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.
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