s into a glorious chamber where everything
seemed to be gold, for even the walls were panelled with it. Never had
I dreamt of so much gold; indeed the sight of it wearied me till I could
have welcomed that of humble brick or wood. At the end of this chamber
that was also lit with lamps, were curtains. Presently these were drawn
by two beautiful women in jewelled skirts and head-dresses, and behind
them on a dais I saw a couch and on the couch the old Inca Upanqui
looking feebler than when I had last beheld him in the Chanca city,
and very simply clad in a white tunic. Only on his head he wore the red
fringe from which I suppose he never parted day or night. He looked up
and said:

"Greeting, White-Lord-from-the-Sea. So you have come to visit me after
all, though you said that you would not."

"I have been brought to visit you, Inca," I answered.

"Yes, yes, they tell me they captured you in the battle, though I expect
that was by your own will as you had wearied of those Chancas. For what
_laso_ can hold a god?"

"None," I answered boldly.

"Of course not, and that you are a kind of god there is no doubt because
of the things you did in that battle. They say that the arrows and
spears melted when they touched you and that you shot and cut down men
by scores. Also that when the prince Urco tried to kill you, although
he is the strongest man in my kingdom, you knocked him over as though
he had been a little child and hacked his head open so that they do not
know whether he will live or die. I think I hope he will die, for you
see I have quarrelled with him."

I thought to myself that so did I, but I only asked:

"How did the battle end, Inca?"

"As it began, Lord Hurachi. A great many men have been killed on
both sides, thousands and thousands of them, and neither army has the
victory. They have drawn back and sit growling at each other like two
angry lions which are afraid to fight again. Indeed, I do not want them
to fight, and now that Urco cannot interfere, I shall put a stop to all
this bloodshed if I am able. Tell me, for you were with him, why does
this Huaracha, who I hear is also wounded, want to make war on me with
those troublesome Chancas of his?"

"Because your son, the prince Urco, has poisoned, or tried to poison,
his only child, Quilla."

"Yes, yes, I know, and it was a wicked thing to do. You see, Lord, what
happened was this: That lovely Quilla, who is fairer than her mother the
Moon, was to