I thought thus, lost in a rapture such as I had not felt sinceBlanche kissed me at the mouth of the Hastings cave after I had killedthe three Frenchmen with as many arrows from my black bow, I heard asound and looked up to see a man standing before me. 

"Who is it?" I asked, grasping my sword, for his face was hidden in theshadows. 

"I, " answered a voice which I knew to be that of Kari. 

"Then how did you come here? I saw no one pass the open ground. "

"Master, you are not the only one who loves to walk in gardens in thequiet of the night. I was here before yourself, behind yonder tree, " andhe pointed to a palm not three paces distant. 

"Then, Kari, you must have seen----"

"Yes, Master, I saw and heard, not everything, because there came apoint at which I shut my eyes and stopped my ears, but still much. "

"I am minded to kill you, Kari, " I said between my teeth, "who play thespy upon me. "

"I guessed it would be so, Master, " he replied in his gentlest voice, "and for that reason, as you will notice, I am standing out of reach ofyour sword. You wonder why I am here. I will tell you. It is not fromany desire to watch your love-makings which weary me, who have seen suchbefore, but rather that I might find secrets, of which love is alwaysthe loser, and those secrets I have learned. How could I have come bythem otherwise, Master?"

"Surely you deserve to die, " I exclaimed furiously. 

"I think not, Master. But listen and judge for yourself. I have told yousomething of my story, now you shall hear more, after which we will talkof what I do or do not deserve. I am the eldest son of the Inca Upanqui, and Urco, of whom you have been talking is my younger brother. ButUpanqui, our father, loved Urco's mother while mine he did not love, andswore to her before she died that against right and law, Urco, herson, should be Inca after him. Therefore he hated me because I stood inUrco's path; therefore too many troubles befell me, and I was given overinto Urco's hand, so that he took my wife and tried to poison me, andthe rest you know. Now it was needful to me to learn how things went, and for this reason I listened to the talk between you and a certainlady. It told me that Upanqui, my father, comes here to-morrow, whichindeed I knew already, and much else that I had not heard. This beingso I must vanish away, since doubtless Upanqui or his councillors wouldknow me again, and as they are all of them friends of Urco, perhaps Ishould taste more poison and of a stronger sort. "

"Whither will you vanish, Kari?"

"I know not, Master, or if I know, I will not say, who have but justbeen taught afresh how secrets can pass from ear to ear. I must lie hid, that is enough. Yet do not think that therefore I shall desert you--I, while I live, will watch over you, a stranger in my country, as youwatched over me when I was a stranger in your England. "

"I thank you, " I answered, "and certainly you watch well--too well, sometimes, as I have found to-night. "

"You think it pleases me to spy upon you and a certain lady, " went onKari with an unruffled voice, "but it is not so. What I do is for goodreasons, amongst others that I may protect you both, and if I can, bringabout what you desire. That lady has a great heart, as I learned butnow, and after all you did well to love her, as she does well to loveyou. Therefore, although the dangers are so many, if I am able, I willhelp you in your love and bring you together, yes, and save her from thearms of Urco. Nay, ask me not how, for I do not know, and the case seemsdesperate. "

"But if you go, what shall I do alone?" I asked, alarmed. 

"Bide here, I think, Lord, giving it out that your servant Zapana hasdeserted you. Indeed it seems that this you must do, since the kingof this country will scarcely suffer you to be the companion of hisdaughter upon her marriage journey to Cuzco, even if Upanqui so desires. Nor would it be wise, for if he did, misfortune might befall you onthe road. There are some women, Lord, who cannot keep their love out oftheir eyes, and henceforward there will be plenty to watch the eyes andhearken to the most secret sighings of one of the greatest of them. Nowfarewell until I come to you again or send others on my behalf. Trustme, I pray you, since to whomever else I may seem false, to you I amtrue; yes, to you and to another because she has become a part of you. "

Then before I could answer, Kari took my hand and touched it with hislips. Another moment and I had lost sight of him in the shadows. 

CHAPTER VI

THE CHOICE

That night I slept but ill who was overwhelmed with all that hadbefallen me of good and evil. I had gained a wondrous love, but she whogave it was, it seemed, about to be lost to me, aye, and to be thrownto another whom she hated, to forward the dark policies of a great andwarlike people. I had spoken to her with high words of hope, but of itin my heart there was little. She would follow what she held to be herduty to the end, and that end, if she kept her promise and did not dieas she desired to do--was--the arms of Urco. From these I could see noescape for her, and the thought maddened me. Moreover, Kari was goneleaving me utterly alone among these strangers, and whether he wouldreturn again I did not know. Oh! almost I wished that I were dead. 

The morning broke at last and I arose and called for Zapana. Then cameothers who said that my servant, Zapana, could not be found, whereatI affected surprise and anger. Still these others waited on me wellenough, and I rose and ate in pomp and luxury. Scarcely had I finishedmy meal than there appeared heralds who summoned me to the presence ofthe king Huaracha. 

I went, borne in a litter, although an arrow from my black bow wouldhave flown from door to door. At the portal of the palace, which waslike others I had seen, only finer, I was met by soldiers and gailydressed servants and led across a courtyard within, which I could seewas prepared for some ceremony, to a small chamber on the further side. Here, when my eyes grew accustomed to the half-darkness, I perceived aman of some sixty years of age, and behind him two soldiers. At once Inoted that everything about this man was plain and simple; the chamber, which was little more than four whitewashed walls with a floor of stone, the stool he sat on, even his apparel. Here were no gold or silver orbroidered cloths, or gems, or other rich and costly things such as thesepeople love, but rather those that are suited to a soldier. A soldier helooked indeed, being burly and broad and scarred upon his homely face, in which gleamed eyes that were steady and piercing. 

As I entered, the king Huaracha, for it was he, rose from his stool andbowed to me, and I bowed back to him. Then he motioned to one of thesoldiers to give me another stool, upon which I sat myself, and speakingin a strong, low voice, using that tongue which Kari had taught me, said:

"Greeting, White-God-from-the-Sea, or golden-bearded man named the lordHurachi, I know not which, of whom I have heard so much and whom I amglad to behold in my poor city. Say, can you understand my talk?"

Thus he spoke, searching me with his eyes, though all the while Iperceived that they rested rather on my armour and the great sword, Wave-Flame, than on my face. 

I gave him back his greeting and answered that I understood the tonguehe used though not so very well, whereon he began to speak about thearmour and the sword, which puzzled him who had never seen steel. 

"Make me some like them, " he said, "and I will give you ten times theirweight in gold, which, after all, is of no use since with it one cannotkill enemies. "

"In my country with it one can corrupt them, " I answered, "or buy themto be friends. "

"So you have a country, " he interrupted shrewdly. "I thought that thegods had none. "

"Even the gods live somewhere, " I replied. 

He laughed, and turning to the two soldiers, who also were staring at mymail and sword, bade them go. When the heavy door had shut behind themand we were quite alone, he said:

"My lord Hurachi, I have heard from my daughter how she found you inthe sea, a story indeed. I have also heard, or guessed, it matters notwhich, that her heart has turned towards you, as is not strange, seeingthe manner of man you are, if indeed you be not more than man, and thatwomen are ever prone to love those whom they think they have saved. Isthis true, my lord Hurachi?"

"Ask of the Lady Quilla, O King. "

"Mayhap I have asked and at last it seems that you make no denial. Nowhearken, my lord Hurachi. You are my honoured guest and save one thing, all I have is yours, but you must talk no more alone with the ladyQuilla in gardens at night. "

Now, making no attempt to deny or explain which I saw would be useless, since he knew it all, I asked boldly:

"Why not?"

"I thought that perchance my daughter had told you, Lord Hurachi, but ifyou desire to hear it from my own lips also, for this reason. The ladyQuilla is promised in marriage and if she lives that promise must befulfilled, since on it hangs the fate of nations. Therefore, it is, although to grieve to part such a pair, that you and she must meet nomore in gardens or elsewhere. Know that if you do, you will bring abouther death and your own, if gods can die. "

Now I thought awhile and answered:

"These are heavy words, King Huaracha, seeing that I will not hide fromyou that I love your daughter well and that she, who is great-hearted, loves me well and desires me for her husband. "

"I know it and I grieve for both of you, " he said courteously. 

"King Huaracha, " I went on, "I see that you are a soldier and the lordof armies, and it has come into my mind that perchance you dream ofwar. "

"The gods see far, White Lord. "

"Now god or man, I also am a soldier, King, and I know arts of battlewhich perhaps are hidden from you and your people; also I cannot beharmed by weapons because of magic armour that I wear, and none canstand before me in fight because of this magic sword I carry, and I candirect battles with a general's mind. In a great war, King, I might beuseful to you were I the husband of your daughter and therefore yourson and friend, and perchance by my skill make the difference to you andyour nation between victory and defeat. "

"Doubtless this is so, O Son-of-the-Sea. "

"In the same fashion, King, were I upon the side of your enemies, tothem I might bring victory and to you defeat. Whom do you desire that Ishould serve, you or them?"

"I desire that you should serve me, " he replied with eagerness. "Doso and all the wealth of this land shall be yours, with the rule of myarmies under me. You shall have palaces and fields and gold and silver, and the fairest of its daughters for wives, and be worshipped as agod, and for aught I know, be king after me, not only of my country butmayhap of another that is even greater. "

"It is a good offer, King, but not enough. Give me your daughter, Quilla, and you may keep all the rest. "

"White Lord, I cannot, since to do so I must break my word. "

"Then, King, I cannot serve you, and unless you kill me first--if youare able--I will be, not your friend, but your enemy. "

"Can a god be killed, and if so can a guest be killed? Lord, you knowthat he cannot. Yet he can remain a guest. To my country you have come, Lord, and in my country you shall stay, unless you have wings beneaththat silver coat. Quilla goes hence but here you bide, my lord Hurachi. "

"Perchance I shall find the wings, " I answered. 

"Aye, Lord, for it is said that the dead fly, and if I may not kill you, others may. Therefore my counsel to you is to stay here, taking suchthings as my poor country can give you, and not to try to follow themoon (by this he meant Quilla) to the golden city of Cuzco, whichhenceforth must be her home. "

Now having no more to say, since war had been declared between us, asit were, I rose to bid this king farewell. He also rose, then, asthough struck by a sudden thought, said that he desired to speak with myservant, Zapana, he whom the lady Quilla had found with me in the islandof the sea. I replied that he could not since Zapana had vanished, Iknew not where. 

At this intelligence he appeared to be disturbed and was beginning toquestion me somewhat sternly as to who Zapana might be and how I hadfirst come into his company, when the door of the room opened andthrough it Quilla entered even more gorgeously robed and lookinglovelier than ever I had seen her. She bowed, first to the King and thento me, saying:

"Lord and Father, I come to tell you that the Inca Upanqui draws nearwith his princes and captains. "

"Is it so, Daughter?" he answered. "Then make your farewell here and nowto this White-Son-of-the-Sea, since it is my will that you depart withUpanqui who comes to escort you to Cuzco, the City of the Sun, there tobe given as wife to the prince Urco, son of the Sun, who will sit on theInca's throne. "

"I make my farewell to the lord Hurachi as you command, " she answered, curtseying, and in a very quiet voice, "but know, my father, that Ilove this White Lord as he loves me, and that therefore, although Imay be given to the Prince Urco, as a gold cup is given, never shall hedrink from the cup and never will I be his wife. "

"You have courage, Daughter, and I like courage, " said Huaracha. "Forthe rest, settle the matter as you will and if you can slip from thecoils of this snake of an Urco unpoisoned, do so, since my bargain isfulfilled and my honour satisfied. Only hither you shall not return tothe lord Hurachi, nor shall the lord Hurachi go to you at Cuzco. "

"That shall be as the gods decree, my father, and meanwhile I play mypart as _you_ decree. Lord Hurachi, fare you well till in life or deathwe meet again. "

Then she bowed to me, and went, and presently without more words wefollowed after her. 

In front of the palace there was a great square of open groundsurrounded by houses, except towards the east, and on this squarewas marshalled an army of men all splendidly arrayed and carryingcopper-headed spears. In front of these was pitched a great pavilionmade of cloths of various colours. Here King Huaracha, simply dressed ina robe of white cotton but wearing a little crown of gold and carryinga large spear, took his seat upon a throne, while to his right, on asmaller throne, sat Quilla, and on his left stood yet another throneornamented with gold, that was empty. Between the throne of Huaracha andthat which was empty stood a chair covered with silver on which I wasbidden to take my seat, so placed that all could see me, while behindand around were lords and generals. 

Scarcely were we arranged when from the dip beyond the open spaceappeared heralds who carried spears and were fantastically dressed. These shouted that the Inca Upanqui, the Child of the Sun, the god whoruled the earth, drew near. 

"Let him approach!" said Huaracha briefly, and they departed. 

Awhile later there arose a sound of barbarous music and of chanting andfrom the dip below emerged a glittering litter borne upon the shouldersof richly clothed men all of whom, I was told afterwards, were princesby blood, and surrounded by beautiful women who carried jewelled fans, and by councillors. It was the litter of the Inca Upanqui, and afterit marched a guard of picked warriors, perhaps there were a hundred ofthem, not more. 

The litter was set down in front of the throne; gilded curtains weredrawn and out of it came a man whose attire dazzled the eyes. It seemedto consist of gold and precious stones sewn on to a mantle of crimsonwool. He wore a head-dress also of as many colours as Joseph's coat, surmounted by two feathers, which he alone might bear, from whichhead-dress a scarlet fringe that was made of tasselled wool hung downupon his forehead. This was the Inca's crown, even to touch which wasdeath, and its name was _Lautu_. He was a very old man for his whitelocks and beard hung down upon his splendid garments and he supportedhimself upon his royal staff that was headed by a great emerald. Hisfine-cut face also, though still kingly, was weak with age and his eyeswere blear. At the sight of him all rose and Huaracha descended from histhrone, saying in a loud voice:

"Welcome to the land of the Chancas, O Upanqui, Inca of the Quichuas. "

The old monarch eyed him for a moment, then answered in a thin voice:

"Greeting to Huaracha, _Curaca_ of the Chancas. "

Huaracha bowed and said:

"I thank you, but here among my own people my title is not _Curaca_, butKing, O Inca. "

Upanqui drew himself up to his full height and replied:

"The Incas know no kings throughout the land of Tavantinsuyu savethemselves, O Huaracha. "

"Be it so, O Inca; yet the Chancas, who are unconquered, know a king, and I am he. I pray you be seated, O Inca. "

Upanqui stood still for a moment frowning, and, as I thought, was aboutto make some short answer, when suddenly his glance fell upon me andchanged the current of his mind. 

"Is that the White-god-from-the-Sea?" he asked, with an almost childishcuriosity. "I heard that he was here, and to tell the truth that is whyI came, just to look at him, not to bandy words with you, O Huaracha, who they say can only be talked to with a spear point. What a red beardhe has and how his coat shines. Let him come and worship me. "

"He will come, but I do not think that he will worship. They say he is agod himself, O Inca. "

"Do they? Well, now I remember there are strange prophecies about awhite god who should rise out of the sea, as did the forefather of theIncas. They say, too, that this god shall do much mischief to the landwhen he comes. So perhaps he had better not draw too near to me, for Ilike not the look of that great big sword of his. By the Sun, my father, he is tall and big and strong" (I had risen from my chair) "and hisbeard is like a fire; it will set the hearts of all the women burning, though perhaps if he is a god he does not care for women. I must consultmy magicians about it, and the head priest of the Temple of the Sun. Tell the White God to make ready to return with me to Cuzco. "

"The lord Hurachi is my guest, O Inca, and here he bides with me, " saidHuaracha. 

"Nonsense, nonsense! When the Inca invites any one to his court, he mustcome. But enough of him for the present. I came here to talk of othermatters. What were they? Let me sit down and think. "

So he was conducted to his throne upon which he sat trying to collecthis mind, which I saw was weak with age. The end of it was that hecalled to his aid a stern-faced, shifty-eyed, middle-aged minister, whomafter I came to know as the High-priest Larico, the private Councillorof himself and of his son, Urco, and one of the most powerful men inthe kingdom. This noble, I noted, was one who had the rank of an Earman, that is, he wore in his ear, which like that of Kari was stretchedout to receive it, a golden disc of the size of an apple, whereon wasembossed the image of the sun. 

At a sign and a word from his dotard master this Larico began to speakfor him as though he were the Inca himself, saying:

"Hearken, O Huaracha. I have undertaken this toilsome journey, the lastI shall make as Inca, for be it known to you that I purpose to divestmyself of the royal Fringe in favour of the prince, Urco, begotten tome in the body and of the Sun in spirit, and to retire to end my days inpeace at my palace of Yucay, waiting there patiently until it pleases myfather, the Sun, to take me to his bosom. "

Here Larico paused to allow this great news to sink into the minds ofhis hearers, and I thought to myself that when I died I would choose tobe gathered to any bosom rather than to that of the Sun, which put me inmind of hell. Then he went on:

"Rumours have reached me, the Inca, that you, Huaracha, Chief of theChancas, are making ready to wage war upon my empire. It was to testthese rumours, although I did not believe them, that awhile ago I sentan embassy to ask your only child, the lady Quilla, in marriage to theprince Urco, promising, since he has no sister whom he may wed and sinceon the mother's side she, your daughter, has the holy Inca blood in herveins, that she should become his _Coya_, or Queen, and the mother ofhim who shall succeed to the throne. "

"The embassy came, and received my answer, O Inca, " said Huaracha. 

"Yes, and the answer was that the lady Quilla should be given inmarriage to the Prince Urco, but as she was absent on a visit, thiscould not happen until she returned. But since then, O Huaracha, morerumours have reached me that you still prepare for war and seek tomake alliances among my subjects, tempting them to rebel against me. Therefore I am here myself to lead away the lady Quilla and to deliverher to the Prince Urco. "

"Why did not the Prince Urco come in person, O Inca?"

"For this reason, Huaracha, from whom I desire to hide nothing. If thePrince had come, you might have set a trap for him and killed him, whois the hope of the Empire. "

"So I might for you, his father, O Inca. "

"Aye, I know it, but what would that avail you while the Prince sitssafe at Cuzco ready to assume the Fringe? Also I am old and care notwhen or how I die, whose work is done. Moreover, few would desire toanger the gods by the murder of an aged guest, and therefore I visityou sitting here in the midst of your armies with but a handful offollowers, trusting to your honour and to my father the Sun to protectme. Now answer me--will you give the hand of your daughter to my son andthereby make alliance with me, or will you wage war upon my empire andbe destroyed, you and your people together?"

Here Upanqui, who hitherto had been listening in silence to the words ofLarico, spoken on his behalf, broke in, saying:

"Yes, yes, that is right, only make him understand that the Inca will behis over-lord, since the Inca can have no rivals in all the land. "

"My answer is, " said Huaracha, "that I will give my daughter in marriageas I have promised, but that the Chancas are a free people and accept noover-lord. "

"Foolishness, foolishness!" said Upanqui. "As well might the tree saythat it would not bend before the wind. However, you can settle thatmatter afterwards with Urco, and indeed with your daughter, who will behis queen and is your heiress, for I understand you have no other lawfulchild. Why talk of war and other troubles when thus your kingdom fallsto us by marriage? Now let me see this lady Quilla who is to become mydaughter. "

Huaracha, who had listened to all this babble with a stern set face, turned to Quilla and made a sign. She descended from her chair andadvancing, stood before the Inca, a vision of splendour and of beauty, and bowed to him. He stared at her awhile, as did all his company, thensaid:

"So you are the lady Quilla. A fair woman, a very fair woman, and aproud, one who ought to be able to lead Urco aright if any one can. Wellnamed, too, after the moon, for the moonlight seems to shine in youreyes, Lady Quilla. Indeed and indeed were I but a score of years youngerI should tell Urco to seek another queen and keep you for myself. "

Then Quilla spoke for the first time, saying:

"Be it as you will, O Inca. I am promised in marriage to the Child ofthe Sun and which child is nothing to me. "

"Well said, Lady Quilla, and why should I wonder? Though I grow old theytell me that I am still handsome, a great deal better looking than Urco, in fact, who is a rough man and of a coarser type. You ask my wives whenyou come to Cuzco; one of them told me the other day that there was noone so handsome in the whole city, and earned a beautiful presentfor her pretty speech. What is it you say, Larico? Why are you alwaysinterfering with me? Well, perhaps you are right, and, Lady Quilla, ifyou are ready, it is time to start. No, no, I thank you, Curaca, but Iwill not stop for any feasting who desire to be back at my camp beforedark, since who knows what may happen to one in the dark in a strangecountry?"

Then at last Huaracha grew angry. 

