"Fellows, what's that?"
Bob rolled over drowsily, then fell to the stone floor with a thump that
effectually awakened him. He looked up. Jack stood above him, grinning.
Bob rubbed his hip ruefully, then got to his feet. Frank, with whom he
had been sleeping, also clambered out of bed.
Gray light coming in through the loopholes to the east lighted the room
only dimly. Ferdinand and his father still slept on the couch which they
had shared together. Mr. Hampton, who had slept with Jack, was not
awake, nor were the two huachos.
"What in---"
Bob was still rubbing his hip.
"Listen," said Jack. "There. That dull humming sound. What is it? I lay
awhile, half asleep, half waking, before I got up. Then I stopped to
shake you fellows awake. Come on, let's look out of these loopholes."
"The Sun's not yet up," grumbled big Bob. "Why in the world do you have
to beat him? Having such a good time of it, that you hate to miss a
minute?"
Nevertheless, he followed Jack and Frank to the loopholes.
The humming sound referred to was louder. For several moments they
stared through the apertures, unable to see anything in the dark square
below. But the light grew momentarily stronger, as the sun neared the
top of the eastern rampart of the valley. Then objects began to grow and
took form in the lessening shadows.
"Whew," exclaimed Bob, in an awed tone. "Did you ever----"
"And I said last night it looked like a city of the dead," said Frank.
As for Jack, he deserted his loophole and, gaining his father's side,
shook him into wakefulness.
"Come here, Dad. What a sight."
What a sight, indeed! The others were roused and summoned, too. For the
great square was packed with humanity, rank upon rank of people, on
their knees, facing the Temple and the east. At that moment, the sun
shot above the horizon. And all that great multitude of people bowed
forward, touching their hands to their lips, and then flinging their
arms wide to the Sun.
The serried ranks were dressed in gorgeous costumes. Many wore wreaths
upon their heads. Many wore ornaments of gold and silver that reflected
back the light of the sun in myriad flashings. And on standards high
above the multitude flapped great imperial banners, stirring lazily in
the breeze that brought the dawn.
"Ah," said Don Ernesto, breaking the silence of stupefaction which had
enthralled them, "I was right. Now we shall see something. It is their
great festival. The fast has come to an end."
"Look," said Jack excitedly, "Who is that?"
He pointed to a figure, upright amidst all those kneeling figures, the
only dark spot, moreover, amidst those gaily-clad hosts. He wore a robe
descending to his feet, so darkly crimson that it appeared to be black.
"That," said Don Ernesto, "is the Inca."
But Jack had run back to the table and picked up the field glasses which
he had placed there on retiring the night before.
"No. The Inca?" he cried. "Why, it is--No, not Prince Huaca, but he looks
so much like him. Yet he is older. And, wait. There is Prince Huaca near
him. Look, Father, that man on the left."
Meantime, a fascinating ceremony was transpiring in the square. From the
hands of Vestal Virgins, clothed all in white, the Inca took two great
golden goblets filled with wine. Lifting the one in his right hand to
the sun, as if drinking a pledge, he set it to his lips. Then, solemnly,
he poured the wine from the goblet into a wide-mouthed jar of gold.
"Why is he doing that, I wonder?" cried Frank. "Do you know, Don
Ernesto?"
"I don't know for certain. But I believe the wine is supposed to flow
through a golden conduit into the Temple. Thus the Sun may drink the
wine pledged to him."
Next the Inca drank from the goblet in his left hand. Then turning to
the nearest of the kneeling figures, those wearing capes of darkest
crimson, of which there were eight, including Prince Huaca, he poured
out the remainder of the wine into goblets which they held extended.
"They must be members of the royal family," surmised Bob
"Yes," agreed Don Ernesto. "The other nobles, and the common people will
get a lesser wine, as well as the special bread made for this occasion.
Ah, my reading all comes back to me now. But who would think to see that
ancient ceremony of the Feast of Raymi reproduced today by the
descendants of the Children of the Sun?"
As he had prophesied, so it came to pass. For now young women all in
white could be seen making their way through the kneeling throng. But
their mission was not yet to be carried out. They merely took their
appointed stations. Then those of royal blood arose and moved in slow
and stately procession behind the Inca toward the Temple. At the base of
the steps they removed their sandals. They then entered the Temple.
