it would be possible to defeat the armies of the People of
the Incas. For the rest, we must trust to chance, making no promises as
to Quilla.

"If we did they would avail little," said Huaracha, "seeing that without
doubt she is dead and only vengeance remains to us. There is more poison
in Cuzco, White Lord!"

Eight days later we were marching on Cuzco, a great host of us,
numbering at least forty thousand Chancas and twenty-five thousand of
the rebellious Yuncas, who had joined our standard.

On we marched by the great road over mountains and across plains,
driving with us numberless herds of the native sheep for food, but
meeting no man, since so soon as we were out of the territory of the
Chancas all fled at our approach. At length one night we camped upon a
hill named Carmenca and saw beneath us at a distance the mighty city of
Cuzco standing in a valley through which a river ran. There it was with
its huge fortresses built of great blocks of stone, its temples, its
palaces, its open squares, and its countless streets bordered by low
houses. Moreover, beyond and around it we saw other things, namely, the
camps of a vast army dotted with thousands of white tents.

"Urco is ready for us," said Kari to me grimly as he pointed to these
tents.

We camped upon the hill Carmenca and that night there came to us an
embassy which spoke in the names of Upanqui and Urco, as though they
reigned jointly. This embassy of great lords who all wore discs of
gold in their ears asked us what was our purpose. Huaracha answered--to
avenge the murder of the lady Quilla, his daughter, that he heard had
been poisoned by Urco.

"How know you that she is dead?" asked the spokesman.

"If she is not dead," replied Huaracha, "show her to us."

"That may not be," replied the spokesman, "since if she lives, it is in
the House of the Virgins of the Sun, whence none come out and where none
go in. Hearken, O Huaracha. Go back whence you came, or the countless
army of the Incas will fall upon you and destroy you, you and your
handful together."

"That is yet to be seen," answered Huaracha, and without more words the
embassy withdrew.

That night also men crept into our camp secretly, who were of the party
of Kari. Of Quilla they seemed to know nothing, for none spoke of those
over whom the veil of the Sun had fallen. They told us, however, that
the old Inca, Upanqui, was still in Cuzco and had recovered somewhat
from his sickness. A