"Be it as you will, O Inca, " he said, "but know that you offer me athreefold insult. First you refuse the feast that has been made readyfor you whereat you were to meet all the notables of my kingdom. Secondly, you give me, who am a king, the title of a petty chief whoowns your rule. Thirdly, you throw doubts upon my honour, hinting that Imay cause you to be murdered in the dark. Now I am minded to say toyou, 'Begone from my poor country, Lord Inca, in safety, but leave mydaughter behind you. '"

Now at these words, I, Hubert, saw the fires of hope burn up in thelarge eyes of Quilla, as they did in my own heart, for might they notmean that she would escape from Urco after all? But, alas, they wereextinguished like a brand that is dipped in water. 

"Tush, tush!" said the old dotard, "what a fire-eater are you, friendHuaracha. Know that I never care to eat, except at night; also that thechill of the air after my father the Sun has set makes my bones ache, and as for titles--take any one you like, except that of Inca. "

"Mayhap that is the one I shall take before all is done, " broke in thefurious Huaracha, who would not be quieted by the councillors whisperingin his ears. 

It was at this moment that the minister and high-priest, Larico, who hadbeen noting all that passed with an impassive face, said coldly:

"Be not wroth, O King Huaracha, and lay not too much weight upon theidle words of the glorious Inca, since even the gods will doze at timeswhen they are weighed down by the cares of empire. No affront was meantto you and least of all does the Inca or any one of us, dream that youwould tarnish your honour by offering violence to your guests by dayor by night. Yet know this, that if, after all that has been sworn, youwithhold your daughter, the lady Quilla, from the house of Urco who isher lord to be, it will breed instant war, since as soon as word of itcomes to Cuzco, which will be within twenty hours, for messengers waitall along the road, the great armies of the Inca that are gathered therewill begin to move. Judge, then, if you have the strength to withstandthem, and choose whether you will live on in glory and honour, orbring yourself to death and your people to slavery. Now, King Huaracha, speaking on behalf of Urco, who within some few moons will be Inca, Iask you--will you suffer the lady Quilla to journey with us to Cuzcoand thereby proclaim peace between our peoples or will you keep her hereagainst your oath and hers, and thereby declare war?"

Huaracha sat silent, lost in thought, and the old Inca Upanqui began tobabble again, saying:

"Very well put, I could not have said it better myself; indeed, I didsay it, for this coxcomb of a Larico, who thinks himself so cleverjust because I made him high-priest of the Sun under me and he is of myblood, is after all nothing but the tongue in my mouth. You don't reallywant to die, Huaracha, do you, after seeing most of your people killedand your country wasted? For you know that is what must happen. If youdo not send your daughter as you promised, within a few hours a hundredthousand men will be marching on you and another hundred thousandgathering behind them. Anyhow, please make up your mind one way oranother, as I wish to leave this place. "

Huaracha thought on awhile. Then he descended from his throne andbeckoned to Quilla. She came and he led her towards the back part ofthe pavilion behind and a little to the left of the chair on which I satwhere none could hear their talk save me, of whom he seemed to take nonote, perhaps because he had forgotten me, or perhaps because he desiredthat I should know all. 

"Daughter, " he said in a low voice, "what word? Before you answerremember that if I refuse to send you, now for the first time I break myoath. "

"Of such oaths I think little, " answered Quilla. "Yet of another thing Ithink much. Tell me, my father, if the Inca declares war and attacks us, can we withstand his armies?"

"No, Daughter, not until the Yuncas join us for we lack sufficientmen. Moreover, we are not ready, nor shall be for another two moons, ormore. "

"Then it stands thus, Father. If I do not go the war will begin, andif I do go it seems that it will be staved off until you are ready, orperhaps for always, because I shall be the peace-offering and it will bethought that I, your heiress, take your kingdom as my marriage portionto be joined to that of the Incas at your death. Is it thus?"

"It is, Quilla. Only then you will work to bring it about that the Landof the Incas shall be joined to the Land of the Chancas, and not that ofthe Chancas to that of the Incas, so that in a day to come as Queen ofthe Chancas you shall reign over both of them and your children afteryou. "

Now I, Hubert, watching Quilla out of the corners of my eyes, saw herturn pale and tremble. 

"Speak not to me of children, " she said, "for I think that there will benone, and talk not of future glories, since for these I care nothing. Itis for our people that I care. You swear to me that if I do not go yourarmies will be defeated and that those who escape the spear will beenslaved?"

"Aye, I swear it by the Moon your mother, also that I will die with mysoldiers. "

"Yet if I go I leave behind me that which I love, " here she glancedtowards me, "and give myself to shame, which is worse than death. Isthat your desire, my father?"

"That is not my desire. Remember, Daughter, that you were party to thisplan, aye, that it sprang from your far-seeing mind. Still, now thatyour heart has changed, I would not hold you to your bargain, who desiremost of all things to see you happy at my side. Choose, therefore, and Iobey. On your head be it. "

"What shall I say, O Lord, whom I saved from the sea?" asked Quilla in apiercing whisper, but without turning her head towards me. 

Now an agony took hold of me for I knew that what I bade her, that shewould say, and that perchance upon my answer hung the fate of all thisgreat Chanca people. If she went they would be saved, if she remainedperchance she would be my wife if only for a while. For the Chancas Icared nothing and for the Quichuas I cared nothing, but Quilla was allthat remained to me in the world and if she went, it was to another man. I would bid her bide. And yet--and yet if her case were mine and thefate of England hung upon my breath, what then?

"Be swift, " she whispered again. 

Then I spoke, or something spoke through me, saying:

"Do what honour bids you, O Daughter of the Moon, for what is lovewithout honour? Perchance both shall still be yours at last. "

"I thank you, Lord, whose heart speaks as my heart, " she whispered forthe third time, then lifting her head and looking Huaracha in the eyes, said:

"Father, I go, but that I will wed this Urco I do not promise. "

CHAPTER VII

THE RETURN OF KARI

So Quilla, seated in a golden litter and accompanied by maidens asbecame her rank, soon was borne away in the train of the Inca Upanqui, leaving me desolate. Before she went, under pretence of bidding mefarewell, none denying her, she gained private speech with me for alittle while. 

"Lord and Lover, " she said, "I go to what fate I know not, leaving youto what fate I know not, and as your lips have said, it is right that Ishould go. Now I have something to ask of you--that you will not followme as it is in your heart to do. But last night I prayed of you to dogmy steps and wherever I might go to keep close to me, that the knowledgeof your presence might be my comfort. Now my mind is different. If Imust be married to this Urco, I would not have you see me in my shame. And if I escape marriage you cannot help me, since I may only do so bydeath or by taking refuge where you cannot come. Also I have anotherreason. "

"What reason, Quilla?" I asked. 

"This: I ask that you will stop with my father and give him your help inthe war that must come. I would see this Urco crushed, but without thathelp I am sure that the Chancas and the Yuncas are too weak to overthrowthe Inca might. Remember that if I escape marriage thus only can youhope to win me, namely, by the defeat and death of Urco. Say, then, that you will stay here and help to lead the Chanca armies, and sayit swiftly, since that dotard, Upanqui, frets to be gone. Hark! hismessengers call and search; my women can hold them back no more. "

"I will stay, " I answered hoarsely. 

"I thank you, and now farewell, till in life or death we meet again. Thoughts come to my mind which I have no time to utter. "

"To mine also, Quilla, and here is one of them. You know the man who waswith me on the island. Well, he is more than he seems. "

"So I guessed, but where is he now?"

"In hiding, Quilla. If you should chance to find him, bear in mind thathe is an enemy of Urco and one not friendless; also that he loves meafter his fashion. Trust him, I pray you. Urco is not the only one ofthe Inca blood, Quilla. "

She glanced at me quickly and nodded her head. Then without more words, for officers were pressing towards us, she drew a ring off her finger, a thick and ancient golden ring on which were cut what looked likeflowers, or images of the sun, and gave it to me. 

"Wear this for my sake. It is very old and has a story of true love thatI have no time to tell, " she said. 

I took it and in exchange passed to her that ancient ring which mymother had given to me, the ring that had come down to her with thesword Wave-Flame, saying:

"This, too, is old and has a story; wear it in memory of me. "

Then we parted and presently she was gone. 

I stood watching her litter till it vanished in the evening haze. Then Iturned to go to find myself face to face with Huaracha. 

"Lord-from-the-Sea, " he said, "you have played a man's--or a god's--partto-day. Had you bidden my daughter bide here, she would have done so forlove of you and the Chanca people must have been destroyed, for as thatold Inca or his spokesman told us, the breaking of my oath would havebeen taken as a declaration of instant war. Now we have breathing time, and in the end things may go otherwise. "

"Yes, " I answered, "but what of Quilla and what of me?"

"I know not your creed or what with you is honour, White Lord, but amongus whom perhaps you think of small account, it is thought and held thatthere are times when a man or a woman, especially if they be highlyplaced, must do sacrifice for the good of the many who cling to themfor guidance and for safety. This you and my daughter have done andtherefore I honour both of you. "

"To what end is the sacrifice made?" I asked bitterly. "That one peoplemay struggle for dominion over another people, no more. "

"You are mistaken, Lord. Not for victory or to increase my dominionsdo I desire to war upon the Incas, but because unless I strike I shallpresently be struck, though for a little while this marriage might holdback the blow. Alone in the midst of the vast territories over whichthe Incas rule, the Chancas stem their tide of conquest and remain freeamongst many nations of slaved. Therefore for ages these Incas, likethose who ruled before them at Cuzco, have sworn to destroy us, and Urcohas sworn it above all. "

"Urco might die or be deposed, Huaracha. "

"If so another would put on the Fringe and be vowed to the ancientpolicy that does not change from generation to generation. Therefore Imust fight or perish with my people. Hearken, Lord-from-the-Sea! Stayhere with me and become as my brother and a general of my armies, forwhere will they not follow when you lead, who are held to be a god? Thenif we conquer, in reward, from a brother you shall become a son, and toyou after me I swear shall pass the Chanca crown. Moreover, to you, if she can be saved, I will give in marriage her whom you love. Thinkbefore you refuse. I know not whence you come, but this I know: that youcan return thither no more, unless, indeed, you are a spirit. Here yourlot is cast till death. Therefore make it glorious. Perchance you mightfly to the Inca and there become a marvel and a show, furnished withgold and palaces and lands, but always you would be a servant, while Ioffer to you a crown and the rule of a people great and free. "

"I care nothing for crowns, " I answered, sighing. "Still, such wasQuilla's prayer, perchance the last that ever she will make to me. Therefore I accept and will serve you and your cause, that seems noble, faithfully to the end, O Huaracha. "

Then I stretched out my hand to him and so our compact was sealed. 

On the very next day my work began. Huaracha made me known to hiscaptains, commanding them to obey me in all things, which, looking on meas half divine, they did readily enough. 

Now, of soldiering I knew little who was a seaman bred, yet as I hadlearned, a man of the English race in however strange a country he findshimself can make a path there to his ends. 

Moreover, in London I had heard much talk of armies and their orderingand often watched troops at their exercise; also I know how to handlebow and sword, and was accustomed to the management of men. So puttingall these memories together, I set myself to the task of turning amob of half-savage fellows with arms into an ordered host. I createdregiments and officered them with the best captains that I could find, collecting in each regiment so far as possible the people of a certaintown or district. These companies I drilled and exercised, teaching themto use such weapons as they had to the best purpose. 

Also I caused them to shape stronger bows on the model of my own withwhich I had shot the three Frenchmen far away at Hastings that, as itwas said, once had been the battle-bow of Thorgrimmer the Norsemanmy ancestor, as the sword Wave-Flame was his battle-sword. When theseChancas saw how far and with what a good aim I could shoot with thisbow, they strove day and night to learn to equal me, though it istrue they never did. Also I bettered their body-armour of quilting bysettings sheets of leather (since in that country there is no iron)taken from the hides of wild animals and of their long-haired nativesheep, between the layers of cotton. Other things I did also, too manyand long to record. 

The end of it was that within three months Huaracha had an army of somefifty thousand men who, if not well trained, still kept discipline, andcould move in regiments; who knew also how to shoot with their bows andto use their copper-headed spears and axes of that metal, or of hardstone, to the best purpose. 

Then at length came the Yuncas to join us, thirty or forty thousand ofthem, wild fellows and brave enough, but undisciplined. With these Icould do little since time was lacking, save send some of the officerswhom I had trained to teach their chiefs and captains what they wereable. 

Thus I was employed from dawn till dark and often after it, in talk withHuaracha and his generals, or in drawing plans with ink that I found ameans to make, upon parchment of sheepskin and noting down numbers andother things, a sight at which these people who knew nothing of writingmarvelled very much. Great were my labours, yet in them I found morehappiness than I had known since that fatal day when I, the richLondon merchant, Hubert of Hastings, had stood before the altar of St. Margaret's church with Blanche Aleys. Indeed, every cranny of my timeand mind being thus filled with things finished or attempted, I forgotmy great loneliness as an alien in a strange land, and once more becameas I had been when I trafficked in the Cheap. 

But toil as I would, I could not forget Quilla. During the day I mightmask her memory in its urgent business, but when I lay down to rest sheseemed to come to me as a ghost might do and to stand by my bed, lookingat me with sad and longing eyes. So real was her presence that sometimesI began to believe that she must have died to the world and was in trutha ghost, or else that she had found the power to throw her soul afar, as it is said certain of these Indian folk, if so they should be called, can do. At least there she seemed to be while I remained awake andafterwards when I slept, and I know not whether her strange companyjoyed or pained me more. For alas! she could not talk to me, or tell mehow it fared with her, and, to speak truth, now that she was the wife ofanother man, as I supposed, I desired to forget her if I could. 

For of Quilla no word reached us. We heard that she had come safely toCuzco and after that nothing more. Of her marriage there was no tidings;indeed she seemed to have vanished away. Certain of Huaracha's spiesreported to him, however, that the great army which Urco had gathered toattack him had been partly disbanded, which seemed to show that the Incano longer prepared for immediate war. Only then what had happened toQuilla, whose person was the price of peace? Perhaps she was hiddenaway during the preparations for her nuptials; at least I could thinkof nothing else, unless indeed she had chosen to kill herself or diednaturally. 

Soon, however, all news ceased, for Huaracha shut his frontiers, hopingthat thus Urco might not learn that he was gathering armies. 

At length, when our forces were almost ready to march, Kari came, Kariwhom I thought lost. 

One night when I was seated at my work by lamplight, writing downnumbers upon a parchment, a shadow fell across it, and looking up I sawKari standing before me, travel-worn and weary, but Kari without doubt, unless I dreamed. 

"Have you food, Lord?" he asked while I stared at him. "I need it andwould eat before I speak. "

I found meat and native beer and brought them to him, for it was lateand my servants were asleep, waiting till he had filled himself, for bythis time I had learned something of the patience of these people. Atlength he spoke, saying:

"Huaracha's watch is good, and to pass it I must journey far into themountains and sleep three nights without food amid their snows. "

"Whence come you?" I asked. 

"From Cuzco, Lord. "

"Then what of the lady Quilla? Does she still live? Is she wed to Urco?"

"She lives, or lived fourteen days ago, and she is not wed. But whereshe is no man may ever come. You have looked your last upon the ladyQuilla, Lord. "

"If she lives and is unwed, why?" I asked, trembling. 

"Because she is numbered among the Virgins of the Sun our Father, andtherefore inviolate to man. Were I the Inca, though I love you and knowall, should you attempt to take her, yes, even you, I would kill you ifI could, and with my own sword. In our land, Lord, there is one crimewhich has no forgiveness, and that is to lay hands upon a Virgin of theSun. We believe, Lord, that if this is done, great curses will fall uponour country, while as for the man who works the crime, before he passesto eternal vengeance he and all his house and the town whence he camemust perish utterly, and that false virgin who has betrayed our father, the Sun, must die slowly and by fire. "

"Has this ever chanced?" I asked. 

"History does not tell it, Lord, since none have been so wicked, butsuch is the law. "

I thought to myself that it was a very evil law, and cruel; also that Iwould break it if I found opportunity, but made no answer, knowing whento be silent and that I might as well strive to move a mountain fromits base as to turn Kari from the blindness of his folly bred of falsefaith. After all, could I blame him, seeing that we held the same ofthe sacredness of nuns and, it was said, killed them if they broke theirvows?

"What news, Kari?" I asked. 

"Much, Lord. Hearken. Disguised as a peasant who had come into thiscountry to barter wool from a village near to Cuzco, I joined myself tothe train of the Inca Upanqui, among whose lords I found a friend whohad loved me in past years and kept my secret as he was bound to do, having passed into the brotherhood of knights with me while we werelads. Through him, in place of a man who was sick, I became one of thebearers of the lady Quilla's litter and thus was always about her andat times had speech with her in secret, for she knew me againnotwithstanding my disguise and uniform. So I became one of those whowaited on her when she ate and noted all that passed. 

"After the first day the Inca Upanqui, he who is my father and whoselawful heir I am, although he discarded me for Urco and believes medead, made it a habit to take his food in the same tent or rest-housechamber as the lady Quilla. Lord, being very clever, she set herself tocharm him, so that soon he began to dote upon her, as old, worn-out mensometimes do upon young and beautiful women. She, too, pretended to growfond of him and at last told him in so many words that she grieved itwas not he that she was to marry whose wisdom she hung upon, in place ofa prince who, she heard, was not wise. This, she said, because she knewwell that the Inca would never marry any more and indeed had lived alonefor years. Still, being flattered, he told her it was hard that sheshould be forced to wed one to whom she had no mind, whereon she prayedhim, even with tears, to save her from such a fate. At last he vowedthat he would do so by setting her among the Virgins of the Sun on whomno man may look. She thanked him and said that she would consider thematter, since, for reasons that you may guess, Lord, she did not desireto become a Virgin of the Sun and to pass the rest of her days in prayerand the weaving of the Inca's garments. 

"So it went on until when we were a day's march from Cuzco, Urco, mybrother, came to meet his promised bride. Now, Urco is a huge man andhideous, one whom none would believe to have been born of the Incablood. Coarse he is, and dissolute, given to drink also, though a greatfighter and brave in battle, and quick-brained when he is sober. I waspresent when they met and I saw the lady Quilla shiver and turn paleat the sight of him, while he on his part devoured her beauty with hiseyes. They spoke but few words together, yet before these were done, he told her it was his will that they should be wed at once on the dayafter she came to Cuzco, nor would he listen to the Inca Upanqui whosaid, being cunning and wishing to gain time, that due preparation mustbe made for so great a business. 

"Thereupon Urco grew angry with his father, who both fears and loveshim, and answered that, being almost Inca, this matter was one which hewould settle for himself. So fierce was he that Upanqui became afraidand went away. When they were alone Urco strove to embrace Quilla, butshe fled from him and hid with her maidens in a private place. Afterthis, at the feast Urco took too much drink according to his custom andwas led away to sleep by his lords. Then Quilla waited upon the Inca andsaid:

"'O Inca, I have seen the Prince and I claim your promise to save mefrom him. O Inca, abandoning all thought of marriage, I will become thebride of our Father the Sun. '

"Upanqui, who was wroth with Urco because he had crossed his will, sworeby the Sun itself that he would not fail her, come what might, sinceUrco should learn that he was not yet Inca. "

"What happened then?" I asked, staring him in the eyes. 

"After this, Lord, when we were halted before making the state entryinto Cuzco, for a moment the lady Quilla found opportunity for privatespeech with me. This is what she said:

"'Tell my father, King Huaracha, that I have fulfilled his oath, butthat I cannot marry Urco. Therefore I seek refuge in the arms of theSun, as the oracle Rimac foretold that I should do, having to choosebetween this fate and that of death. Tell my Lord-from-the-Sea what hasbefallen me and bid him farewell to me. Still say that he must keep agood heart, since I do not believe that all is ended between us. '

"Then we were parted and I saw her no more. "

"And did you hear no more, Kari?"

"I heard much, Lord. I heard that when Urco learned that the lady Quillahad vanished away into the House of Virgins, whither he might not come, and that he was robbed of the bride whom he desired, he grew mad withrage. Indeed, of this I saw something myself. Two days later, withthousands of others I was in the great square in front of the Templeof the Sun, where the Inca Upanqui sat in state upon a golden throne toreceive the praise of his people upon his safe return after his long andhard journey, and as some reported, to lay down his lordship in favourof Urco; also to tell the people that the danger of war with the Chancashad passed away. Scarcely had the ceremony begun when Urco appeared atthe head of a number of lords and princes of the Inca blood, who are ofhis clan, and I noticed that he was drunk and furious. He advanced tothe foot of the throne, almost without obeisance, and shouted:

"'Where is the lady Quilla, daughter of Huaracha, who is promised to mein marriage, Inca? Why have you hidden her away, Inca?'

