第15章
ItwaslateJune.Hispaniolarose,faint,faint,uponthehorizon.Allcrowdedtolook.There,therebeforeusdwelledcountrymen,fellowmariners,fellowadventurersforthfromtheOldintotheNew!Itwashaven;itwasSpainintheWest;itwasOurColony.
TheAdmiralgazed,andIsawthesalttearsblindhiseyes.Hissonwasbesidehim.Heputhishandupontheyouth"sshoulder.``Fernando,thereitis——IfoundandnameditHispaniola!""
Theweatherhungperilouslystill,theseaglass.Itwassoclearabove,below,around,thatweseemedtoseebyaddedlight,andyettherewasnomoresunlight.Alltheairhadthinned,itseemed,away.Everysailfellslack.
Colorswereslightlyaltered.TheAdmiralsaid,``Thereiscomingagreatstorm.""
TheboyFernandolaughed.``Why,father!""
``Stillnessbeforetheleap,""saidtheAdmiral.``Quietathomebecausethelegionshavegonetomuster.""
Itwashardtothinkit,buttoooftenhaditbeenprovedthathewasinthesecretofwaterandair.NowBartholomewFiescotheGenoesesaid.``Aye,aye!TheysayontheshipsatGenoathatwhenitcametoweather,evenwhenyouwereayoungster,youwerefairnecromancer!""
Theskyrestedblue,buttheseabecamegreenoil.Thatnighttherewereallaroundusfieldsofphosphorescence.
Aboutmidnightthesevanished;itwasveryblackforallthestars,andweseemedtohearasighingasfromagiantleaguesaway.Thispassed,andthemorningbroke,silentandtranquil,azureskyandazuresea,andnotsosharplyclearasyesterday.Thegreatcalmwindagainpushedus.
Hispaniola!Hispaniola!Hermountainsandherpalmsbeforeus.
WecoastedtotheriverHaynaandtheSpanishcityofSanDomingo.Threehoursfromsunsetdowninharborplungedouranchors,downrattledoursails.
The_Consolacion"s_longboatdancedbyherside.TheAdmiralwouldsendtolandbutoneboat,andinitforenvoyPedrodeTerreros,awell-speakingmanandknowntoDonNicholasdeOvando.Terreroswasenvoy,butwithhimtheAdmiralsentJuanLepe,whothroughtheyearsinHispaniolahadtriedtohealthesick,nomatterwhattheirfaction.TheAdmiralstayeduponthe_Consolacion_,theAdelantadouponthe_Margarita_.
Theharborwasfilledwithships.Wecountedeighteen.
Weguessedthattheywerepreparingforsailing,thelittleboatssocameandwentbetween.Andourentryhadcausedexcitement.Shipandsmallboathailedus,buttothemwedidnotanswer.ThencametowardusfromtheshorealongboatwiththeflagofSpainandinitanofficial.
Ourwharf!JuanLepehadleftitsomethingmorethanayearandahalfago.SanDomingowasgrown,manySpaniardshavingsailedforthewestinthattime.Isawstrangersandstrangers,thoughofSpanishblood.WalkingwiththeofficerandhispeopletotheGovernor"shousegavetimeforobservationandswiftthought.Throngwasforming.Onehadearlycriedfromoutit,``That"sthedoctor,JuanLepe!"TistheAdmiraloutthere!""ThatitwastheAdmiralseemedtospread.SanDomingobuzzedliketheairaboutahivethefirstspringday.Fartheron,outpushedaknownvoice.``Welcome,welcome,Doctor!""
Ilooked,andthatwasSancho.LuisTorreswasinSpain.
IhadseenhiminCadiz.Thecrowdwasthickening——
mencamerunning——therewascryandquery.Suddenlyroseacheer.``TheAdmiralandtheAdelantadointheirlittleships!""Atoncecameacounter-shout.``TheGenoese!
TheTraitors!""
Isaw——Isaw——IsawthattherewassomewisdominKingFerdinand!
TheGovernor"shousethatusedtobetheViceroy"shouse.
State——state!TheyhadcriedoutupontheGenoese"skeepingit——butDonNicholasdeOvandokeptmore.WhilewewaitedintheantechamberIsaw,outofwindowandthetailofmyeye,filesofsoldierygoby.OvandowouldnothaveriotanddisturbanceiftwentyAdmiralshungintheoffing!Hekeptuswaiting.Hewouldbecoolanddistantandimpregnablebehindtheroyalword.JuanLepesawplainlythatthatlavishandmagnanimouspersonaboardthe_Consolacion_wouldnotmeetherehistwin.TheAdelantadomuststill,Ithought,sailthe_Margarita_.Andyet,lookingatallthings,thatexchangeofshipsshouldhavebeenmade.ASpaniard,wheresoeverfound,shouldhavecried``Aye!""toit.
