下载辰思小说免费APP
TheAdmiral!Hishairwasmilk-white,histall,broadframegauntasaJanuarywolf.Twoyearshadwritteninhisfacetwoyears\'experience——fullywritten,forhewassensitivetoeverywindofexperience.``Excellency!\'\'——
``JuanLepe,Iamasgladofyouasofabrother!——Andwhatdoyoudo,senors,here?\'\'
LuisMendezrelated.``IthinkitfalsenewsaboutthePortuguese,\'\'saidtheAdmiralandgavereasonswhy.``Thenshallwekeepwithyou,sir?\'\'
``No,sinceyouaresentoutbymybrotherandmustgivehimaccount.Haveyouwatertospare?Wewilltakethatfromyou.Iamboundstillsouth.Iwillfindoutwhatisthere!\'\'
FurthertalkdisclosedthathehadleftSpainwithsixships,butattheCanarieshadpartedhisfleetintwo,sendingthreeunderAlonzodeCaravajaluponthestraightcoursetoHispaniola,andhimselfwiththreesailingfirsttotheGreenCapeislands,andthencesouthwestintoanunknownsea.
Sodesolate,wideandblueitlookedwhenthenextdayweparted,——twoshipsnorthward,threesouthward!ButJuanLepestayedwiththe_Esperanza_andtheAdmiral.Aslongsince,betweenthe_SantaMaria_andthe_Pinta_,therehadbeenexchangeofphysicians,sonowagainwasexchangebetweenthe_SantaCruz_andthe_Esperanza_.
Daysofbluesea.The_Esperanza_carriedasomewhatfrankandfriendlycrewofmarinersandadventurers.Nowhewouldsailsouth,hesaid,untilhewasundertheEquator.
Daysofstarkblueocean.Thenoutoftheseatothesouthroseapointofland,becomingpresentlythreepoints,asitwerethreepeaks.TheAdmiralstared.Isawtheenthusiasmriseinhisface.``DidInotwriteandsaytotheSovereignsandtoRomethatintheNameoftheHolyTrinity,Iwouldnowagainseekoutandfind?There!
Lookyou!Itisasign!Trinidad——wewillnameitTrinidad.\'\'
ThenextmorningwecametoTrinidad,andthepalmstroopedtothewateredge,andwesawsparklingstreams,andfromtheheightsabovetheseacurlsofsmokefromhiddenhuts.Wecoasted,seekinganchorage,andatlastcameintoaclear,smallharbor,andlanding,filledourwatercasks.Weknewthecountrywasinhabitedforwesawthesmokes,butnocanoescameaboutus,andthoughwemetwithfootprintsuponthesandthemenwhomadethemneverreturned.Weweighedanchorandsailedonalongthesoutherncoast,andnowtothesouthofus,acrossnotmanyleaguesofbluewater,wemadeoutalowshore.Itsendswerelostinhaze,butweesteemeditanisland,andhenameditHolyIsland.Itwasnotisland,asnowweknow;
butwedidnotknowitthen.Howdreamlikeisallourfinding,andhowhalfwayonlytogreattruths!Cubawethoughtwasthecontinent,andtheshorethatwascontinent,wecalled``island.\'\'
NowwecametoalongsouthwardrunningtongueofTrinidad.PointArenal,henamedit.AcorrespondingtongueofthatlowHolyIslandreachedouttowardit,andbetweenthetwoflowedanazurestrait.Here,offPointArenal,thethreeshipsrestedatanchor,andnowtherecametousfromHolyIslandabigcanoe,filledwithIndians.
Astheycamenearthe_Esperanza_wesawthattheyweresomewhatlighterinhuethanthoseIndianstowhomwewereused.Moreovertheyworebright-coloredloincloths,andtwistsofwhiteorcoloredcottonabouttheirheads,likeslightturbans,andtheycarriednotonlybowsandarrowstowhichwewereused,butroundbucklerstowhichwewerenotused.Theylookedatusinamazement,buttheywerereadyforwar.
Weinvitedthemwitheverygestureofamity,holdingoutglassbeadsandhawkbells,buttheywouldnotcomeclosetous.Astheyhunguponthebluewateroutoftheshadowoftheship,theAdmiralwouldhaveourmusiciansbeginloudlytoplay.Butwhenthedrumsbegan,thefifeandthecastanets,thecanoestarted,quivered,thepaddlersdipped,itracedbacktothatshorewhenceitcame,thatshorethatwethoughtisland.
``LighterthanHaytiens!\'\'exclaimedtheAdmiral.``I
havethoughtthataswenearedtheEquatorweshouldfindthemblack!