"'Because the Sun, our Father, has claimed her as his bride and hastaken her to dwell in his holy house, where never again may the eyes ofman behold her, Prince!' answered Upanqui. 

"'You mean that robbing me, you have taken her for yourself, Inca, 'shouted Urco again. 

"Then Upanqui stood up and swore by the Sun that this was not so andthat what he had done was done by the decree of the god and at theprayer of the lady Quilla, who having seen Urco, had declared thateither she would be wed to the god or die by her own hand, which wouldbring the vengeance of the Sun upon the people. 

"Then Urco went mad. He raved at the Inca and while all present shiveredwith fear, he cursed the Sun our Father, yes, even when a cloud came upin the clear sky and veiled the face of the god, heedless of the omen, he continued his curses and blasphemy. Moreover, he said that soon hewould be Inca and that then, if he must tear the House of Virgins stonefrom stone, as Inca he would drag forth the lady Quilla and make her hiswife. 

"Now at these words Upanqui stood up and rent his robes. 

"'Must my ears be outraged with such blasphemies?' he cried. 'Know, SonUrco, that this day I was minded to take off the Royal Fringe and to setit on your head, crowning you Inca in my place while I withdrew topass the remainder of my days at Yucay in peace and prayer. My will ischanged. This I shall not do. My life is not done and strength returnsto my mind and body. Here I stay as Inca. Now I see that I am punishedfor my sin. '

"'What sin?' shouted Urco. 

"'The sin of setting you before my eldest lawful son, Kari, whose wifeyou stole; Kari, whom also it is said you poisoned and who at least hasvanished and is doubtless dead. '

"Now, Lord, when I, Kari, heard this my heart melted in me and I wasminded to declare myself to Upanqui my father. But while I weighed thematter for a moment, knowing that if I did so, such words as these mightwell be my last since Urco had many of is following present, who perhapswould fall upon and kill me, suddenly my father Upanqui fell forwardin a swoon. His lords and physicians bore him away. Urco followed andpresently the multitude departed this way and that. Afterwards we weretold that the Inca had recovered but must not be disturbed for manydays. "

"Did you hear more of Quilla, Kari?"

"Yes, Lord, " he answered gravely. "It was commonly reported that, through some priestess in his pay, Urco had poisoned her, saying that asshe had chosen the Sun as husband, to the Sun she would go. "

"Poisoned her!" I muttered, well-nigh falling to the ground. "Poisonedher!"

"Aye, Lord, but be comforted for this was added--that she who gavethe poison was taken in the act by her who is named the Mother of theVirgins, and handed over to the women who cast her into the den ofserpents, where she perished, screaming that it was Urco who had forcedher to the deed. "

"That does not comfort me, man. What of Quilla? Did she die?"

"Lord, it is said not. It is said that the Mother of the Virgins dashedaway the cup as it touched her lips. But this is said also, that some ofthe poison flew into her eyes and blinded her. "

I groaned, for the thought of Quilla blinded was horrible. 

"Again take comfort, Lord, since perchance she may recover from thisblindness. Also I was told, that although she can see nothing, herbeauty is not marred; that the venom indeed has made her eyes seemlarger and more lovely even than they were before. "

I made no answer, who feared that Kari was deceiving me or perhaps washimself deceived and that Quilla was dead. Presently he continued hisstory in the same quiet, even voice, saying:

"Lord, after this I sought out certain of my friends who had loved me inmy youth and my mother also while she lived, revealing myself to them. We made plans together, but before aught could be done in earnest, itwas needful that I should see my father Upanqui. While I was waitingtill he had recovered from the stroke that fell upon him, some spybetrayed me to Urco, who searched for me to kill me and well-nigh foundme. The end of it was that I was forced to fly, though before I did somany swore themselves to my cause who would escape from the tyranny ofUrco. Moreover, it was agreed that if I returned with soldiers at myback, they and their followers would come out to join me to the numberof thousands, and help me to take my own again so that I may be Incaafter Upanqui my father. Therefore I have come back here to talk withyou and Huaracha. 

"Such is my tale. "

CHAPTER VIII

THE FIELD OF BLOOD

When on the morrow Huaracha, King of the Chancas, heard all this storyand that Urco had given poison to his daughter Quilla, who, if she stilllived at all, did so, it was said, as a blind woman, a kind of madnesstook hold of him. 

"Now let war come; I will not rest or stay, " he cried, "till I seethis hound, Urco, dead, and hang up his skin stuffed with straw as anoffering to his own god, the Sun. "

"Yet it was you, King Huaracha, who sent the lady Quilla to this Urcofor your own purposes, " said Kari in his quiet fashion. 

"Who and what are you that reprove me?" asked Huaracha turning on him. "I only know you as the servant or slave of the White-Lord-from-the-Sea, though it is true I have heard stories concerning you, " he added. 

"I am Kari, the first-born lawful son of Upanqui and by right heir tothe Inca throne, no less, O Huaracha. Urco my brother robbed me of mywife, as through the folly of my father, upon whose heart Urco's motherworked, he had already robbed me of my inheritance. Then, to make sure, he strove to poison me as he has poisoned your daughter, with apoison that would make me mad and incapable of rule, yet leave meliving--because he feared lest the curse of the Sun should fall uponhim if he murdered me. I recovered from that bane and wandered to a farland. Now I have returned to take my own, if I am able. All that I say Ican prove to you. "

For a while Huaracha stared at him astonished, then said:

"And if you prove it, what do you ask of me, O Kari?"

"The help of your armies to enable me to overthrow Urco, who is verystrong, being the Commander of the Quichua hosts. "

"And if your tale be true and Urco is overthrown, what do you promise mein return?"

"The independence of the Chanca people, who otherwise must soon bedestroyed, and certain other added territories which you covet, while Iam Inca. "

"And with this my daughter, if she still lives?" asked Huaracha lookingat him. 

"Nay, " replied Kari firmly. "As to the lady Quilla I promise nothing. She has vowed herself to my Father the Sun, and what I have already toldthe Lord Hurachi here, who loves her I tell you. Henceforward no manmay look upon her, who is the Bride of the Sun, for if I suffered this, certainly the curse of the Sun would fall upon me and upon my people. He who lays a hand upon her I will strive to slay"--here he looked at mewith meaning--"because I must or be accurst. Take all else, but let thelady Quilla be. What the Sun has, he holds forever. "

"Perhaps the Moon, her mother, may have something to say in thatmatter, " said Huaracha gloomily. "Still, let it lie for the while. "

Then they fell to discussing the terms of their alliance and, when itcame to battle, what help Kari could bring from among those who clung tohim in Cuzco. 

After this Huaracha took me to another chamber, where we debated thebusiness. 

"This Kari, if he be Kari himself, is a bigot, " he said, "and if he hashis way, neither you nor I will ever set eyes on Quilla again, becauseto him it is sacrilege. So, what say you?"

I answered that it would be best to make an alliance with Kari, whomI knew to be honest and no Pretender, since without his help I did notthink that it would be possible to defeat the armies of the People ofthe Incas. For the rest, we must trust to chance, making no promises asto Quilla. 

"If we did they would avail little, " said Huaracha, "seeing that withoutdoubt she is dead and only vengeance remains to us. There is more poisonin Cuzco, White Lord!"

Eight days later we were marching on Cuzco, a great host of us, numbering at least forty thousand Chancas and twenty-five thousand ofthe rebellious Yuncas, who had joined our standard. 

On we marched by the great road over mountains and across plains, driving with us numberless herds of the native sheep for food, butmeeting no man, since so soon as we were out of the territory of theChancas all fled at our approach. At length one night we camped upon ahill named Carmenca and saw beneath us at a distance the mighty city ofCuzco standing in a valley through which a river ran. There it was withits huge fortresses built of great blocks of stone, its temples, itspalaces, its open squares, and its countless streets bordered by lowhouses. Moreover, beyond and around it we saw other things, namely, thecamps of a vast army dotted with thousands of white tents. 

"Urco is ready for us, " said Kari to me grimly as he pointed to thesetents. 

We camped upon the hill Carmenca and that night there came to us anembassy which spoke in the names of Upanqui and Urco, as though theyreigned jointly. This embassy of great lords who all wore discs ofgold in their ears asked us what was our purpose. Huaracha answered--toavenge the murder of the lady Quilla, his daughter, that he heard hadbeen poisoned by Urco. 

"How know you that she is dead?" asked the spokesman. 

"If she is not dead, " replied Huaracha, "show her to us. "

"That may not be, " replied the spokesman, "since if she lives, it is inthe House of the Virgins of the Sun, whence none come out and where nonego in. Hearken, O Huaracha. Go back whence you came, or the countlessarmy of the Incas will fall upon you and destroy you, you and yourhandful together. "

"That is yet to be seen, " answered Huaracha, and without more words theembassy withdrew. 

That night also men crept into our camp secretly, who were of the partyof Kari. Of Quilla they seemed to know nothing, for none spoke of thoseover whom the veil of the Sun had fallen. They told us, however, thatthe old Inca, Upanqui, was still in Cuzco and had recovered somewhatfrom his sickness. Also they said that now the feud between him and Urcowas bitter, but that Urco had the upper hand and was still in command ofthe armies. These armies, they declared, were immense and would fight uson the morrow, adding, however, that certain regiments of them who wereof the party of Kari would desert to us in the battle. Lastly, theysaid that there was great fear in Cuzco, since none knew how that battlewould end, which was understood by all to be one for the dominion ofTavantinsuyu. 

They had nothing more to say except that they prayed the Sun for oursuccess to save them from the tyranny of Urco. This prince, it appeared, suspected their conspiracy, for now the rumour that Kari lived waseverywhere, and having obtained the names of some who were connectedwith it through his spies, he pursued them with murder and sudden death. They were poisoned at their food; they were stabbed as they walkedthrough the streets at night; their wives, if young and fair, vanishedaway, as they believed into the houses of those who desired them; eventheir children were kidnapped, doubtless to become the servants ofwhom they knew not. They had complained of these things to the oldInca Upanqui, but without avail, since in such matters he was powerlessbefore Urco who had command of the armies. Therefore they would evenwelcome the triumph of Huaracha, which meant that Kari would become Incaif with lessened territory. 

Before they parted to play their parts, Kari brought them before me, whom in their foolishness they worshipped, believing me to be in truth agod. Then he told them to have no fear, since I would command the armiesof Huaracha in the battle. 

Having surveyed the ground while the light lasted, for the most of thatnight, together with Huaracha and Kari, I toiled, making plans forthe great fight that was to come. All being ready, I lay down to sleepawhile, wondering whether it were the last time I should do so upon theearth and, to tell the truth, not caring overmuch who, believing thatQuilla was dead, had it not been for my sins which weighed upon me withnone to whom I might confess them, should have been glad to leave theworld and its troubles for whatever might lie beyond, even if it werebut sleep. 

There comes a time to most men when above everything they desire rest, and now that hour was with me, the exiled and the desolate. Here in thisstrange country and among these alien people I had found one soul whichwas akin to mine, that of a beautiful woman who loved me and whom Ihad come to love and desire. But what was the end of it? Owing to thenecessities of statecraft and her own nobleness, she had been separatedfrom me and although, as it would seem, she had as yet escapeddefilement, was spirited away into the temple of some barbarous worshipwhere I was almost sure death had found her. 

At the best she was blinded, and where she lay in her darkness no manmight come because of the superstitions of these folk. Even if Karibecame Inca, it would not help me or her, should she still live, sincehe was the fiercest bigot of them all and swore that he would kill me, his friend, rather than that I should touch her, the vowed to his falsegods. 

Or perhaps, through the priests, to save himself such sorrow, hewould kill her. At the least, dead or not, she was lost to me, whileI--utterly alone--must fight for a cause in which I had but one concern, to bring some savage prince to his end because of his crime againstQuilla. And, if things went well and this chanced, what of the Future?Of what use to me were rewards that I did not want, and the worship ofthe vulgar which I hated? Rather would I have lived out my life as thehumblest fisherman on Hastings beach, than be made a king over theseglittering barbarians with their gold and gems which could buy nothingthat I needed, not even a Book of Hours to feed my soul, or the sound ofthe English tongue to comfort my empty heart. 

At length I fell asleep, and as it seemed but a few minutes later, though really six hours had gone by, was awakened by Kari, who toldme that the dawn was not far off and came to help me to buckle on myarmour. Then I went forth and together with Huaracha arranged our armyfor battle. Our plan was to advance from our rising ground across agreat plain beneath us which was called Xaqui, but afterwards becameknown by the name of Yahuar-pampa, or Field of Blood. 

This plain lay between us and the city of Cuzco, and my thought was thatwe would march or fight our way across it and rush into the city whichwas unwalled, and there amidst its streets and houses await the attackof the Inca hosts that were encamped upon its farther side, for thusprotected by their walls we hoped that we should be more equal to them. Yet things happened otherwise, since with the first light, without whichwe did not dare to move over unknown ground, we perceived that duringthe darkness the Inca armies had moved round and through the town andwere gathered by the ten thousand in dense battalions upon the fartherside of the plain. 

Now we took council together and in the end decided not to attack as wehad proposed, but to await their onslaught on the rocky ridge up whichthey must climb. So we commanded that our army, which was marshalledin three divisions abreast and two wings with the Yuncas as a reservebehind, should eat and make ready. In the centre of our main division, which numbered some fifteen thousand of the Chanca troops, and a littlein front of it, was a low long hill upon the highest point of whichI took my place, standing upon a rock with a group of captains andmessengers behind me and a guard of about a thousand picked men massedupon the slopes and around the hill. From this high point I could seeeverything, and in my glittering armour was visible to all, friends andfoes together. 

After a pause, during which the priests of the Chancas and of the Yuncasbehind us sacrificed sheep to the moon and the many other gods theyworshipped, and those of the Quichuas, as I could see from my rock, madeprayers and offerings to the rising sun, with a mighty shouting the Incahosts began to advance across the plain towards us. Reckoning them withmy eye I saw that they outnumbered us by two or three to one; indeedtheir hordes seemed to be countless, and always more of them came onbehind from the dim recesses of the city. Divided into three greatarmies they crept across the plain, a wild and gorgeous spectacle, the sunlight shining upon the forest of their spears and on their richbarbaric uniforms. 

A furlong or more away they halted and took counsel, pointing to me withtheir spears as though they feared me. We stood quite still, thoughsome of our generals urged that we should charge, but this I counselledHuaracha not to do, who desired that the Quichuas should break theirstrength upon us. At length some word was given; the splendid "rainbowBanner" of the Incas was unfurled and, still divided into three armieswith a wide stretch of plain between each of them they attacked, yellinglike all the fiends of hell. 

Now they had reached us and there began the most terrible battle thatwas told of in the history of that land. Wave after wave of them rolledup against us, but our battalions which I had not trained in vain stoodlike rocks and slew and slew and slew till the dead could be counted bythe thousand. Again and again they strove to storm the hill on which Istood, hoping to kill me, and each time we beat them back. Picking outtheir generals I loosed shaft after shaft from my long bow, and seldomdid I miss, nor could their cotton-quilted armour turn those bitterarrows. 

"_The shafts of the god! The shafts of the god!_" they cried, and shrankback from before me. 

There appeared a man with a yellow fillet on his head and a robe thatwas studded with precious stones; a huge man with great limbs andflaming eyes; a loose-mouthed, hideous man who wielded a big axe ofcopper and carried a bow longer than any I had seen in that land. Hooking the axe to his belt, he set an arrow on the bow and let drive atme. It sped true and struck me full upon the breast, only to shatter onthe good French mail, which copper could not pierce. 

Again he shot, and this time the arrow glanced from my helm. Then I drewon him and my shaft, that I had aimed at his head, cut away the fringeabout his brow and carried it far away. At this sight a groan went upfrom the lords about him, and one cried:

"An omen, O Urco, an evil omen!"

"Aye, " he shouted, "for the White Wizard who shot the arrow. "

Dropping the bow, he rushed up the hill at me roaring, axe aloft, andfollowed by his company. He smote, and I caught the blow upon my shield, and striking back with Wave-Flame, shore through the shaft of the axethat he had lifted to guard his head as though it had been made of reed, aye, and through the quilted cotton on his shoulder strengthened withstrips of gold, and to the bone beneath. 

Then a man slipped past me. It was Kari, striking at Urco with Deleroy'ssword. They closed and rolled down the slope locked in each other'sarms. What chanced after this I do not know, for others rushed in andall grew confused, but presently Kari limped back somewhat shaken andbleeding, and I caught sight of Urco, little hurt, as it seemed, amidsthis lords at the bottom of the slope. 

At this moment I heard a great shouting and looking round, saw that theQuichuas had broken through our left and were slaughtering many, whilethe rest fled, also that our right was wavering. I sent messengers toHuaracha, bidding him call up the Yunca rear guard. They were slow incoming and I began to fear that all was lost for little by little thehordes of the men of Cuzco were surrounding us. 

Then it was that Kari, or some with him, lifted a banner that had beenwrapped upon a pole, a blue banner upon which was embroidered agolden sun. At the sight of it there was tumult in the Inca ranks, andpresently a great body of men, five or six thousand of them that hadseemed to be in reserve, ran forward shouting, "_Kari! Kari!_" and fellupon those who were pursuing our shattered left, breaking them up anddispersing them. Also at last the Yuncas came up and drove back theregiments that assailed our right, while from Urco's armies there rose acry of "Treachery!"

Trumpets blew and the Inca host, gathering itself together andabandoning its dead and wounded, drew back sullenly on to the plain, andthere halted in three bodies as before, though much lessened in number. 

Huaracha appeared, saying:

"Strike, White Lord! It is our hour! The heart is out of them. "

The signal was given, and roaring like a hurricane, presently theChancas charged. Down the slope they went, I at the head of them withHuaracha on one side and Kari on the other. The swift-footed Chancasoutran me who was hindered by my mail. We charged in three masses as wehad stood on the ridge, following those open lanes of ground up whichthe foe had not come, because these were less cumbered with dead andwounded. Presently I saw why those of Cuzco had left these lanes untrod, for of a sudden some warriors, who had outstripped me, vanished. Theyhad fallen into a pit covered over with earth laid upon canes, of whichthe bottom was set with sharp stakes. Others, who were running alongthe lanes of open ground to right and left, also fell into pits of whichthere were scores all carefully prepared against the day of battle. With trouble the Chancas were halted, but not before we had lost somehundreds of men. Then we advanced again across that ground over whichthe Inca host had retreated. 

At length we reached their lines, passing through a storm of arrows, andthere began such a battle as I had never heard of or even dreamed. Withaxes, stone-headed clubs and spears, both armies fought furiously, and though the Incas still outnumbered us by two to one, because of mytraining our regiments drove them back. Lord after lord rushed at mewith glaring eyes, but my mail turned their copper spears and knivesof flint. Oh! Wave-Flame fed full that day, and if Thorgrimmer myforefather could have seen us from his home in Valhalla, surely he musthave sworn by Odin that never had he given it such a feast. 

The Inca warriors grew afraid and shrank back. 

"This Red-Beard from the sea is indeed a god. He cannot be slain!" Iheard them cry. 

Then Urco appeared, bloody and furious, shouting:

"Cowards! I will show you whether he cannot be slain. "

He rushed onward to meet--not me, but Huaracha, who seeing that I wasweary, had leapt in front of me. They fought, and Huaracha went down andwas dragged away by some of his servants. 

Now Urco and I were face to face, he wielding a huge copper-headed clubwith which, as my mail could not be pierced, he thought to batter outmy life. I caught the blow upon my shield, but so great was the giant'sstrength that it brought me to my knees. Next second I was up and athim. Shouting, I smote with both hands, for my shield had fallen. Thethick, turban-like headdress that Urco wore was severed, cut through asthe axe had been, and Wave-Flame bit deep into the skull beneath. 

Urco fell like a stunned ox and I sprang upon him to make an end. Thenit was that a rope was flung about my shoulders, a noosed rope that washauled tight. In vain I struggled. I was thrown down; I was seized by ascore of hands and dragged away into the heart of Urco's host. 

Waiting till a litter could be brought, they set me on my feet again, myarms still bound by the noose that these Indians call _laso_, which theyknow so well how to throw, the red sword Wave-Flame still hanging by itsthong from my right wrist. Whilst I stood thus, like a bull in a net, they gathered round, staring at me, not with hate as it seemed to me, but in fear and with reverence. When at length the litter came theyaided me to enter it quite gently. 