TheGovernor"sofficerwhostillkeptbyuswasnotaversetotalk.Allthosepreparingshipsintheharbor?Why,theywerethereturningfleetthatbroughtDonNicholasin.Sailingto-morrow——hencethehubbubonlandandwater.Theyhadaladingnow!Hegazedamomentatus,andasweseemedsoberfolk,sawnoreasonwhyweshouldnothavethepublicnews.Forthitcamelikewateroutofbottle.Bobadillawasreturning.``Aprisoner?""``Why,hardlythat!Roldan,too.""``Aprisoner?""``Why,notpreciselyso.""Manyoftheoldregime——Bobadilla"sregime——werereturningandRoldanmenlikewise.Invitedtogo,infact,thoughwithnootherharshtreatment.OneoftheshipswouldbepackedwithIndianrebels,Gwarionexamongthem.Chained,allthese.Thenotablethingaboutthefleet,afterallthat,wasthegoldthatwasgoing!A
treasurefleet!Bobadilla_had_gatheredgoldforthecrown.
Hewastaking,theysaid,asultan"sransom.Hehadonepiecethatweighed,theysaid,fivethousandcastellanos.
Roldantoohadgold.AndtheGovernorwassendingnomanknewhowmuch.Morethanthat——""Helookedatus,then,beingakindlysoul,quoth,``Whyshouldn"ttheAdmiralknow?AlonsodeCarvajalhasputonboardthe_SantaClara_fortheAdmiral"sagentinCadizfivethousandpieces——fullydue,astheGovernorhadallowed.""
Doorwasopened.``HisExcellencytheGovernorwillseeyounow.""
Whytarryoverashortstory?DonNicholasdeOvandopleadedsmoothlytheSovereign"smoststrictcommandwhich_inany_todisobeywereplainmalfeasance!Ashespokehelookeddreamilytowardblueharborandthe_Consolacion_.Andastoaship!Everyship,excepttwoorthree,oldandcrippledandinthehandsofthemenders,nowhitbetteritwascertainthanthe_Margarita_,wasladedandonthepointofsailing.Literallyhehadnone,absolutelynotone!HeunderstoodthatJamaicawasexpresslynamedtotheAdmiralforrestingandoverhauling.Careenthe_Margarita_thereandrectifythewrong——whichhetrustedwasnotgreat.Ifshipshadbeenidleandplentiful——buthecouldnotsplinteranyfromthefleetthatwassailingto-morrow.Hewassorry——andtrustedthattheAdmiralwasinhealth?
Terrerossaid,``Hisshipisworseoffthanyouthink,Excellency.Hehasgreatthingstodo,confidedintohishandsbytheSovereignswhotreasurehimwhofoundall.
Hereisemergency.MaywecarrytohiminvitationtoenterSanDomingoforanhourandhimselfpresenthiscase?""
Butno——butno——butno!Thricethat!
TheGovernorrose.Audiencewasover.
Fortheresthewascourteous——askedofthevoyage——
andoftheAdmiral"snotionoftheStrait.``Agreatman!""
hesaid.``AThinker,aSeer.""Hesenthimmessagesofcourtesythree-piled.Andsoweparted.
ThiswastheGovernorofwhomonesaidlongafterwards,``Hewasagoodgovernorforwhitemen,butnotforIndians.""
Aslifeanddestinywouldhaveit,intheplacewithouttheGovernor"shouseImethimwhowastosayit.TerrerosandIwiththesameescortwereforthewaterside,the_Consolacion"s_longboat.Thecrowdkeptwithus,butHisExcellency"ssoldiershelditorderly.YettherewereshoutsandmessagesfortheAdmiral,andforthisoneandthatoneaboardourships.Thencameayoungman,saidawordtotheofficerwithus,andputouthishandtomine.
ItwasthatBartolomedeLasCasaswithwhomIhadwalkedthewhiteroad,undermoon,beforetheinnbetweenSevilleandCordova.
CHAPTERXXXIX
THEAdmiraltookitwithsomeItalianwordsunderbreath.Thenhewheeledandleftthecabin.AminutelaterIheardthemasterfromthe_Consolacion_hailthe_Margarita_thatlaycloseby.``_Margarita_,ahoy!Orders!
Claponsailandfollow!""ThetrumpetcriedtotheJuanaandthe_SanSebastian_,``Makereadyandfollow!""
