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 not--none 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.
Pages:
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243