Afterwardsheexpandeduponthis.JaymeFerrerthinksasIthink,thatthenearerwecometotheEquatorthemorepreciousgrowallthings,themoregold,themorediamonds,rubiesandemeralds,themoreprodigalanddeliciousthespices!Thepeopleareburntblack,buttheygrowgentlerandmorewise,andunderthelinetheyaremakersofwhitemagic.Ihavenottoldyou,JuanLepe,butIholdthatnowwebegintocometowhereourMotherEarthherselfclimbs,andclimbsauspiciously!\'\'
``Thatwecometogreatmountains?\'\'
``No,notthat,thoughtheremaybegreatmountains.ButIhavethoughtitout,andnowIholdthattheearthisnotanorb,butisshaped,asitwere,likeapear.Itwouldtakeanhourtogiveyouallthereasonsthatdecideme!ButIholdthatfromhereaboutsitmountsfairerandfairer,untilundertheline,aboutwherewouldbethestemofthepear,wecometotheancientEarthlyParadise,theoldGardenofEden!\'\'
Ilookedtothesouthward.Certainlythereisnowherewherethereisnotsomething!
Hegazedoverthetrulyazureandbeauteoussea,andtheairblewsoftandcooluponourforeheads,andthefragrancewhichcametousfromlandseemednew.``Wouldyounotlookforthehalcyons?Trinidad!HolyIsland!
Weapproach,Ihold,theHolyMountainoftheWorld.
Andharktome,JuanLepe,makevowthatifitbepermittedIwillfoundthereanabbeywhenceshallariseperpetualorisonforthesoulsofourfirstparents!\'\'
Wefoundthatnightthattheshipsswung,caughtinacurrentissuingfromthestraitbeforeus.Inthemorningwemadesailandpreparedtopassthroughthisnarrowwaybetweenthetwolands,seeingopenwaterbeyond.WesucceededbygreatskillandwithProvidenceoverus,forwemetasitwereanunderwallofwaterridgedatopwithstrongwaves.Theshipsweretossedasbyatempest,yetwastheairserene,theskyblue.WecamehardlythroughandafterwardscalledthatstraitMouthoftheSerpent.
Nowwewereinagreatbayorgulf,andstilltheseashookusanddroveus.Calmabove,around,butunderneathanagitationofwaters,strongcurrentsandboilings.Amongourmarinersmanytookfright.``Whatisit?Aretherewitches?Weareinacauldron!\'\'
ChristopherusColumbushimselftookthehelmofthe_Esperanza_.ManyamaninthesetimeschosetodoubtwhatkindofViceroyhemade,butnomanwhoeversailedwithhimbutatlastsaid,``ChildofNeptune,andthegreatestseamanwehave!\'\'
Weoutrodedangerandcameunderlandtoaquietanchorage,the_SanSebastian_andthe_SanMartin_followingusasthechickensthehen.Stillbeforeuswesawthatcurrentridgethesea.TheAdmiralstoodgazinguponthesouthwardshorethathunginadazzlinghaze.Nowwethoughtwater,nowwethoughtland.Hecalledtoashipboyandtheladpresentlybroughthimapannikinofwaterdippedfromthesea.TheAdmiraltasted.``Fresh!Itisalmostfresh!\'\'
Hestoodwithakindlingface.``Ariverrunsintoseafromthisland!Surelythemightiestthatmaybe,rushingforthlikeadragonandfightingallthesaltwater!Sogreatarivercouldnotcomefromanisland,no,notifitweretwiceaslargeasHispaniola!Sucharivercomesdownwardwithforcehundredsofleaguesandgatherschildrentoitselfasitcomes.Itisnotanislandyonder;itisagreatmain!\'\'
WecalledthegulfwhereweweretheGulfoftheWhale.
Trinidadstoodontheonehand,theunknowncontinentontheother.Afterrestinmilkywater,wesetsailtocrossthewidthoftheWhale,andfoundglass-greenandshakenwater,butneversopiledanddangerousasattheMouthoftheSerpent.Sowecametothatlandthatmustbe——weknewnotwhat!Ithunglow,ingoldsunlight.Wesawnomountains,butitwascoveredwiththemightiestforest.
Anchoringinsmoothwater,wetookoutboatsandwentashore,andweraisedacross.``AsinAdamwealldie,soinChristwebealive!\'\'saidtheAdmiral,andthen,``Whatgrandeurisinthisforest!\'\'
Intruthwefoundtreesthatwehadnotfoundinourislands,andofanunbelievableheightandgirth.Upontheboughssatparrots,andwewereusedtothem,butwewerenotusedtomonkeyswhichnowappeared,toourmariners\'
delight.Wemetfootprintsofsomegreatanimal,andpresently,beingbesideastream,wemadeoutuponamudbankthosecrocodilesthattheIndianscall``cayman.\'\'AndneverhaveIseensomanyandsuchsplendidbutterflies.Allthisforestseemedtousofavastness,astheriverswerevast.
