could he neglect the opportunity of an honourable peace； seeing that
another battle might mean destruction。 Also he pointed out that he was
hurt and I who had been general under him was a prisoner and bound by
my oath to return to prison； so that the Chancas had lost their
leaders。
After this we parted； I promising to work for his cause and to come to
see him again； if I might。
These matters finished I went aside with Kari to a place where none
could hear us； and there laid before him the offers of Larico； the
high…priest； showing him how the case stood。 Of Quilla； however； I
said nothing to him； though it pained me to keep back part of the
truth even from Kari。 Yet； what was I to do； who knew that if I told
him all and he became Inca； or the Inca's acknowledged heir； he would
work against me because of his superstitious madness； and perhaps
cause Quilla to be killed by the priests； as one whose feet were set
in the path of sacrilege？ So on this matter I held my peace； nor did
he ask me anything concerning Quilla who； I think； wished to hear
nothing of that lady and what had befallen her。
When he had learned all； he said：
〃This may be a trap； Lord。 I do not trust yonder Larico； who has
always been my enemy and Urco's friend。〃
〃I think he is his own friend first；〃 I answered； 〃who knows that if
Urco recovers he will kill him； because he has taken the part of your
father； Upanqui； in their quarrels； and suspects him。〃
〃I am not sure；〃 said Kari。 〃Yet something must be risked。 Did I not
tell you when we were sailing down the English river that we must put
faith in our gods； yes； afterwards also； and more than once？ And did
not the gods save us？ Well； now again I trust to my god；〃 and drawing
out the image of Pachacamac； which he wore round his neck； he kissed
it； then turning； bowed and prayed to the Sun。
〃I will come with you；〃 he said； when he had finished his devotions；
〃to live to be Inca； or to die； as the Sun decrees。〃
So he came and with him some of his friends； captains of those who had
deserted to him in the battle。 But the five thousand soldiers； or
those who were left of them； did not come as yet because they feared
lest they should be set upon and butchered by the regiments of Urco。
That night； when we were back safe in Cuzco； Kari and the high…priest；
Larico talked together in secret。 Of what passed between them he only
told me that they had come to an agreement which satisfied them both。
Larico said the same to me when next I saw him； adding：
〃You have kept your word and served my turn； Lord…from…the…Sea；
therefore I will keep mine and serve yours when the time comes。 Yet be
warned by me and say nothing of a certain lady to the prince Kari；
since when I spoke a word to him on the matter； hinting that her
surrender to her father Huaracha would make peace with him more easy
and lasting； he answered that first would he fight Huaracha； and the
Yuncas as well； to the last man in Cuzco。
〃To the Sun she has gone；〃 he said； 〃and with the Sun she must stay；
lest the curse of the Sun and of Pachacamac； the Spirit above the sun；
should fall on me and all of us。〃
Larico told me also that； fearing something； the great lords； who were
of Urco's party； had borne him away in a litter to a strong city in
the mountains about five leagues from Cuzco； escorted by thousands of
picked men who would stay in and about that city。
On the next morning I was summoned to wait upon the Inca Upanqui； and
went； wearing my armour。 I found him in the same great chamber as
before； only now he was more royally arrayed； and with him were sundry
of his high lords of the Inca blood； also certain priests； among them
the /Villaorna/ Larico。
The old king； who on that day seemed clear in his mind and well；
greeted me in his kindly fashion and bade me set out all that had
passed between me and Huaracha in the Chanca camp。 This I did； only I
hid from him how great had been the Chanca losses in the battle and
how glad they were to declare a truce and rest。
Upanqui said that the matter should be attended to； speaking in a
royal fashion as though it were one of little moment； which showed me
how great an emperor he must be。 Great he was； indeed； seeing that all
the broad land of England would have made but one province of his vast
dominions； which in every part were filled with people who； unless
they chanced to be in rebellion like the Yuncas； lived but to do his
will。
After this； when I thought the audience was ended； a chamberlain
advanced to the foot of the throne； and kneeling； said that a
suppliant prayed speech with the Inca。 Upanqui waved his sceptre； that
long staff which I have described； in token that he should be
admitted。 Then presently up the chamber came Kari arrayed in the tunic
and cloak of an Inca prince； wearing in his ear a disc carved with the
image of the Sun； and a chain of emeralds and gold about his neck。 Nor
did he come alone； for he was attended by a brilliant band of those
lords and captains who had deserted to him on the day of the great
