The Crimson Conquest 17

The Crimson Conquest 17

The prospect was flattering, and the Inca’s case easily laid aside.

Hernando went forthwith.

 

His departure removed one embarrassment from the design which the

commander secretly meditated in regard to the Inca, and which he knew

Hernando would oppose with vigor. He would still have equally stanch

supporters of the prisoner to deal with, but he trusted to circumstance

to overcome or remove their influence. De Soto was the most formidable

advocate of Atahualpa’s cause. Soon after Hernando’s departure, he and

Cristoval went to the commander. They found Almagro there, and

Riquelme, the royal treasurer, who had come with him from San Miguel.

Mendoza and one or two others came in shortly afterward.

 

"The Inca beginneth to chafe, General," said De Soto, "over his delayed

freedom. Several days have passed since the division of the ransom, but

he awaiteth intimation that his captivity is near its end. May I not

bear him some assurance?"

 

"Not now, Soto," replied Pizarro, impatiently. "Let him wait. As a

matter of fact, he hath not yet made up the amount he promised. It was

short, considerably, of reaching the line on the wall."

 

"What!" exclaimed De Soto, bluntly. "Wilt thou make excuse of that?

Thou knowest that waiting would have brought the full sum; and thou

knowest, besides, it will be made up tenfold when we reach Cuzco. A

poor pretext, Pizarro, I’ll be bound!"

 

Pizarro shrugged. De Soto eyed him sharply, waiting for his response.

Pizarro shrugged again, and said: "_Bien_! I’ll not hold the Inca for

that, Soto. I’ll acquit him of the rest of the obligation, but ask not

his freedom now. Thou hast heard of the tribes in the South, and to-day

cometh news that an army lieth at Quito, with thirty thousand Caribs

ready to join. I doubt not that this Señor Inca is party to it. If it

so proveth, by Heaven, he shall pay dearly for his treachery!"

 

"Rumors and yet more rumors!" exclaimed De Soto, contemptuously.

"_Santa Madre_! How long shall we entertain these cries of wolf,

Pizarro? A rising of the Indios, forsooth! A spectre to be laid daily!

With five men I could ride to Cuzco. Give the order, and I will go."

 

Pizarro regarded him thoughtfully. "It might be well advised, Soto—not

with five men, but with thy troop; and not so far as Cuzco, but to

Guamachucho, whence the rumors come. The reconnaissance could be made

in a week—there and return. Let us say, ten days without hard marching.

Thou couldst start to-morrow? Very well.—And Peralta, thou hast

knowledge of the Quichua. _Excellente_! I will think of it."

 

When De Soto and Cristoval had departed Pizarro swore an oath. "But for

the qualms of those two and half-a-dozen others," he fumed, "we need not

fash ourselves about this accursed proud heathen king. I would snuff

him out, for by the faith! I had liefer trust myself with a wounded bear

than set him loose to bring his hordes to our destruction. He is a mad

bull held by the horns. I can neither hold him nor let him go. Were it

not for him we could be on the march to Cuzco; but as ’t is, we dare not

leave him under such guard as we can spare, nor can safely take him with

us."

 

"Then why shilly-shally?" demanded Almagro. "A bit of steel between his

ribs, or a hitch of rope about his neck, and we are disencumbered. My

life! I see no complexity in that."

 

"But De Soto hath his troop at his back, Almagro, and an embroglio now

would put us in bad case. Many of the men would be but lukewarm for the

Inca’s death. Since they have his gold they shout, ’_Viva el Inca!_’

and affect a friendliness."

 

"Ah!" scoffed Riquelme. "The fleeting dim gratitude of jackals with

bellies full! ’T is easily chilled. Stir up fresh rumors. Incite

alarms. Put them forty-eight hours under arms on guard, then hear them

yelp and snarl. When they bay in full chorus, bring charges against the

Inca. Try him in court with all grave show and pertinent solemnity.

When De Soto and Peralta return, show them a royal grave."

 

"The soul and essence of good counsel, Riquelme, and most crisply put!"

exclaimed Almagro, half admiringly, half in contempt. "Thou ’rt a man

of parts, my friend, and fit to intrigue with cardinals, prime

ministers, and favorites of kings—or to be a barrister! Ha! Leave it

to Riquelme, Pizarro."

 

Pizarro looked from one to another without replying. He smiled, and his

smile was not pleasant to look upon. Instructing the sentinel at the

door that no one should be admitted, he drew his chair close to his

visitors.

 

The council was long. At its close Pizarro said: "Well, think upon it

overnight and come again to-morrow. There are charges enough to answer

our purpose, and we have only to put them into form. _Cara_! This

device is luckily hit upon, Señores, and we’ll perfect its members. Say

not a word of it to any man. Now I’ll issue an order for De Soto’s

march. That was a hint opportunely offered. He was in the way, and,

curse him! I saw no means of being quit of his importunities.—_Adiós_,

gentlemen. I thank you for your good counsel."