Thereranginourears``New!New!\'\'
AndatlastcameanIndiancanoe——two——three,filledwithlight-hued,hardlymorethantawny,folk,withclothofcottonabouttheirmiddlesandtwistedaroundtheirheads,withbowsandarrowsandthosenewbucklers.Butseeingthatwedidnotwishtofight,theydidnotwishtofighteither;
andtherewasalltheoldamaze.
Gods——gods——gods!WesoughttheEarthlyParadise,andtheythoughtwecametherefrom.
Paria.WemadeoutthattheycalledtheircountryParia.
Theyhadintheircanoesabreadlikecassava,butmoredelicate,wethought,andincalabashesalmostatruewine.
Wegavethemtoys,andastheyalwayspointedwestwardandseemedtosignifythattherewas_the_land,wereturnedaftertwohourstotheshipsandsetourselvestofollowthecoast.Twoorthreeofthispeoplewouldgowiththegods.
Wecametothatrivermouththattroubledallthissea.
WhatshallIsaybutthatitwasitselfasea,agreensea,afreshsea?Wecrosseditwithlonglabor.ThemenofPariamadeusunderstandthattheirseasonofrainwaslatelyover,andthateverafterthatwasmoreriver.Whencediditcome?Theyspokeatlengthand,ChristopherusColumbuswascertain,ofsomeheavenlycountry.
Thedawncameupsweetandred.Thecountrybeforeushadhillsandwemadeoutclearingsinthemonsterforest,andnowthebluewaterwasthrongedwithcanoes.Weanchored;theyshotouttousfearlessly.TheJamaicacanoeislargerandbetterthantheHaytien,butthoseofthislandsurpasstheJamaican.Theyarelongandwideandhaveinthemiddlealightcabin.Therowerschantastheyliftanddiptheirbroadoars.Ifweweregodstothem,yettheyseemedgayandfearlessofthegods.IthoughtwiththeAdmiralthattheymusthavetraditionorrumor,offolkhigheruponthemountofenlightenmentthanthemselves.
Perhapsnowandagaintherewascontact.Atanyrate,wedidnotmeetherethestupefactionandtheprostrationsofourfirstislands.Wehadagainnocommontongue,buttheyprovedmastersofgesture.Goldwasuponthem,andthatinsomeamount,andwhatwasextraordinary,oftenenoughinwell-wroughtshapesofornament.AseamanbroughttotheAdmiralagoldenfrog,well-made,piercedforaredcottonstring,wornsoaboutacopper-
coloredneck.Hehadtradedforitthreehawkbells.TheAdmiral\'sfaceglowed.``Ithasbeenwroughtbythosewhoknowhowtoworkinmetals!Tubal-cain!\'\'
Moreover,nowwefoundpearls.Therecametoussingingagreatcanoeandinitaplumedcaciquewithhiswifeanddaughters.Allworetwistsofpearlsaroundthroatandarms.Theygavethemfreelyforred,blueandgreenbeads,whichtothemwereindeedrubies,sapphiresandemeralds——Whencecamethepearls?Itseemedfromthecoastbeyondandwithoutthisgulf.Whencethegold?ItseemedfromhighmountainsfarbehindthecountryofParia.Itwasdangerousin:theextremetogothere!
``Becauseofthelightwhichrepelsalldarkness!\'\'saidtheAdmiral.``Whenwegothere,itmustbegentlyandhumblylikeshrivenmen.\'\'
ItwasAugust.HeknewthatDonBartholomewinHispaniolacravedhisreturn.Thethreeships,too,wereweatherworn,withseamsthatthreatenedgaping.Andasforouradventurersandthehusbandmenandcraftsmen,theyweremostwearyofthesea.Themarinerswereusedtoit,theAdmiralhadlover\'spassionforit,butnotthey!
Herebeforeus,truly,loomedapromisinggreatland,butitwasnotourport;ourportwasSanDomingo!There,thereinHispaniola,wereoldCastilians.inplentytogreetandshow.Thereweretheminesthatwereactuallyworking,goldtopickup,andIndianstrainedtobringittoyou!
There,fortheenterprisingandthelucky,weregiftsofland,toeachhis_repartimentio_!Therewascompanionship,therewasfortune,therewasease!Othersweregetting,whilewerodebeforealandweweretoofewtooccupy.TheywentincompanytotheAdmiral.Wehaddiscovered.NowletusgoontoHispaniola!Theships——ourhealth.