Ourmarinersrantomakesail.Butthelongboatwaitedforsomefinalwordthattheysaidwasgoingashore.Terreroswouldtakeit.Weweresoclosethatwesawtheyetwatchingcrowd,wharfandwaterside,andthesunglintinguponOvando"sorder-keepingsoldiery.TheAdmiralcalledmetohim.IreadthelettertotheGovernor,Terreroswoulddelivertoouroldofficer,probablywaitingonthewharftoseeusquiteaway.Theletter——therewasnaughtinitbutthesincerest,gravestwarningthatahurricanewasathand.Agreatone;heknewthesigns.
Itmightstrikethisshorelateto-morroworthenextdayorthenext.WhereforehebeggedhisExcellencytheGovernortotarrythefleet"ssailing.Letitwaitatleastthreedaysandseeifhiswordscamenottrue!Elsetherewouldbescatteringofshipsanddestruction——andherestedhisExcellency"sservant._ElAlmirante_.
Terreroswent,deliveredthatletter,andreturnedtothe_Juana_.Andoursailsweremadeandouranchorslifted,anditwassunsetandclearandsmooth,andeverypalmfrondofSanDomingoshowed.Eighteenshipsinharbor,andfifteen,theysaid,goingtoSpain,andaroundanduponthemallbustleofpreparation.OnesawinfancyBobadillaandRoldanandGwarionexandthemuchgold,includingthatpieceofvirginoreweighingfivethousandcastellanos.FifteenshipspreparingforSpain,andSanDomingo,ofwhichtheAdelantadohadlaidfirststone,andastrange,green,sunsetsky.Andthe_Consolacion_,the_Margarita_,theJuanaandthe_SanSebastian_awaytothewest,tothesoundofmusic,fortheAdmiralcriedtoourmusicians,``Play,playinGod"sname!""
Nightpassed.Morningbroke.Solightwasthewindthattheshorewentbyslowly.Theregatheredanimpatience.
``IfwemusttoJamaica,whatuseinfollowingeverycurveofHispaniolathatisforbidus?""Atnoonthewindalmostwhollyfailed,thenafterthreehoursofthisrosewithapouncingsuddennesstoagoodbreeze.Weroundedapointthrongedwithpalms.Beforeusasimilarpoint,andbetweenthetwothatbentgentlyeachtotheother,sleptadeepandnarrowbight.``Enterhere,""saidtheAdmiral.
Weanchored.Therewasagainastrangesunset,greenandgoldinthelowerwest,butaboveanarcofcloudsdressedinsaffronandred.Andnowwecouldhear,thoughfromveryfaroff,adeepandlowmurmur,andwhetheritwastheforestortheseaorbothwedidnotknow.Butnowalltheoldmarinerssaidtherewouldbestorm,andweweregladofthelittlebaybetweentheprotectinghorns.
TheAdmiralnameditBayofComfort.The_Consolacion_
_Margarita_,_Juana_,_SanSebastian_,layunderbaremasts,deepwithinthebight.
Thenextday,anhourbeforenoon,arrivedthatkinghurricane.
Theyareknownnow,thesestormsofEurope"swestandAsia"seast.TakeallourMediterraneanstormsandheapthemintoone!
ThroughthedayouranchorsheldinourBayofComfort,andweblessedourAdmiral.Butatevethe_Margarita_,the_Juana_andthe_SanSebastian_lostbottom,fearedbreakingagainsttherockyshoreandstoodoutforsearoom.The_Consolacion_stayedfast,andatdawnwaswoetoseenoth-
ingatallofthethree.Inthehowlingtempestandthequarterlightweknewnotiftheyweresunkorsaved.
Withthesecondeveningthehurricanesank;atdawntheseas,thoughrunninghigh,nolongerpushedagainstuslikewhite-manedhorsesofDeath.Wewaitedtillnoon,thentheseabeinglessmountainous,quittedtheBayofComfortandwenttolookforthethreeships.
The_Juana_andthe_SanSebastian_wepresentlysightedandrejoicedthereat.Butthe_Margarita_!Wesawhernowhere,andtheAdmiral"sfacegrewgray.HissonFernandopressedclosetohim.``Myuncleisaboldman,andtheysaythesecondseamanintheworld!Let"shopeandhope——andhope!""
``Why,aye!""saidtheAdmiral.``I"magoodscholarinhope.ItoldtheminSanDomingotheshipwasnotseaworthy.Whatcaredtheyforthat?Theywerewillingthatallofmynameshoulddrown!Godjudgebetweenus!""
The_Juana_camecloseandshoutedthatatevetheyhadseentheAdelantadoingreattrouble,closetoshore.Thencamedownthenightandonceortwicetheythoughttheymadeoutalightbuttheywerenotsure.
InthisWesttheweatherafterahurricaneisweatherofheaven.Wecoastedinahighsea,butwithsafetyunderaskyonesapphire,andwitharightwind,——andsuddenly,roundingapalmyheadland,wesawthe_Margarita_ridingsafeinalittlebayliketheBayofComfort.TheAdmiralfelluponhisknees.
