ave been some of that which, as legend
told, was forged by the dwarfs in Norseland, fell upon the ivory between
his hand-grip and the cross-piece and shore through it as I had hoped
that it would do, so that the blade of Kari's sword, severed just above
the hilt, fell to the ground and the hilt itself was jarred from his
hand.

His nobles saw and groaned while the Chancas shouted with joy, for now
Kari was defenceless and save for the death itself, this fight to the
death was ended.

Kari folded his arms upon his breast and bent his head.

"It is the decree of my god," he said, "and I did ill to trust to the
sword of a villain whom you slew. Strike, Conqueror, and make an end."

I rested myself upon Wave-Flame and answered:

"If I strike not, O Inca, will you take back your words and let peace
reign between your people and the Chancas?"

"Nay," he answered. "What I have said, I have said. If yonder false
woman is given up to suffer the fate of those who have betrayed the Sun,
then there shall be peace between the peoples, but not otherwise, since
while I live I will wage war upon her and you, and upon the Chancas who
shelter both of you."

Now rage took hold of me, who remembered that while this woman-hater
lived blood must flow in streams, but that if he died there would be
peace and Quilla would be safe. So I lifted my sword a little, and as I
did so Quilla rose from her stone and stumbled forward, crying:

"O Lord, shed not the Inca's holy blood for me. Let me be given up! Let
me be given up!"

Then some spirit entered into me and I spoke, saying:

"Lady, half of your prayer I grant and half I deny. I will not shed the
Inca's blood; as soon would I shed yours. Nor will I suffer you to be
given up who have done no wrong, since it was I who took you away by
force, as Urco would have done. Kari, hearken to me. Not once only when
we were in danger together in past days have you said to me that we
must put our faith in the gods we worship, and thus we did. Now again I
hearken to that counsel of yours and put my faith in the God I worship.
You threaten to gather all the strength of your mighty empire, and
because of what I hold to be your superstitions, to destroy the Chanca
people to the last babe and to level their city to the last stone. I
do not believe that the God I worship will suffer this to come about,
though how he will stay your vengeance I do not know. Kari, great
Inca of Tavantinsuyu, Lord of all t