Whenitcametohealthitwashewhohadmosttoendure.
Thegoutpossessedhimoften.Hisbrowknottedwithpain;hisvoice,bynaturemeasuredanddeep,arollingmusic,becamesharpanddry.Hemovedwithdifficulty,nowandthenmuststayinbed,orifondeckinagreatchairwhichwelashedtothemast.Butnowatroubleseizedhiseyes.Theygavehimgreatpain;attimeshecouldbarelysee.Bathethemwithasoothingmedicine,restthem.
Butwhenhadherestedthem,strainingovertheoceansincehewasaboy?Hewasamangreatlypatientunderadversity,whetherofthebodyorofthebody\'scircumstance,butthistroublewiththeeyesshookhim.``IfI
becomeblind——andallthat\'syettodoandfind!BlessedMotherofGod,letnotthathappentome!\'\'
IthoughtthatheshouldgotoHispaniola,whereintheAdelantado\'shouseinSanDomingohemightsubmittobandaging,lightandseashutout.
Atlast,``Well,well,wewillturn!Butfirstwemustleavethisgulfandtryitoutforsomedistancewestward!\'\'
Weleftthiswaterbyawayasnarrowastheenteringstrait,asnarrowandpresentingthelikeroughconfusionofwaters,wallagainstwall.WecalledittheMouthoftheDragon.MouthoftheDragon,MouthoftheSerpent,andbetweenthemtheGulfoftheWhaleorofParia.Nowwasopensea,andsouthofusranstillthatcoastthathewouldhavemounttotheEquatorandtothatold,firstGardenLandwhereallthingsyetwerefairandprecious!
``Icannotstaynow,butIwillcomeagain!Iwillfindthemightylastthings!\'\'Hiseyesgavehimgreatpain.
Hecoveredthem,thendroppedhishandsandlooked,thenmustagaincover.
Astrangething!Wewerebornewestwardeveruponavastcurrentofthesea,takingusdayandnight,sothatthoughthewindswerelightwewentasthougheverysailwaswhollyfilled.
ChristopherusColumbustalkedoftheseriversinocean.
``Adaywillcomewhentheywillbecorrectlymarked.Aye,inthemapsofourdescendants!Thenshipswillsay,`Nowhereistheriversoandso,\'asto-daythehorsemansays,`HereistheTagus,ortheGuadalquiver!\'\'\'
Anotherthinghesaidwasthattohismindalltheislandsthatwehadfoundinsixyears,fromSanSalvadortoCubagua,hadoncebeenjoinedtogether.LandfromthisshoretoCubaandbeyond.Sothepeopleswerescattered.
Hetalkedtousmuchuponthisvoyageofthegreatearthandtheshapeofit,anditsdestinies;ofthestars,theneedle,theGreatCircleandthelesserones,andtheOcean.Hehadourtime\'slearning,gainedthroughGodknowshowmanynightsofbookbycandle!Andhehadamindthattookeagleflightswithspreadofeaglewings,andinmanywayshehadtheeagle\'seye.
ItwasnotCipangoandCathaythatnowhetalkedof,butofthisgreatland-massbeforeuswhichhewouldhaverisetoEquatorandallWonder.Andhetalkedalsoofsomewaterpassage,somestraitlyingtothewestward,bywhichwemightsailbetweenlandsandislandstothefurtherIndianOcean,andsoacrosstotheSeaofAraby,andthenaroundAfricabyGoodHopeandthennorthward,northward,toSpain,comingintoCadizwithbanners,havingsailedaroundtheworld!
Hetalked,andallthetimehispainatehim,andhemustcovereyestokeepthesword-lightout.
InmiddleAugustweturnednorthwardfromourNewLand,andafortnightlaterwecametoSanDomingo,thatChristopherusColumbushadneverseen,thoughtousinHispaniolaitwasanoldtown,havingbeenbuildedabovetwoyears.
TheViceroyandtheAdelantadoclaspedhands,embraced;
tearsrandowntheirbronzedcheeks.
Notlaterthanadayafterouranchoring,theshipsbeingunladed,allSanDomingocomingandgoing,trumpetsblewandgatheredalltoouropenplacebeforetheViceroy\'shouse.Proclamation——ViceregalProclamation!First,thankstoGodforsafereturn,andsecond,heartyapprovaloftheAdelantado,allhisActsandMeasures.