battle。 He advanced and knelt before the throne。
〃Who is this that carries the emblems of the Holy Blood and is clothed
like a Prince of the Sun？〃 asked Upanqui； affecting ignorance and
unconcern； though I saw the colour mount to his cheeks and the sceptre
shake in his withered hand。
〃One who is indeed of the holy Inca blood； one sprung from the purest
lineage of the Sun；〃 answered the stately Kari in his quiet voice。
〃How then is he named？〃 asked the Inca again。
〃He is named Kari； first…born son of Upanqui； O Inca。〃
〃Such a son I had once； but he is long dead； or so they told me；〃 said
Upanqui in a trembling voice。
〃He is not dead； O Inca。 He lives and he kneels before you。 Urco
poisoned him； but the Sun his Father recovered him； and the Spirit
that is above all gods supported him。 The sea bore him to a far land；
where he found a white god who befriended and cared for him；〃 here he
turned his head towards me。 〃With this god he returned to his own
country and here he kneels before you； O Inca。〃
〃It cannot be；〃 said the Inca。 〃What sign do you bring who name
yourself Kari？ Show me the image of the Spirit above the gods that
from his childhood for generations has been hung about the neck of the
Inca's eldest son； born from the Queen。〃
Kari opened his robe and drew out that golden effigy of Pachacamac
which he always wore。
Upanqui examined it； holding it close to his rheumy eyes。
〃It seems to be the same；〃 he said； 〃as I should know upon whose
breast it lay until my first son was born。 And yet who can be sure
since such things may be copied？〃
Then he handed back the image to Kari and after reflecting awhile；
said：
〃Bring hither the Mother of the Royal Nurses。〃
Apparently this lady was in waiting； for in a minute she appeared
before the throne； an old and withered woman with beady eyes。
〃Mother；〃 said the Inca； 〃you were with the /Coya/ （that is the Queen）
who has been gathered to the Sun； when her boy was born； and
afterwards nursed him for years。 If you saw it； would you know his
body again after he has come to middle age？〃
〃Aye； O Inca。〃
〃How； Mother？〃
〃By three moles； O Inca； which we women used to call /Yuti/； /Quilla/；
and /Chasca/〃 （that is； the Sun； the Moon； and the planet Venus）；
〃which were the marks of good fortune stamped by the gods upon the
Prince's back between the shoulders； set one above the other。〃
〃Man who call yourself Kari； are you willing that this old crone
should see your flesh？〃 asked Upanqui。
By way of answer Kari with a little smile stripped himself of his
broidered tunic and other garments and stood before us naked to the
middle。 Then he turned his back to the Mother of the Nurses。 She
hobbled up and searched it with her bright eyes。
〃Many scars；〃 she muttered； 〃scars in front and scars behind。 This
warrior has known battles and blows。 But what have we here？ Look； O
Inca； /Yuti/； /Quilla/； and /Chasca/； set one above the other； though
/Chasca/ is almost hidden by a hurt。 Oh！ my fosterling； O my Prince
whom I nursed at these withered breasts； are you come back from the
dead to take your own again？ O Kari of the Holy Blood； Kari the lost
who is Kari the found！〃
Then sobbing and muttering she threw her arms about him and kissed
him。 Nor did he shame to kiss her in return； there before them all。
〃Restore his garments to the royal Prince；〃 said Upanqui； 〃and bring
hither the Fringe that is worn by the Inca's heir。〃
It was produced without delay by the high…priest Larico； which told me
at once that all this scene had been prepared。 Upanqui took it from
Larico； and beckoning Kari to him； with the priest's help bound it
about his brow； thereby acknowledging him and restoring him as heir…
apparent to the Empire。 Then he kissed him on the brow and Kari knelt
down and did his father homage。
After this they went away together accompanied only by Larico and two
or three of the councillors of Inca blood and as I learned from Larico
afterwards； told each other their tales and made plans to outwit； and
if need were to destroy； Urco and his faction。
On the following day Kari was established in a house of his own that
was more of a fortress than a palace； for it was built of great stones
with narrow gates； and surrounded by an open space。 Upon this space；
as a guard； were encamped all those who had deserted to him in the
battle of the Field of Blood； who had returned to Cuzco from the camp
of Huaracha now that Kari was accepted as the royal heir。 Also other
troops who were loyal to the Inca were stationed near by； while those
who clung to Urco departed secretly to that town where he lay sick。
Moreover； proclamation was made that on the day of the new moon； which
the magicians declared to be auspicious； Kari would be publicly
presented to the people in the Temple of the Sun as the Inca's lawful
heir； in place of Urco disinherited for crimes that he had committed
against the Sun； the Empire； and the Inca his father。
〃Brother；〃 said Kari to me； for so he called me now that he was an
acknowledged Prince； when I went to meet him in his grandeur；
〃Brother； did I not te