ared that
either she would be wed to the god or die by her own hand, which would
bring the vengeance of the Sun upon the people.

"Then Urco went mad. He raved at the Inca and while all present shivered
with fear, he cursed the Sun our Father, yes, even when a cloud came up
in the clear sky and veiled the face of the god, heedless of the omen,
he continued his curses and blasphemy. Moreover, he said that soon he
would be Inca and that then, if he must tear the House of Virgins stone
from stone, as Inca he would drag forth the lady Quilla and make her his
wife.

"Now at these words Upanqui stood up and rent his robes.

"'Must my ears be outraged with such blasphemies?' he cried. 'Know, Son
Urco, that this day I was minded to take off the Royal Fringe and to set
it on your head, crowning you Inca in my place while I withdrew to
pass the remainder of my days at Yucay in peace and prayer. My will is
changed. This I shall not do. My life is not done and strength returns
to my mind and body. Here I stay as Inca. Now I see that I am punished
for my sin.'

"'What sin?' shouted Urco.

"'The sin of setting you before my eldest lawful son, Kari, whose wife
you stole; Kari, whom also it is said you poisoned and who at least has
vanished and is doubtless dead.'

"Now, Lord, when I, Kari, heard this my heart melted in me and I was
minded to declare myself to Upanqui my father. But while I weighed the
matter for a moment, knowing that if I did so, such words as these might
well be my last since Urco had many of is following present, who perhaps
would fall upon and kill me, suddenly my father Upanqui fell forward
in a swoon. His lords and physicians bore him away. Urco followed and
presently the multitude departed this way and that. Afterwards we were
told that the Inca had recovered but must not be disturbed for many
days."

"Did you hear more of Quilla, Kari?"

"Yes, Lord," he answered gravely. "It was commonly reported that,
through some priestess in his pay, Urco had poisoned her, saying that as
she had chosen the Sun as husband, to the Sun she would go."

"Poisoned her!" I muttered, well-nigh falling to the ground. "Poisoned
her!"

"Aye, Lord, but be comforted for this was added--that she who gave
the poison was taken in the act by her who is named the Mother of the
Virgins, and handed over to the women who cast her into the den of
serpents, where she perished, screaming that it was Urco who had forced
her to the dee