ThereweretwopartiesinSanDomingo,andonenowechoedinashoutapprovaloftheAdelantado,andtheothermadehereadeadsilence,andhereacounter-murmur.I
heardamansay,``Foolpraisesfool!Villainbrotherupholdingvillainbrother!\'\'
NowIdonotthinktheAdelantado\'severyactwaswise,northeViceroy\'seither,forthatmatter.Buttheywerefar,far,thosebrothers,fromfoolandvillain!
TheProclamationarrivedatlongthundersagainstFranciscoRoldanhissedition.Hereagaintheplacedividedasbefore.Roldan,IhaditfromLuisTorres,wasinXaragua,safeandarrogant,harkingonIndianwar,underminingeverywhere.OurlineoffortsheldfortheAdelantado,butthetwoorthreehundredSpaniardsleftinIsabellawereopenlyRoldan\'smen.TheViceroy,throughthevoiceofMigueltheHerald,recited,denouncedandwarned,thenleftFranciscoRoldanandwithsuddennessmadestatementthatwithinafewdaysfiveshipswouldsailforSpain,andthatallSpaniardswhomsoever,whoforreasonswhatsoeverdesiredHome,hadhisconsenttogo!Consent,FreePassage,andNoQuestioning!
Whereattheplacebuzzedloudly,andonesawthatmanywouldgo.
Manydidgoupontheshipsthatsailednotinafewdaysbutafewweeks.Somewentforgoodreasons,butmanyforill.JuanLepeheardafarandaheadoftimethegreattideoftalkwhentheyshouldarriveinSpain!AndthoughmanywentwhowishedtheAdmiralill,manystayed,andforeverRoldanmadeforhimmoreenemies,openorsecret.
Hesent,itistrue,uponthoseshipsfriendstopleadhiscause.DonFranciscodeLasCasaswenttoSpainandotherswent.Andhesentletters.JuanLepe,muchinhishouse,tendinghimwhoneededthephysicianLong-RestandEase-of-Mind,heardtheselettersread.TherewasonetotheSovereignsinwhichberelatedwithsimpleeloquencethatdiscoverytotheSouth,andhisassurancethathehadtouchedthefootoftheMountofalltheWorld.
Withthisletterhesentahundredpearls,thegoldenfrogandothergold.AgainhetookpaperandwroteoftheattitudeofallthingsinHispaniola,ofRoldanandevilmen,oftheAdelantado\'svigilance,justiceandmercy,ofnaturaldifficultiesandtheneedtowaitontime,oftheIndians.Hebeggedthattherebesenthimamplesuppliesandgoodmen,andwithalfriarsfortheIndiansalvation,andsomelearned,wiseandablelawyerandjudge,muchneededtogivethelawuponathousandcomplaintsbroughtbychildishandfactiousmen.AndiftheSovereignssawfittosendoutsomejustandloftymindtotakeevidencefromallastotheirservantChristopherusColumbus\'sdeedsandpublicactsandcareoftheirMajesties\'NewLandsandallthesoulstherein,suchanonewouldbewelcomedbytheirGraces\'trueservant.
Sohehimselfaskedforacommissioner——butheneverthoughtofsuchanoneasFranciscodeBobadilla!
Sotheshipssailed.Timepassed.
CHAPTERXXXV
UPanddownwentthegreatRoldanscission.UpanddownwentIndianrevolt,repression,freshrevolt,freshrepression.Onflowedtime.Shipscamein,onebearingDonDiego;shipswentout.Timepassed.
AlonsodeOjeda,whobynowwasnomorethanhalfhisfriend,returnedtoSpainandthereproposedtotheSovereignsavoyageofhisowntothatSouthernContinentthatneverhadtheAdmiralchancetoreturnto!TheSovereignsnowweregivingsuchconsenttothisoneandtothatone,breakingtheirpactwithChristopherusColumbus.Inourworlditwasnowimpossiblethatthatpactshouldbeletter-kept,buttheGenoesedidnotseeitso.OjedasailedfromCadizforPariawithfourshipsandaconcourseofadventurers.WithhimwentthepilotJuandelaCosa,andageographerofFlorence,MesserAmerigoVespucci.
ItcametousinHispaniolathatOjedawasgone.NowIsawtheAdmiral\'sheartbegintobreak.YetOjedainhisvoyagedidnotfindtheEarthlyParadise,onlywentalongthatcoastaswehaddone,gatheredpearls,andreturned.
Timepassed.OtherwildandrestlessadventurersbesideRoldanbrokeintoinsurrectionslessthanRoldan\'s.TheViceroyhangedMoxicaandsevenwithhim,andthrewintoprisonGuevaraandRequelme.Roldan,havinghadhislongfling——toopowerfulstilltohangortochaininsomeoneofourforts——Roldanwroteandreceivedpermission,andcametoSanDomingo,andwasreconciled.
