“You are mistaken, Lord.  Not for victory or to increase my dominions do I desire to war upon the Incas, but because unless I strike I shall presently be struck, though for a little while this marriage might hold back the blow.  Alone in the midst of the vast territories over which the Incas rule, the Chancas stem their tide of conquest and remain free amongst many nations of slaved.  Therefore for ages these Incas, like those who ruled before them at Cuzco, have sworn to destroy us, and Urco has sworn it above all.”

“Urco might die or be deposed, Huaracha.”

“If so another would put on the Fringe and be vowed to the ancient policy that does not change from generation to generation.  Therefore I must fight or perish with my people.  Hearken, Lord-from-the-Sea!  Stay here with me and become as my brother and a general of my armies, for where will they not follow when you lead, who are held to be a god?  Then if we conquer, in reward, from a brother you shall become a son, and to you after me I swear shall pass the Chanca crown.  Moreover, to you, if she can be saved, I will give in marriage her whom you love.  Think before you refuse.  I know not whence you come, but this I know:  that you can return thither no more, unless, indeed, you are a spirit.  Here your lot is cast till death.  Therefore make it glorious.  Perchance you might fly to the Inca and there become a marvel and a show, furnished with gold and palaces and lands, but always you would be a servant, while I offer to you a crown and the rule of a people great and free.”

“I care nothing for crowns,” I answered, sighing.  “Still, such was Quilla’s prayer, perchance the last that ever she will make to me.  Therefore I accept and will serve you and your cause, that seems noble, faithfully to the end, O Huaracha.”

Then I stretched out my hand to him and so our compact was sealed.

On the very next day my work began.  Huaracha made me known to his captains, commanding them to obey me in all things, which, looking on me as half divine, they did readily enough.

Now, of soldiering I knew little who was a seaman bred, yet as I had learned, a man of the English race in however strange a country he finds himself can make a path there to his ends.

Moreover, in London I had heard much talk of armies and their ordering and often watched troops at their exercise; also I know how to handle bow and sword, and was accustomed to the management of men.  So putting all these memories together, I set myself to the task of turning a mob of half-savage fellows with arms into an ordered host.  I created regiments and officered them with the best captains that I could find, collecting in each regiment so far as possible the people of a certain town or district.  These companies I drilled and exercised, teaching them to use such weapons as they had to the best purpose.