The_Margarita_wassafeindeedbutwassocrazedaship!
The_SanSebastian_,too,wasinbadcase.Hispaniolatruly,butsomeleaguesfromSanDomingo,andasmall,desert,lonelybay!Werestedherebecauserestwemust,andmendedourships.Days——threedays——aweek.TheAdmiralandtheAdelantadokeptourpeopleclosetotheships.
TherewasnoIndianvillage,butapartysenttogatherfruitfoundtwoIndiansbiding,watchingfromathicket.
These,broughttotheAdmiral,provedtobefromavillagebetweenusandSanDomingo.Theyhadbeeninthattownafterthehurricane.IthaduprootedthegreattreebeforetheGovernor"shouseandthrowndownapartofthechurch.
``Hadthefleetsailed?""
Yes,itseemed.Thedaybeforethestorm.Butthesemenknewnothingofitsfortunes.HekepttheIndianswithusuntilwesailed,soasnottospreadnewsofwherewewere,thengavethempresentsandletthemgo.
Butonthedaywesettosailwedidnotsail,foralongthecoastandintoourbaycameasmallcaravel,goingwithmentoourfortinXaragua.Thecaptain——RuyLopezitwas——metusasawonder,SanDomingohavingheldthatthehurricanemusthavesunkus,theseaswallowedusup.
Heanchored,tookhisboatandcametotheAdmiraluponthe_Consolacion_.
``senor,Iamgladtoseeyouliving!""
``Yes,Ilive,senor.AreyouwellinSanDomingo?""
``Wellinbody,butsickatheartbecauseofthefleet.""
``Becauseofthefleet?""
``Thefleet,senor,wasadayawaywhenthehurricaneburst.Halftheshipsweresplit,lost,sunken!Theothers,broken,returnedtous.OneonlywentontoSpain.Thegoldshipsarelost.Only,theysay,thegoldthatpertainstoyou,goesonsafelyonthatonetoCadiz.GwarionextheIndianisdrowned,andBobadillaandRoldanaredrowned.""
CHAPTERXL
THEIndianscalleditGuanaja,buttheAdmiral,theIsleofPines.Itwasfar,far,fromHispaniola,far,far,fromJamaica,overawideandstormysea,reachedaftermanydaysofhorribleweather.Guanaja,small,lofty,coveredwithrichtreesamongwhichstoodinnumbersthepineswelovedbecausetheytalkedofhome.Tothesouth,faroff,acrossleaguesofwater,wemadeoutland.Mainlanditseemedtous,stretchingacrossthesouth,losingitselfintheeasternhaze.Theweathersuddenlybecameblissful.
WehadsweetrestinGuanaja.
AfewIndiansliveduponthissmallisland,like,yetinsomewaysunlikeallthoseweknew.Buttheywererudeandsimpleandtheytalkedalwaysofgods_tothewest_.Wehadrestedaweekwhentherecameatruewondertous_fromthewest_.
Thatwasacanoe,ofthemightiestlengthwehadyetseen,longasatalltree,eightfeetwide,noless,withtwenty-
fiverowingIndians——tall,lightbronzemen——withcottonclothabouttheirloins.Middleofthisgiantcanoewasbuiltahutorarbor,thatchedwithpalm.Underthissatasplendidbarbarian,tallandstrong,withacrownoffeathersandashortskirtandmantleofcotton.Besidehimsattwowomenwrappedincottonmantles,andattheirfeettwoboysandayoungmaid.Allthesepeopleworegoldenornamentsabouttheirnecks.
ItwasinakindofamazethatwewatchedthisdragonamongcanoesdrawneartoandpasstheshipsandtotheshorewherewehadbuiltahutfortheAdmiralandtheAdelantadoandtheyouthFernando,andtosheltertherestofusamanneroflongbooth.Itseemedthatitwasuponaconsiderablevoyage,andwantingwater,putinhere.TheGuanajaIndianscried,``Yucatan!Yucatan!""
TheAdmiralsteppeddowntomeetthesestrangers.Hisfaceglowed.HereatlastwasdifferencebeyondthedifferenceofthePariafolk!
Wefoundthattheywerearmed,——thenewcomers.
Strangelymadeswordsofwoodandflint,lances,lightbucklersand_hatchetsoftruecopper_.Theywerestrongandfearless,andtheyseemedtosay,``Herebeforeusisgreatwonder,butwonderdoesnotsubdueourminds!""
Theirlanguagehad,itistrue,theflowandclinkofIndiantongues,yetwasgreatlydifferent.Wehadworktounderstand.Buttheywerepastmastersofgesture.