Suddenly,afterlongtimeofturmoil,wildadventureanduncertainty,peacedescended.OverallHispaniolatheIndianssubmitted.Henceforththeywereoursubjects;letussayourvictimsandourslaves!QuarrelsbetweenCastiliansdiedovernight.Miraculouslytheskycleared.Miraculously,orperhapsbecauseoflong,patientsteeringthroughstorm.Forthreemonthswelivedwithanappearanceofblossomingandprospering.Itseemedthatitmightbecomeapeaceful,evenahappyisland.
TheViceroygrewyounger,theAdelantadogrewyounger,andDonDiego,andwiththemthosewhoheldbythemthroughthickandthin.TheAdmiralbegantotalkDiscovery.
Itwastwoyearssincethere,fartothesouth,wehadpassedinbytheMouthoftheSerpent,andoutbytheMouthoftheDragon.
TheViceroy,inspectingthenowquietVega,rodetoanIndianvillage,nearConcepcion.Hehadtwentybehindhim,well-armed,butarmswerenotneeded.Thepeoplecameabouthimwithaneagerness,adocility.Theytoldtheirstories.Hesathishorseandlistenedwithabenignantface.Certainharshnessesintimesandamountsoftheirtributeheredressed.Forever,whenpersonalappealcametohim,heprovedmagnanimous,oftentender,fatherlyandbrotherly.Atadistancehecouldbesevere.ButwhenI
thinkofthecrueltiesandhigh-handednessofothershere,theAdelantadoandtheViceroyshinemildly.
WerodebacktoConcepcion.Irememberthejewel-likeairthatday,theflowers,thetrees,thesky.Palmsrustledaboveus,thebrilliantsmalllizardsdartedaroundsilvertrunks.``Thefairestday!\'\'quoththeAdmiral.``Easeatheart!Ifeeleaseatheart.\'\'
Thisnight,asIsatbesidehim,wilinghimtosleep,forhealwayshadtroublesleeping——amostwakefulman!——
hetalkedtomeabouttheQueen.Towardthisgreatwomanheevershowedveneration,piety,andknightlyregard.OfallinSpainsheitwaswhobestunderstoodandsharedthatreligiouspartinhimthatbreathedupward,inspired,longedandstrainedtowardworldstrulynotontheearthlymap.
She,likehim——orsotookleavetothinkJuanLepe——receivedattimestoodocilelywordofauthority,orthatwhichtheyreckonedtobeauthority.PrincesoftheChurchcouldbringhertogoagainstherpurerthought.Theworldasitis,dingingever,``Soimportantiswealth——soimportantisherald-nobility——soimportantisfather-careintheserespectsforsons!\'\'couldmakehimtakeatortuousandcomplicatedway,couldmakehimbowandcap,couldmakehimrulewithanearforworld\'sadvicewhenheshouldhavehadonlyhisbookandhisshipandhisdreamandacheeringcry``Onward!\'\'OrsothinksJuanLepe.ButJuanLepeandallwaitonfulllight.
Hetalkedofhergreatnature,andhergoodnesstohim.
OfhowsheunderstoodwhentheKingwouldnot.Ofhowshewouldneverlistentohisenemies,orattheworstnotlistenlong.
HeturneduponhisbedinthewarmIndiannight.I
askedhimifIshouldreadtohimbuthesaid,notyet.Hehadtalkedsincethedaysofhisfirstseekingwithmanyagreatlord,aye,andgreatlady.ButtheQueenwastheoneofthemallwhounderstoodbesthowtotrustaman!
Differencesinmindarosewithinusall,andfewcouldfindthefirmsoulbehindallthat!Shecould,andshewasgreatbecauseshecould.Helovedtotalkwithher.Herfacelightedwhenhecamein.Whenotherswerebyshesaid``DonCristoval\'\',or``ElAlmirante\'\',butwithhimselfaloneshestillsaid``MasterChristopherus\'\'asintheolddays.
Atlasthesaid,``Now,letusread.\'\'EachtimehecamefromSpaintoHispaniolahebroughtbooks.Andwhenshipscameintherewouldbeapacketforhim.Ireadtohimnowfromanoldpoet,printedinVenice.Helistened,thenatlastheslept.Iputoutthecandle,steppedsoftlyforthpastGonsalvohisservant,lyingwithoutdoor.