As I did so I looked back. The battle still raged but it seemed to mewith less fury than before. It was as though both sides were weary ofslaughter, their leaders being fallen. The litter was borne forward, till at length the noise of shouting and tumult grew low. Twistingmyself round I peered through the back curtains and saw that the Incahost and that of the Chancas were separating sullenly, neither of thembroken since they carried their wounded away with them. It was plainthat the battle remained drawn for there was no rout and no triumph. 

I saw, too, that I was entering the great city of Cuzco, where womenand children stood at the doors of the houses gazing, and some of themwringing their hands with tears upon their faces. 

Passing down long streets and across a bridge, I came to a vast squareround which stood mighty buildings, low, massive, and constructed ofhuge stones. At the door of one of these the litter halted and I washelped to descend. Men beautifully clad in broidered linen led methrough a gateway and across a garden where I noted a marvellous thing, namely: that all the plants therein were fashioned of solid gold withsilver flowers, or sometimes of silver with golden flowers. Also therewere trees on which were perched birds of gold and silver. When I sawthis I thought that I must be mad, but it was not so, for having noother use for the precious metals, of which they had so much abundance, thus did these Incas adorn their palaces. 

Leaving the golden garden, I reached a courtyard surrounded by rooms, to one of which I was conducted. Passing its door, I found myself in asplendid chamber hung with tapestries fantastically wrought and havingcushioned seats, and tables of rich woods incrusted with preciousstones. Here servants or slaves appeared with a chamberlain who boweddeeply and welcomed me in the name of the Inca. 

Then, as though I were something half divine, gently enough, they loosedthe sword from my wrist, took the long bow from my back, with the fewarrows that remained, also my dagger, and hid them away. They unboundme, and freeing me from my armour, as I told them how, and the garmentsbeneath, laved me with warm, scented water, rubbed my bruised limbs, andclothed me in wonderful soft garments, also scented and fastened aboutmy middle with a golden belt. This done, food and spiced drinks of theirnative wine were brought to me in golden vessels. I ate and drank and, being very weary, laid myself down upon one of the couches to sleep. For now I no longer took any thought as to what might befall me, butreceived all as it came, good and ill together, entrusting my body andsoul to the care of God and St. Hubert. Indeed, what else could I do whowas disarmed and a prisoner?

When I awoke again, very stiff and bruised, but much refreshed, nighthad fallen, for hanging lamps were lit about the room. By their lightI saw the chamberlain of whom I have spoken standing before me. I askedhim his errand. With many bows he said that if I were rested the IncaUpanqui desired my presence that he might speak with me. 

I bade him lead on, and, with others who waited without, he conductedme through a maze of passages into a glorious chamber where everythingseemed to be gold, for even the walls were panelled with it. Never hadI dreamt of so much gold; indeed the sight of it wearied me till I couldhave welcomed that of humble brick or wood. At the end of this chamberthat was also lit with lamps, were curtains. Presently these were drawnby two beautiful women in jewelled skirts and head-dresses, and behindthem on a dais I saw a couch and on the couch the old Inca Upanquilooking feebler than when I had last beheld him in the Chanca city, and very simply clad in a white tunic. Only on his head he wore the redfringe from which I suppose he never parted day or night. He looked upand said:

"Greeting, White-Lord-from-the-Sea. So you have come to visit me afterall, though you said that you would not. "

"I have been brought to visit you, Inca, " I answered. 

"Yes, yes, they tell me they captured you in the battle, though I expectthat was by your own will as you had wearied of those Chancas. For what_laso_ can hold a god?"

"None, " I answered boldly. 

"Of course not, and that you are a kind of god there is no doubt becauseof the things you did in that battle. They say that the arrows andspears melted when they touched you and that you shot and cut down menby scores. Also that when the prince Urco tried to kill you, althoughhe is the strongest man in my kingdom, you knocked him over as thoughhe had been a little child and hacked his head open so that they do notknow whether he will live or die. I think I hope he will die, for yousee I have quarrelled with him. "

I thought to myself that so did I, but I only asked:

"How did the battle end, Inca?"

"As it began, Lord Hurachi. A great many men have been killed onboth sides, thousands and thousands of them, and neither army has thevictory. They have drawn back and sit growling at each other like twoangry lions which are afraid to fight again. Indeed, I do not want themto fight, and now that Urco cannot interfere, I shall put a stop to allthis bloodshed if I am able. Tell me, for you were with him, why doesthis Huaracha, who I hear is also wounded, want to make war on me withthose troublesome Chancas of his?"

"Because your son, the prince Urco, has poisoned, or tried to poison, his only child, Quilla. "

"Yes, yes, I know, and it was a wicked thing to do. You see, Lord, whathappened was this: That lovely Quilla, who is fairer than her mother theMoon, was to have married Urco. But, Lord, as it chanced on our journeytogether, although I am old--well, she became enamoured of me, andprayed me to protect her from Urco. Such things happen to women, Lord, whose hearts, when they behold the divine, are apt to carry them awayfrom the vulgar, " and he laughed in a silly fashion like the vain oldfool that he was. 

"Naturally. How could she help it, Inca? Who, after seeing you, wouldwish to turn to Urco?"

"No one, especially as Urco is a coarse and brutal fellow. Well, whatwas I to do? There are reasons why I do not wish to marry again at myage; indeed I am tired of the sight of women, who want time to pray andthink of holy things; also if I had done what she wished, some mighthave thought that I had behaved badly to Urco. At the same time, awoman's heart is sacred and I could not do violence to that of one sosweet and understanding and lovely. So I put her into the House of theVirgins of the Sun where she will be quite safe. "

"It seems that she was not safe, Inca. "

"No, because that violent man, Urco, being disappointed and veryjealous, through some low creature of his, who waited on the Virgins, tried to poison her with a drug which would have made her all swollenand hideous and covered her face with blotches, also perhaps have senther mad. Luckily one of the matrons, whom we call _Mama-conas_, knockedthe cup away before she drank, but some of the horrible poison went intoher eyes and blinded her. "

"So she lives, Inca. "

"Certainly she lives. I have learnt that for myself, because in thiscountry it is not wise to trust what they tell you. You know as Inca Ihave privileges, and although even I do not talk to them, I caused thoseVirgins of the Sun to be led in front of me, which in strictness evenI ought not to have done. It was a dreary business, Lord Hurachi, forthough those Virgins may be so holy, some of them are very old andhideous and of course Quilla as a novice came last in the line conductedby two _Mama-conas_ who are cousins of my own. The odd thing is that thepoison seems to have made her much more beautiful than before, for hereyes have grown bigger and are glorious, shining like stars seen whenthere is frost. Well, there she is safe from Urco and every other man, however wicked and impious. But what does this Huaracha want?"

"He wants his blinded daughter back, Inca. "

"Impossible, impossible! Who ever heard of such a thing! Why, Heaven andEarth would come together and the Sun, my father, and her husband, would burn us all up. Still, perhaps, we could come to an agreement forHuaracha must have had enough fighting and very likely he will die. Now I am tired of talking about the lady Quilla and I want to ask yousomething. "

"Speak on, Inca. "

Suddenly the old dotard's manner changed: he became quick and shrewd, asdoubtless he was in his prime, for this Upanqui had been a great king. At the beginning of our talk the two women of whom I have spoken and thechamberlain had withdrawn to the end of the chamber where they waitedwith their hands folded, like those who adore before an altar. Still hepeered about him to make sure that none were within hearing, and in theend beckoned to me to ascend the dais and sit upon the couch beside him, saying:

"You see I trust you although you are a god from the sea who has beenfighting against me. Now hearken. You had a servant with you, a verystrange man, who is said also to have come out of the sea, though that Icannot believe since he is like one of our princes. Where is that man?"

"With the army of Huaracha, Inca. "

"So I have heard. I heard also that in the battle he hoisted a bannerwith the sun blazoned on it, and that thereon certain regiments of minedeserted to Huaracha. Now, why did they do that?"

"I understand, O Inca, that the kings of this land have many children. Perhaps he might be one of them. "

"Ah! You are clever as a god should be. Well, I am a god also and thesame thought has come to me, although as a fact I have only had twolegitimate sons and the others are of no account. The eldest of thesewas an able and beautiful prince named Kari, but we quarrelled, and totell the truth there was a woman in the matter, or rather two women, forKari's mother fought with Urco's mother whom I loved, because she neverscolded me, which the other did. So Urco was named to be Inca after me. Yet that was not enough for him who remained jealous of his brother Kariwho outpassed him in all things save strength of body. They wooed thesame beautiful woman and Kari won her, whereon Urco seduced her fromhim, and afterwards he or someone killed her. At least she died, Iforget how. Then the lords of the Inca blood began to turn towards Karibecause he was royal and wise, which would have meant civil war when Ihad been gathered to the Sun. Therefore Urco poisoned him, or so it wasrumoured; at any rate, he vanished away, and often since then I havemourned him. "

"The dead come to life again sometimes, Inca. "

"Yes, yes, Lord-from-the-Sea, that happens; the gods who took them awaybring them back--and this servant of yours--they say he is so liketo Kari that he might be the same man grown older. And--why did thoseregiments, all of them officered by men who used to love Kari, go overto Huaracha to-day, and why do rumours run through the land like thewind that springs up suddenly in fine weather? Tell me of this servantof yours and how you found him in the sea. "

"Why should I tell you, Inca? Is it because you want to kill him who isso like to this lost Kari of yours?"

"No, no--gods can keep each other's counsel, can they not? It is becauseI would give--oh! half my godship to know that he is alive. Hark you, Urco wearies me so much that sometimes I wonder whether he really is myson. Who can tell? There was a certain lord of the coastlands, a hairygiant who, they said, could eat half a sheep at a sitting and break thebacks of men in his hands, of whom Urco's mother used to think much. But who can tell? No one except my father, the Sun, and he guards hissecrets--for the present. At least Urco wearies me with his coarsecrimes and his drunkenness, though the army loves him because he is abutcher and liberal. We quarrelled the other day over the small matterof this lady Quilla, and he threatened me till I grew wrath and saidthat I would not hand him my crown as I had purposed to do. Yes, Igrew wrath and hated him for whose sake I had sinned because his motherbewitched me. Lord-from-the-Sea, " here his voice dropped to a whisper, "I am afraid of Urco. Even a god such as I am can be murdered, Lord-from-the-Sea. That is why I will not go to Yucay, for there I mightdie and none know it, whereas here I still am Inca and a god whom it issacrilege to touch. "

"I understand, but how can I help you, Inca, who am but a prisoner inyour palace?"

"No, no, you are only a prisoner in name. At the worst Urco will besick for a long while, since the physicians say that sword of yours hasbitten deep, and during that time all power is mine. Messengers areat your service; you are free to come and go as you will. Bring thisservant of yours to my presence, for doubtless he trusts you. I wouldspeak with him, O Lord-from-the-Sea. "

"If I should do this, Inca, will the lady Quilla be given back to herfather?"

"Nay, it would be sacrilege. Ask what else you will, lands and rule andpalaces and wives--not that. Myself I should not dare to lay a fingeron her who rests in the arms of the Sun. What does it matter about thisQuilla who is but one fair woman among thousands?"

I thought awhile, then answered, "I think it matters much, Inca. Still, that this bloodshed may be stayed, I will do my best to bring him whowas my servant to your presence if you can find me the means to come athim, and afterwards we will talk again. "

"Yes, I am weary now. Afterwards we will talk again. Farewell, Lord-from-the-Sea. "

CHAPTER IX

KARI COMES TO HIS OWN

When I awoke on the following morning in the splendid chamber of which Ihave spoken, it was to find that my armour and arms had been restored tome, and very glad was I to see Wave-Flame again. After I had eaten and, escorted by servants, walked in the gardens, for never could I be leftalone, marvelling at the wondrous golden fruits and flowers, a messengercame to me, saying that the _Villaorna_ desired speech with me. Iwondered who this _Villaorna_ might be, but when he entered I saw thathe was Larico, that same stern-faced, cunning-eyed lord who had been thespokesman of the Inca when he visited the city of the Chancas. Also Ilearned that _Villaorna_ was his title and meant "Chief priest. "

We bowed to each other and all were sent from the chamber, leaving usquite alone. 

"Lord-from-the-Sea, " he said, "the Inca sends me, his Councillor andblood relative, who am head priest of the Sun, to desire that you willgo on an embassy for him to the camp of the Chancas. First, however, itis needful that you should swear by the Sun that you will return thenceto Cuzco. Will you do this?"

Now as there was nothing I desired more than to return to Cuzco whereQuilla was, I answered that I would swear by my own god, by the Sun, andby my sword, unless the Chancas detained me by force. Further, I prayedhim to set out his business. 

He did so in these words:

"Lord, we have come to know, it matters not how, that the man whoappeared with you in this land is no other than Kari, the elder son ofthe Inca, whom we thought dead. Now it is in the Inca's mind, and in theminds of us, his councillors, to proclaim the Prince Kari as heir tothe throne which soon he would be called upon to fill. But the matter isvery dangerous, seeing that Urco still commands the army and many ofthe great lords who are of his mother's House cling to him, hoping toreceive advancement from him when he becomes Inca. "

"But, Priest Larico, Urco, they say, is like to die, and if so all thistrouble will melt like a cloud. "

"Your sword bit deep, Lord, but I have it from his physicians that asthe brain is uncut he will not die, although he will be sick for a longwhile. Therefore we must act while he is sick, since it is not lawfulto bring about his end, even if he could be come at. Time presses, Lord, for as you have seen, the Inca is old and feeble and his mind is weak. Indeed at times he has no mind, though at others his strength returns tohim. "

"Which means that I deal with you who are the chief priest, and thosebehind you, " I said, looking him in the eyes. 

"That is what it means, Lord. Now hearken while I tell you the truth. After the Inca I am the most powerful man in Tavantinsuyu, indeed forthe most part the Inca speaks with my voice although I seem to speakwith his. Yet I am in a snare. Heretofore I have supported Urco becausethere was no other who could become Inca, although he is a brutal andan evil man. Of late, however, since my return from the City of theChancas, I have quarrelled with Urco because he has lost that witch, thelady Quilla, whom he desires madly and lays the blame on me, and ithas come to my knowledge that when he succeeds to the throne it is hispurpose to kill me, which doubtless he will do if he can, or at theleast to cast me from my place and power, which is as bad as death. Therefore, I desire to make my peace with Kari, if he will swear tocontinue me in my office, and this I can only do through you. Bring thispeace about, Lord, and I will promise you anything you may wish, evenperchance to the Incaship itself, should aught happen to Kari or shouldhe refuse my offers. I think that the Quichuas might welcome a white godfrom the Sea who has shown himself so great a general and so brave inbattle, and who has knowledge and wisdom more than theirs, to rule overthem, " he added reflectively. "Only then, Lord, it would be needful tobe rid of Kari as well as of Urco. "

"To which I would never consent, " I replied, "seeing that he is myfriend with whom I have shared many dangers. Moreover, I do not wish tobe Inca. "

"Is there then anything else that you wish very much, Lord? A thoughtcame to me, yonder at the City of the Chancas. By the way, how lovelyis that lady Quilla and how royal a woman. It is most strange that sheshould have turned her mind towards an aged man like Upanqui. "

We looked at each other. 

"Very strange, " I said. "It seems to me sad also that this beauteousQuilla should be immured in a nunnery for life. To tell you the truth, High-priest, since it is not good for man to live alone, rather thanthat such a thing should have happened I would have married her myself, to which perchance she might have consented. "

Again we looked at each other and I went on:

"I hinted as much to Kari after we heard she was numbered amongst theVirgins, and asked him whether, should he become Inca, he would take herthence and give her to me. "

"What did he answer, Lord?"

"He said that though he loved me like a brother, first he would kill mewith his own hand, since such a deed would be sacrilege against the Sun. Last night also the Inca himself said much the same. "

"Is it so, Lord? Well, we priests bring up our Incas to think thus. Ifwe did not, where would our power be, seeing that we are the Voice ofthe Sun upon earth and issue his decrees?"

"But do you always think thus yourselves, O High-priest?"

"Not quite always. There are loopholes in every law of gods and men. Forexample, I believe I see one in the instance of this lady Quilla. Butbefore we waste more time in talking--tell me, White Lord, do you desireher, and if so, are you ready to pay me my price? It is that you shallassure to me the friendship of the prince Kari, should he become Inca, and the continuance of my power and office. "

"My answer is that I do desire this lady, O High-priest, and that if Ican I will obtain from Kari the promise of what you seek. And now whereis the loophole?"

"I seem to remember, Lord, that there is an ancient law which says--thatnone who are maimed may be the wives of the Sun. It is true that thislaw applies to them _before_ they contract the holy marriage. Still, ifthe point came up before me as high-priest, I might perhaps find thatit applied also to those who were maimed _after_ marriage. The case israre, for which precedents cannot be found if the search be thorough. Now through the wickedness of Urco, as it happens, this lady Quilla hasbeen blinded, and therefore is no longer perfect in her body. Do youunderstand?"

"Quite. But what would Upanqui or Kari say? The Incas you declare arealways bigots and might interpret this law otherwise. "

"I cannot tell, Lord, but let us cease from beating bushes. I will helpyou if I can, if you will help me if _you_ can, though I daresay that inthe end you, who are not a bigot, must take the law into your own hands, as perhaps the lady Quilla, who is a moon-worshipper, would be willingto do also. "

The finish of it was that this cunning priest and statesman and I made abargain. If I could win Kari over to his interests, then he swore by theSun that he would gain me access to the lady Quilla and help me to flywith her, if so we both wished, while I on my part swore to plead hiscause with Kari. Moreover, as he showed me, there was little fear thateither of us would break these oaths since henceforth each lay in thepower of the other. 

After this we passed on to public matters. I was charged to offer anhonourable truce to Huaracha and the Chancas with permission to them tocamp their armies in certain valleys near to Cuzco where they wouldbe fed until peace was declared, which peace would give them all theyneeded, namely, their freedom and safeguards from attack. For the restI was to bring Kari and those who had deserted to him on the yesterdayinto Cuzco where none would molest them. 

Then he went, leaving me happier than I had been since I bade farewellto Quilla. For now at last I saw light, a faint uncertain light, it wastrue, only to be reached, if reached at all, through many difficultiesand dangers, but still light. At last I had found someone in thisland of black superstition who was not a bigot, and who, being theHigh-priest of the Sun, knew too much of his god to fear him or tobelieve that he should come down to earth and burn it up should one ofthe hundreds of his brides seek another husband. Of course this Laricomight betray me and Quilla, but I did not think he would, since he hadnothing to gain thereby, and might have much to lose, for the reasonthat I was able, or he thought that I was able, to set Kari against him. At least I could only go forward and trust to fortune, though in facthitherto she had never shown me favour where woman was concerned. 

Awhile later I was being borne in one of the Inca's own litters back tothe camp of the Chancas, accompanied by an embassy of great lords. 

We passed over that dreadful, bloodstained plain where, under a flag oftruce, both sides were engaged in burying the thousands of their dead, and came to the ridge whence we had charged on the yester morn. Heresentries stopped us and I descended from my litter. When the Chancas sawme in my armour come back to them alive, they set up a great shoutingand presently I and the lords with me were led to the pavilion of KingHuaracha. 

We found him lying sick upon a couch, for though he showed no wound hehad been badly bruised upon the body by a blow from Urco's club and, asI feared, was hurt in the bowels. He greeted me with delight, since hethought that I might have been killed after I was captured, and askedhow I came to appear in his camp in the company of our enemies. I toldhim at once what had chanced and that I was sworn to return to Cuzcowhen I had done my business. Then the Inca's ambassadors set out theirproposals for a truce, and retired, while Huaracha discussed them withhis generals and Kari, who also was overjoyed to see me safe. 

The end of it was that they were accepted on the terms offered, namely, that Huaracha and his army should withdraw to the valleys of which Ihave spoken, and there camp, receiving all the food they needed untila peace could be offered such as he would be willing to accept. Indeed, the Chancas were glad to agree to this plan for their losses in thebattle had been very great and they were in no state to renew the attackupon Cuzco, which was still defended by such mighty hordes of bravewarriors fighting for their homes, families, and freedom. 

So all was agreed on the promise that peace should be made within thirtydays or sooner, and that if it were not the war should re-commence. 

Then privately, I told Huaracha all that I had learned about Quilla andthat I had still hopes of saving her though what these were I did nottell him. When he had thought, he said that now the fate of Quilla mustbe left in the hands of the gods and mine, since not even for her couldhe neglect the opportunity of an honourable peace, seeing that anotherbattle might mean destruction. Also he pointed out that he was hurt andI who had been general under him was a prisoner and bound by my oath toreturn to prison, so that the Chancas had lost their leaders. 

