Thebuildingofthefortbecameapleasurableenterprise.
WebrokeupwithsingingtheSantaMaria,andwithherbonesbuiltthewalls.Guacanagariandhispeoplehelped.Allwashurried.TheAdmiralandViceroy,nowthathismindwasmadeup,woulddepartassoonasmightbe.
WebuiltLaNavidadwhereitmightviewthesea,uponahillsideaboveabrownriverslidingouttoocean.Beyondthestream,inthegroves,aquarter-leagueaway,stoodthehundredhutsofGuarico.Webuiltatowerandstorehouseandwallofwoodandwediggedaroundallsomekindofmoat,andmountedthreelombards.AllthatwecouldliftfromtheSantaMariaandwhatthe_Nina_couldspareusofarms,conveniencesandfoodwentintoourarsenalandstorehouse.Wehadabubblingspringwithintheenclosure.
WhenallwasdonethetowerofLaNavidad,thoughaninfantbesidetowersofEurope,mightsufficeforthefirsthereofitsbrood.Itwasdoneinaweekfromthatshipwreck.
WhowastobeleftatLaNavidad?Leavewasgiventovolunteerandthemariners\'listwassoonmadeup,goodmenandnotsogood.FromthepooptherevolunteeredPedroGutierrezandRoderigodeEscobedo.TheAdmiraldidnotblocktheirwish,buthegavethecommandnottoEscobedowhowishedit,buttoDiegodeAranawhomhenamedtostay,havingpersuadedhimwhowouldratherhavereturnedwiththe_Nina_.ButhecouldtrustDiegodeArana,and,withreason,hewasnotsureofthoseotherhidalgos.
DeAranastayedandfulfilledhistrust,anddiedabraveman.FrayIgnatiowouldstay.``Bringmeback,Senor,agoodlybellforthechurchofLaNavidad!Abellandafont.\'\'
JuanLepewouldstay.Thereneededaphysician.ButalsoJaymedeMarchenawouldstay.Hethoughtitout.
SixmonthshadnotabolishedtheHolyOfficenorconvertedtogentlenessDonPedronortheDominican.
ButtheAdmiralhadassignedmetoreturnwiththe_Nina_.Itoldhimintheeveningbetweenthesunsetandthemoonrisewhatwasthedifficulty.Hewasamanprofoundlyreligious,andalsoadocilesonoftheChurch.ButIknewhim,andIknewthathewouldfindreasonsintheBiblefornotgivingmeup.Thedeepman,thewholeman,wasnotinthegraspofbishoporinquisitororpapalbull.
Heagreed.``Aye,itiswiser!IcounttwomonthstoSpain,seeingthatwemaynothavesofavorableavoyage.
Threeormaybefourthere,forourwelcomeatcourt,andforthegatheringafleet——easynowtogatherforallwillflocktoit,andmastersandownerscry,`Takemyship——
andmine!\'Twomonthsagaintorecross.LookformeitmaybeinJuly,itmaybeinAugust,itmaybeinSeptember!\'\'
TheViceroyspoketous,gatheredbyourfort,underthebannerofCastile,withbehindusonhillbrowacrossgleaming.Again,allthatwehaddonefortheworldandmightfurtherdo!Again,wereturningonthe_Nina_orweremainingatLaNavidadwereascrusaders,knightsoftheOrderofthePurposeofGod!``Cherishgood——
oh,menoftheseaandtheland,cherishgood!WhobetraysherebetraysalmostasJudas!ThePurposeofGodisStrengthwithWisdomandCharitywhichonlycanmakejoy!ThereforebeyehereatLaNavidadstrong,wiseandcharitable!\'\'
Hesaidmore,andhegavemanyanexplicitdirection,butthatwasthegistofall.Strength,wisdomandcharity.
LikewisehespoketotheIndiansandtheylistenedandpromisedandmeantgood.AnaffectionhadsprungbetweenGuacanagariandChristopherusColumbus.Sodifferenttheylooked!andyetinthebreastofeachdwelledmuchguilelessnessandtheabilitytowonderandrevere.TheViceroysawinthisbig,docilerulerofGuaricohoweverfarthatmightextend,onewhowouldpresentlybebaptizedandbecomeaChristianchief,manoftheViceroyofHispaniola,asthelatterwasmanoftheSovereignsofSpain.AllhispeoplewouldfollowGuacanagari.HesawChristendomhereinthewest,andagreatfeudalsociety,acknowledgingCastileforoverlord,andAlexandertheSixthasitsspiritualruler.
Guacanagarimayhaveseenfriendsinthegods,andespeciallyinthistheircacique,whowithothersthattheywouldbring,wouldbedrawnintoGuaricoandmadeoneandwholewiththepeopleoftheheron.ButheneversawGuacanagaridisplanted——neversawEuropearmedandwarlike,hungryandthirsty.
