224 PRINCE RICARDO.

 

for they, too, had been kneeling; and, sending
a flag of truce before King Prigio, the priest
led him into the palace. The ground was
strewn with bodies of the slain, and through
them Prigio rode slowly into the courtyard,
where the Inca was sitting in the dust, weeping
and throwing ashes on his long hair and his
golden raiment. The king bade the priest
remain without the palace gates; then dis-
mounted, and, advancing to the Inca, raised
him and embraced him.

““T come, a king toa king,” he said. ‘‘My
cousin, take courage; your sorrows are ended.
If I do not slay the Earthquaker, sacrifice me
to your gods.”

“The Prophecy is fulfilled,” said the Inca,
and wept for joy. ‘‘ Yet thou must hasten, for
it draws near to noon.”

Then Prigio went up to the golden battle-
ments, and saying no word, waved his hand.
In a moment the square was empty, for
the people rushed to give thanks in the
temples.

“Wait my coming, my cousin,” said Prigio
to the Inca; “I shall bring you back the
daughter that was lost, when I have slain your
enemy.”

The Inca would have knelt at his feet;
but the king raised him, and bade him pre-
pare such a feast as had never been seen in
Manoa.