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ancestor； as the sword Wave…Flame was his battle…sword。 When these
Chancas saw how far and with what a good aim I could shoot with this
bow； they strove day and night to learn to equal me； though it is true
they never did。 Also I bettered their body…armour of quilting by
settings sheets of leather （since in that country there is no iron）
taken from the hides of wild animals and of their long…haired native
sheep； between the layers of cotton。 Other things I did also； too many
and long to record。
The end of it was that within three months Huaracha had an army of
some fifty thousand men who； if not well trained； still kept
discipline； and could move in regiments； who knew also how to shoot
with their bows and to use their copper…headed spears and axes of that
metal； or of hard stone； to the best purpose。
Then at length came the Yuncas to join us； thirty or forty thousand of
them； wild fellows and brave enough； but undisciplined。 With these I
could do little since time was lacking； save send some of the officers
whom I had trained to teach their chiefs and captains what they were
able。
Thus I was employed from dawn till dark and often after it； in talk
with Huaracha and his generals； or in drawing plans with ink that I
found a means to make； upon parchment of sheepskin and noting down
numbers and other things； a sight at which these people who knew
nothing of writing marvelled very much。 Great were my labours； yet in
them I found more happiness than I had known since that fatal day when
I； the rich London merchant； Hubert of Hastings； had stood before the
altar of St。 Margaret's church with Blanche Aleys。 Indeed； every
cranny of my time and mind being thus filled with things finished or
attempted； I forgot my great loneliness as an alien in a strange land；
and once more became as I had been when I trafficked in the Cheap。
But toil as I would； I could not forget Quilla。 During the day I might
mask her memory in its urgent business； but when I lay down to rest
she seemed to come to me as a ghost might do and to stand by my bed；
looking at me with sad and longing eyes。 So real was her presence that
sometimes I began to believe that she must have died to the world and
was in truth a ghost； or else that she had found the power to throw
her soul afar； as it is said certain of these Indian folk； if so they
should be called； can do。 At least there she seemed to be while I
remained awake and afterwards when I slept； and I know not whether her
strange company joyed or pained me more。 For alas！ she could not talk
to me； or tell me how it fared with her； and； to speak truth； now that
she was the wife of another man； as I supposed； I desired to forget
her if I could。
For of Quilla no word reached us。 We heard that she had come safely to
Cuzco and after that nothing more。 Of her marriage there was no
tidings； indeed she seemed to have vanished away。 Certain of
Huaracha's spies reported to him； however； that the great army which
Urco had gathered to attack him had been partly disbanded； which
seemed to show that the Inca no longer prepared for immediate war。
Only then what had happened to Quilla； whose person was the price of
peace？ Perhaps she was hidden away during the preparations for her
nuptials； at least I could think of nothing else； unless indeed she
had chosen to kill herself or died naturally。
Soon； however； all news ceased； for Huaracha shut his frontiers；
hoping that thus Urco might not learn that he was gathering armies。
At length； when our forces were almost ready to march； Kari came； Kari
whom I thought lost。
One night when I was seated at my work by lamplight； writing down
numbers upon a parchment； a shadow fell across it； and looking up I
saw Kari standing before me； travel…worn and weary； but Kari without
doubt； unless I dreamed。
〃Have you food； Lord？〃 he asked while I stared at him。 〃I need it and
would eat before I speak。〃
I found meat and native beer and brought them to him； for it was late
and my servants were asleep； waiting till he had filled himself； for
by this time I had learned something of the patience of these people。
At length he spoke； saying：
〃Huaracha's watch is good； and to pass it I must journey far into the
mountains and sleep three nights without food amid their snows。〃
〃Whence come you？〃 I asked。
〃From Cuzco； Lord。〃
〃Then what of the lady Quilla？ Does she still live？ Is she wed to
Urco？〃
〃She lives； or lived fourteen days ago； and she is not wed。 But where
she is no man may ever come。 You have looked your last upon the lady
Quilla； Lord。〃
〃If she lives and is unwed； why？〃 I asked； trembling。
〃Because she is numbered among the Virgins of the Sun our Father； and
therefore inviolate to man。 Were I the Inca； though I love you and
know all； should you attempt to take her； yes； even you； I would kill
you if I could； and with my own sword。 In our land； Lord； there is one
crime which has no forgiveness； and that is to lay hands upon a Virgin
of the Sun。 We believe； Lord； that if this is done； great curses will
fall upon our country； while as for the man who works the crime；
before he passes to eternal vengeance he and all his house and the
town whence he came must perish utterly； and that false virgin who has
betrayed our father； the Sun； must die slowly and by fire。〃
〃Has this ever chanced？〃 I asked。
〃History does not tell it； Lord； since none have been so wicked； but
such is the law。〃
I thought to myself that it was a very evil law； and cruel； also that
I would break it if I found opportunity； but made no answer； knowing
when to be silent and that I might as well strive to move a mountain
from its base as to turn Kari from the blindness of his folly bred of
false faith。 After all； could I blame him； seeing that we held the
same of the sacredness of nuns and； it was said； killed them if they
broke their vows？
〃What news； Kari？〃 I asked。
〃Much； Lord。 Hearken。 Disguised as a peasant who had come into this
country to barter wool from a village near to Cuzco； I joined myself
to the train of the Inca Upanqui； among whose lords I found a friend
who had loved me in past years and kept my secret as he was bound to
do； having passed into the brotherhood of knights with me while we
were lads。 Through him； in place of a man who was sick； I became one
of the bearers of the lady Quilla's litter and thus was always about
her and at times had speech with her in secret； for she knew me again
notwithstanding my disguise and uniform。 So I became one of those who
waited on her when she ate and noted all that passed。
〃After the first day the Inca Upanqui； he who is my father and whose
lawful heir I am； although he discarded me for Urco and believes me
dead； made it a habit to take his food in the same tent or rest…house
chamber as the lady Quilla。 Lord； being very clever； she set herself
to charm him； so that soon he began to dote upon her； as old； worn…out
men sometimes do upon young and beautiful women。 She； too； pretended
to grow fond of him and at last told him in so many words that she
grieved it was not he that she was to marry whose wisdom she hung
upon； in place of a prin