The_Nina_andLaNavidadbadewithtearseachtheotherfarewell.ItwasthesecondofJanuary,fourteenhundredandninety-three.Wehadmassunderthepalmtrees,bythecross,abovethefort.FrayIginatioblessedthegoing,blessedthestaying.Weembraced,welovedoneanother,weparted.The_Nina_wassosmallaship,eventherejustbeforeusonthebluewater!Sosoon,sosoon,thewindblowingfromtheland,shewassmalleryet,smaller,smaller,acockboat,achip,gone!
Thirty-eightwhitemenwatchedherfromthehillabovethefort,andofthethirty-eightJuanLepewastheonlyonewhosawtheAdmiralcomeagain.
CHAPTERXXIV
THEbutioofthistownhadbeenabsentforsomereasoninthegreatwoodthosedaysoftheshipwreckandthebuildingofLaNavidad.Nowhewasagainhere,andIconsortedwithhimandchieflyfromhimlearnedtheirlanguage.TheAdmiralhadtakenDiegoColontoSpain,andtoSpainwasgonetooLuisTorres,swearingthathewouldcomeagain.ToSpainwasgoneSancho,butBeltranthecookstayedwithus.PedroandFernandoalso.
Timepassed.WiththeendingofJanuarytheheatincreased.
Thebutioknewallmannerofsimples;hewasdoctorandpriesttogether.Hehadaverysimplemagic.
HehimselfdidnotexpectittoreachtheGreatSpirit,butitmightaffecttheinnumerable_zemes_orunderandunder-
underspirits.Thesebarbarians,usingotherwordsforthem,hadletter-notionofgnome,sylph,undineandsalamander.
Allthingslivedandtookoffenseorbecamepropitious.
Effortconsistedinmakingthempropitious.Iftheeffortwastoogreatoneofthemkilledyou.Thenyouwenttotheshadowycaves.Therewasaparadise,too,beautifulandeasy.ButtheGreatSpiritcouldnotbehurtandhadnowishtohurtanyoneelse,whether_zemes_ormen.
TolivewiththeGreatSpirit,thatwasreallytheHeronwish,thoughthelittleheronscouldnotalwaysseeit.
Thisbutio——Guarinhisname——wasayoungmanwitheyesthatcouldburnandvoicethatfellnaturallyintoachant.Hetookmeintotheforestwithhimtolookforaveryraretree.WhenitwasfoundIwatchedhimgatherplantsfrombeneathitandscrapebitsoffitsbarkintoasmallcalabash.Iunderstoodthatitwasgoodforfever,andlaterIborrowedfromhimandfoundthathehadgroundsforwhathesaid.
LaNavidadandGuariconeighboredeachother.TheIndianscamefreelytothefort,butDiegodeAranamadeagood_alcayde_andhewouldnothavemerecrowdingwithinourwoodenwall.Halfofourthirty-eight,permittedatatimetowander,couldnotcrowdGuarico.ButinhimselfeachSpaniardseemedagiant.Atfirstagoodgiant,profoundlyinteresting.ButIwastoseepleasedinterestbecomeapainfulinterest.
Women.Thefirstcomplaintaroseaboutthegodsorthegiantsandwomen.GuacanagaricametoLaNavidadwithGuarinandseveraloldmenhiscouncilors.DiegodeAranareceivedthemandtherewastalkunderthegreattreewithinourgate.Thenallthegarrisonwasdrawnup,andinthepresenceofthecaciqueAranagaverebukeandcommand,andthetwothathaddonetheoutragehadprisonforaweek.Itwasourfirstplainshowinginthisworldthatheaven-peopleorEuropeanscoulddifferamongthemselvesastorightandwrong,couldquarrel,upbraidandpunish.
Butherewasevidentlygoodandbad.Andwhatmightbetheproportion?Asdayswentbythequestiongatheredinthispeople\'sbosom.
Itwasnotthattheirwomenstoodalooffromourmen.
Manydidnotsointheleast!Butitwastobefreewillandactualfondness,andinmeasure——Buttherewerethoseamonguswho,findinginlonelyplaces,tookbyforce.Thesebecamehated.
DiegodeAranawastocollectthegoldthatwasaroyalmonopoly.Tradingforgoldforone\'sselfwasforbidden.
Assuredlytakingitbyforce——assuredlyallrobberyofthatoranythingelse——wasforbidden.Buttherecamearobbery,andsinceitwasresisted,murderfollowed.ThiswasaleaguefromGuaricoandfromLaNavidad.TheslainIndian\'scompanionescaping,told.