 

De Soto received marching orders that evening, and he and Cristoval

spent the greater part of the night in the preparation of the troop. In

the morning, Cristoval hurried to take leave of the Inca. The hour was

early, and the latter had not come from his private apartments. After a

few minutes’ conversation with the nobles in the anteroom of the small

salon where Atahualpa received his friends informally, Cristoval

entered. In a moment he saw the nobles sink to their knees. Their

sovereign was approaching. Atahualpa paused for a word of greeting, and

entered the room where the cavalier stood waiting. Seeing Cristoval in

full armor, he asked anxiously as he advanced,—

 

"What is this, Viracocha Cristoval? Thou ’rt equipped as for battle! I

trust nothing hath occurred, or is about to occur."

 

"Nothing, my lord. I have come to bid you a short farewell. I go with

De Soto on a few days’ journey. We ride to Guamachucho."

 

"To Guamachucho! Why to Guamachucho?"

 

"Merely to prove to Pizarro that another rumor which hath reached his

ears is without foundation, my Lord Inca. He gave his promise yesterday

to release you the moment he feeleth secure, and we go to hasten his

assurance. We will return to see you at liberty and rejoice with you,

my lord."

 

Atahualpa made no immediate reply, but stood with arms folded, his eyes

bent gloomily upon the floor. At length he asked, "Your going is

voluntary?"

 

"Entirely so, my Lord Inca. It was De Soto’s suggestion. He offered, to

prove the good will of your people, to ride to Cuzco almost alone. So

long a journey being needless, we make this shorter one."

 

The cloud deepened upon the Inca’s brow. Finally he said, half

meditatively: "I fear it is unfortunate. The Viracocha Hernando, who, I

believe, was my friend, hath gone. Now thou and De Soto go. I would it

were otherwise, Viracocha Cristoval."

 

Cristoval divined the cause of his misgiving. "Nay, my lord," he said

earnestly, "the circumstance hath no import, believe me. You have many

other friends in the army. Yesterday I heard the soldiers shouting,

’Long live the Inca!’ Moreover, Pizarro hath given you formal quittance

of your ransom. Have you not heard of it?"

 

"I have heard."

 

"You will receive the paper to-day; and now nothing delayeth your

liberty but Pizarro’s uneasiness about the feeling among your subjects.

We shall remove that uncertainty, and when we meet again, my lord, it

will be on the eve of your freedom."

 

Atahualpa turned his dark eyes upon him. "My friend," he said gravely,

"we shall not meet again!—Nay, hear me! I know what thou wouldst say,

but I am right. This is our last meeting.—Be silent!" he interrupted,

with some sternness, when Cristoval essayed to speak. "I do not say

this to hear thy protests; and let us not waste words, for time is

fleeting. When you return, I shall be—not here. I have been

forewarned. My life is near its close. Enough! I do not fear to die. I

would say naught of this, but there is something I would ask of thee."

 

He paused, and for a moment his eyes looked searchingly into those of

the cavalier. When he resumed it was as if satisfied with the scrutiny,

and he spoke in the tone he might have used to a brother.

 

"There is something I would ask of thee. Thou hast been my friend, as I

believe in my heart. Of all these unknown around me I have felt that I

know thee, Viracocha Cristoval, and I know that I can entrust to thee

now my dearest wish. It is this: I shall leave behind me many loved

ones, and among them the Ñusta Rava. Promise me thou wilt be to her what

thou wouldst wish a friend to be to thy best beloved sister. Toparca

hath not his strength. None of my people can aid her as well as thou in

time of need. Guard her life until thou canst convey her to safety.

Above all, guard her honor. Promise me this. Nay, promise me more. She

will be surrounded by a thousand perils—give thy word thou’lt be ready

to lay down thy life to save her unharmed; and, should all else fail,

that thou wilt, at the end of hope, plunge thy dagger to her heart,

rather than surrender her to dishonor. Give me thy promise. I ask it

as a soldier of a soldier, Viracocha Cristoval."

 

Cristoval, moved to the depths of his chivalrous soul by the earnest

appeal of this splendid despot, who had never before laid aside his

majesty to ask a boon of mortal man, but who now addressed him with a

brother’s prayer for the sanctity of his sister, offered his hand. It

was taken by the monarch, and for the moment they stood regarding one

another, no longer as prince and conquistador, Inca and Spaniard, but as

men.

 

"My Lord Inca," said Cristoval, "I swear by all I hold most sacred to

spare neither my blood nor my life in her defence!"

 

"It is enough, my friend. I thank thee. I demand much of thy