Page:The Incas of Peru.djvu/285

Rh Atahualpa's army was commanded by a savage but very able native of Quito, named Quizquiz, with Chalcuchima as his lieutenant and colleague, while young Quilacu had charge of a reserve force. Three years had nearly expired. The aunt, Cahua Ticlla, was on the point of death, and Huascar threatened to force Curi Coyllur to marry one of his captains. But she was resolved to be true to her lover, and to go in search of him. One night she cut off her long hair, put on the dress of one of her men-servants, and, as the army of Mayta Yjipanqui passed by Siquillapampa, she slipped out of the house and mingled with the camp followers.

Quizquiz, having marshalled his forces, advanced against the combined army of Huanca Auqui and Mayta Yupanqui. A desperate battle was fought at a place called Yanamarca, which was long doubtful. One of the wings of Atahualpa's line was hotly pressed, when Quilacu came up with his reserves. This turned the scale. The Incas broke and fled. But Quilacu was severely wounded. He fell among a heap of dead, at a moment when his men were fully occupied in the pursuit of the enemy, so that they did not notice the absence of their leader. The tide of battle rolled onwards and he was left to his fate.

Crushed under the weight of the fallen, and faint from loss of blood, Quilacu was for a long time insensible. When at length he recovered consciousness, he saw a boy traversing the field of battle, appearing to be in search of some one