ven as wife to the prince Urco, son of the Sun, who will sit on the
Inca'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 I
love this White Lord as he loves me, and that therefore, although I
may be given to the Prince Urco, as a gold cup is given, never shall he
drink from the cup and never will I be his wife."

"You have courage, Daughter, and I like courage," said Huaracha. "For
the rest, settle the matter as you will and if you can slip from the
coils of this snake of an Urco unpoisoned, do so, since my bargain is
fulfilled and my honour satisfied. Only hither you shall not return to
the 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 my
part as _you_ decree. Lord Hurachi, fare you well till in life or death
we meet again."

Then she bowed to me, and went, and presently without more words we
followed after her.

In front of the palace there was a great square of open ground
surrounded by houses, except towards the east, and on this square
was marshalled an army of men all splendidly arrayed and carrying
copper-headed spears. In front of these was pitched a great pavilion
made of cloths of various colours. Here King Huaracha, simply dressed in
a robe of white cotton but wearing a little crown of gold and carrying
a large spear, took his seat upon a throne, while to his right, on a
smaller throne, sat Quilla, and on his left stood yet another throne
ornamented with gold, that was empty. Between the throne of Huaracha and
that which was empty stood a chair covered with silver on which I was
bidden to take my seat, so placed that all could see me, while behind
and around were lords and generals.

Scarcely were we arranged when from the dip beyond the open space
appeared heralds who carried spears and were fantastically dressed.
These shouted that the Inca Upanqui, the Child of the Sun, the god who
ruled 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 and
from the dip below emerged a glittering litter borne upon the shoulders
of richly clothed men all of whom, I was told afterwards, were princes
by blood, and surrounded by beautiful women who carried jewelled fans,
and by councillors. It was the litter of the Inca Upanqui, an