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fishing…girl as I had seen her in my dream； and with her two tall
girls in the same scanty garments。 When these saw me in the glittering
armour； which in our long idle hours we had polished till it shone
like silver； with the shield upon my arm and the casque upon my head
and the great sword girded about my middle and the black bow in my
hand； they screamed with fear and fell upon their faces； while even
Quilla started back and glanced towards the boat。
〃Fear not；〃 I said。 〃The gods are kind to those who do them service；
though to those who would harm them they are terrible。〃
Kari also went to them and whispered in their ears what tale I know
not。 In the end they rose trembling； and having motioned to me to be
seated in it； with the help of Kari pushed the /balsa/； which I noted
with joy was large and well made； down into the sea。 Then one by one
they climbed in； Quilla taking the steering…oar； while Kari and the
two maidens hoisted the little sail and paddled till we were clear of
the island； where the gentle wind caught the /balsa/。 Then they
shipped the paddles； and although full laden； we sailed quietly
towards the mainland。
Now I was at the bow of the /balsa/ and Quilla was at its stern； and
between us were the others； so that during all that long night's
journey I had no speech with her and must content myself with gazing
over my shoulder at her beauty as best I could； which was not well；
because of Kari； who ever seemed to come between my eyes and hers。
Thus the long hours went by till at length when we were near the land
the moon sank； and we sailed on through the twilight。 Then came the
dawn； and there in front of us we saw the lovely strand green with
palms within a ring of snow…clad mountains； two of them the great
peaks that we had seen from our isle。
On the shore was a city of white； flat…roofed houses； and rising above
it； perchance the half of a mile from the sea； a hill four or five
hundred feet in height and terraced。 On the top of the hill stood a
mighty building； painted red； that from the look of it I took to be
one of the churches of these people； in the centre of which gleamed
great doors that； as I found afterwards； were covered with plates of
gold。
〃Behold the temple of Pachacamac； Master；〃 whispered Kari； bowing his
head and kissing the air in token of reverence。
By this time watchmen； who had been set there to search the sea or the
boat of Quilla； had noted our approach。 They shouted and pointed to me
who sat in the prow clad in my armour upon which the sun glittered；
then began to run to and fro as though in fear or excitement； so that
ere we reached the shore a great crowd had gathered。 Meanwhile； Quilla
had put on her silver…broidered mantle and her head…dress of feathers；
crowned with the crescent of the moon。 As we touched the beach she
came forward； and for the first time during that night spoke to me
saying：
〃Remain here in the /balsa/； Lord； while I talk with these people； and
when I summon you be pleased to come。 Fear notnone will harm you。〃
Then she sprang from the prow of the /balsa/ to the shore； followed by
her two maidens； who dragged it further up the beach； and went forward
to talk with certain white…robed men in the crowd。 For a long while
she talked； turning now and again to point at me。 At length these men；
accompanied by a number of others； ran forward。 At first I thought
they meant mischief and grasped my sword…hilt； then； remembering what
Quilla had said； remained seated and silent。
Indeed； there was no cause for fear； for when the white…robed chiefs
or priests and their following were close to me； suddenly they
prostrated themselves and beat their heads upon the sand； from which I
learned that they； too； believed me to be a god。 Thereon I bowed to
them and； drawing my swordat the sight of which I saw them stare and
shiver； for to these people steel was unknownheld it straight up in
front of me in my right hand； the shield with the cognizance of the
three arrows being on my left arm。
Now all the men rose； and some of them of the humbler sort； creeping
to the /balsa/； suddenly seized it and lifted it on to their
shoulders； which； being but a light thing of reeds and blown…out
skins； they could do easily enough。 Then； preceded by the chiefs； they
advanced up the beach into the town； I still remaining seated in the
boat with Kari crouching behind me。 So strange was the business that
almost I laughed aloud； wondering what those grave merchants of the