After this we parted, I promising to work for his cause and to come tosee him again, if I might. 

These matters finished I went aside with Kari to a place where nonecould hear us, and there laid before him the offers of Larico, thehigh-priest, showing him how the case stood. Of Quilla, however, I saidnothing to him, though it pained me to keep back part of the truth evenfrom Kari. Yet, what was I to do, who knew that if I told him all and hebecame Inca, or the Inca's acknowledged heir, he would work against mebecause of his superstitious madness, and perhaps cause Quilla tobe killed by the priests, as one whose feet were set in the path ofsacrilege? So on this matter I held my peace, nor did he ask me anythingconcerning Quilla who, I think, wished to hear nothing of that lady andwhat had befallen her. 

When he had learned all, he said:

"This may be a trap, Lord. I do not trust yonder Larico, who has alwaysbeen my enemy and Urco's friend. "

"I think he is his own friend first, " I answered, "who knows that ifUrco recovers he will kill him, because he has taken the part of yourfather, Upanqui, in their quarrels, and suspects him. "

"I am not sure, " said Kari. "Yet something must be risked. Did I nottell you when we were sailing down the English river that we must putfaith in our gods, yes, afterwards also, and more than once? And did notthe gods save us? Well, now again I trust to my god, " and drawing outthe image of Pachacamac, which he wore round his neck, he kissed it, then turning, bowed and prayed to the Sun. 

"I will come with you, " he said, when he had finished his devotions, "tolive to be Inca, or to die, as the Sun decrees. "

So he came and with him some of his friends, captains of those who haddeserted to him in the battle. But the five thousand soldiers, or thosewho were left of them, did not come as yet because they feared lest theyshould be set upon and butchered by the regiments of Urco. 

That night, when we were back safe in Cuzco, Kari and the high-priest, Larico talked together in secret. Of what passed between them he onlytold me that they had come to an agreement which satisfied them both. Larico said the same to me when next I saw him, adding:

"You have kept your word and served my turn, Lord-from-the-Sea, therefore I will keep mine and serve yours when the time comes. Yet bewarned by me and say nothing of a certain lady to the prince Kari, sincewhen I spoke a word to him on the matter, hinting that her surrender toher father Huaracha would make peace with him more easy and lasting, heanswered that first would he fight Huaracha, and the Yuncas as well, tothe last man in Cuzco. 

"To the Sun she has gone, " he said, "and with the Sun she must stay, lest the curse of the Sun and of Pachacamac, the Spirit above the sun, should fall on me and all of us. "

Larico told me also that, fearing something, the great lords, who wereof Urco's party, had borne him away in a litter to a strong city in themountains about five leagues from Cuzco, escorted by thousands of pickedmen who would stay in and about that city. 

On the next morning I was summoned to wait upon the Inca Upanqui, and went, wearing my armour. I found him in the same great chamber asbefore, only now he was more royally arrayed, and with him were sundryof his high lords of the Inca blood, also certain priests, among themthe _Villaorna_ Larico. 

The old king, who on that day seemed clear in his mind and well, greetedme in his kindly fashion and bade me set out all that had passed betweenme and Huaracha in the Chanca camp. This I did, only I hid from him howgreat had been the Chanca losses in the battle and how glad they were todeclare a truce and rest. 

Upanqui said that the matter should be attended to, speaking in a royalfashion as though it were one of little moment, which showed me howgreat an emperor he must be. Great he was, indeed, seeing that allthe broad land of England would have made but one province of his vastdominions, which in every part were filled with people who, unless theychanced to be in rebellion like the Yuncas, lived but to do his will. 

After this, when I thought the audience was ended, a chamberlainadvanced to the foot of the throne, and kneeling, said that a suppliantprayed speech with the Inca. Upanqui waved his sceptre, that longstaff which I have described, in token that he should be admitted. Thenpresently up the chamber came Kari arrayed in the tunic and cloak of anInca prince, wearing in his ear a disc carved with the image of the Sun, and a chain of emeralds and gold about his neck. Nor did he come alone, for he was attended by a brilliant band of those lords and captainswho had deserted to him on the day of the great battle. He advanced andknelt before the throne. 

"Who is this that carries the emblems of the Holy Blood and is clothedlike a Prince of the Sun?" asked Upanqui, affecting ignorance andunconcern, though I saw the colour mount to his cheeks and the sceptreshake in his withered hand. 

"One who is indeed of the holy Inca blood; one sprung from the purestlineage of the Sun, " answered the stately Kari in his quiet voice. 

"How then is he named?" asked the Inca again. 

"He is named Kari, first-born son of Upanqui, O Inca. "

"Such a son I had once, but he is long dead, or so they told me, " saidUpanqui in a trembling voice. 

"He is not dead, O Inca. He lives and he kneels before you. Urcopoisoned him, but the Sun his Father recovered him, and the Spirit thatis above all gods supported him. The sea bore him to a far land, wherehe found a white god who befriended and cared for him, " here he turnedhis head towards me. "With this god he returned to his own country andhere he kneels before you, O Inca. "

"It cannot be, " said the Inca. "What sign do you bring who name yourselfKari? Show me the image of the Spirit above the gods that from hischildhood for generations has been hung about the neck of the Inca'seldest son, born from the Queen. "

Kari opened his robe and drew out that golden effigy of Pachacamac whichhe always wore. 

Upanqui examined it, holding it close to his rheumy eyes. 

"It seems to be the same, " he said, "as I should know upon whose breastit lay until my first son was born. And yet who can be sure since suchthings may be copied?"

Then he handed back the image to Kari and after reflecting awhile, said:

"Bring hither the Mother of the Royal Nurses. "

Apparently this lady was in waiting, for in a minute she appeared beforethe throne, an old and withered woman with beady eyes. 

"Mother, " said the Inca, "you were with the _Coya_ (that is the Queen)who has been gathered to the Sun, when her boy was born, and afterwardsnursed him for years. If you saw it, would you know his body again afterhe has come to middle age?"

"Aye, O Inca. "

"How, Mother?"

"By three moles, O Inca, which we women used to call _Yuti_, _Quilla_, and _Chasca_" (that is, the Sun, the Moon, and the planet Venus), "whichwere the marks of good fortune stamped by the gods upon the Prince'sback between the shoulders, set one above the other. "

"Man who call yourself Kari, are you willing that this old crone shouldsee your flesh?" asked Upanqui. 

By way of answer Kari with a little smile stripped himself of hisbroidered tunic and other garments and stood before us naked to themiddle. Then he turned his back to the Mother of the Nurses. She hobbledup and searched it with her bright eyes. 

"Many scars, " she muttered, "scars in front and scars behind. Thiswarrior has known battles and blows. But what have we here? Look, OInca, _Yuti_, _Quilla_, and _Chasca_, set one above the other, though_Chasca_ is almost hidden by a hurt. Oh! my fosterling, O my Prince whomI nursed at these withered breasts, are you come back from the dead totake your own again? O Kari of the Holy Blood; Kari the lost who is Karithe found!"

Then sobbing and muttering she threw her arms about him and kissed him. Nor did he shame to kiss her in return, there before them all. 

"Restore his garments to the royal Prince, " said Upanqui, "and bringhither the Fringe that is worn by the Inca's heir. "

It was produced without delay by the high-priest Larico, which toldme at once that all this scene had been prepared. Upanqui took it fromLarico, and beckoning Kari to him, with the priest's help bound it abouthis brow, thereby acknowledging him and restoring him as heir-apparentto the Empire. Then he kissed him on the brow and Kari knelt down anddid his father homage. 

After this they went away together accompanied only by Larico and twoor three of the councillors of Inca blood and as I learned from Laricoafterwards, told each other their tales and made plans to outwit, and ifneed were to destroy, Urco and his faction. 

On the following day Kari was established in a house of his own that wasmore of a fortress than a palace, for it was built of great stones withnarrow gates, and surrounded by an open space. Upon this space, as aguard, were encamped all those who had deserted to him in the battle ofthe Field of Blood, who had returned to Cuzco from the camp of Huarachanow that Kari was accepted as the royal heir. Also other troops who wereloyal to the Inca were stationed near by, while those who clung to Urcodeparted secretly to that town where he lay sick. Moreover, proclamationwas made that on the day of the new moon, which the magicians declaredto be auspicious, Kari would be publicly presented to the people inthe Temple of the Sun as the Inca's lawful heir, in place of Urcodisinherited for crimes that he had committed against the Sun, theEmpire, and the Inca his father. 

"Brother, " said Kari to me, for so he called me now that he was anacknowledged Prince, when I went to meet him in his grandeur, "Brother, did I not tell you always that we must trust to our gods? See, I havenot trusted in vain though it is true that dangers still lie ahead ofme, and perhaps civil war. "

"Yes, " I answered, "your gods are in the way of giving you all you want, but it is not so with mine and me. "

"What then do you desire, Brother, who can have even to the half of thekingdom?"

"Kari, " I replied, "I cry not for the Earth, but for the Moon. "

He understood, and his face grew stern. 

"Brother, the Moon alone is beyond you, for she inhabits the sky whileyou still dwell upon the earth, " he answered with a frown, and thenbegan to talk of the peace with Huaracha. 

CHAPTER X

THE GREAT HORROR

The day of the new moon came and with it the great horror that causedall the Empire of Tavantinsuyu to tremble, fearing lest Heaven should beavenged upon it. 

Since Upanqui had found his elder son again he began to dote upon him, as in such a case the old and weak-minded often do, and would walk aboutthe gardens and palaces with his arm around his neck babbling to himof whatever was uppermost in his mind. Moreover, his soul was oppressedbecause he had done Kari wrong in the past, and preferred Urco to himunder the urging of that prince's mother. 

"The truth is, Son, " I myself heard him say to Kari, "that we men whoseem to rule the world do not rule it at all, because always women ruleus. This they do through our passions which the gods planted in us fortheir own ends, also because they are more single in their minds. Theman thinks of many things, the woman only thinks of what she desires. Therefore the man whom Nature already has bemused, only brings a littlepiece of his mind to fight against her whole mind, and so is conquered;he who was made for one thing only, to be the mate of the woman that shemay mother more men in order to serve the wills of other women who yetseem to be those men's slaves. "

"So I have learned, Father, " answered the grave Kari, "and for thisreason having suffered in the past, I am determined to have as little todo with women as is possible for one in my place. During my travels inother lands, as in this country, I have seen men great and noble broughtto nothingness and ruin by their love for women; down into the dirt, indeed, when their hands were full of the world's wealth and glory. Moreover, I have noticed that they seldom learn wisdom, and that whatthey have done before, they are ready to do again, who believe anythingthat soft lips swear to them. Yes, even that they are loved forthemselves alone, as I own to my sorrow, once I did myself. Urco couldnot have taken that fair wife of mine, Father, if she had not beenwilling to go when she saw that I had lost your favour and with it thehope of the Scarlet Fringe. "

Here Kari looked at me, of whom I knew he was thinking all this time, and seeing that I could overhear his talk, began to speak of somethingelse. 

On the appointed day there was a great gathering of the nobles ofthe land, especially of those of the Inca blood, and of all that were"earmen, " a class of the same rank as our peers in England, to hearthe proclamation of Kari as the Inca's heir. It was made before thisgorgeous company in the Great Temple of the Sun, which now I saw for thefirst time. 

It was a huge and most wondrous place well named the "House of Gold. "For here everything was gold. On the western wall hung an image of theSun twenty feet or more across, an enormous graven plate of gold setabout with gems and having eyes and teeth of great emeralds. The roof, too, and the walls were all panelled with gold, even the cornices andcolumn heads were of solid gold. 

Opening out of this temple also were others dedicated to the Moon andStars, that of the Moon being clothed in silver, with her radiant faceshaped in silver fixed to the western wall. So it was with the temple ofthe Stars, of the Lightnings and of the Rainbow, which perhaps with itsmany colours that sprang from jewels, was the most dazzling of them all. 

The sight of so much glory overwhelmed me, and it came into my mind thatif only it were known of in Europe, men would die by the ten thousandon the chance that they might conquer this country and make its wealththeirs. Yet here, save for these purposes of ornament and to be used asofferings to the gods and Incas, it was of no account at all. 

But in this temple of the Sun was a marvel greater than its gold. For oneither side of the carved likenesses of the sun, seated upon chairs ofgold, sat the dead Incas and their queens. Yes, clothed in their royalrobes and emblems, with the Fringe upon their brows, there they sat withtheir heads bent forward, so wonderfully preserved by the arts thesepeople have, that except for the stamp of death upon their countenances, they might have been sleeping men and women. Thus in the dead faceof the mother of Kari I could read her likeness to her son. Of thesedeparted kings and queens there were many, since from the first Inca ofwhom history told all were gathered here in the holy House and underthe guardianship of the effigy of their god, the Sun, from whom theybelieved themselves to be descended. The sight was so solemn that itawed me, as it did all that congregation, for I noted that here menwalked with unsandalled feet and that in speaking none raised theirvoices high. 

The old Inca, Upanqui, entered, gloriously apparelled and accompanied bylords and priests, while after him came Kari with his retinue of greatmen. The Inca bowed to the company whereon everyone in the great temple, save myself alone whose British pride kept me on my feet, standing likeone left living on a battlefield among a multitude of slain, prostratedhimself before his divine majesty. At a sign they rose again and theInca seated himself upon his jewelled golden throne beneath the effigyof the Sun, while Kari took his place upon a lesser throne to the Inca'sright. 

Looking at him there in his splendour on this day when he came into hisown again, I bethought me of the wretched, starving Indian marked withblows and foul with filth whom I had rescued from the cruel mob upon theThames-side wharf, and wondered at this enormous change of fortune andthe chain of wonderful events by which it had been brought about. 

My fortune also had changed, for then I was great in my own fashion, whonow had become but a wanderer, welcomed indeed in this glitteringnew world of which yonder we knew nothing, because I was strange anddifferent, also full of unheard-of learning and skilled in war, butstill nothing but an outcast wanderer, and so doomed to live and die. And as I thought, so thought Kari, for our glances met, and I read it inhis eyes. 

Yonder sat my servant who had become my lord, and though he was still myfriend, soon I felt he would be lost in the state matters of that greatempire, leaving me more lonely than before. Also his mind was not asmy mind, as his blood was not my blood, and he was the slave of a faiththat to me was a hateful superstition doubtless begotten by the Devil, who under the name of _Cupay_, some worshipped in that land, thoughothers declared that this _Cupay_ was the God of the Dead. 

Oh! that I could flee away with Quilla and at her side live out what wasleft to me of life, since of all these multitudes she alone understoodand was akin to me, because the sacred fire of love had burned away ourdifferences and opened her eyes. But Quilla was snatched from me by thelaw of their accursed faith, and whatever else Kari might give, he wouldnever give me this lady of the Moon, since, as he had said, to him thiswould be sacrilege. 

The ceremonies began. First Larico, the high-priest of the Sun, clothedin his white sacerdotal robes, made sacrifice upon a little altar whichstood in front of the Inca's throne. 

It was a very simple sacrifice of fruit and corn and flowers, with whatseemed to be strange-shaped pieces of gold. At least I saw nothing else, and am sure that nothing that had life was laid upon that altar afterthe fashion of the bloody offerings of the Jews, and indeed of those ofsome of the other peoples of that great land. 

Prayers, however, were spoken, very fine prayers and pure so far as Icould understand them, for their language was more ancient and somewhatdifferent to that which was used in common speech; also the priestsmoved about, bowing and bending the knees much as our own do incelebrating the mass, though whether these motions were in honour of thegod or of the Inca, I am not sure. 

When the sacrifice was over, and the little fire that burned upon thealtar had sunk low, though I was told that for hundreds of years it hadnever been extinguished, suddenly the Inca began to speak. With manyparticulars that I had not heard before he told the tale of Kari andof his estrangement from him in past years through the plottings of themother of Urco who now was dead, like the mother of Kari. This woman, it would appear, had persuaded him, the Inca, that Kari was conspiringagainst him, and therefore Urco was ordered to take him prisoner, butreturned only with Kari's wife, saying that Kari had killed himself. 

Here Upanqui became overcome with emotion as the aged are apt to do, and beat his breast, even shedding tears because most unjustly he hadallowed these things to happen and the wicked triumph over the good, for which sin he said he felt sure his father the Sun would bring somepunishment on him, as indeed was to chance sooner than he thought. Thenhe continued his story, setting out all Urco's iniquities and sacrilegesagainst the gods, also his murders of people of high and low degree andhis stealing of their wives and daughters. Lastly he told of the comingof Kari who was supposed to be dead, and all that story which I have setout. 

Having finished his tale, with much solemn ceremonial he deposed Urcofrom his heirship to the Empire which he gave back to Kari to whom itbelonged by right of birth and calling upon his dead forefathers, one byone, to be witness to the act, with great formality once more he boundthe Prince's Fringe about his brow. As he did this, he said these words:

"Soon, O Prince Kari, you must change this yellow circlet for that whichI wear, and take with it all the burden of empire, for know that asquickly as may be I purpose to withdraw to my palace at Yucay, there tomake my peace with God before I am called hence to dwell in the Mansionsof the Sun. "

When he had finished Kari did homage to his father, and in that quiet, even voice of his, told his tale of the wrongs that he had sufferedat the hands of Urco his brother and of how he had escaped, living butmaddened, from his hate. He told also how he had wandered across thesea, though of England he said nothing, and been saved from misery anddeath by myself, a very great person in my own country. Still, since Ihad suffered wrong there, as he, Kari, had in his, he had persuaded meto accompany him back to his own land, that there my wisdom might shineupon its darkness, and owing to my divine and magical gifts hither wehad come in safety. Lastly, he asked the assembled priests and lords ifthey were content to accept him as the Inca to be, and to stand by himin any war that Urco might wage against him. 

To this they answered that they were content and would stand by him. 

Then followed many other rites such as the informing of the deadIncas, one by one, of this solemn declaration, through the mouth of thehigh-priest, and the offering of many prayers to them and to the Suntheir father. So long were these prayers with the chants from choirshidden in side chapels by which they were interspersed, that the daydrew towards its close before all was done. 

Thus it came about that the dusk was gathering when the Inca, followedby Kari, myself, the priests, and all the congregation, left the templeto present Kari as the heir to the throne to the vast crowd which waitedupon the open square outside its doors. 

Here the ceremony went on. The Inca and most of us, for there was notspace for all, although we were packed as closely together as Hastingsherrings in a basket, took our stand upon a platform that was surroundedby a marvellous cable made of links of solid gold which, it was said, needed fifty men to lift it from the ground. Then Upanqui, whosestrength seemed restored to him, perhaps because of some drug that hehad eaten, or under the spur of this great event, stepped forward to theedge of the low platform and addressed the multitude in eloquent words, setting out the matter as he had done in the temple. He ended his speechby asking the formal question:

"Do you, Children of the Sun, accept the prince Kari, my first-born, tobe Inca after me?"

There was a roar of assent, and as it died away Upanqui turned to callKari to him that he might present him to the people. 

At this very moment in the gathering twilight I saw a great fierce-facedman with a bandaged head, whom I knew to be Urco, leap over the goldenchain. He sprang upon the platform and with a shout of "I do not accepthim, and thus I pay back treachery, " plunged a gleaming copper knife orsword into the Inca's breast. 

In an instant, before any could stir in that packed crowd, Urco hadleapt back over the golden chain, and from the edge of the platform, tovanish amongst those beneath, who doubtless were men of his followingdisguised as citizens or peasants. 

Indeed all who beheld seemed frozen with horror. One great sigh went upand then there was silence, since no such deed as this was known inthe annals of that empire. For a moment the aged Upanqui stood upon hisfeet, the blood pouring down his white beard and jewelled robe. Then heturned a little and said in a clear and gentle voice:

"Kari, you will be Inca sooner than I thought. Receive me, O God myFather, and pardon this murderer who, I think, can be no true son ofmine. "

Then he fell forward on his face and when we lifted him he was dead. 

Still the silence hung; it was as though the tongues of men were smittenwith dumbness. At length Kari stepped forward and cried:

"The Inca is dead, but I, the Inca, live on to avenge him. I declare warupon Urco the murderer and all who cling to Urco!"

Now the spell was lifted, and from those dim hordes there went up a yellof hatred against Urco the butcher and parricide, while men rushed toand fro searching for him. In vain! for he had escaped in the darkness. 

On the following day, with more ceremonies, though many of these wereomitted because of the terror and trouble of the times, Kari was crownedInca, exchanging the yellow for the crimson Fringe and taking the thronename of Upanqui after his father. In Cuzco there was none to say him nayfor the whole city was horror-struck because of the sacrilege that hadbeen committed. Also those who clung to Urco had fled away with him toa town named Huarina on the borders of the great lake called Titicaca, where was an island with marvellous temples full of gold, which town layat a distance from Cuzco. 