TheAdmiralsentforpresents.Again,thesedidnotravish,thoughthecaciqueandhisfamilyandtherowersregardedwithinterestsuchstrangematters.Buttheyseemedtosay,``Youyourselvesandyourfantastichighcanoesmade,itisevident,ofmanytrees,arethewonder!""
Butwe,theSpaniards,searchingnowthroughtenyears——longastheWarofTroy——forAsiainwhichthatTroyandallwealthbesidehadbeenplaced,thoughtthatatlastwehadcomeupontraces.Inthatcanoeweremanyarticlesofcopper,wellenoughwrought;agreatcopperbell,amortarandpestle,hatchetsandknives.MoreoverinYucatanwerepotters!Inplaceoftheeternalcalabashherewerejarsandbowlsofbakedclay,well-made,well-shaped,markedwithstrangepaintedfigures.Theyhadpiecesofcottoncloth,well-wovenandgreatasasail.Surely,withthisstuff,beforelongthenotionofasailwouldariseintheseminds!Wesawcottonmantlesandotherarticlesofdress,bothwhiteandgaylydyedorfigured.ClothingwasnottothemthebruteamazewehadfounditwithoureasternIndians.Mattersenough,strangetoourexperience,werebeingcarriedinthatgreatcanoe.Wefoundtheyhadabread,notcassava,butmadefrommaize,andadrinkmuchlikeEnglishale,andalsoafoodcalledcacao.
Gold!Allofthemworegold,disksofit,hangingupontheirbreasts.Thecaciquehadathinbandofgoldacrosshisforehead;togetherwithafilletofcottonitheldthebrightfeathersofhisheaddress.
Theytradedthegold——allexceptthecoronalandasunlikeplateuponthebreastofthecacique——willinglyenough.
Whence?Whence?
ItseemedfromYucatan,onsomeembassytoanothercoastorisland.Yucatan.West——west!AndbeyondYucatanricherstill;oh,greatriches,goldandclothingand——wethoughtitfromtheircontemptuoussignstowardourboothsandtheirfingersdrawnintheair——truehousesandtemples.
Fartheron——fartheron——fartherwest!Foreverthathaunting,deludingcry——thecrythathaddeludedsinceGuanahanithatwecalledSanSalvador.Nowmanyofouradventurersandmarinerscaughtfirefromthatcacique"swidegestures.TheAdelantadonoless.``Cristoforo,itlookssatisfactionatlast!""AndtheyoungFernando,——
``Father,letussailwest!""
TheAdmiralwastryingtocomeatthatStrait.Earnestly,throughJuanLepeandthroughaJamaicanthatwehadwithus,hestrovetogiveandtakelight.Yucatan?WasthereseabeyondYucatan?DidsealikearivercutYucatan?
Mightacanoe——mightcanoeslikeours——gobyitfromthisseatothatsea?
ButnothingdidwegetsavethatYucatanwasagreatcountrywithseahereandseathere.``ApointofthemainlikeCuba!""saidtheAdmiral.Behindit,tothenorthofit,itseemedtous,thegreatercountrywherewerethegold,therichclothing,thetemples.ButwemadeoutthatYucatanfromseatoseawasmanydays"march.Andasforthecountrybeyondit,thatwenton,theythought,forever.
TheycalledthiscountryAnahuacandtheymeantthesamethatyearsafterwardHernandoCortesfound.Butwedidnotknowthis.Wedidnotknowthatstrangepeopleandtheirgreattreasure.
TheAdmirallookedouttosea.``Ihavecried,`West——
west——west!]througha-manyyears!Yucatan!ButI
makeoutnosea-passagethenceintoVascodaGama"sIndiaI
AndIamsworntotheQueenandKingFerdinandthistimetofindit.Soit"ssouth,it"ssouth,brotherandson!""
So,ourcasksbeingfull,ourfruitgathered,theskyclearandthewindfair,weleftthewesttoothersandsailedtofindthestraitinthesouth.Whenweraisedoursailsthatdragoncanoecriedoutandmarveled.Butthecaciquewiththecoronalaskedintelligentquestions.TheAdmiralshowedhimthewayofit,mastandsparandsailcloth,andhowwemadethewindourrower.Helistened,andatthelasthegaveChristopherus,Columbusforthatinstructionthegolddiskfromhisbreast.Idonotknow——Yucatanmighthavegoneonfromthatanditselfdevelopedtrueship.Ifithadlongenoughtime!ButEuropewasatitsdoors.
Thecanoekeptwithusforalittle,thenshoutedtoseethefairbreezefilloursailsandcarryusfromthem.
