with love and lift you up to be a king； that you may live in glory
forgetting your home across the sea； and all the sorrows that befell
you there。 Children you shall have also of whom you need not be
ashamed； though my dark blood runs in them； and armies at command and
palaces filled with gold； and all royal joys。 And if perchance the
gods declare against us； and we pass from the world together； then I
think； oh！ then I think that I shall give you finer gifts than these；
though what they are I know not yet； since to the power of love there
is no endhere on earth or yonder in the skies。〃
I stared at her face in the starlight； and oh！ it had grown splendid。
No longer was it that of a woman； since through it； like light through
pearl； shone a soul divine。 It might have been a goddess who stood
beside me； for those eyes were holy and her embrace that wrapped me
close was not that of the flesh alone。
〃I must be gone；〃 she whispered； 〃but now I go without fear。 Perchance
we may not speak again for long； but trust me always。 Play your part
and I will play mine。 Follow me wherever I am taken and keep near to
me； if you may； as ever my spirit shall be near to you。 Then what
matters anything； even if we are slain？ Farewell； beloved； kiss me and
farewell。〃
Another moment and she had glided away and was lost in the shadows。
She was gone； and I stood amazed and overcome。 Oh！ what a love it was
that this alien woman had given to me and how could I be worthy of it？
Now I forgot my griefs； now I no longer mourned because I was an
outcast who nevermore might look upon the land where I was born； nor
see the face of one my own race or blood。 All my loss was paid back to
me again and yet again； in the coin of the glory of this woman whom I
had won。 Dangers rose about us； but I feared them no more； because I
knew that her love's conquering feet would stamp them flat and lead me
safe to a joyful treasure…house of splendour of spirit and of body
where we should dwell side by side； triumphant and unafraid。
Whilst I thought thus； lost in a rapture such as I had not felt since
Blanche kissed me at the mouth of the Hastings cave after I had killed
the three Frenchmen with as many arrows from my black bow； I heard a
sound and looked up to see a man standing before me。
〃Who is it？〃 I asked； grasping my sword； for his face was hidden in
the shadows。
〃I；〃 answered a voice which I knew to be that of Kari。
〃Then how did you come here？ I saw no one pass the open ground。〃
〃Master； you are not the only one who loves to walk in gardens in the
quiet of the night。 I was here before yourself； behind yonder tree；〃
and he pointed to a palm not three paces distant。
〃Then； Kari； you must have seen〃
〃Yes； Master； I saw and heard； not everything； because there came a
point at which I shut my eyes and stopped my ears； but still much。〃
〃I am minded to kill you； Kari；〃 I said between my teeth； 〃who play
the spy upon me。〃
〃I guessed it would be so； Master；〃 he replied in his gentlest voice；
〃and for that reason； as you will notice； I am standing out of reach
of your sword。 You wonder why I am here。 I will tell you。 It is not
from any desire to watch your love…makings which weary me； who have
seen such before； but rather that I might find secrets； of which love
is always the loser； and those secrets I have learned。 How could I
have come by them otherwise； Master？〃
〃Surely you deserve to die；〃 I exclaimed furiously。
〃I think not； Master。 But listen and judge for yourself。 I have told
you something of my story； now you shall hear more； after which we
will talk of what I do or do not deserve。 I am the eldest son of the
Inca Upanqui； and Urco； of whom you have been talking is my younger
brother。 But Upanqui； our father； loved Urco's mother while mine he
did not love； and swore to her before she died that against right and
law； Urco； her son； should be Inca after him。 Therefore he hated me
because I stood in Urco's path； therefore too many troubles befell me；
and I was given over into Urco's hand； so that he took my wife and
tried to poison me； and the rest you know。 Now it was needful to me to
learn how things went； and for this reason I listened to the talk
between you and a certain lady。 It told me that Upanqui； my father；
comes here to…morrow； which indeed I knew already； and much else that
I had not heard。 This being so I must vanish away； since doubtless
Upanqui or his councillors would know me again； and as they are all of
them friends of Urco； perhaps I should taste more poison and of a
stronger sort。〃
〃Whither will you vanish； Kari？〃
〃I know not； Master； or if I know； I will not say； who have but just
been taught afresh how secrets can pass from ear to ear。 I must lie
hid； that is enough。 Yet do not think that therefore I shall desert
youI； while I live； will watch over you； a stranger in my country；
as you watched over me when I was a stranger in your England。〃
〃I thank you；〃 I answered； 〃and certainly you watch welltoo well；
sometimes； as I have found to…night。〃