"Probably to make offerings to their Deity," said Don Ernesto.
The multitude continued kneeling, indicating that the ceremony was not
yet over. Presently the Inca and the members of his family returned to
the square. They came out of the Temple empty-handed.
"Those goblets from which they drank," said Don Ernesto, who at the
moment had the field glasses. "Those have been left behind. Those were
their offerings."
Following the Inca came a patriarchal man in a white robe bordered with
crimson, upon his head a golden disk from which protruded a great number
of golden spikes. This they took to be the High Priest. Following him
were attendant priests bearing a large number of animals, including a
black lamb. This was slaughtered first, and examined by the High Priest
for the auguries. Then the other animals were sacrificed, certain parts
being offered on the altar to the Sun, the balance distributed by the
lesser priests among the multitude to be roasted at great fires which
now were lighted in the square. At the same time, the women in white,
the Vestal Virgins, who earlier had taken station in the throng, began
distributing the special bread of the festival.
All this required a long time in the doing, but the boys and their
elders watched with unabated interest, moving about a little now and
then from one loophole to another to converse, shifting position
occasionally to relieve the irksomeness. As for Pedro and Carlos, they
had produced a deck of cards and, squatting on the stone floor, were
playing a game between themselves, untouched by the romance of the
spectacle in the square.
Presently, the feasting having come to an end, the Inca, the members of
his family and other nobles in the multitude withdrew toward a side of
the square which, from the loopholes, was not under observation. Then
the throng broke up in scattered groups, here and there spaces were
cleared, while the observers packed themselves around in dense formation
and, in these cleared spaces, dancers appeared.
"Ah," said Don Ernesto, "now the festival has begun. They will make
merry for a long time. See, wine is being distributed to everybody."
But at that moment, Pedro called to his master, and Don Ernesto turned
about. So did Mr. Hampton and the boys.
The door had been opened to admit Prince Huaca. He stood within the
room, while the door swung to again behind him, his face inscrutable.
After a moment of hesitation, Don Ernesto advanced to meet him.
"We have been looking," he began.
Prince Huaca bowed slightly.
"Yes?"
"At your great festival."
Prince Huaca smiled.
"For the common people."
"I do not understand."
"Perhaps, some day----"
Prince Huaca made a slight gesture with his right hand, as if to dismiss
the subject.
"Senor, sit here with me," he said, indicating a couch. "I would talk
with you. Let these others watch a little longer. Then my servants will
bring you food, so that you, too, may feast."
"I am honored," said Don Ernesto. However, he hesitated to be seated.
"Pardon me," he said, "if I point out that these"--indicating Mr. Hampton
and the boys, who were at the far end of the room--"are my son and my
very good friend and his young men. Perhaps, what you wish to say is for
their ears, too?"
"Ah, I did not understand," said Prince Huaca, courteously. "Then they
are not your servants?"
"No, only these two," answered Don Ernesto, indicating Pedro and Carlos,
who had withdrawn from their vicinity. "And they are old family
servants."
Prince Huaca considered.
At that moment the great bronze door again was opened, and a number of
servants entered, bowed low before Prince Huaca, removed the dishes from
the table and then returned bearing other dishes, this time including
meat. Throughout the process, Prince Huaca sat silent, nor did Ernesto
venture to disturb him. When the servants at length had withdrawn, the
prince arose.
"Eat," said he, "and, when you have refreshed yourselves, my servants
shall bring you and your friends to me. Assure your old servants they
have nothing to fear in being separated from you."
When he had gone, Don Ernesto lost no time in communicating the purport
of the conversation to Mr. Hampton and the boys. Pedro and Carlos took
the news philosophically. The food was excellent, the meat roasted and
hot. All ate with good appetite. There were goblets of mild, honey-like
wine, which Don Ernesto recommended highly. At the conclusion of the
meal, the servants returned bearing ewers of water and rough towels,
with which they bathed face and hands. Then, one of the servants
gestured that Don Ernesto and his companions were to follow, and,
bidding Pedro and Carlos have no worry, the party set out.