Itwasmid-August.Wecametoalow-lyinglandwithhillsbehind.HerewetouchedandfoundIndians,thoughnonesuchasYucatanseemedtobreed.ItwasSundayandundergreattreeswehadmass,havingwithustheFranciscanPedroofValencia.Fromthisplacewecoastedthreedays,whenagainwelanded.HeretheIndianswereofasavageaspect,paintedwithblackandwhiteandyellowandutteringloudcries.Wethoughtthattheywereeatersofmen"sflesh.Likewisetheyhadacustomofwearingearringsofgreatweight,someofcopper,someofthatmixedgoldwecalledguanin.Soheavyweretheseornamentsthattheypulledtheeardowntomid-throat.TheAdmiralnamedthisplacetheCoastoftheEar.
Onwesailed,andon,neveroutofsightoflandtostarboard.
Daybyday,alongacoastthatnowasawholebenteastward.Andyetnostrait——nowaythroughintotheseaintowhichpouredtheGanges.
CHAPTERXLI
THEweatherplaguedus.Therainswerecataracts,thelightningblinding,thethunderloudenoughtowakethedead.Dayafterday,untilthisweathergrewtoseemaveritableWill,aDemonwithagrudgeagainstus.
The_Margarita_sailednobetter;shesailedworse.TheAdmiralconsideredabandoningher,takingtheAdelantadouponthe_Consolacion_anddividinghiscrewamongthethreeships.ButtheAdelantado"sprideandobstinacyandseamanshipwereagainstthat.``I"llsailher,becauseSanDomingothinksIcan!""
Stormydaysandnights,andtheAdmiralwatching.``The_Margarita_!Ho,lookout!Doyouseethe_Margarita_?""
Inthemidstoffoulweathercamefoullybackthegoutthatcrippledhim.Iwouldhavehadhimstayinhisbed.
``Icannot!HowdoyouthinkIcan?""Intheendhehadusbuildhimsomekindofshelterupondeck,fasteningthereabenchandlayingapalletuponthis.Here,proppedagainstthewood,coveredwithcloaks,hestillwatchedtheseaandhowwentourshipandtheotherships.
Dayafterdayanddayafterday!Creepingeastwardalongabadshore,intheteethofthedemon.Theseas,thewinds,theenormousrainworeusout.Mengrewlarge-
eyed.Ifwesleptcameashriekandwakenedus.Wewouldputtoland,butthewindturnedandthrustusoutagain,orwefoundnoharbor.Weseemedtobefixedinoneplacewhiletimerushedbyus.
Forecastlebegantosay,``Itisenchantment!""Pres-
entlypoopechoedit.TheboyFernandobroughtittohisfather.``AlonsodeZamorraandBernardotheApothecarysaythatdemonsandwitchesareagainstus.""
``ThePrinceofthePoweroftheAir!""saidtheAdmiral.
``Itmaybe,child!PaynimryagainstChristianity.
WehadatouchofthesamequalityonceoffCuba.Butisit,orisitnot,Christianmenshallwin!AndsendmeBartholomewFiesco.Suchtalkisinjury.Itboresmen"scourageworsethanthe_teredo_aship"sbottom!""
Wethoughtthefoulweatherwouldnevercease,andourtoilwouldnevercease——thenlo!atthepointofdespairtheskyclearedwithagreatclapoflight,thecoastturnedsharply,sheerlysouth——henamedthegreatcape,CapeGraciasaDios——andweranfreely,Westagain.
Cominginthreedaystoawiderivermouth,inweturned.
Theshorewasgrownwithreedsthatwoulddoforgiants"
staffs.Onmudbankswesawthecrocodile,``cayman""
theycallit.Againtheskyhungalow,grayroof;athinwindwhistled,butforallthatitwasdeathlyhot.Seeingnomen,wesenttwoboatswithDiegoMendezupthestream.
Theywerenotgoneahalfleague,when,watchingfromthe_Consolacion_wemarkedastrangeandhorridthing.Therecamewithoutwindaswellingofthesea.Ourshipstossedasintempest,andthereenteredtheriverawallofseawater.Meetingtheoutwardpassingcurrent,thereensuedafurywithwhirlpools.Itcaughttheboats.DiegoMendezsavedhis,buttheotherwasseized,tossedandengulfed.
Eightmendrowned.
Thethingsankasithadcome.TheRiverofDisaster,wenamedit,andleftthisstripofcoastthatseemedtousgloomyandportentous.``_Wizardry!It"snottobelucky,thisvoyage_.""ItwasnowlateSeptember.
Nextday,weanchored,itbeingmostclearandbeautiful.
Welaybesideaverdurousislet,betweenitandagreenshore.
Herewereallourfruits,andwethoughtwesmelledcinnamonandclove.Across,uponthemain,stoodasmallvillage._Cariari_theIndianstherecalledthemselves.Theyhadsomegold,butnottotouchthatcanoefromYucatan.
