The Virgin of the Sun

se between the two snow-clad peaks far away that he had called a gateway to his land, which was so near to us and yet it would seem mor

e clouds, till wearying we let our eyes fall upon the glittering pathway which i

it?" I as

s footsteps make the waters bright," he said, speaking i

hip you, as 'tis said the ancients did, and never turn to look upon another, be she woman, or goddess, or both. Only come and take me from

ned to this mad stuff that burst through my lips from

think of the moon wearing a lovely woman's shape and

hears prayer and answers it. Suppose, then, that she heard you a

at it is the man who loves and the woman who accepts the love. But that is not true. It is the man, Kari, who waits to be loved and pays back just as much as is given to him, and no more, like an honest merchant; for if he does otherwise,

since those words of yours come from the heart and will be heard. Th

ke it, then

s the Sun's wife, and if the Sun grows jealous what will happ

a would but come and love me, I'd take my

sh or drifting tree or whatever he had seen, was gone, prayed after his fashion at night, to Pachacamac, Spirit of the Universe, or t

shell of a turtle, and dragged it through my long fair beard, which, growing fast, now hung down far upon my breast, and through the curling hair that lay upon my shoulders, for I

lf down by the fire, for the night being so fine and wa

sighed. Thrice she sighed, each time more deeply than the last. Then she knelt down by me-or so it seemed in my dream, and laid a tress of her long dark hair against my yellow locks, as though she would match them tog

ened my eyes. There, near to me, glittering in the full light of the brilliant moon, stood the woman of my dream, only now her naked breast was covered with a splendid cloak broidered w

en remembering my crazy talk with Kari, u

ng in the rich language called Quichua that Kari had taught me. In this tongue, as I have told,

how did you know it, O Wanderer, whose skin is white as the foam of

old me when you knelt ov

her brow, but she only sh

r perchance you learned it in the spirit. At lea

seen, almost white, indeed, in the moonlight save for the copper tinge that marked her race; tall, too, yet not over-tall; slim and straight as an arrow, but high-breasted and round-limbed, and with a wild grace in he

blood was mixed with some other alien strain-a

my lips and burst

illa, are you

ighed, then went on quickly as though this matter were something of which

cunning a

Sea as you are a Da

radiance which lay upon the face of t

sea mirrors back the moon, yet they

moon rise and, her course run, into the s

d her great eyes fell, those eyes of w

d prettily," she murmured, adding, "But is it not f

the hut crept Kari. He rose to his feet and stood there as ev

ayers such as yours are answered? Lo! here is that Child of the Moon for

here. For the rest, were she but mine, I thin

hen he appeared she had lifted, as though to defend

said, addressing him. "Tell me, O Stranger, how

housands of leagues," he answered. "And yo

ling, "I, the daughter of the Moon, who am

o?" exclaimed Kari to

uilla

w. Hearken! I will declare myself. I am the only child of Huaracha, King of the People of the Chancas, born of his wife, a princess of the Inca blood who now has been gathered to her Father, the Sun. I am here on a visit to my mother's kinsman, Quismancu, the Chief of the Yuncas of the Coastlands, to whom my father, the

," I said quickly before Kari could speak. Indeed, he did not speak at all, he only shrugg

balsa and to warn the maidens lest they be frightened. Whe

hion an departed, walking with

, put it on, because he declared that thus it would be more e

e balsa oversets, when I shal

dy for a pilot," he replied heavily. "Had the sun been up, it might hav

net?"

. The gods thrust us into high matters. The Yuncas of whose chief this lady is a guest are a great people whom my people have conquered in war, but who wait the opportuni

ith such questions this la

o the Yuncas. To whom is she affianced, I wonder? Some Great One, doubtless. Well, we shall learn in time; and meanwhile, I pray you,

nswered sharply. "Have I not had

and of whom I am, say nothing, save that you found me on this island where I dwelt a hermit when you rose from the sea. As for my name, why, it is Zapana. Remember that if you breathe my rank and history, however much sweet lip

remember

ot enough-

wear it-by

in robe he drew out the golden image of Pachacamac. "Swear it by the Spirit of the Universe, of whom

armour, I had risen from the sea and found him on the island, and how knowing me for a white god who once in ages past had vi

robes and again was attired as a 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 sil

those who do them service, though to tho

lsa, 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

ll that long night's journey I had no speech with her and must content myself with gazing over my shoulder at h

through the twilight. Then came the dawn, and there in front of us we saw the lovely strand green with

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 on

r," whispered Kari, bowing his head and

ich 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-b

with these people, and when I summon you be

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

eads upon the sand, from which I learned that they, too, believed me to be a god. Thereon I bowed to them and, drawing my sword-at the sight of which I saw them stare and

nd 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 be

are they going to do with us? Set us in yonde

t come to speak with you if she would. I think that they will take you to t

arers, 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 gr

Caraca" (which is the name for a lesser sort of king

cried Quismancu. "Hail, White God

painted on my shield, hurachi being their name for arrows. At any rate, thenceforth by this name of Hurachi I was kno

eneath my elbows, assisted me to climb out of that balsa, which I thi

ich 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