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great empire； leaving me more lonely than before。 Also his mind was
not as my mind； as his blood was not my blood； and he was the slave of
a faith that to me was a hateful superstition doubtless begotten by
the Devil； who under the name of /Cupay/； some worshipped in that
land； though others declared that this /Cupay/ was the God of the
Dead。
Oh！ that I could flee away with Quilla and at her side live out what
was left to me of life； since of all these multitudes she alone
understood and was akin to me； because the sacred fire of love had
burned away our differences and opened her eyes。 But Quilla was
snatched from me by the law of their accursed faith； and whatever else
Kari might give； he would never give me this lady of the Moon； since；
as he had said； to him this would be sacrilege。
The ceremonies began。 First Larico； the high…priest of the Sun；
clothed in his white sacerdotal robes； made sacrifice upon a little
altar which stood in front of the Inca's throne。
It was a very simple sacrifice of fruit and corn and flowers； with
what seemed to be strange…shaped pieces of gold。 At least I saw
nothing else； and am sure that nothing that had life was laid upon
that altar after the fashion of the bloody offerings of the Jews； and
indeed of those of some of the other peoples of that great land。
Prayers； however； were spoken； very fine prayers and pure so far as I
could understand them； for their language was more ancient and
somewhat different to that which was used in common speech； also the
priests moved about； bowing and bending the knees much as our own do
in celebrating the mass； though whether these motions were in honour
of the god or of the Inca； I am not sure。
When the sacrifice was over； and the little fire that burned upon the
altar had sunk low； though I was told that for hundreds of years it
had never been extinguished； suddenly the Inca began to speak。 With
many particulars that I had not heard before he told the tale of Kari
and of his estrangement from him in past years through the plottings
of the mother of Urco who now was dead； like the mother of Kari。 This
woman； it would appear； had persuaded him； the Inca； that Kari was
conspiring against him； and therefore Urco was ordered to take him
prisoner； but returned only with Kari's wife； saying that Kari had
killed himself。
Here Upanqui became overcome with emotion as the aged are apt to do；
and beat his breast； even shedding tears because most unjustly he had
allowed these things to happen and the wicked triumph over the good；
for which sin he said he felt sure his father the Sun would bring some
punishment on him； as indeed was to chance sooner than he thought。
Then he continued his story； setting out all Urco's iniquities and
sacrileges against the gods； also his murders of people of high and
low degree and his stealing of their wives and daughters。 Lastly he
told of the coming of Kari who was supposed to be dead； and all that
story which I have set out。
Having finished his tale； with much solemn ceremonial he deposed Urco
from his heirship to the Empire which he gave back to Kari to whom it
belonged by right of birth and calling upon his dead forefathers； one
by one； to be witness to the act； with great formality once more he
bound the Prince's Fringe about his brow。 As he did this； he said
these words：
〃Soon； O Prince Kari； you must change this yellow circlet for that
which I wear； and take with it all the burden of empire； for know that
as quickly as may be I purpose to withdraw to my palace at Yucay；
there to make my peace with God before I am called hence to dwell in
the Mansions of the Sun。〃
When he had finished Kari did homage to his father； and in that quiet；
even voice of his； told his tale of the wrongs that he had suffered at
the hands of Urco his brother and of how he had escaped； living but
maddened； from his hate。 He told also how he had wandered across the
sea； though of England he said nothing； and been saved from misery and
death by myself； a very great person in my own country。 Still； since I
had suffered wrong there； as he； Kari； had in his； he had persuaded me
to accompany him back to his own land； that there my wisdom might
shine upon its darkness； and owing to my divine and magical gifts
hither we had come in safety。 Lastly； he asked the assembled priests
and lords if they were content to accept him as the Inca to be； and to
stand by him in any war that Urco might wage against him。
To this they answered that they were content and would stand by him。
Then followed many other rites such as the informing of the dead
Incas； one by one； of this solemn declaration； through the mouth of
the high…priest； and the offering of many prayers to them and to the
Sun their father。 So long were these prayers with the chants from
choirs hidden in side chapels by which they were interspersed； that
the day drew towards its close before all was done。
Thus it came about that the dusk was gathering when the Inca； followed
by Kari； myself； the priests； and all the congregation； left the
temple to present Kari as the heir to the throne to the vast crowd
which waited upon the open square outside its doors。
Here the ceremony went on。 The Inca and most of us； for there was not
space for all； although we were packed as closely together as Hastings
herrings in a basket； took our stand upon a platform that was
surrounded by a marvellous cable made of links of solid gold which； it
was said； needed fifty men to lift it from the ground。 Then Upanqui；
whose strength seemed restored to him； perhaps because of some drug
that he had eaten； or under the spur of this great event； stepped
forward to the edge of the low platform and addressed the multitude in
eloquent words； setting out the matter as he had done in the temple。
He ended his speech by asking the formal question：
〃Do you； Children of the Sun； accept the prince Kari； my first…born；
to be Inca after me？〃
There was a roar of assent； and as it died away Upanqui turned to call
Kari to him that he might present him to the people。
At this very moment in the gathering twilight I saw a great fierce…
faced man with a bandaged head； whom I knew to be Urco； leap over the
golden chain。 He sprang upon the platform and with a shout of 〃I do
not accept him； and thus I pay back treachery；〃 plunged a gleaming
copper knife or sword into the Inca's breast。
In an instant； before any could stir in that packed crowd； Urco had
leapt back over the golden chain； and from the edge of the platform；
to vanish amongst those beneath； who doubtless were men of his
following disguised as citizens or peasants。
Indeed all who beheld seemed frozen with horror。 One great sigh went
up and then there was silence； since no such deed as this was known in
the annals of that empire。 For a moment the aged Upanqui stood upon
his feet； the blood pouring down his white beard and jewelled robe。
Then he turned a little and said in a clear and gentle voice：
〃Kari； you will be Inca sooner than I thought。 Receive me； O God my
Father； and pardon this murderer who； I think； can be no true son of
mine。〃
Then he fell forward on