Likewisetheyownedafewcottonmantles,withjarsofbakedclay,andwesawacopperhatchet.Buttheydidnotthemselvesmakethesethings.Theyhaddriftedtothem,wethought,fromapeoplefarmoreskilled.
TheAdmiralcried,``Whenandwhenandwhenshallwecometothispeople?""
Ianswered,``Itellyouwhatisinmymind,andIhavegotit,Ithink,fromyourinmostmind,outofwhichyouwillnotletitcomeforthbecauseyouhavehadagreattheoryandthinkyoumuststandtoit.Butwhatifthisthatyouhaveunderneathisagreaterone?WhatiftheworldtrulyislargerthanAlfraganusortheancientsthought?
Whatifallthisthatwehavefoundsincethefirstislandandthatmeansonlybeginningsofwhatistobefound;
whatifitisnotAsiaatall?Whatifitisalandmass,greatasEuropeorgreater,thatnooneknewanythingof?
WhatifoverbythesunsetthereisOcean-Seaagain,trueoceanandasmanyleaguestoAsiaastoSpain?WhatiftheycannotleadustoQuinsai,CambalucorZaiton,ortotheGanges"mouth,orAureaChersonesus,becausetheyneverheardofthem,andtheyhavenoshipstopassagainanOcean-Sea?WhatifitisallNew,andallthemapshavetoberedrawn?""
HelookedatmeasIspoke,steadilyandearnestly.WhatJuanLepesaidwasnotthefirstentryintohismindofsomethinglikethat.ButhewasheldbythatgreatmassofhimthatwasboundbythethinkingoftheVenerable.
Hewasfreefarandfarbeyondmost,buttocertainthingsheclunglikealimpet.``TheEarthlyParadise!""hesaid,andhelookedtowardthatPariathatwethoughtranacrossoursouth.``WhenourfirstparentslefttheEarthlyParadise,theyandtheirsonsanddaughtersandallthepeoplestocomewanderedbyfootintoChaldeaandArabia.Soitcouldnotbe!""Hisblue-grayeyesunderthatgreatbrowandshockofwhitehairregardedthesouth.
Thisfaeryisland——theGardenhecalledit——andtheCariariwhocametousfromthemain.Onedaytheysawoneofustakeoutpenandinkhornandwritedowntheiranswerstoourmanyquestions.Behinduslaythebluesea,beforeusthedeepgrovesoftheislet;betweenusandtherichshadestoodgatheredascoreoftheseIndians.Theylookedattheoneseatedonthesand,industriouslymakingblackmarksuponawhitesheet.TheIndianspeakingstoppedshortandputupanarminanattitudeofdefense;
anotherminuteandtheyhadallbackedfromusintothewood.Wesawonlyexcited,huddledeyes.Thenonestartedforth,advancingoverthesand,andhehadasmallgourdfilledwithsomepowderwhichhethrewbeforehim.
Hescattereditceremoniallybetweenusandhimselfandhisfellows,aslow,measuredritewithmutteredwordsandnowandthenasharp,risingnote.
CriedJuanSanchezthepilot,``What"shedoing?""
JuanLepeansweredbeforehethought,``Hethinksthenotaryyonderisamagicianandthepenhiswand.Somethingisbeingdonetothem!Counter-magic.""
``Thentheyareenchanters!""criedAlonsodeZamorro.
Ourgreatclustergaveback.``Fixanarrowandshoothimdown!""ThatwasDiegodePorras.
TheAdelantadoturnedsharply.``Donosuchthing!
Theremaybespells,buttheworstspellherewouldbeabattle!""Weletflynoarrow,butthebeliefpersistedthatherewasseenveritablyatworkthenecromancythatallalongtheyhadguessed.
ApartycrossedtothemainwiththeAdelantadoandpushedaleagueintoastallandthickandshadowyaforestaseverwemetinallourwanderings.Herewefoundnovillage,butcamesuddenly,rightinthewood,uponaverygreatthatchedhut,andinit,uponastone,layinstateadeadcacique.Heseemedlongdead,butthebodyhadnotcorrupted;
itwassavedbysomeknowledgesuchashadtheEgyptians.Acrownoffeathersrestedupontheheadandgoldwasabouttheneck.AroundtheplacestoodpostsandslabsofadarkwoodandthesewerecutandpaintedwithIdonotknowwhatofbeastandbirdandmonstrousidolforms.Westared.Theplacewasshadowyandverysilent.AtlastwithanoathsaidFranciscodePorras,``Takethegold!""ButtheAdelantadocried,``No!""andgoingoutofthehutthatwasalmostahouseweleftthedeadcaciqueandhiscrownandmantleandgoldenbreastplate.
