n. Kari, too, was stripped of his
splendid dress and clad in a tunic of sheepskin. Also, that we might
be quite equal, he had taken off his turban-like headgear and even the
royal Fringe, whereat his lords stared at each other for they thought
this a bad omen.

It was just then I heard a sound behind me, and turning my head I saw
Quilla stumbling towards us down the stony slope as best her half-blind
eyes would let her, and crying as she came:

"Oh! my Lord, fight not. Inca, I will return to the House of the Sun!"

"Silence, accursed woman!" said Kari, frowning. "Does the Sun take back
such as you? Silence until the woe that you have wrought is finished,
and then wail on forever."

She shrank back at his bitter, unjust words, and guided by the women who
had followed her, sank upon a stone, where she sat still as a statue or
as dead Upanqui in his hall.

Now one called aloud the pledges of the fight which were as Kari had
spoken them. He listened and added:

"Be it known, also, that this battle is to the death of one or both of
us, since if we live I take back my oaths and I will burn yonder witch
as a sacrifice to the Sun whom she has betrayed, and destroy her people
and her city according to the ancient law of Vengeance on the House of
those who have deceived the Sun."

I heard but made no answer, who did not wish to waste my breath in
bandying words with a great man, whose brain had been turned by bigotry
and woman-hatred.

A moment later the signal was given and we were at it. Kari leapt at me
like the tree-lion of his own forests, but I avoided and parried. Thrice
he leapt and thrice I did this; yes, even when I saw an opening and
might have cut him down. Almost I struck, then could not. The Chancas
watched me, wondering what game I played who was not wont to fight
in this fashion, and I also wondered, who still knew not what to do.
Something I must do, or presently I should be slain, since soon my guard
would fail and Deleroy's sword get home at last.

I think that Kari grew perplexed at this patient defence of mine, and
never a blow struck back. At least he withdraw a little, then came for
me with a rush, holding his sword high above his head with the purpose
of striking me above that guard, or so I supposed. Then, of a sudden, I
knew what to do. Wheeling Wave-Flame with all my strength in both hands,
I smote, not at Kari but at the ivory handle of his sword. The keen and
ancient steel that might well h