rit of
the adventure, replied that, since the task had been laid upon him of
restoring the ancient Peruvian race to its former power and splendour,
and that, before this could be accomplished it would be necessary for
him to lead his troops many times to battle, it was his will to make his
first appearance among his subjects on horseback, as a warrior, at the
head of his own bodyguard; a reply which created a perfect furore of
enthusiasm among the other nobles, and the troopers of the royal
bodyguard, when it was communicated to them by Tiahuana and Umu.

That the possibility of such a choice on the part of their new Inca had
not been altogether unanticipated was soon apparent; for Umu presently
returned to the house, bearing on a cushion of azure blue--which it
appeared was the royal colour--trimmed with a heavy cord of bullion and
with a bullion tassel at each corner, a sword of hardened and burnished
copper, with a hilt of solid gold elaborately chased, and encased in a
scabbard of solid gold, also most magnificently chased. This he
presented on bended knees to Tiahuana, who, in his capacity of High
Priest, then knelt before Harry and girded the weapon to his side, after
which Arima came forward with a long roll of extraordinarily fine silk-
like cloth woven in bands of many different colours in which, however,
scarlet and azure predominated. This was the llautu, or turban, which
the Indian at once proceeded with deft fingers to bind about his royal
master's head in such a manner as to afford complete protection from the
ardent rays of the sun while leaving the borla, or tasselled fringe of
scarlet, which was really the royal diadem, fully exposed to view. A
woollen mantle of almost silken texture, azure blue in colour, with a
very broad border of gold embroidery, and with more gold embroidery on
the shoulders and halfway down the back, was next laid upon his
shoulders and secured at the throat by a pair of massive gold clasps and
chain, and Escombe was fully equipped for the road. And a very handsome
and gallant figure he looked as, tall, lithe, and slim, and clad in all
his barbaric finery, he stepped out of the house into the dazzling
sunshine, to be greeted with a deafening shout of welcome from the
officers and troopers of his bodyguard, who were already mounted and
drawn up in a double line for his inspection. So obviously was this
expected of him that Harry needed no hint to that effect, but, vaulting
lig