Then the civil war began and raged for three whole months, though ofall that happened in that time because of the labour of it, I set downlittle, who would get forward with my story. 

In this war I played a great part. The fear of Kari was that theChancas, seeing the Inca realm thus rent in two, would once more attackCuzco. This it became my business to prevent. As the ambassador of KariI visited the camp of Huaracha, bearing offers of peace which gave tohim more than he could ever hope to win by strength of arms. I found theold warrior-king still sick and wasted because of the hurt from Urco'sclub, though now he could walk upon crutches, and set out the case. Heanswered that he had no wish to fight against Kari who had offered himsuch honourable terms, especially when he was waging war against Urcowhom he, Huaracha, hated, because he had striven to poison his daughterand dealt him a blow which he was sure would end in his death. Thereforehe was ready to make a firm peace with the new Inca, if in addition towhat he offered he would surrender to him Quilla who was his heiress andwould be Queen of the Chancas after him. 

With these words I went back to Kari, only to find that on this matterhe was hard as a rock of the mountains. In vain did I plead with him, and in vain did the high-priest, Larico, by subtle hints and arguments, strive to gentle his mind. 

"My brother, " said Kari in that soft even voice of his, when he hadheard me patiently to the end, "forgive me if I tell you that inadvancing this prayer, for one word you say on behalf of King Huaracha, you say two for yourself, who having unhappily been bewitched by her, desire this Virgin of the Sun, the lady Quilla, to be your wife. Mybrother, take everything else that I have to give, but leave this ladyalone. If I handed her over to Huaracha or to you, as I have told youbefore, I should bring upon myself and upon my people the curse of myfather the Sun, and of Pachacamac, the Spirit who is above the Sun. Itwas because Upanqui, my father according to the flesh, dared to lookupon her after she had entered the House of the Sun, as I have learnedhe did, that a bloody and a cruel death came upon him, for so themagicians and the wise men have assured me that the oracles declare. Therefore, rather than do this crime of crimes, I would choose thatHuaracha should renew the war against us and that you should joinyourself to him, or even to Urco, and strive to tear me from the Throne, for then even if I were slain, I should die with honour. "

"That I could never do, " I answered sadly. 

"No, my brother Hubert (for now he called me by my English name again), that you could never do, being what you are, as I know well. So like therest of us you must bear your burden. Mayhap it may please my gods, oryour gods in the end, and in some way that I cannot foresee, to give youthis woman whom you seek. But of my free will I will never give her toyou. To me the deed would be as though in your land of England the Kingcommanded the consecrated bread and cups of wine to be snatched from thehands of the priests of your temples and cast to the dogs, or given tocheer the infidels within your gates, or dragged away the nuns from yourconvents to become their lemans. What would you think of such a kingin your own country? And what, " he added with meaning, "would you havethought of me if there I had stolen one of these nuns because she wasbeautiful and I desired her as a wife?"

Now although Kari's words stung me because of the truth that was inthem, I answered that to me this matter wore another face. Also thatQuilla had become a Virgin of the Sun, not of her own free will, but toescape from Urco. 

"Yes, my brother, " he answered, "because you believe my religion to beidolatry, and do not understand that the Sun to me is the symbol andgarment of God, and that when we of the Inca blood, or those of us whohave the inner knowledge, talk of him as our Father, we mean that we arethe children of God, though the common people are taught otherwise. Forthe rest, this lady took her vows of her own free will and of her secretreasons I know nothing, any more than I know why she offered herself inmarriage to Urco before she found you upon the island. For you I grieve, and for her also; yet I would have you remember that, as your ownpriests teach, in every life that is not brutal there must be loss, sorrow, and sacrifice, since by these steps only man can climb towardsthe things of the spirit. Pluck then such flowers as you will from thegarden that Fate gives you, but leave this one white bloom alone. "

In such words as these he preached at me, till at length I could bear nomore, and said roughly:

"To me it is a very evil thing, O Inca, to separate those who love eachother, and one that cannot be pleasing to Heaven. Therefore, great asyou are, and friend of mine as you are, I tell you to your face that ifI can take the lady Quilla out of that golden grave of hers I shall doso. "

"I know it, my brother, " he answered, "and therefore, were I as someIncas have been, I should cause this holy Spouse to travel more quicklyto the skies than Nature will take her. But this I will not do becauseI know also that Destiny is above all things and that which Destinydecrees will happen unhelped by man. Still I tell you that I will thwartyou if I can and that should you succeed in your ends, I will kill youif I can and the lady also, because you have committed sacrilege. Yes, although I love you better than any other man, I will kill you. And ifKing Huaracha should be able to snatch her away by force I will make waron him until either I and my people or he and his people are destroyed. And now let us talk no more of this matter, but rather of our plansagainst Urco, since in these at least, where no woman is concerned, Iknow that you will be faithful to me and I sorely need your help. "

So with a heavy heart I went back to the camp of Huaracha and told himKari's words. He was very wroth when he heard them, since his gods weredifferent to those of the Incas and he thought nothing of the holinessof the Virgins of the Sun, and once again talked of renewing the war. Still it came to nothing for sundry reasons of which the greatest wasthat his sickness increased on him as the days went by. Also I told himthat much as I desired Quilla, I could not fight upon his side sinceI was sworn to aid Kari against Urco and my word might not be broken. Moreover, the Yuncas who had been our allies, wearying of their longabsence from home and satisfied with the gentle forgiveness and theredress of their grievances which the new Inca had promised them, weregone, having departed on their long march to the coast, while manyof the Chancas themselves were slipping back to their own country. Therefore Huaracha's hour had passed by. 

So at length we agreed that it would be foolish to attack Cuzco inorder to try to rescue Quilla, since even if Huaracha won in face of adesperate defence, probably it would be only to find that his daughterwas dead or had vanished away to some unknown and distant convent. Allthat we could do was to trust to fortune to deliver her into our hands. We agreed further that, having obtained an honourable peace and allelse that he desired, it would be well for Huaracha to return to his ownland, leaving me a body of five thousand picked men who were willing toserve under me, to assist in the war against Urco, to be my guard andthat of Quilla, if perchance I could deliver her from the House of theSun. 

When this was known five thousand of the best and bravest of theChancas, young soldiers who sought adventure and battle and whom I hadtrained, stepped forward at once and swore themselves to my service. Bidding farewell to Huaracha, with these troops I returned to Cuzco, sending messengers ahead to explain the reason of their coming to Kari, who welcomed them well and gave them quarters round the palace which wasallotted to me. 

A few days later we advanced on the town Huarina, a great host of us, and outside of it met the yet greater host of Urco in a mighty battlethat endured for a day and a night, and yet, like that of the Field ofBlood, remained neither lost nor won. When the thousands of the dead hadbeen buried and the wounded sent back to Cuzco, we attacked the cityof Huarina, I leading the van with my Chancas, and stormed the place, driving Urco and his forces out on the farther side. 

They retreated to the mountains and there followed a long and tediouswar without great battles. At length, although the Inca's armies hadsuffered sorely, we forced those of Urco to the shores of the LakeTiticaca, where most of them melted away into the swamps and certaintree-clad, low-lying valleys. Urco himself, however, with a number offollowers, escaped in boats to the holy island in the lake. 

We built a fleet of _balsas_ with reeds and blown-out sheepskins, andfollowed him. Landing on the isle we stormed the city of temples whichwere more wondrous and even fuller of gold and precious things thanthose of Cuzco. Here the men of Urco fought desperately, but drivingthem from street to street, at length we penned them in one of thelargest of the temples of which by some mischance a reed roof was seton fire, so that there they perished miserably. It was a dreadful scenesuch as I never wish to behold again. Also, after all Urco and someof his captains, breaking out of the burning temple under cover of thesmoke escaped, either in _balsas_ or, as many declare, by swimming thelake. At least they were gone nor search as we might on the mainlandcould they be found. 

So all being finished, except for the escape of Urco, we returned toCuzco which Kari entered in triumph, I marching at his side, wearied outwith war and bloodshed. 

CHAPTER XI

THE HOUSE OF DEATH

Now at one time during this long war against Urco victory smiledupon him, though afterwards the scale went down against him. Kari wasdefeated in a pitched battle and I who commanded another army wasalmost surrounded in a valley. When everything seemed lost, afterwardsI escaped by leading my soldiers round up the slope of a mountain andsurprising Urco in the rear, but as it ended well for us I need notspeak of that matter. 

It was while all was at its blackest for us that a certain officer wasbrought to me who was captured while striving to desert, or at least topass our outposts. As it happened I knew this man again having, unseen myself, noted him on the previous day talking earnestly tothe high-priest Larico, who, with other priests, accompanied my army, perhaps to keep a watch on me. I took this captain apart and questionedhim alone, threatening him with death by torment if he did not revealhis errand to me. 

In the end, being very much afraid, he spoke. From him I learned thathe was a messenger from Larico to Urco. Believing that our defeat wasalmost certain, Larico had sent him to make his peace with Urco bybetraying all Kari's and my own plans to him and revealing how he mightmost easily destroy us. He said also that he, Larico, had only joinedthe party of Upanqui, and of Kari after him, under threats of death andthat always in his heart he had been true to Urco, whom he acknowledgedas his Lord and as the rightful Inca whom he would help to restore tothe Throne with all the power of the Priesthood of the Sun. Further, he sent by this spy a secret message by means of little cords cunninglyknotted, which knots served these people as writing, since they couldread them as we read a book. 

Now, being always desirous of knowledge, I had caused myself to beinstructed in the plan of this knot-writing which by this time I couldread well enough. Therefore I was able to spell out this message. Itsaid shortly but plainly, that knowing he still desired her, he, Larico, as high-priest would hand over to Urco the lady Quilla, daughter tothe King of the Chancas who unlawfully had been hidden away amongthe Virgins of the Sun, also that he would betray me, theWhite-God-from-the-Sea who sought to steal her away, into Urco's hands, that he might kill me if he could. 

When I had mastered all this I was filled with rage and bethought methat I would cause Larico to be taken and suffer the fate of traitors. Soon, however, I changed this mind of mine and placing the spy in closekeeping where none could come at him, I set a watch on Larico but saidnothing to him or to Kari of all that I had learned. 

A few days later our fortunes changed and Urco, defeated, was in fullflight to the shores of Lake Titicaca. After this I knew we had nothingmore to fear from this fox-hearted high-priest who above everythingdesired to be on the winning side and to continue in his place andpower. So knowing that I held him fast I bided my time, because throughhim alone I could hope to come at Quilla. That time came after thewar was over and we had returned to Cuzco in triumph. As soon as therejoicings were over and Kari was firmly seated on his throne, I sentfor Larico, which, as the greatest man in the kingdom after the Inca, Iwas able to do. 

He appeared in answer to my summons and we bowed to each other, afterwhich he began to praise me for my generalship, saying that had it notbeen for me, Urco would have won the war and that the Inca had done wellto name me his Brother before the people and to say that to me he owedhis throne. 

"Yes, that is true, " I answered, "and now, since through me, you, Larico, are the third greatest man in the kingdom and remain High-Priestof the Sun and Whisperer in the Inca's ear, I would put you in mind ofa certain bargain that we made when I promised you all these things, Larico. "

"What bargain, Lord-of-the-Sea. "

"That you would bring me and a Virgin of the Sun, who while she was ofthe earth was named Quilla, together, Larico, and enable her to returnfrom those of the Sun to my arms, Larico. "

Now his face grew troubled and he answered:

"Lord, I have thought much of this matter, desiring above all things tofulfil my word and I grieve to tell you that it is impossible. "

"Why, Larico?"

"Because I find that the law of my faith is against it, Lord. "

"Is that all, Larico?" I asked with a smile. 

"No, Lord. Because I find that the Inca would not suffer it and swearsto kill all who attempt to touch the lady Quilla. "

"Is that all, Larico?"

"No, Lord. Because I find that a woman who has been betrothed to one ofthe royal blood may never pass to another man. "

"Now perhaps we come nearer to it, Larico. You mean that if thishappened and perchance after all Urco should come to the throne, as hemight do if Kari his brother died--as any man may die--he would hold youto account. "

"Yes, Lord, if that chanced, as chance it may, since Urco still livesand I hear is gathering new armies among the mountains, certainly hewould hold me to account for I have heard as much. Also our fatherthe Sun would hold me to account and so would the Inca who wields hissceptre upon earth. "

I asked him why he did not think of all these things before when he hadmuch to gain instead of now when he had gained them through me, and heanswered because he had not considered them enough. Then I pretended togrow angry and exclaimed:

"You are a rogue, Larico! You promise and take your pay and you do notperform. Henceforth I am your enemy and one to whom the Inca hearkens. "

"He hearkens still more to this god the Sun and to me who am the voiceof God, White Man, " he answered, adding insolently, "You would striketoo late; your power over me and my fortunes is gone, White Man. "

"I fear it is so, " I replied, pretending to be frightened, "so let ussay no more of the matter. After all, there are other women in Cuzcobesides this fair bride of the Sun. Now before you go, High-Priest, willyou who are so learned help me who am ignorant? I have been striving tomaster your method of conveying thoughts by means of knots. Here I havea bundle of strings which I cannot altogether understand. Be pleased tointerpret them to me, O most holy and upright High-Priest. "

Then from my robe I drew out those knotted fibres that I had taken fromhis messenger and held them before Larico's eyes. 

He stared at them and turned pale. His hand groped for his dagger tillhe saw that mine was on the hilt of Wave-Flame, whereon he let it fall. Next the thought took him that in truth I could not read the knots whichhe began to interpret falsely. 

"Have done, Traitor, " I laughed, "for I know them all. So Urco may wedQuilla and I may not. Also cease to fret as to that messenger ofyours for whom you seek far and near, since he is safe in my keeping. To-morrow I take him to deliver his message not to Urco, but toKari--and then, Traitor?"

Now Larico who, notwithstanding his stern face and proud manner, was acoward at heart, fell upon his knees before me trembling and prayed meto spare his life which lay in my hand. Well he knew that if once itcame to Kari's ears, even a high priest of the Sun could not hope toescape the reward of such treachery as his. 

"If I pardon you, what will you give me?" I asked. 

"The only thing that you will take, Lord--the lady Quilla herself. Hearken, Lord. Outside the city is the palace of Upanqui whom Urco slew. There in the great hall the divine Inca sits embalmed and into that holypresence none dare enter save the Virgins of the Sun whose office it isto wait upon the mighty dead. To-morrow one hour before the dawn, whenall men sleep, I will lead you to this hall disguised in the robes of apriest of the Sun, so that on the way thither none can know you. Thereyou will find but one Virgin of the Sun, the lady whom you seek. Takeher and begone. The rest I leave to you. "

"How do I know that you will not set some trap for me, Larico?"

"Thus, Lord, that I shall be with you and share your sacrilege. Also mylife will be in your hand. "

"Aye, Larico, " I answered grimly, "and if aught of ill befalls me, remember that this, " and I touched the knotted cords, "will find its wayto Kari, and with it the man who was your messenger. "

He nodded and answered:

"Be sure that I have but one desire, to know you, Lord, and this womanwhom, being mad, you seek so madly, far from Cuzco and never to lookupon your face again. "

Then we made our plans as to when and where we should meet and othermatters, after which he departed, bowing himself away with many smiles. 

I thought to myself that there went as big a rogue as I had ever known, in London or elsewhere, and fell to wondering what snare he would setfor me, since that he planned some snare I was sure. Why, then, did Iprepare to fall into it? I asked myself. The answer was, for a doublereason. First, although my whole heart was sick with longing for thesight of her, now, after months of seeking, I was no nearer to Quillathan when we had parted in the city of the Chancas, nor ever shouldbe without Larico's aid. Secondly, some voice within me told me to goforward taking all hazards, since if I did not, our parting would be foralways in this world. Yes, the voice warned me that unless I saved hersoon, Quilla would be no more. As Huaracha had said, there was morepoison in Cuzco, and murderers were not far to seek. Or despair might doits work with her. Or she might kill herself as once she had proposed todo. So I would go forward even though the path I walked should lead meto my doom. 

That day I did many things. Now, being so great a general and man--orgod--among these people, I had those about me who were sworn to myservice and whom I could trust. For one of these, a prince of the Incablood, of the House of Kari's mother, I sent and gave to him thoseknotted cords that were the proof of Larico's treachery, bidding him ifaught of evil overtook me, or if I could not be found, to deliver themto the Inca on my behalf and with them the prisoned messenger who was inhis keeping, but meanwhile to show them to no man. He bowed and swore bythe Sun to do my bidding, thinking doubtless that, my work finished inthis land, I purposed to return into the sea out of which I had risen, as doubtless a god could do. 

Next I summoned the captains of the Chancas who had fought under methroughout the civil war, of whom about half remained alive, and badethem gather their men upon the ridge where I had stood at the beginningof the battle of the Field of Blood, and wait until I joined themthere. If it chanced, however, that I did not appear within six daysI commanded that they should march back to their own country and makereport to King Huaracha that I had "returned into the sea" for reasonsthat he would guess. Also I commanded that eight famous warriors whom Inamed, men of my own bodyguard who had fought with me in all our battlesand would have followed me through fire or water or the gates of Hellthemselves, should come to the courtyard of my palace after nightfall, bringing a litter and disguised as its bearers, but having their armshidden beneath their cloaks. 

These matters settled, I waited upon the Inca Kari and craved of himleave to take a journey. I told him that I was weary with so muchfighting and desired to rest amidst my friends the Chancas. 

He gazed at me awhile, then stretched out his sceptre to me in tokenthat my request was granted, and said in a sad voice:

"So you would leave me, my brother, because I cannot give you that whichyou desire. Bethink you. You will be no nearer to the Moon (by whichhe meant Quilla) at Chanca than you are at Cuzco and here, next to theInca, you are the greatest in the Empire who by decree are named hisbrother and the general of his armies. "

Now, though my gorge rose at it, I lied to him, saying:

"The Moon is set for me, so let her sleep whom I shall see no more. Forthe rest, learn, O Kari, that Huaracha has sworn to me that I shall be, not his brother but his son, and Huaracha is sick--they say to death. "

"You mean that you would choose to be King over the Chancas ratherthan stand next to the throne among the Quichuas?" he said, scanning mesharply. 

"Aye, Kari, " I replied, still lying. "Since I must dwell in this strangeland, I would do so as a king--no less. "

"To that you have a right, Brother, who are far above us all. But whenyou are a king, what is your plan? Do you purpose to strive to conquerme and rule over Tavantinsuyu, as perchance you could do?"

"Nay, I shall never make war upon you, Kari, unless you break yourtreaty with the Chancas and strive to subdue them. "

"Which I shall never do, Brother. "

Then he paused awhile and spoke again with more passion that I had everknown in him, saying:

"Would that this woman who comes between us were dead. Would that shehad never been born. In truth, I am minded to pray to my father, theSun, that he will be pleased to take her to himself, for then perchancewe two might be as we were in the old time yonder in your England, andwhen we faced perils side by side upon the ocean and in the forests. Acurse on Woman the Divider, and all the curses of all the gods upon thiswoman whom I may not give to you. Had she been of my Household I wouldhave bidden you to take her, yes, even if she were my wife, but she isthe wife of the god and therefore I may not--alas! I may not, " and hehid his face in his robe and groaned. 

Now when I heard these words I grew afraid who knew well that she ofwhom the Inca prays the Sun that she may die, does die, and swiftly. 

"Do not add to this lady's wrongs by robbing her of life as well as ofsight and liberty, Kari, " I said. 

"Have no fear, Brother, " he answered, "she is safe from me. No wordshall pass my lips though it is true that in my heart I wish that shewould die. Go your ways, Brother and Friend, and when you grow wearyof 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 mightjourney hence together over the world's edge. "

Then he stood up on his throne and bowed towards me, kissing the air asthough to a god, and taking the royal chain that every Inca wore fromabout his neck, set it upon mine. This done, turning, he left me withoutanother word. 

With a heavy heart I returned to my palace where I dwelt. At sundown Iate according to my custom, and dismissed those who waited upon me tothe servants' quarters. There were but two of them for my private lifewas simple. Then I slept till past midnight and rising, went intothe courtyard where I found the eight Chanca captains disguisedas litter-bearers and with them the litter. I led them to an emptyguard-house and bade them stay there in silence. After this I returnedto my chamber and waited. 

