s, while even Quilla started back and
glanced 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 seated
in it, with the help of Kari pushed the _balsa_, which I noted with joy
was large and well made, down into the sea. Then one by one they climbed
in, Quilla taking the steering-oar, while Kari and the two maidens
hoisted 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, and
between us were the others, so that during all that long night's journey
I had no speech with her and must content myself with gazing over my
shoulder at her beauty as best I could, which was not well, because of
Kari, who ever seemed to come between my eyes and hers.

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

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

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

By this time watchmen, who had been set there to search the sea or the
boat of Quilla, had noted our approach. They shouted and pointed to me
who sat in the prow clad in my armour upon which the sun glittered, then
began to run to and fro as though in fear or excitement, so that ere we
reached the shore a great crowd had gathered. Meanwhile, Quilla had put
on her silver-broidered mantle and her head-dress of feathers, crowned
with the crescent of the moon. As we touched the beach she came forward,
and for the