Anhourafterdawnasmallcavalcadeappearedbeforethefort.AtfirstwethoughtitwastheAdelantadofromXaragua.Butno!itwasAlonzodeCarvajalwithnewsandaletterfromSanDomingo,andintheverystatementranathrillingsomethingthatsaid,``Hark,now!IamFortunethatturnsthewheel.\'\'
Carvajalsaid,``senor,Ihavenewsandaletterforyourearandeyealone!\'\'
``FrommybrotheratSanDomingo?\'\'
``Aye,andfromanother,\'\'saidCarvajal.``Twoshipshavecomein.\'\'
WiththattheAdmiralandhewentintoCommandant\'shouse.
ThemenatConcepcionmadeCarvajal\'smenwelcome.
``Andwhatisit?\'\'``Andwhatisit?\'\'Theyhadtheirordersevidently,butmuchwineleakedoutofthecask.IfonewishedtheViceroyandhisbrothersill,itwasfoundtobeheadywine;iftheotherwayround,itseemedthin,chillyandbitter.HereatConcepcionwereAdmiral\'sfriends.
Afteranhourhecameagainamongus,behindhimCarvajal.
Now,thisman,ChristopherusColumbus,alwaysappearedmosthighlyandnoblyMan,mosteverlastinganduniversal,ingreatpersonaltroubleanddanger.Itwas,Ihold,becausenothingwastohimsmallypersonal,butalwayspertainedtogreatmasses,toworldsandtoages.Now,lookingathim,Iknewthattroubleanddangerhadarrived.Hesaidverylittle.IfIremember,itwas,``Myfriends,theSovereignswhomwetrustandobey,havesentaCommissioner,DonFranciscodeBobadilla,whomwemustgomeet.WeridefromConcepcionatoncetoBonao.\'\'
Werode,hiscompanyandCarvajal\'scompany.
DonFranciscodeBobadilla!JaymedeMarchenahadsomeassociationhere.Itdisentangleditself,cameatlastclear.ACommanderoftheOrderofCalatrava——abouttheKinginsomecapacity——ableandhonest,mensaid.
Ableandhonest,JaymedeMarchenahadheardsaid,butalsoapassionateman,andavindictive,andwithvanityenoughforalegionofpeacocks.
WecametoBonaoandrestedhere.IhadawordthatnightfromtheAdmiral.``Doctor,Doctor,amanmustoutlookstorm!Hegrewmanbythat.\'\'
IaskedifImightknowwhatwasthematter.
Heanswered,``Idonotknowmyself.DonDiegosaysthatgreatpowershavebeengrantedDonFranciscodeBobadilla.Ihavenotseenthosepowers.ButhehasdemandedinthenameoftheSovereignsourprisoners,ourshipsandtownsandforts,andhascitedustoappearbeforehimandanswercharges——ofIknownotwhat!Iwellthinkitisavoicewithouttruemindorpowerbehindit——
IgotoSanDomingo,butnotjustathiscitation!\'\'
Later,inthemoonlight,oneofourmentoldmethatwhichamanofCarvajalhadtoldhim.AlltheAdmiral\'senemies,andnoneeversaidtheywerefew,hadthisfire-newcommissioner\'sear!Afriendcouldnotgetwithinhail.
Justorunjust,everycomplaintcameandsquattedinaringaroundhim.Maybesomewerejust——suchassoldiersnotbeingabletogettheirpay,forinstance.Therewasneverbutonewholivedwithoutspotorblemish.ButofcourseweknewthattheoldAdmiralwasn\'treallyatyrant,cruelandafool!Ofcoursenot.Carvajal\'smanwaspreparedtofightanymanofhisownclasswhowouldsaythattohisface!He\'dfight,too,fortheAdelantado.DonFranciscodeBobadillahadnosoonerlandedthanhebegantotalkandactasthoughtheywereallvillains.DonDiego——whomitwaslaughabletocallavillain——andall.Hewenttomassatonce——DonFranciscodeBobadilla——andwhenitwasoverandallwereoutandallSanDomingothereinthesquare,hehadhislettersloudlyread.Trueenough!HeisGovernor,andeverybodyelsemustobeyhim!_EventheAdmiral!_
AtdawnJuanLepewalkedandthought.AndthenhesawcomingtheFranciscan,JuandeTrasienaandFranciscoVelasqueztheTreasurer.ThatwhichJuandeTrasienaandFranciscoVelasquezbroughtwereattestedcopiesoftheroyalletters.