〃You think it pleases me to spy upon you and a certain lady；〃 went on
Kari with an unruffled voice； 〃but it is not so。 What I do is for good
reasons； amongst others that I may protect you both； and if I can；
bring about what you desire。 That lady has a great heart； as I learned
but now； and after all you did well to love her； as she does well to
love you。 Therefore； although the dangers are so many； if I am able； I
will help you in your love and bring you together； yes； and save her
from the arms of Urco。 Nay； ask me not how； for I do not know； and the
case seems desperate。〃
〃But if you go； what shall I do alone？〃 I asked； alarmed。
〃Bide here； I think； Lord； giving it out that your servant Zapana has
deserted you。 Indeed it seems that this you must do； since the king of
this country will scarcely suffer you to be the companion of his
daughter upon her marriage journey to Cuzco； even if Upanqui so
desires。 Nor would it be wise； for if he did； misfortune might befall
you on the road。 There are some women； Lord； who cannot keep their
love out of their eyes； and henceforward there will be plenty to watch
the eyes and hearken to the most secret sighings of one of the
greatest of them。 Now farewell until I come to you again or send
others on my behalf。 Trust me； I pray you； since to whomever else I
may seem false； to you I am true； yes； to you and to another because
she has become a part of you。〃
Then before I could answer； Kari took my hand and touched it with his
lips。 Another moment and I had lost sight of him in the shadows。
CHAPTER VI
THE CHOICE
That night I slept but ill who was overwhelmed with all that had
befallen me of good and evil。 I had gained a wondrous love； but she
who gave it was； it seemed； about to be lost to me； aye； and to be
thrown to another whom she hated； to forward the dark policies of a
great and warlike people。 I had spoken to her with high words of hope；
but of it in my heart there was little。 She would follow what she held
to be her duty to the end； and that end； if she kept her promise and
did not die as she desired to dowasthe arms of Urco。 From these I
could see no escape for her； and the thought maddened me。 Moreover；
Kari was gone leaving me utterly alone among these strangers； and
whether he would return again I did not know。 Oh！ almost I wished that
I were dead。
The morning broke at last and I arose and called for Zapana。 Then came
others who said that my servant； Zapana； could not be found； whereat I
affected surprise and anger。 Still these others waited on me well
enough； and I rose and ate in pomp and luxury。 Scarcely had I finished
my meal than there appeared heralds who summoned me to the presence of
the king Huaracha。
I went； borne in a litter； although an arrow from my black bow would
have flown from door to door。 At the portal of the palace； which was
like others I had seen； only finer； I was met by soldiers and gaily
dressed servants and led across a courtyard within； which I could see
was prepared for some ceremony； to a small chamber on the further
side。 Here； when my eyes grew accustomed to the half…darkness； I
perceived a man of some sixty years of age； and behind him two
soldiers。 At once I noted that everything about this man was plain and
simple； the chamber； which was little more than four whitewashed walls
with a floor of stone； the stool he sat on； even his apparel。 Here
were no gold or silver or broidered cloths； or gems； or other rich and
costly things such as these people love； but rather those that are
suited to a soldier。 A soldier he looked indeed； being burly and broad
and scarred upon his homely face； in which gleamed eyes that were
steady and piercing。
As I entered； the king Huaracha； for it was he； rose from his stool
and bowed to me； and I bowed back to him。 Then he motioned to one of
the soldiers to give me another stool； upon which I sat myself； and
speaking in a strong； low voice； using that tongue which Kari had
taught me； said：
〃Greeting； White…God…from…the…Sea； or golden…bearded man named the
lord Hurachi； I know not which； of whom I have heard so much and whom
I am glad to behold in my poor city。 Say； can you understand my talk？〃
Thus he spoke； searching me with his eyes； though all the while I
perceived that they rested rather on my armour and the great sword；
Wave…Flame； than on my face。
I gave him back his greeting and answered that I understood the tongue
he used though not so very well； whereon he began to speak about the
armour and the sword； which puzzled him who had never seen steel。
〃Make me some like them；〃 he said； 〃and I will give you ten times
their weight in gold； which； after all； is of no use since with it one
cannot kill enemies。〃
〃In my country with it one can corrupt them；〃 I answered； 〃or buy them
to be friends。〃
〃So you have a country；〃 he interrupted shrewdly。 〃I thought that the
gods had none。〃
〃Even the gods live somewhere；〃 I replied。
He laughed； and turning to the two soldiers； who also were staring at
my mail and sword； bade them go。 When