About two hours before the dawn Larico came, knocking on the side-dooras we had planned. I opened to him and he entered disguised in a hoodedcloak of sheep's wool which covered his robes and his face, such aspriests wear when the weather is cold. He gave to me the garments of apriest of the Sun which he had brought with him in a cloth. I clothedmyself in them though because of the fashion of them to do this I mustbe rid of my armour which would have betrayed me. Larico desired that Ishould take off the sword Wave-Flame also, but, mistrusting him, thisI would not do, but made shift to hide it and my dagger beneath thepriest'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 speechhad gone by and peril or some fear of what might befall weighed upon ourtongues. In the guard-house I found the Chancas at whom Larico lookedcuriously but said nothing. To them I gave the bundle of armour to behidden in the litter and with it my long bow, having first revealedmyself to them by lifting the hood of my cloak. Then I bade them followme. 

Larico and I walked in front and after us came the eight men, four ofthem bearing the empty litter, and the other four marching behind. Thiswas well planned since if any saw us or if we met guards as once ortwice we did, these thought that we were priests taking one who was sickor dead to be tended or to be made ready for burial. Once, however, wewere challenged, but Larico spoke some word and we passed on withoutquestion. 

At length in the darkness before the dawn we came to the private palaceof dead Upanqui. At its garden gate Larico would have had me leave thelitter with the eight Chanca warriors disguised as bearers. I refused, saying that they must come to the doors of the palace, and when he grewurgent, tapped my sword, whispering to him fiercely that he had bestbeware lest it should be he who stayed at the gate. Then he gave wayand 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, forhere I bade the Chancas await my return. 

We crept down a short passage that was curtained at its end. Passingthe curtains I found myself in Upanqui's banqueting-hall. This hall wasdimly lit with one hanging golden lamp. By its light I saw somethingmore wondrous and of its sort more awful than ever I had seen in thatstrange land. 

There, on a dais, in his chair of gold, sat dead Upanqui arrayed in allhis gorgeous Inca robes and so marvellously preserved that he might havebeen a man asleep. With arms crossed and his sceptre at his side, he satstaring down the hall with fixed and empty eyes, a dreadful figure oflife 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 remaintill the roof fell in and buried them, since on this hallowed wealththe boldest dared not lay a hand. In the centre of the hall, also, wasa table prepared as though for feasters, for amid jewelled cups andplatters stood the meats and wines which day by day were brought afreshby the Virgins of the Sun. Doubtless there were more wonders, but theseI could not see because the light did not reach them, or to the doorwaysof the chambers that opened from the hall. Moreover, there was somethingelse which caught my eye. 

At the foot of the dais crouched a figure which at first I took to bethat of some dead one also embalmed, perhaps a wife or daughter of thedead Inca who had been set with him in this place. While I stared atit the figure stirred, having heard our footsteps, rose and turned, standing so that the light from the hanging lamp fell full upon it. Itwas Quilla clad in white and purple with a golden likeness of the Sunblazoned upon her breast!

So beauteous did she look searching the darkness with great blind eyesand her rich flowing hair flowing from beneath her jewelled headdress, a diadem fashioned to resemble the Sun's rays, that my breath failed meand 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, youwhom men call a god, but I call a drunken fool ready to risk all fora woman's lips. Go take her and ask the blessing upon your kisses ofyonder dead king whose holy rest you break. "

"Be silent, " I whispered back and passed round the table till I cameface to face with Quilla. Then a strange dumbness fell upon me like aspell or dead Upanqui's curse, so that I could not speak. 

I stood there staring at those beautiful blind eyes and the blind eyesstared back at me. Presently a look of understanding gathered on theface and Quilla spoke, or rather murmured to herself. 

"Strange--but I could have sworn! Strange, but I seemed to feel! Oh! Islept in my vigils upon that dead old man who in life was so foolishand in death appears to have become so wise, and sleeping I dreamed. Idreamed I heard a step I shall never hear again. I dreamed one was nearme whom I shall never touch again. I will sleep once more, for in mydarkness what are left to me save sleep and--death?"

Then at last I found my tongue and said hoarsely, "Love is left, Quilla, and--life. "

She heard and straightened herself. Her whole body seemed to becomerigid as though with an agony of joy. Her blind eyes flashed, her lipsquivered. She stretched out her hand, feeling at the darkness. Herfingers touched my forehead, and thence she ran them swiftly over myface. 

"It is--dead or living--it is----" and she opened her arms. 

Oh! was there ever anything more beautiful on the earth than this sightof the blind Quilla thus opening her arms to me there in the gorgeoushouse of death?

We clung and kissed. Then I thrust her away, saying:

"Come swiftly from this ill-omened place. All is ready. The Chancaswait. "

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 thedarkness that hid the doors of the chamber on the right appeared a giantform which I knew for that of Urco, and behind him others. I lookedto the left and there were more of them, while in front beyond thegold-laid board stood the traitor, Larico, laughing. 

"You have the first fruits, but it seems that another will reap theharvest, Lord-from-the-Sea, " he jeered. 

"Seize her, " cried Urco in his guttural voice, pointing to Quilla withhis mace, "and brain that white thief. "

I drew Wave-Flame and strove to get at him, but from both sides menrushed 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 weaponsflashed over me. A thought came to me. The Chancas were at the door. Imust reach them, for perhaps so Quilla might be saved. In front wasthe 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 me--I sprang at himand lifting Wave-Flame with both hands I smote with all my strength. Hefell, as it seemed to me, cloven to the middle. Then some spear cast atme 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 hadfirst struck down, the sound of vases and vessels overthrown, and aboveall those of a woman's shrieks echoing from the walls and roof, so thatI could not tell whence they came. 

Through the gross darkness I went on towards the curtains, or so Ihoped. Presently they were torn open, and by the faint light of thebreaking dawn I saw my eight Chancas rushing towards me. 

"Follow!" I cried, and at the head of them groped my way back up thehall, seeking for Quilla. I stumbled over the dead body of Larico andfelt a path round the table. Then suddenly a door at the back of thehall was thrown open and by the grey light which came through thedoorway I perceived the last of the ravishers departing. We scrambledacross the dais where the golden chair was overthrown and the embalmedUpanqui lay, a stiff and huddled heap upon his back, staring at me withjewelled eyes. 

We gained the door which, happily, none had remembered to close, andpassed out into the parklike grounds beyond. A hundred paces or moreahead of us, by the glowing light, I saw a litter passing between thetrees surrounded by armed men, and knew that in it was Quilla beingborne to captivity and shame. 

After it we sped. It passed the gate of the park wall, but when wereached that gate it was shut and barred and we must waste time breakingit down, which we did by help of a felled tree that lay at hand. We werethrough it, and now the rim of the sun had appeared so that through themorning mist, which clung to the hillside beyond the town, we couldsee the litter, the full half of a mile away. On we went up the hill, gaining as we ran, for we had no litter to bear, nor aught else save thesack of armour which one of the Chancas had thought to bring with himwhen he rushed into the hall, and with it my long bow and shaft. 

Now, at a certain place between this hill and another there was a gorgesuch as are common in that country, a gorge so deep and narrow thatin places the light of day scarcely struggles to the pathways at itsbottom. Into this tunnel the litter vanished and when we drew near I sawthat its mouth was held by armed men, six of them or more. Taking my bowfrom the Chanca I strung it and shot swiftly. The man at whom I aimedwent down. Again I shot and another fell, whereon the rest of them tookcover behind stones. 

Throwing back the bow to the Chanca, for now it was useless, we charged. That business was soon over, for presently all those of Urco's men whoremained there were dead, save one who, being cut off, fled down hilltowards the city, taking with him the news of what had passed in thepalace of dead Upanqui. 

We entered the mouth of the gorge, plunging towards the gloom, though asit chanced this place faced towards the east, so that the low sun, whichnow was fully up, shone down it and gave us light that later would havebeen lacking. 

I, who was very swift of foot and to whom rage and fear gave wings, outran my companions. Swinging myself round a rock which lay in thepathway, I saw the litter again not a hundred yards ahead. It haltedbecause, as it seemed to me, one or more of the bearers stumbled andfell among the stones. I rushed at them, roaring. Perhaps it had beenwiser to wait for my companions, but I was mad and feared nothing. Theysaw me and a cry went up of:

"The White God! The terrible White God!"

Then fear took hold of them and they fled, leaving the litter on theground. Yes, all of them fled save one, Urco himself. 

He stood there rolling his eyes and gnashing his teeth, looking hugeand awful in those shadows, looking like a devil from hell. Suddenly athought seemed to take him, and leaping at the litter he tore aside itscurtains and dragged out Quilla, who fell prone upon the ground. 

"If I may not have her, you shall not, White Thief. See! I give back hisbride to the Sun, " he shouted, and lifted his copper sword to pierce herthrough. 

Now I was still ten paces or so away and saw that before I could reachhim that sword would be in her heart. What could I do? Oh! St. Hubertmust have helped me then for I knew in an instant. In my hand wasWave-Flame and with all my strength I hurled it at his head. 

The great blade hurtled hissing through the air. I saw the sunlightshine on it. He strove to leap clear, but too late, for it caught himon the hand that he had lifted to protect his head, and shore off two ofhis fingers so that he dropped his sword. Next instant, still roaring, as doubtless old Thorgrimmer, my forefather, used to do when he foughtto the death, for blood is very strong, I leapt on the giant, who likemyself was swordless. There in the gulf we wrestled. He was a mightyman, but now my strength was as that of ten. I threw him to the groundby a Sussex trick I knew and there we rolled over and over each other. Once he had me undermost and I think would have choked me, had it notbeen that his right hand lacked two fingers. 

With a mighty heave I lifted him so that now we lay side by side. Hewas groping for a knife--I did not see, but knew it. Near his head asharp-edged stone rose in the path to the height of a man's hand ormore. I saw it and bethought me what to do if I could. Again I heavedand as at length he found the knife and stabbed at me, scratching myface, I got his bull's neck upon that stone. Then I loosed my hand andcaught him by the hair. Back I pressed his great head, back and backwith all my might till something snapped. 

Urco's neck was broken. Urco quivered and was dead!

I lay by his side, panting. A voice came from the white heap upon theground by whom and for whom this dreadful combat had been fought, thevoice of Quilla. 

"One died, but who lives?" asked the voice. 

I could not answer because I had no breath. All my strength was gone. Still I sat up, supporting myself with my hand and hoping that it wouldcome back. Quilla turned her face towards me, or rather towards thesound that I had made in moving, and I thought to myself how sad it wasthat she should be blind. Presently she spoke again and now her voicequavered:

"I _see_ who it is that lives, " she said. "Something has broken in myeyes and, Lord and Love, I see that it is _you_ who live. You, you, andoh! you bleed. "

Then the Chancas came bounding down the gorge and found us. 

They looked at the dead giant and saw how he had died, killed bystrength, not by the sword; they looked and bent the knee and praisedme, saying that I was indeed a god, since no man could have done thisdeed, killing the huge Urco with his naked hands. Then they placedQuilla back in her litter and six of them bore her down that blackgorge. The two who remained, for in that fight none of them had beenhurt, supported me till my strength came back, for the cut in the facethat I had received from Urco's dagger was but slight. We reached themouth of the gorge and took counsel. 

To return to Cuzco after what I had done, would be to seek death. So webore away to the right and, making a round, came about ten o'clock ofthe morning unmolested by any, to that ridge on which I had stood at thebeginning of the battle of the Field of Blood. There I found the Chancasencamped, some three thousand of them, as I had commanded. When theysaw me, living and but little hurt, they shouted for joy, and when theylearned who was in that litter they went well-nigh mad. 

Then the eight warriors with me told them all the tale of the savingof Quilla and the death of the giant Urco at my hands, whereon theircaptains came and kissed my feet, saying that I was in truth a god, though heretofore some of them had held me to be but a man. 

"God or man, " I answered, "I must rest. Let the women tend to ladyQuilla, and give me food and drink, after which I will sleep. At sunsetwe march home to Huaracha, your king and mine, to give him back hisdaughter. Till then there is naught to fear, since Kari has no troops athand with which to attack us. Still, set outposts. "

So I ate and drank, but little of the former and much of the latter, Ifear, and after that I slept as soundly as one who is dead, for I wasoutworn. 

When the sun was within an hour of setting, captains awakened me andsaid that an embassy from Cuzco, ten men only, waited outside our lines, seeking speech with me. So I rose, and my face and wound having beendressed, caused water to be poured over my body, and was rubbed withoil; after which, clothed in the robes of a Chanca noble, but wearing noarmour, I went out with nine Chanca captains to receive the embassy onthe plain at the foot of the hill, at that very spot where first I hadfought with Urco. 

When we drew near, from out of the group of nobles advanced one man. Ilooked and saw that he was Kari, yes, the Inca himself. 

I went forward to meet him and we spoke together just out of earshot ofour followers. 

"My brother, " said Kari, "I have learned all that has passed and Igive you praise who are the most daring among men and the first amongwarriors; you who slew the giant Urco with your naked hands. "

"And thus made your throne safe for you, Kari. "

"And thus made my throne safe for me. You also who clove Larico to thebreast in the death-house of Upanqui, my father----"

"And thus delivered you from a traitor, Kari. "

"And thus delivered me from a traitor, as I have learned also from yourmessenger who handed to me the knotted cord, and from the spy whom youhad in your keeping. I repeat that you are the most daring among men andthe first among warriors; almost a god as my people name you. "

I bowed, and after a little silence he went on:

"Would that this were all that I have to say. But alas! it is not. Youhave committed the great sacrilege against the Sun, my father, of whichI warned you, having robbed him of his bride, and, my brother, you havelied to me, who told me but yesterday that you had put all thought ofher from your mind. "

"To me that was no sacrilege, Kari, but rather a righteous deed, to freeone from the bonds of a faith in which neither she nor I believe, and tolead her from a living tomb back to life and love. "

"And was the lie righteous also, Brother?"

"Aye, " I answered boldly, "if ever a lie can be. Bethink you. You prayedthat this lady might die because she came between you and me, and thosethat kings pray may die, do die, if not with their knowledge or by theirexpress command. Therefore I said that I had put her from my mind inorder that she might go on living. "

"To cherish you in her arms, Brother. Now hearken. Because of this deedof yours, we who were more than friends have become more than foes. Youhave declared war upon my god and me; therefore I declare war upon you. Yet hearken again. I do not wish that thousands of men should perishbecause of our quarrel. Therefore I make an offer to you. It is that youshould fight me here and now, man to man, and let the Sun, or Pachacamacbeyond the Sun, decide the matter as may be decreed. "

"Fight _you!_ Fight _you_ Kari, the Inca, " I gasped. 

"Aye, fight me to the death, since between us all is over and done. InEngland you nurtured me. Here in the land of Tavantinsuyu, which I ruleto-day, I have nurtured you, and in my shadow you have grown great, though it is true that had it not been for your generalship, perchanceI should no longer be here to throw the shadow. Let us therefore set theone thing against the other and, forgetting all between us that is past, stand face to face as foes. Mayhap you will conquer me, being so mightya man of war. Mayhap, also, if that chances, my people who look upon youas half a god will raise you up to be Inca after me, should such be yourdesire. "

"It is not, " I broke in. 

"I believe you, " he answered, bowing his head, "but will it not be thedesire of that fair-faced harlot who has betrayed our Lord the Sun?"

At this word I started and bit my lip. 

"Ah! that stings you, " he went on, "as the truth always stings, and itis well. Understand, White Lord who were once my brother, that eitheryou must fight me to the death, or I declare war upon you and upon theChanca people, which war I will wage from month to month and from yearto year until you are all destroyed, as destroyed you shall be. Butshould you fight and should the Sun give me the victory, then justicewill be accomplished and I will keep the peace that I have sworn withthe Chanca people. Further, should you conquer me, in the name of mypeople I swear that there shall still be peace between them and theChancas, since I shall have atoned your sacrilege with my blood. Nowsummon those lords of yours and I will summon mine, and set out thematter to them. "

So I turned and beckoned to my captains, and Kari beckoned to his. Theycame, and in the hearing of all, very clearly and quietly as was hisfashion, he repeated every word that he had said to me, adding tothem others of like meaning. While he spoke I thought, not listeningover-much. 

This thing was hateful to me, yet I was in a snare, since according tothe customs of all these peoples I could not refuse such a challenge andremain unshamed. Moreover, it was to the advantage of the Chancas, aye, and of the Quichuas also, that I should not refuse it seeingthat whether I lived or died, peace would then reign between them whootherwise must both be destroyed by war. I remembered how once Quillahad sacrificed herself to prevent such a war, though in the end that warhad come; and what Quilla had done, should I not do also? Weary thoughI was I did not fear Kari, brave and swift as he might be, indeed Ithought that I could kill him and perhaps take his throne, since theQuichuas worshipped me, who so often had led their armies to triumph, almost as much as did the Chancas. But--I could not kill Kari. As soonwould I kill one born of my own mother. Was there then no escape?

The answer rose in my mind. There was an escape. I could suffer Kari tokill me. Only if I did this, what of Quilla! After all that had come andgone, must I lose Quilla thus, and must Quilla lose me? Surely she wouldbreak her heart and die. My plight was desperate. I knew not what to do. Then of a sudden, while I wavered, some voice seemed to whisper in myear; I thought it must be that of St. Hubert. It seemed to say to me, "Kari trusts to his god, cannot you trust to yours, Hubert of Hastings, you who are a Christian man? Go forward, and trust to yours, Hubert ofHastings. "

Kari's gentle voice died away; he had finished his speech and all menlooked at me. 

"What word?" I said roughly to my captains. 

"Only this, Lord, " answered their spokesman, "Fight you must, of thatthere can be no doubt, but we would fight with you, the ten of theChancas against the ten of the Quichuas. "

"Aye, that is good, " replied the first of Kari's nobles. "This businessis too great to set upon one man's skill and strength. "

"Have done!" I said. "It lies between the Inca and myself, " while Karinodded, and repeated "Have done!" after me. 

Then I sent one of the captains back to the camp for my sword and Karicommanded that his should be brought to him, since according to thecustom of these people when ambassadors meet, neither of us was armed. Presently, the captain holding my sword returned, and with him servantswho brought my armour. Also after them streamed all the army of theChancas among whom the news had spread like wind-driven fire, and linedthemselves upon the ridge to watch. As he came, too, I noticed that thiscaptain sharpened Wave-Flame with a certain kind of stone that was usedto give a keen edge to weapons. 

He brought the ancient weapon and handed it to me on his knee. TheInca's man also brought his sword and handed it to him, as he did so, bowing his forehead to the dust. Well I knew that weapon, since oncebefore I had faced it in desperate battle for my life. It was theivory-handled sword of the lord Deleroy which Kari had taken from hisdead hand after I slew him in the Solar of my house in the Cheap atLondon. Then the servant came to me with the armour, but I sent himaway, saying that as the Inca had none, I would not wear it, at which mypeople murmured. 

Kari saw and heard. 

"Noble as ever, " he said aloud. "Oh! that such bright honour should havebeen tarnished by a woman's breath. "

Our lords discussed the manner of our fighting, but to them I paidlittle heed. 

At length all was ready and we stepped forward to face each other at agiven word, clad much alike. I had thrown off my outer garment and stoodbareheaded in a jerkin of soft sheepskin. Kari, too, was stripped of hissplendid dress and clad in a tunic of sheepskin. Also, that we mightbe quite equal, he had taken off his turban-like headgear and even theroyal Fringe, whereat his lords stared at each other for they thoughtthis a bad omen. 

It was just then I heard a sound behind me, and turning my head I sawQuilla stumbling towards us down the stony slope as best her half-blindeyes would let her, and crying as she came:

"Oh! my Lord, fight not. Inca, I will return to the House of the Sun!"

"Silence, accursed woman!" said Kari, frowning. "Does the Sun take backsuch as you? Silence until the woe that you have wrought is finished, and then wail on forever. "

She shrank back at his bitter, unjust words, and guided by the women whohad followed her, sank upon a stone, where she sat still as a statue oras dead Upanqui in his hall. 

Now one called aloud the pledges of the fight which were as Kari hadspoken them. He listened and added:

"Be it known, also, that this battle is to the death of one or both ofus, since if we live I take back my oaths and I will burn yonder witchas a sacrifice to the Sun whom she has betrayed, and destroy her peopleand her city according to the ancient law of Vengeance on the House ofthose who have deceived the Sun. "

I heard but made no answer, who did not wish to waste my breath inbandying words with a great man, whose brain had been turned by bigotryand woman-hatred. 

A moment later the signal was given and we were at it. Kari leapt at melike the tree-lion of his own forests, but I avoided and parried. Thricehe leapt and thrice I did this; yes, even when I saw an opening andmight have cut him down. Almost I struck, then could not. The Chancaswatched me, wondering what game I played who was not wont to fightin this fashion, and I also wondered, who still knew not what to do. Something I must do, or presently I should be slain, since soon my guardwould fail and Deleroy's sword get home at last. 