Isawthem.``WhereforewehavenamedDonFranciscodeBobadillaGovernoroftheseislandsandofthemainland,andwecommandyou,cavaliersandallpersonswhatever,togivehimthatobediencewhichyoudoowetous.\'\'
Andtohim,thenewGovernor:``Whomsoeveryoufindguilty,arresttheirpersonsandtakeovertheirgoods.\'\'And,``Ifyoufindittoourservicethatanycavaliersorotherpersonswhoareatpresentintheseislandsshouldleavethem,andthattheyshouldcomeandpresentthemselvesbeforeus,youmaycommanditinournamesandobligeit.\'\'And,``Whomsoeveryouthuscommand,weherebyorderthatimmediatelytheyobeyasthoughitwereourselves.\'\'
``Andifthusandthusisfoundtobethecase,thesaidAdmiraloftheOcean-Seashallgiveintoyourhands,ships,fortresses,arms,housesandtreasure,andheshallhimselfbeobedienttoyourcommand.\'\'
TheAdmiralsaid,``Ifitbefoundthusandthus!Buthowshallhefindit,seeingthatitisnotso?\'\'
WerodetoSanDomingo,butnotmanyrode.Hewouldnothavemany.``Noshowofforce,nogaudofoffice!\'\'
Herodeunarmored,onhisgrayhorse.Thebannerthatwasalwaysbornewithhim——``Yea,carryitstill,untilhedemandsit!\'\'
Wewereabaredozen,butwhenweenteredSanDomingoonemightthinkthatDonFranciscodeBobadillafearedanarmy,forhehadallhissoldiersdrawnuptogreetus!
Therestofthepopulationwereincoigns,gazing.Wesawfriends——JuanPoncedeLeonandothers——buttheywerehelpless.Forallthepeopleinit,theplaceseemedtomedeadquiet,hot,sunny,deadquiet.
TheAdmiralrodetothesquare.Herewashishouse,andtheroyalbanneroverit.Hedismountedandspoketomenbeforethedoor.``TellDonFranciscodeBobadillathatDonCristovalColonishere.\'\'
Therecameanofficerwithasword,behindhimadozenmen.``Senor,inthenameoftheSovereigns,Iarrestyou!\'\'
ChristopherusColumbusgazeduponhim.``Forwhat,senor?\'\'
Theother,anarrogant,ill-temperedman,answeredloudlysothatallaroundcouldhear,``Forill-servicetoourlordtheKingandQueen,andtotheirsubjectshereintheIndies,andtoGod!\'\'
``Godknows,youhurtthetruth!\'\'saidtheAdmiral.
``Whereismybrother,DonDiego?\'\'
``LaidbytheheelsintheSantaCatarina,\'\'answeredthegracelessman;thentooneofthesoldiers,``Takethebannerfrombehindhimandrestitagainstthewall.\'\'
TheAdmiralsaid,``IwouldseeDonFranciscodeBobadilla.\'\'
``Thatisashedesiresandwhenhedesires,\'\'theotherreplied.``Closearoundhim,men!\'\'
ThefortressofSanDomingoisagloomyplace.Theyprisonedhimhere,andtheyputironsuponhim.Isawthatdone.Oneortwoofhisimmediatefollowing,andI
hisphysicianmightenterwithhim.
Hestoodinthedismalplacewhereonerayoflightcamedownfromahigh,small,gratedwindow,andhelookedatthechainswhichtheybrought.Heasked,``Whowillputthemon?\'\'
Helookedatthechainsandatthesoldierwhobroughtthem.``Putthemon,man!\'\'hesaid.``What!OncethoudidstnailGod\'sfoottoacross!Asforme,IwillrememberthatOnewhosavedall,andbepatient.\'\'
Theychainedhimandlefthimthereinthedark.
Isawhimthenextday,enteringwithhisgaoler.Hadheslept?\'\'Yes.\'\'``Howdidhefindhimself?\'\'
``Howdoesmybodyfinditself?Why,noworsethanusual,nowadaysthatIamgettingold!Mybodyhasbeenunhappierathousandtimesinstormandfight,andthirstandfamine.\'\'
``Thenmindandsoul?\'\'Iasked.
``Theyarewell.Thereisnothingleftforthembuttofeelwell.IaminthehandofGod.\'\'
IdidwhatserviceforhimIcould.Hethankedme.
``You\'vebeeneverastenderasawoman.Abravemanbesides!Ihopeyou\'llbebyme,JuanLepe,whenIdie.\'\'
``Whenyoudie,senor,therewilldieagreatservantoftheworld.\'\'
IspokesobecauseIknewthecordialthathewanted.
Hiseyesbrightened,strengthcameintohisvoice.``DoyouknowaughtofmybrothertheAdelantado?\'\'
``No.HemaybeonhiswayfromXaragua.Whatwouldyouwishhimtodo,sir?\'\'
``ComequietlytoSanDomingoasIcame.ThisGovernorisbutaviolent,pettyshape!ButIhavesworntoobeytheQueenandtheKingoftheSpains.Iandminetoobey.\'\'
