that your father Huaracha is no more."

"And if I refuse to surrender myself, what then, O Ambassador?"

"Then in the name of the Empire and in his own name the Inca declares
war upon you, war to the end, until not one of Chanca blood is left
living beneath the sun and not one stone marks where your city stood. It
may be that a while will pass before this sword of war falls upon your
head, since the Inca must gather his armies and give a breathing space
to his peoples after all the troubles that have been. Yet if not this
year, then next year, and if not next year, then the year after, that
sword shall fall."

Quilla listened and turned pale, though more, I think, with wrath than
fear. Then she said:

"You have heard, Chancas, and know how stands this case. If I surrender
myself to be sacrificed, the Inca in his mercy will spare you; if I do
not surrender myself, soon or late he will destroy you--if he can. Say,
then, shall I surrender myself?"

Now every man in that great hall leapt up and from every throat there
arose a shout of,

"Never!"

When it had died away an aged chief and councillor, an uncle of
Huaracha, the dead King, came forward and stared at the envoys with his
horny eyes.

"Go back to the Inca," he said, "and tell him that the threats of the
mouth are one thing and the deeds of the hand are another. In the late
war that has been he has learned something of our quality, both as foes
and friends, and perchance more remains for him to learn. Yonder is
one"--and he pointed to myself--"who is about to become our King and the
husband of our Queen. By the help of that one and of some of us the Inca
won his throne. From the mercy of that one, also, but a little while ago
the Inca won his life. Let him be careful lest through the might of
that one, behind whom stands every Chanca that breathes, the Inca Kari
Upanqui should yet lose both throne and life, and with them the ancient
empire of the Sun. Thus say we all."

"Thus say we all!" repeated the great company with a roar that shook the
walls.

In the silence that followed Quilla asked:

"Have you aught to add, O Ambassadors?"

"Ay, this," said the first of them.

"The Chanca tree is about to be cut down, but the Inca still offers a
refuge to the Lion that hides among its branches because he has loved
that Lion from of old. Let the White Lord-from-the-Sea over whom you
have cast the net of your witcheries return with us and he shall be
saved an