“It shall be as you say,” said Stanley. “But for the present let every one remain in his place. The sunlight will come back again, and so long as you obey my wishes no harm shall come to you. But if a single one of you betrays his pledge, worse things may happen.” “You shall be king,” the multitude roared. “We swear it.” “Quizquiz is gone,” Soncco whispered to Stanley; “the thunder of your medicine was too much for him. He jumped to the ground and ran when the crash came. Villac Umu followed him.” “Will they keep their promise?” Stanley asked. “Without question,” Soncco assured him. “And I am sure you will fill the lofty stations in a manner befitting them.” “What do you mean? What stations? We want to leave so soon as possible.” “What are the wishes of an individual compared to the welfare of a nation? Consider yourself king, although the actual crowning ceremonies are still to be performed. And your companion is head of all the religious orders. If you had planned to go back to your people, you may find that they will insist on keeping you here, for the people have sworn it.” CHAPTER XVI THE COMING OF THE TIGERS The sunlight returned in due time, and with its coming the people regained their composure. A shout that rapidly assumed the proportions of a roar went up as the assembled host proclaimed Stanley their king, and Ted high priest. This latter office was the second highest any man could hold. A few short minutes before they had been meek spectators to the terrible ordeal to which the white men had been subjected, ready to see them die without the courage to so much as say a single word in their defense. But now the tide had turned. Men who could command the sun to be darkened, and to shine again, and who brought thunder to the earth, were not men in reality in their sight, but gods. And to prove this contention, had the two not come from the sky in some mysterious contrivance they could control? It was but an example of how the estimation in which people are held too often varies with their fortunes. “Long live the king and the high priest!” and “let them be crowned now!” they cried, while stalwart hands seized them, and carrying them aloft placed them in the golden thrones that had been deserted by Quizquiz and Villac Umu. Ted and Stanley were on the point of objecting, but a look from Soncco silenced them. They permitted the nobles to raise the shining conveyances to their shoulders and carry them to the regally appointed quarters that had been occupied by the Inca.