d after
it marched a guard of picked warriors, perhaps there were a hundred of
them, not more.

The litter was set down in front of the throne; gilded curtains were
drawn and out of it came a man whose attire dazzled the eyes. It seemed
to consist of gold and precious stones sewn on to a mantle of crimson
wool. He wore a head-dress also of as many colours as Joseph's coat,
surmounted by two feathers, which he alone might bear, from which
head-dress a scarlet fringe that was made of tasselled wool hung down
upon his forehead. This was the Inca's crown, even to touch which was
death, and its name was _Lautu_. He was a very old man for his white
locks and beard hung down upon his splendid garments and he supported
himself upon his royal staff that was headed by a great emerald. His
fine-cut face also, though still kingly, was weak with age and his eyes
were blear. At the sight of him all rose and Huaracha descended from his
throne, 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_, but
King, O Inca."

Upanqui drew himself up to his full height and replied:

"The Incas know no kings throughout the land of Tavantinsuyu save
themselves, 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 about
to make some short answer, when suddenly his glance fell upon me and
changed the current of his mind.

"Is that the White-god-from-the-Sea?" he asked, with an almost childish
curiosity. "I heard that he was here, and to tell the truth that is why
I 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 beard
he 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 a
god himself, O Inca."

"Do they? Well, now I remember there are strange prophecies about a
white god who should rise out of the sea, as did the forefather of the
Incas. They say, too, that this god shall do much mischief to the land
when he comes. So perhaps he had better not draw too near to me, for I
like