Twowoodenfiguresatthedoorgrinneduponus.Wesawnowwhatseemedalightbrownpowderstrewedaroundandacrossthethreshold.Oneofourmen,stooping,tookupapinchthendroppedithastily.``Itisthesametheythrewagainstus!""
``Wizardry!We"llfindharmfromthemyet!""Thatsongcreptinnowateveryturn.
WesailedfromtheGardensouthbyeastalongtheendlesscoastthatnostraitbroke.Atfirstfairweatherranwithus.Butthe_Margarita_wassolame!Andallourothershipswrenchedandworm-pierced.AndtheAdmiralwasgrowingoldbeforeoureyes.Nothismindorhissoulbuthisframe.
Hebettered,lefthisbedandwalkedthedeck.AndthenwecametothecoastwecalledtheGoldenCoast,andhishopespreadgreatwingsagain,andifourmarinerstalkedofmagicitwasforatimeglisteningwhite.
Gold,gold!Adeepbay,throngedatthemouthwithisletssogreenandfair,theyweremarveltouswhoweresatedwithislandsgreatandsmall.Weenteredunderoverhangingtrees,andoutatoncetousshottwentycanoes.
TheIndianswithinworegoldinamountandpurityfarbeyondanythingintenyears.Oh,ourshipscouldscarcecontaintheirtriumph!TheAdmirallookedadreamerwhocomestotheblisscenterinhisdream.Goldwasevertohimsymbolandmystery.Hedidnotlookuponitasabuyerofstrifeandenvy,idlenessandsoftluxury;butasabuyerofcrusades,shipsandships,discoveriesanddiscoveries,andChristtoenterheathendom.
Gold!Discsofgreatsize,half-moons,crescentmoons,piercedforacottonstring.Smallgoldenbeastsandbirds,poorlycarvedbutgolden.Theytradedfreely;wegatheredgold.Andtherewasmoreandmore,theysaid,atVeragua,whereverthatmightbe,andsouthandeastitseemedtobe.
Veragua!Wewouldgothere.Againwehoistedsailandinourships,nowallunseaworthy,creptagaininabadwindalongthecoastofgold,——CostaRico.Atlastwesawmanysmokesfromtheland.ThatwouldbealargeIndianvillage.Webeattowardit,foundarivermouthandentered.ButVeraguamusthaveheardofusfromaswiftlandtraveler.Whenaboatfromeachshipwouldapproachtheland——itwasintheafternoon,thesunwesteringfast——asuddenburstofamostmelancholyandawfuldincamefromtheforestgrowingclosetowaterside.
Oneofourmencried``Wizards!""TheAdmiralspokefromthesternofthelongboat.``Andwhatiftheybewizards?Wemayanswer,`WeareChristians!"""
Thefuriousdincontinuedbutnowwewerenearer.``Besides,""
hesaid,``thosearegreatshellsanddrums.""
Ourrowersheldoff.Outoftheforestontothenarrowbeachstartedseveralhundredshell-blowing,drum-beatingbarbarians,marvelouslyfeatheredandpaintedandwithbowsandarrowsandwoodenswords.
Anarrowstuckinthesideofourboat,othersfellshort.
TheAdmiralrose,tall,broad-shouldered,thoughleanaswinterwherethereiswinter,withhairaswhiteasmilk.
Heheldinhishandastringofgreenbeadsandanotherofhawkbellswhichhemadetoring,buthedidnotdependmoreuponthemthanuponwhatbeheldwithinhimofpowerfulandpacific,Hesenthisvoice,whichbecouldmakedeepasadrumandreachingasoneofthosegreatshells.``Friends——friends!BringingChrist!""
Anarrowsangpasthim.Hissonwouldhavedrawnhimdown,but,``No——no!""and``Friends——friends!BringingChrist!""
Andwhethertheythoughtthat``Christ""wasthebeadsandthebell,orwhetherthebowmaninhimdidsendovergoodwillandmakeittoentertheirhearts,orwhetheritwassomewhatofboth,theydidsuddenlygrowfriendly.
Whereuponwelanded.
Gold!Wetookmuchgoldfromthisplace.Oneofourmen,touchedbythesun,satandbabbled.``Oh,thefaithfulgoldencoast!Oh,thegoldthatistocome!Greatgoldenshipssailingacrossbluesea!Ahundred——no,athousand——whatdoIsay?AmillionIndianswithbasketslongandwideontheirbacksandthebasketsfilledwithgold!ThebasketsaresogreatandthegoldsoheavythattheIndiansareboweddowntilltheygoonallfours.Gold,——amountainofpuregoldandeverySpaniardinSpainandafewItalians——goldenkings——""Whenwehadallwecouldget,upsailandon!