his strange new world, I, the White
Wanderer-from-the-Sea, give you your life and save you as once before
I saved you in a far land, and with your life I give you my blessing in
all matters but this one alone. Kari, my brother, look your last on me
and go in peace."

The Inca heard, and raising his head, stared at me with his fine,
melancholy eyes. Then suddenly from those eyes there came a gush of
tears. More, he knelt before me and kissed the ground, as the humblest
of his slaves might do before his own majesty.

"Most noble of men," he said, lifting himself up again, "I worship you.
Yes, I, the Inca, worship you. Would that I might take back my oath, but
this I cannot do because my god hardens my heart and then would decree
destruction on my people. Mayhap he whom you serve will bring things to
pass as you foretell, as it would seem he has brought it to pass that
I should eat the dust before you. I hope that it may be so who love
not the sight of blood, but who like the shot arrow must yet follow my
course, driven by the strength that loosed me. Brother, honoured and
beloved, fare you well! May happiness be yours in life and death, and
there in death may we meet again and once more be brothers where no
women come to part us."

Then Kari turned and went with bowed head, together with his nobles, who
followed him as sadly as those who surround a corpse, but not until they
had given to me that royal salute which is only rendered to the Inca in
his glory.

CHAPTER XIII

THE KISS OF QUILLA

Her women bore Quilla swooning from that ill-fated field, and sick and
sad she remained until once more we saw the City of the Chancas. Yet all
this while strength and sight were returning to her eyes, so that in
the end she could see as well as ever she had done, for which I thanked
Heaven.

Messengers had gone before us, so that when we drew near all the people
of the Chancas came out to meet us, a mighty multitude, who spread
flowers before us and sang songs of joy. On the same evening I was
summoned by Huaracha and found him dying. There in the presence of
his chief captains Quilla and I told him all our story, to which he
listened, answering nothing. When it was finished he said:

"I thank you, Lord-from-the-Sea, who through great perils have saved my
daughter and brought her home to bid farewell to me, untarnished as
she went. I understand now that it was an evil policy which led me to
promise her in marriage t