behind them
and we were quite alone, he said:

"My lord Hurachi, I have heard from my daughter how she found you in
the sea, a story indeed. I have also heard, or guessed, it matters not
which, that her heart has turned towards you, as is not strange, seeing
the manner of man you are, if indeed you be not more than man, and that
women are ever prone to love those whom they think they have saved. Is
this 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. Now
hearken, 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 lady
Quilla 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 if
you desire to hear it from my own lips also, for this reason. The lady
Quilla is promised in marriage and if she lives that promise must be
fulfilled, 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 no
more in gardens or elsewhere. Know that if you do, you will bring about
her 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 from
you 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 lord
of armies, and it has come into my mind that perchance you dream of
war."

"The gods see far, White Lord."

"Now god or man, I also am a soldier, King, and I know arts of battle
which perhaps are hidden from you and your people; also I cannot be
harmed by weapons because of magic armour that I wear, and none can
stand before me in fight because of this magic sword I carry, and I can
direct battles with a general's mind. In a great war, King, I might be
useful to you were I the husband of your daughter and therefore your
son and friend, and perchance by my skill make the difference to you and
your 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, to
them I might bring victory and to