ThistimeDiegodeAranawenttoGuaricoandGuacana-
gari.Hetookwithhimarichpresent,andheshowedhowtheguiltymenwerepunished.``Youdonotslaythem?\'\'
askedGuacanagari.Aranashookhishead.Hethoughtweweretoofewinthislandtoberiddingoflifetheviolentandlustful.ButtheIndiansseemedtothinkthathesaidthathecouldnot.Theystilldoubted,Ithink,ourmortality.
Asyettheyhadseennomightystrangerbleedordie.
Aranawouldhavekepthisgarrisonwithinthewalls.
Butindeeditwasnothealthfulforthemthere,andattheverywordofconfinementfactionrose.TherewerenowtwopartiesinLaNavidad,theCommandant\'spartyandEscobedo\'sparty.
Theheatincreased.ItwasnowMarch.Anillnessfellamongus.ItookGuarinintocounselandgaveinwaterthebitterinnerbarkofthattreeshreddedandbeatenfine.Thosewhoshookwithcoldandburnedwithfeverrecovered.
FrayIgnatiowasamongthosewhosickened.Heleftaftersomedayshishammock,buthisstrengthdidnotcomebacktohim.Yet,staffinhand,hewentalmostdailytoGuarico.Then,likethat!FrayIgnatiodied.Hedied——hisheartstopped——onthepathbetweenGuaricoandLaNavidad.Hehadbeenpreaching,andthen,Guarintoldme,heputhishandtohisside,andsaid,``Iwillgohome!\'\'
Hestartedupthepath,butatthebigtreehedropped.Menandwomenrantohim,butthebutiowasdead.
WeburiedFrayIgnatiobeneaththecrossonthehilltop.
TheIndianswatched,andnowtheyknewthatwecoulddie.
Theheatincreased.
AtfirstDiegodeAranasentoutatintervalsexploringparties.Weweretolearn,atleast,Guacanagari\'scountry.
Buttheheatwasgreat,andsomanyofthoseleftatLaNavidadonlyidleandsensual.Theywouldpushontoavillage——wefoundinGuacanagari\'scountrymanyhamlets,butnoothertownlikeGuarico——andtheretheywouldstop,withnewwomen,newtalk,andtheendlessplentytoeatandsleepintheshade.When,attheirownsweetwill,theyreturnedtoLaNavidad,thedifficultieshadbeentoogreat.Theycouldnotgettothehighmountainswheremightormightnotbethemines.Butwhattheydidwastospreadoverthecountryscandalousnewsofscandalousgods.
AtlastAranasortedoutthosewhocouldbetrustedatleasttostriveforknowledgeandself-controlandsentthese.ButthatweakenedhimatLaNavidad,draininghimofpurebloodandleavingtheinfected,andbymid-
Aprilheceasedanyeffortatexploration.ItmustwaituntiltheAdmiralreturned,andhebegantobehungryindeedforthatreturn.
EscobedoandPedroGutierrezwerenothungryforit——notyet.Thesetwobecametheheadandfrontofill,encouragingeveryinsubordinate,infuriatingallwhosufferedpenalties,teachinginsolence,self-willandlicense.Theydrewtheirownfeathertothem,promisingevilknowswhatfreedomforrapine.
Allthesilverweather,goldenweather,diamondweathersincewehadleftGomeraintheCanaries——howmanyagessince!——nowwaschanged.Wehadthoughtitwouldlastalways,butnowweenteredthelongseasonofgreatheatanddailyrain.Atfirstwethoughttheserainsmomentary,butdayafterday,weekafterweek,withstiflingheat,thecloudsgathered,broke,andcamemightyrainthatatlastceasedtoberefreshing,becameonlywearyingandhateful.
Itdidnotcoolus;welivedinasultrygloom.AndthegarrisonofLaNavidad——becameveryquarrelsome.LaNavidadshowedtheIndiansEuropeanscursingoneanother,givingblows,onlyheldbackbythosearoundfromrushingateachother,stabbingandcutting.FinallytheysawTomasoPassamontekilloneJacamo.DiegodeAranahungTomasoPassamonte.ButwhatweretheIndianstothink?Notwhattheythoughtwhenfirstwecamefromthewingedcanoestotheirbeaches.
ThelastofAprilfellthesecondsicknessanditwasfarworsethanthefirst.Elevenmendied,andweburiedthem.
Whenitpassedweweretwenty-fiveSpaniardsinHispaniola,andwelikednottheIndiansaswellaswehaddone,andtheylikednotus.Oh,thepity——pity——pity,thepityandtheblame!