I think that Kari grew perplexed at this patient defence of mine, andnever a blow struck back. At least he withdraw a little, then came forme with a rush, holding his sword high above his head with the purposeof striking me above that guard, or so I supposed. Then, of a sudden, Iknew what to do. Wheeling Wave-Flame with all my strength in both hands, I smote, not at Kari but at the ivory handle of his sword. The keen andancient steel that might well have been some of that which, as legendtold, was forged by the dwarfs in Norseland, fell upon the ivory betweenhis hand-grip and the cross-piece and shore through it as I had hopedthat it would do, so that the blade of Kari's sword, severed just abovethe hilt, fell to the ground and the hilt itself was jarred from hishand. 

His nobles saw and groaned while the Chancas shouted with joy, for nowKari was defenceless and save for the death itself, this fight to thedeath was ended. 

Kari folded his arms upon his breast and bent his head. 

"It is the decree of my god, " he said, "and I did ill to trust to thesword of a villain whom you slew. Strike, Conqueror, and make an end. "

I rested myself upon Wave-Flame and answered:

"If I strike not, O Inca, will you take back your words and let peacereign between your people and the Chancas?"

"Nay, " he answered. "What I have said, I have said. If yonder falsewoman is given up to suffer the fate of those who have betrayed the Sun, then there shall be peace between the peoples, but not otherwise, sincewhile I live I will wage war upon her and you, and upon the Chancas whoshelter both of you. "

Now rage took hold of me, who remembered that while this woman-haterlived blood must flow in streams, but that if he died there would bepeace and Quilla would be safe. So I lifted my sword a little, and as Idid so Quilla rose from her stone and stumbled forward, crying:

"O Lord, shed not the Inca's holy blood for me. Let me be given up! Letme be given up!"

Then some spirit entered into me and I spoke, saying:

"Lady, half of your prayer I grant and half I deny. I will not shed theInca's blood; as soon would I shed yours. Nor will I suffer you to begiven up who have done no wrong, since it was I who took you away byforce, as Urco would have done. Kari, hearken to me. Not once only whenwe were in danger together in past days have you said to me that wemust put our faith in the gods we worship, and thus we did. Now again Ihearken to that counsel of yours and put my faith in the God I worship. You threaten to gather all the strength of your mighty empire, andbecause of what I hold to be your superstitions, to destroy the Chancapeople to the last babe and to level their city to the last stone. Ido not believe that the God I worship will suffer this to come about, though how he will stay your vengeance I do not know. Kari, greatInca of Tavantinsuyu, Lord of all this strange new world, I, the WhiteWanderer-from-the-Sea, give you your life and save you as once beforeI saved you in a far land, and with your life I give you my blessing inall matters but this one alone. Kari, my brother, look your last on meand go in peace. "

The Inca heard, and raising his head, stared at me with his fine, melancholy eyes. Then suddenly from those eyes there came a gush oftears. More, he knelt before me and kissed the ground, as the humblestof his slaves might do before his own majesty. 

"Most noble of men, " he said, lifting himself up again, "I worship you. Yes, I, the Inca, worship you. Would that I might take back my oath, butthis I cannot do because my god hardens my heart and then would decreedestruction on my people. Mayhap he whom you serve will bring things topass as you foretell, as it would seem he has brought it to pass thatI should eat the dust before you. I hope that it may be so who lovenot the sight of blood, but who like the shot arrow must yet follow mycourse, driven by the strength that loosed me. Brother, honoured andbeloved, fare you well! May happiness be yours in life and death, andthere in death may we meet again and once more be brothers where nowomen come to part us. "

Then Kari turned and went with bowed head, together with his nobles, whofollowed him as sadly as those who surround a corpse, but not until theyhad given to me that royal salute which is only rendered to the Inca inhis glory. 

CHAPTER XIII

THE KISS OF QUILLA

Her women bore Quilla swooning from that ill-fated field, and sick andsad she remained until once more we saw the City of the Chancas. Yet allthis while strength and sight were returning to her eyes, so that inthe end she could see as well as ever she had done, for which I thankedHeaven. 

Messengers had gone before us, so that when we drew near all the peopleof the Chancas came out to meet us, a mighty multitude, who spreadflowers before us and sang songs of joy. On the same evening I wassummoned by Huaracha and found him dying. There in the presence ofhis chief captains Quilla and I told him all our story, to which helistened, answering nothing. When it was finished he said:

"I thank you, Lord-from-the-Sea, who through great perils have saved mydaughter and brought her home to bid farewell to me, untarnished asshe went. I understand now that it was an evil policy which led me topromise her in marriage to the prince Urco. Through your valour it hascome to naught and I am glad. Great dangers still lie ahead of you andof my people. Deal with them as you will and can, for henceforward, Lord-from-the-Sea, they are your people, yours and my daughter'stogether, since it is my desire and command that you two should wed sosoon as I am laid with my fathers. Perchance it had been better if youhad slain the Inca when he was in your hand, but man goes where hisspirit leads him. My blessing and the blessing of my gods be on you bothand on your children. Leave me, for I can say no more. "

That night King Huaracha died. 

Three days later he was buried with great pomp beneath the floor of theTemple of the Moon, not being preserved and kept above ground after thefashion of the Incas. 

On the last day of the mourning a council was summoned of all the greatones in the country to the number of several hundreds, to which I wasbidden. This was done in the name of Quilla, who was now named by atitle which meant, "High Lady, " or "Queen. " I went to it eagerly enoughwho had seen nothing of her since that night of her father's death, for, according to the custom of this people, she had spent the time ofmourning alone with her women. 

To my surprise I was led by an officer, not into the great hall where Iknew the notables were assembling, but to that same little chamber wherefirst I had talked with Huaracha, Quilla's father. Here the officerleft me wondering. Presently I heard a sound and looking up, saw Quillaherself standing between the curtains, like to a picture in its frame. She was royally arrayed and wore upon her brow and breast the emblemof the moon, so that she seemed to glitter in that dusky place, thoughnothing about her shone with such a light as did her large and doe-likeeyes. 

"Greeting, my Lord, " she said in her soft voice, curtseying to me as shespoke. "Has my Lord aught to say to me? If so, it must be quick, sincethe Great Council waits. "

Now I grew foolish and tongue-tied, but at length stammered out:

"Nothing, except what I have said before--that I love you. "

She smiled a little in her slow fashion, then asked:

"Is there naught to add?"

"What can there be to add to love, Quilla?"

"I know not, " she answered, still smiling. "Yet in what does the love ofman and woman end?"

I shook my head and answered:

"In many things, all of them different. In hell sometimes, and morerarely in heaven. "

"And on earth which lies between the two, should those who love escapedeath and separation?"

"Well, on earth--in marriage. "

She looked at me again and this time a new light shone in her eyes whichI could not misinterpret. 

"Do you mean that you will marry me, Quilla?" I muttered. 

"Such was my father's wish, Lord, but what is yours? Oh! have done, " shewent on in a changed voice. "For what have we suffered all these thingsand gone through such long partings and dangers so dreadful? Was it notthat if Fate should spare us we might come together at last? And has notFate spared us--for a while? What said the prophecy of me in the Templeof Rimac? Was it not that the Sun should be my refuge and--I forget therest. "

"I remember it, " I said. "That in the beloved arms you should sleep atlast. "

"Yes, " she went on, the blood mounting to her cheeks, "that in thebeloved arms I should sleep at last. So, the first part of the prophecyhas come true. "

"As the rest shall come true, " I broke in, awaking, and swept her to mybreast. 

"Are you sure, " she murmured presently, "that you love me, a woman whomyou think savage, well enough to wed me?"

"Aye, more than sure, " I answered. 

"Hearken, Lord. I knew it always, but being woman I desired to hear itfrom your own lips. Of this be certain: that though I am but what I am, a maiden, wild-hearted and untaught, no man shall ever have a truer andmore loving wife. It is my hope, even that my love will be such that init at last you may learn to forget that other lady far away who once wasyours, if only for an hour. "

Now I shrank as from a sword prick, since first loves, whatever the taleof them, as Quilla guessed or Nature taught her, are not easily forgot, and even when they are dead their ghosts will rise and haunt us. 

"And my hope, most dear, is that you will be mine, not for an hour butfor all our life's days, " I answered. 

"Aye, " she said, sighing, "but who knows how many these will be?Therefore let us pluck the flowers before they wither. I hear steps. Thelords come to summon us. Be pleased to enter the Council at my side andholding me by the hand. There I have somewhat to say to the people. Theshadow of the Inca Kari, whom you spared, still lies cold upon us andthem. "

Before I could ask her meaning the lords entered, three of them, andglancing at us curiously, said that all were gathered. Then they turnedand went before us to the great hall where every place was filled. Handin hand we mounted the dais, and as we came all the audience rose andgreeted us with a roar of welcome. 

Quilla seated herself upon a throne and motioned to me to take my placeupon another throne at her side, which I noted stood a little higherthan that on which she sat, and this, as I learned afterwards, notby chance. It was planned so to tell the people, of the Chancas thathenceforth I was their king while she was but my wife. 

When the shouting had died away Quilla rose from her throne and began tospeak, which like many of the higher class of this people she could dowell enough. 

"Lords and Captains of the Chanca nation, " she said, "my father, theking Huaracha, being dead, leaving no lawful son, I have succeeded tohis dignities, and summoned you here to take counsel with me. 

"First, learn this, that I, your Queen and Lady, have been chosen aswife by him who sits at my side. "

Here the company shouted again, thus announcing that this tidingspleased them. For though by now only the common people still believed meto be a god risen from the sea, all held that I was a great general anda great man, one who knew much that they did not know, and who couldboth lead and fight better than the best of them. Indeed, since I hadslain Urco with my hands and overcome Kari, who as Inca was believed tobe clothed with the strength of the Sun and therefore unconquerable, I was held to be unmatched throughout Tavantinsuyu. Moreover, the armythat had fought under my command loved me as though I were their fatheras well as their general. Therefore all greeted this tidings well enoughwithout astonishment, for they knew it was their dead king's wish that Ishould wed his daughter and that to win her I had gone through much. 

In answer to their shoutings I, too, rose from my seat, and drawing thesword Wave-Flame, which I wore girt about my dinted armour, with it Isaluted first Quilla and then the gathered nobles, saying:

"Lords of the Chancas, when on an island in the sea, my eyes fell uponthis lady who to-day is your queen, I loved her and swore that I wouldwed her if I might. Between that day and this much has befallen. She wassnatched away to be made the wife of Urco, heir to the Inca throne, andafterwards, to escape him whom she hated, she took refuge in the Houseof the Inca god. Then, people of the Chancas, came the great war whichwe shared together, and in the end I rescued her from that house ofbondage, and slew Urco while he strove to steal or stab her. This done, I conquered Kari the Inca, who was as my brother, yet because I savedyour lady from his god the Sun, became my enemy, and together she andI returned to this, her land. Now it is her will to wed me, as it hasalways been mine to wed her, and here in front of all of you I take herto wife, as she takes me to husband, hoping that for many years it maybe given to us to rule over you, and to our children after us. Yet Iwarn you that although in the great war that has been, if with muchloss, we have held our own against all the hosts of Cuzco and won anhonourable peace, by this marriage of ours, which robs the Inca god ofone of a thousand brides, that peace is broken. Therefore in the future, as in the past, there will be war between the Quichua and the Chancapeoples. "

"We know it, " shouted the nobles. "War is decreed, let war come!"

"What would you have had me do?" I went on. "Leave your queen tolanguish in the House of the Sun, wed to nothingness, or suffer her tobe dragged away to be one of Urco's women, or hand her back to Kari tobe slain as a sacrifice to a god whom you do not accept?"

"Nay!" they cried. "We would have her wed you, White Lord-from-the-Sea, that she may become a mother of kings. "

"So I thought, Chancas. Yet I warn you that there is trouble near. Thestorm gathers and soon it will burst, since Kari is not one who breakshis oaths. "

"Why did you not kill him when he was in your hand, and take histhrone?" asked one. 

"Because I could not. Because it would not have been pleasing to Heaventhat I should slay a man who for years had been as my brother. Becausein this way or in that the deed would have fallen back upon my head, upon the head of the lady Quilla, and upon your heads also, O people ofthe Chancas, because----"

At this moment there was disturbance at the end of the hall, and aherald cried:

"An embassy! An embassy from Kari, the Inca. "

"Let it be admitted, " said Quilla. 

Presently up the central passage marched the embassy with pomp, greatlords and "earmen, " every man of them, and bowed before us. 

"Your words?" said Quilla quietly. 

"They are these, Lady, " answered the spokesman of the party. "For thelast time the Inca demands that you should surrender yourself to besacrificed as one who has betrayed the Sun. He asks it of you since hehas learned that your father Huaracha is no more. "

"And if I refuse to surrender myself, what then, O Ambassador?"

"Then in the name of the Empire and in his own name the Inca declareswar upon you, war to the end, until not one of Chanca blood is leftliving beneath the sun and not one stone marks where your city stood. Itmay be that a while will pass before this sword of war falls upon yourhead, since the Inca must gather his armies and give a breathing spaceto his peoples after all the troubles that have been. Yet if not thisyear, then next year, and if not next year, then the year after, thatsword shall fall. "

Quilla listened and turned pale, though more, I think, with wrath thanfear. Then she said:

"You have heard, Chancas, and know how stands this case. If I surrendermyself to be sacrificed, the Inca in his mercy will spare you; if I donot surrender myself, soon or late he will destroy you--if he can. Say, then, shall I surrender myself?"

Now every man in that great hall leapt up and from every throat therearose a shout of, "Never!"

When it had died away an aged chief and councillor, an uncle ofHuaracha, the dead King, came forward and stared at the envoys with hishorny eyes. 

"Go back to the Inca, " he said, "and tell him that the threats of themouth are one thing and the deeds of the hand are another. In the latewar that has been he has learned something of our quality, both as foesand friends, and perchance more remains for him to learn. Yonder isone"--and he pointed to myself--"who is about to become our King and thehusband of our Queen. By the help of that one and of some of us the Incawon his throne. From the mercy of that one, also, but a little while agothe Inca won his life. Let him be careful lest through the might ofthat one, behind whom stands every Chanca that breathes, the Inca KariUpanqui should yet lose both throne and life, and with them the ancientempire of the Sun. Thus say we all. "

"Thus say we all!" repeated the great company with a roar that shook thewalls. 

In the silence that followed Quilla asked:

"Have you aught to add, O Ambassadors?"

"Ay, this, " said the first of them. 

"The Chanca tree is about to be cut down, but the Inca still offers arefuge to the Lion that hides among its branches because he has lovedthat Lion from of old. Let the White Lord-from-the-Sea over whom youhave cast the net of your witcheries return with us and he shall besaved and given place and power, and with them a brother's love. "

Now Quilla looked at me, and I rose to speak but could not, since allthat came from my lips was laughter. At length I said:

"But the other day when I gave him his life, the Inca named me noble. What would he think of me if I said yes to this offer? Would he call menoble then and the Lion that dwells in the Chanca tree? Or, whatever hislips might speak, would not his heart name me the basest of slaves andno lion of the tree, but rather a snake that creeps at its roots? Getyou gone, my lords, and say that here I bide happy with her whom I havewon, and that the ancient sword Wave-Flame, on which Kari has lookedof late, is still sharp and the arm that wields it is still strong, andthat he will do well now that it has served his turn, to look on it nomore, " and again I drew the great blade and flashed it before their eyesthere in that dusky hall. 

Then, bowing courteously, for every man of them knew me and some ofthem loved me well, they turned and went. That was the last that ever I, Hubert of Hastings, saw of nobles of the Inca blood, though perchance, ere long, I shall meet them again in war. 

"Let them be escorted safely from the city, " commanded Quilla, andsoldiers went to do her bidding. 

When they had gone she issued another order, that the door should beclosed and watchmen set about the hall, so that none could approach itunseen. Then after a pause she rose and spoke:

"My Lord, " she said, "who soon, as I trust, will be my husband andmy king, and you, the chosen of my people, hearken to me for I have amatter to lay before you. You have heard the Inca's message and you knowthat his words are not vain. He who is great in many ways, in one issmall and narrow. He sets his god before his honour, and to satisfy hisgod, whom he thinks that I have outraged, is prepared to sacrifice hishonour, and even to kill one to whom he owes all, " and she touched mewith her hand. "Moreover, these things he can do, not at once but intime to come, because for every man of ours he is able to gather ten. Therefore we stand thus; death and destruction stare us in the face. "

She paused, and that old chief of whom I have spoken, asked in the midstof a silence, as I think was planned that he should ask:

"You have set our teeth in the bitter rind of truth. Is there no sweetfruit within? Can you not show us a way of escape, O Quilla, Daughter ofthe Moon, whose heart is fed with the wisdom of the Moon?"

"I believe that I can show you such a way, " she answered. "You know thelegend of our people--that in the old days, a thousand years ago--wecame to this country out of the forests. 

"You know, too, the legend tells that once far away, beyond the forest, there was a mighty empire of which the king sat in a City of Gold hiddenwithin a ring of mountains. That king, it is said, had two sons, andwhen he died these sons made war upon each other, and one of them, myforefather, was defeated and driven away into the forests by those whoclung to him. By boats he descended the river that runs through theforest, and at length with those who remained to him came to this landand there once more grew to be a king. Is it not so?"

"It is so, " answered the aged chief. "The tale has come down to methrough ten generations, and with it the prophecy that in a day to comethe Chancas would return to that City of Gold whence they came and bewelcomed of its people. "

"I have heard that prophecy, " said Quilla. "Moreover, of it I havesomething to tell you. While I sat in despair and blindness in theConvent of the Sun at Cuzco it came into my mind and I brooded uponit much, who was always sure that the war between the Chancas and thearmies of the Incas was but begun. In my darkness I prayed to my Mother, the Moon, for light and help. Long and often I prayed, and at length ananswer came. One night the Spirit of the Moon appeared to my soul as abeautiful and shining goddess, and spoke to me. 

"'Be brave, Daughter, ' she said, 'for all that seems to be lost shallyet be found again, and the light of a certain flashing sword shallpierce the blackness and give back vision to your eyes. ' This, indeed, happened, my people, since it was when the sword of my Lord saved mefrom death at the hands of Urco that the first gleam of light returnedto my darkened eyes. 

"'Be not afraid, moreover, for the Children of the Chancas who bow tome, ' went on the shining Spirit of the Moon, 'since in the day of theirdanger I will show them a path towards my place of resting in the west. Yea, I will lead them far from wars and tyrannies back to that ancientcity whence they came, and there they shall sleep in peace till allthings are accomplished. Moreover, you shall be their ruler during yourappointed days, you and another whom I led to you out of the deeps ofthe sea and showed to you sleeping in my beams. '

"Thus that Spirit spoke to me, Councillors, though at the time I did notknow whether the vision were more than a happy dream. But now I do knowthat it was no dream, but the truth. 

"For did not my sight begin to return to me in the flashing of the swordthat is named Flame-of-the-Wave? And if this were true, why should notthe rest be true also? People of the Chancas, I am your Queen to-day andmy counsel to you is that we flee from this land before the Inca's netcloses round us and the Inca's spears pierce our heart, to seek ourancient home far in the depths of the western forest where, as I trust, his armies cannot come. Is that your will, O my People? If so, by thetongues of your Lords and Captains declare it here and now before it betoo late. "

Back thundered the answer:

"It is our will, O Daughter of the Moon!"

When its echoes had died away Quilla turned to me, lovely to look on asthe evening star and with eyes that shone like stars, and asked:

"Is it your will also, O Lord-from-the-Sea?"

"Your will is my will, Quilla, " I answered, "and your heart is my home. Lead on; where you go I follow, even to the edge of the world and beyondthe world. "

"So be it!" she cried in a triumphant voice. "Now the evil pastis finished with its fears and battles and before our feet, lit bymoonbeams, stretches the Future's shining road leading us to the mysteryin which all roads begin and for an hour are lost again. Now, too, ourseparations end in a perfect unity that perchance we have known beforeand shall know again in ages to be born and lands revisited. Now, Lord-from-the-Sea, at whose coming my sleeping heart awoke to love andwhose sword saved me from shame and death, giving me back to life andlight, here, before this company of our people, I, the Daughter of theMoon, defying the Sun who held me captive, and all his servants, takeyou to husband with this kiss, " and leaning forward Quilla pressed herlips upon my own. . . . 

 The remaining parchment sheets of the ancient Manuscript are rotted with the damp of the tomb in which it lay for centuries and quite undecipherable. Editor.