Then Quizquiz advanced and extended his hands toward his people. The roar that greeted him left no doubt in the minds of the Americans of the success of their plan. So Ted came forward and placed the crimson fringe on Quizquiz’s head; then he stepped back three paces, saluted the new king smartly, and followed Stanley into the passage.
Quizquiz descended the steps and taking a sword cut a cord that joined two links in the golden chain, whereupon the youths carrying it stepped aside, leaving an opening in the centre. The Inca then invited the twenty-four representatives of the people to follow him up the dais and take their places by his side. After that he delivered a short address, lauding the Americans for their work and thanking them, and assuring his subjects that henceforth his life would be devoted to their welfare.
The crowd was delirious with joy. It was one of the happiest days in the lives of the populace, for, despite their denunciation of Quizquiz in the hour of panic, old beliefs die hard, and most of them still felt deep in their hearts the old reverence for the Child of the Sun, and were glad to have him back. And they celebrated the festival for a period of ten days. They also rejoiced over the fact that Villac Umu, the real cause of all the trouble, had been banished to the high slopes, to be a herder of llamas.
Quizquiz had arranged an impressive demonstration to commemorate the departure of the Americans. By his command every inhabitant of the valley capable of making the trip had journeyed to the foot of the range that formed the western enclosure of the hidden retreat. There was to be a gala celebration, after which the strangers would depart through the secret pass that opened up once every ten years.
During the first day there were music, dancing, and feasting. On the second all the nobles came to bid the two farewell, and to offer their well-wishes for a safe and speedy return to their homes. On the morning of the third day a surprising thing occurred. Soncco, who was master of ceremonies, had arranged a startling spectacle. At his command a number of menials removed the covering from what had appeared to be a great heap of wood or stones. To their surprise they saw that it was a great mound of gold.
“Assembled here is all the treasure in the valley,” Soncco said solemnly. “Gold has been the curse of the nation, but we are determined to be cursed with it no longer. So much of the gold and precious stones as one hundred men can carry on their backs will be sent with our white friends to the outer world, as a token of the Inca’s appreciation of their unselfish service to him and to the people. The remainder will be destroyed.”
To the astonishment of Ted and Stanley a long line of men began filing past the glistening heap. Each one picked up as much of the treasure as he could carry, and started up the slope to the rim of one of the numerous craters; there the precious burdens were dropped into the volcano.
Not until dusk did the homeward journey commence. The people had been sent away to their own homes. Only Quizquiz and his attendants, Soncco, and the hundred soldiers with their officers remained with the Americans. After embracing the two the Inca gave the officers their final orders. Then he turned to Ted and Stanley.
“As I have told you before, the journey to the coast is not a long one—ten days at most. You will be among my people all of the time, for the trail runs through a region into which white men never venture. Food will be supplied by the villages through which you pass. On the shore of the great water stands the town of Tula. There you may safely store your treasure until such time as you care to remove it; the inhabitants are my faithful subjects, and my orders to serve you in every way will not be disobeyed. Good-by.”