Cheap whom I had known in London would think if they could see me
thus。
〃Kari；〃 I said； without turning my head； 〃what are they going to do
with us？ Set us in yonder temple to be worshipped with nothing to
eat？〃
〃I think not； Master；〃 answered Kari； 〃since there the lady Quilla
could not come to speak with you if she would。 I think that they will
take you to the house of the king of this country where； I understand；
she is dwelling。〃
This； indeed； proved to be the case； for we were borne solemnly up the
main street of the town； that now was packed with thousands of people；
some of whom threw flowers before the feet of the bearers； bowing and
staring till I thought that their eyes would fall out； to a large；
flat…roofed house set in a walled courtyard。 Passing through the gates
the bearers placed the /balsa/ on the ground and fell back。 Then from
out of the door of the house appeared Quilla； accompanied by a tall；
stately looking man who wore a fine robe； and a woman of middle age
also gorgeously apparelled。
〃O Lord；〃 said Quilla； bowing； 〃behold my kinsman the /Caraca/〃 （which
is the name for a lesser sort of king） 〃of the Yuncas； named
Quismancu； and his wife； Mira。〃
〃Hail； Lord Risen from the Sea！〃 cried Quismancu。 〃Hail； White God
clothed in silver！ Hail； /Hurachi/！〃
Why he called me 〃Hurachi〃 at the time I could not guess； but
afterwards I learned that it was because of the arrows painted on my
shield； /hurachi/ being their name for arrows。 At any rate；
thenceforth by this name of Hurachi I was known throughout the land；
though when addressed for the most part I was called 〃Lord…from…the…
Sea〃 or 〃God…of…the…Sea。〃
Then Quilla and the lady Mira came forward and； placing their hands
beneath my elbows； assisted me to climb out of that /balsa/； which I
think was the strangest way that ever a shipwrecked wanderer came to
land。
They led me into a large room with a flat roof that was being hastily
prepared for me by the hanging of beautiful broideries on the walls；
and sat me on a carven stool； where presently Quilla and other ladies
brought me food and a kind of intoxicating drink which they called
/chicha/； that after so many months of water drinking I found cheering
and pleasant to the taste。 This food； I noted； was served to me on
platters of gold and silver； and the cups also were of gold strangely
fashioned； by which I knew that I had come to a very rich land。
Afterwards I learned； however； that in it there was no money； all the
gold and silver that it produced being used for ornament or to
decorate the temples and the palaces of the /Incas/； as they called
their kings； and other great lords。
CHAPTER IV
THE ORACLE OF RIMAC
In this town of Quismancu I remained for seven days； going abroad but
little； for when I did so the people pressed about me and stared me
out of countenance。 There was a garden at the back of the hose
surrounded by a wall built of mud bricks。 Here for the most part I sat
and here the great ones of the place came to visit me； bringing me
offerings of robes and golden vessels and I know not what besides。 To
all of them I told the same storyor； rather； Kari told it for me
namely； that I had risen out of the sea and found him a hermit； named
Zapana； on the desert island。 What is more； they believed it and；
indeed； it was true； for had I not risen out of the sea？
From time to time Quilla came to see me also in this garden； bearing
gifts of flowers； and with her I talked alone。 She would sit upon a
low stool； considering me with her beautiful eyes； as though she would
search out my soul。 One day she said to me：
〃Tell me； Lord； are you a god or a man？〃
〃What is a god？〃 I asked。
〃A god is that which is adored and loved。〃
〃And is a man never adored and loved； Quilla？ For instance； I
understand that you are to be married； and doubtless you adore and
love him who will be your husband。〃
She shivered a little and answered：
〃It is not so。 I hate him。〃
〃Then why are you going to marry him？ Are you forced to do so；
Quilla？〃
〃No； Lord。 I marry him for my people's sake。 He desires me for my
inheritance and my beauty； and by my beauty I may lead him down that
road on which my people wish that he should go。〃
〃An old story； Quilla； but will you be happy thus？〃
〃No； Lord； I shall be very unhappy。 But what does it matter？ I am only
a woman； and such is the lot of women。〃
〃Women； like gods and men； are also sometimes loved and adored；
Quilla。〃
She flushed at the words and answered：
〃Ah！ if that were so life might be different。 But even if it were so
and I found the man who c