ri, that Huaracha has sworn to me that I shall be,
not his brother but his son, and Huaracha is sick--they say to death."

"You mean that you would choose to be King over the Chancas rather
than stand next to the throne among the Quichuas?" he said, scanning me
sharply.

"Aye, Kari," I replied, still lying. "Since I must dwell in this strange
land, I would do so as a king--no less."

"To that you have a right, Brother, who are far above us all. But when
you are a king, what is your plan? Do you purpose to strive to conquer
me and rule over Tavantinsuyu, as perchance you could do?"

"Nay, I shall never make war upon you, Kari, unless you break your
treaty with the Chancas and strive to subdue them."

"Which I shall never do, Brother."

Then he paused awhile and spoke again with more passion that I had ever
known in him, saying:

"Would that this woman who comes between us were dead. Would that she
had never been born. In truth, I am minded to pray to my father, the
Sun, that he will be pleased to take her to himself, for then perchance
we two might be as we were in the old time yonder in your England, and
when we faced perils side by side upon the ocean and in the forests. A
curse on Woman the Divider, and all the curses of all the gods upon this
woman whom I may not give to you. Had she been of my Household I would
have bidden you to take her, yes, even if she were my wife, but she is
the wife of the god and therefore I may not--alas! I may not," and he
hid his face in his robe and groaned.

Now when I heard these words I grew afraid who knew well that she of
whom the Inca prays the Sun that she may die, does die, and swiftly.

"Do not add to this lady's wrongs by robbing her of life as well as of
sight and liberty, Kari," I said.

"Have no fear, Brother," he answered, "she is safe from me. No word
shall pass my lips though it is true that in my heart I wish that she
would die. Go your ways, Brother and Friend, and when you grow weary
of kingship if it comes to you, as to tell truth already I grow weary,
return to me. Perchance, forgetting that we had been kings, we might
journey hence together over the world's edge."

Then he stood up on his throne and bowed towards me, kissing the air as
though to a god, and taking the royal chain that every Inca wore from
about his neck, set it upon mine. This done, turning, he left me without
another word.

With a heavy heart I returned to my palace where I dwelt. At s