Tiahuana in his long, white, gold-embroidered robe and mitre-like
head--dress as Chief Priest, gallantly holding his own with the
magnificently attired commander of the regiment; and in the centre of
the cortege there appeared an open litter--somewhat similar to a sedan
chair with the top part removed--entirely covered with burnished plates
of gold and silver, hammered into a bold but very intricate pattern,
while the interior was lined with richly coloured feathers also arranged
in a very elaborate design. This structure was supported before and
behind by a pair of long, springy poles or shafts, to which were
harnessed six white horses, three abreast, the harness and trappings of
the animals being blue, elaborately embroidered with gold, while the
headstall of each horse was decorated with a plume of half a dozen long
blue feathers. The middle horse of each trio--that which ran between
the shafts--was ridden by a postilion, who guided and controlled all
three of the horses under his charge.

While the gorgeous cavalcade was still some distance away, Motahuana
came running out of the house, babbling the most earnest and urgent
entreaties that Harry would be graciously pleased to enter the house
forthwith, as it was not meet that the members of the Inca's bodyguard
should set eyes upon their sovereign lord until the latter should be
attired in the robes of his regal rank; and Harry, already painfully
aware of the dilapidated condition of the jacket and knickers in which
he had accomplished the march from the survey camp, fully agreeing with
him, hastily retreated to the interior of the building and, standing
well back from the window, where he was concealed in the deep shadow,
interestedly watched the movements of his regiment as it went into camp
on a little plateau at the rear of the house.

But the troopers had scarcely begun to unsaddle before Tiahuana, still
hot and dusty from his long ride, entered the house, followed by a
servant bearing a large bundle. And a few minutes later the old fellow
entered the room where Harry was standing and, having first made his
obeisances, respectfully invited the young Englishman to retire to his
sleeping room, there to don certain garments more suitable to his rank
and state than those which he was wearing, in order that he might be
ready to receive the Lord Umu, commander of the royal bodyguard, who was
represented to be dying of impatience to do homage to his Sovereign
Lord.