"
Then we parted and presently she was gone.
I stood watching her litter till it vanished in the evening haze. Then I
turned to go to find myself face to face with Huaracha.
"Lord-from-the-Sea," he said, "you have played a man's--or a god's--part
to-day. Had you bidden my daughter bide here, she would have done so for
love of you and the Chanca people must have been destroyed, for as that
old Inca or his spokesman told us, the breaking of my oath would have
been taken as a declaration of instant war. Now we have breathing time,
and in the end things may go otherwise."
"Yes," I answered, "but what of Quilla and what of me?"
"I know not your creed or what with you is honour, White Lord, but among
us whom perhaps you think of small account, it is thought and held that
there are times when a man or a woman, especially if they be highly
placed, must do sacrifice for the good of the many who cling to them
for guidance and for safety. This you and my daughter have done and
therefore I honour both of you."
"To what end is the sacrifice made?" I asked bitterly.
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