e gone. Hark! his
messengers 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 was
with 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 that
he is an enemy of Urco and one not friendless; also that he loves me
after his fashion. Trust him, I pray you. Urco is not the only one of
the 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 like
flowers, 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 that
I have no time to tell," she said.

I took it and in exchange passed to her that ancient ring which my
mother had given to me, the ring that had come down to her with the
sword 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 I
turned 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--part
to-day. Had you bidden my daughter bide here, she would have done so for
love of you and the Chanca people must have been destroyed, for as that
old Inca or his spokesman told us, the breaking of my oath would have
been 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 among
us whom perhaps you think of small account, it is thought and held that
there are times when a man or a woman, especially if they be highly
placed, must do sacrifice for the good of the many who cling to them
for guidance and for safety. This you and my daughter have done and
therefore I honour both of you."

"To what end is the sacrifice made?" I asked bitterly. "That one people
may struggle for dominion over another people, no more."

"You are mistaken, Lord. Not for victory or to i