Guacanagaricametovisitthecommandant,nonewithhimbutthebutioGuarin,anddesiringtospeakwithAranaoutofthecompany.Theytalkedbeneaththebigtree,thatbeingthemostcomfortableandcommodiouscouncilchamber.DonDiegowasimperfectyetinthetongueofGuarico,andhecalledJuanLepetohelphimout.
ItwasastoryofCaonabo,caciqueofMaguanathatranintothegreatmountainsofCibao,thatcaciqueofwhomwehadalreadyheardasbeinglikeCaribs.CaonabohadsentquitesecretlytwoofhisbrotherstoGuacanagari.Hehadheardillofthestrangersandthoughttheyweredemons,notgods!HeadvisedthecaciqueofGuaricotosurprisethemwhiletheysleptandslaythem.Itwasinhisexperiencethatallwhoateandsleptcouldbeslain.IfhisbrotherGuacanagarineededhelpintheadventure,Caonabowouldgiveit.Hewouldevencomeinperson.
DiegodeAranasaid,``Whatdidyouanswer,OCacique.\'\'
GuacanagarispokeatsomelengthofourGreatCaciqueandhislongingthathemightreturn.Everythinghadgonewellwhilehewashere!``Hewillreturn,\'\'saidArana.
``Andhehasyourword.\'\'
Guacanagaristatedthathemeanttokeephisword.HehadreturnedanswertoCaonabothattherehadbeenmisfortunesbutthatthemightystrangersweretrulymighty,andalmostwhollybeneficent.Atanyrate,hewasnotpreparedtoslaythem,didnotwishtoslaythem.
Aranaspokevigorously,pointingouttothecaciqueallthekindlinessthathadattendedourfirstintercourse.TheunhappinessesofFebruary,MarchandAprilheattributedtorealdemons,nottoourownfiendbuttosmallpowersatlarge,maleficentandalarmed,heathenpowersinshort,jealousoftheintroductionoftheHolyCatholicreligion.
Guacanagariseemedtounderstandaboutthesepowers.Helookedrelieved.ButGuarinwhowaswithhimregardedtheseaandIsawhislipcurl.
ThecommandantwishedtoknowiftherewereanydangerofCaonabo,alone,descendinguponusfromthemountains.
Butno!MaguanaandGuaricowerefriends.Theyhadnotalwaysbeenso,butnowtheywerefriends.DeAranalookeddoubtfully,andIsawhimdeterminetokeepwatchandwardandtoholdthemenwithinorneartofort.
ButGuacanagarisatserene.Herepeatedthattherewerealwayspreliminariesbeforewars,andthatforalongtimetherehadonlybeenpeacebetweenGuaricoandMaguana.
``CaonaboisCarib,\'\'saidtheyoungcopperpriest.Thecaciqueanswered,``Cariblongago.Notnow.\'\'
Atsunset,therainceasingforalittle,theearthsmoking,thewestalow,vaporousyellow,theswollenriversounding,DiegodeAranahadsummonedbythedrumeverymaninLaNavidad.Hestoodbeneathourbannerandputhishanduponthestaffandspokeearnestlytothosegatheredbeforehim,intheirdutyandoutoftheirduty.HetoldofCaonabo,andofhisownsensethatGuacanagariwastooconfident.HetoldofGuacanagari\'sfidelitytotheAdmiral,andheappealedtoeveryChristiantheretobeatleastasfaithful.WewerefewandfarfromSpain,andwehadperhapsmorethanwecouldconceiveintrust.``FarfromSpain,butnofartherthanwewillfromtheblessedsaintsandthetrueChrist.Letusputlessdistancethere,beingfewinthislandandindanger!\'\'
Heknewthathehadadozenwithhim,andlookedstraightatEscobedo.
Thelattersaid,``Liveintheopenanddiethere,ifneedbe!Toliveinthisrathole,breathingplague,isdyingalready!Caonaboisafable!Thesepeople!Spaniardshavebuttoliftvoiceandtheyflee!\'\'
Hereceivedfromhisfollowingacquiescentsound.SpokePedroGutierrez.``Guacanagariwishestobottleushere;
thatisthewholeofit.Whyplayhisgame?Ineversawasaferland!OnlyLaNavidadisnotsafe!\'\'
Thosetwohadhalfandperhapsmorethanhalfofthegarrison.Aranacried,``DonRoderigodeEscobedoandDonPedroGutierrez,youservetheQueenill!\'\'
``You,Senor,\'\'answeredGutierrez,``servemyLadyIdleFearandmyLordIncapacity!\'\'
WhereuponAranaputhiminarrestandhelaythatnightinprison.ThecloudwasblackoverLaNavidad.
CHAPTERXXV
ITdidnotlighten.Escobedowaitedtwodays,theninthedarknight,corruptingthewatch,brokegaolforPedroGutierrezandwithhimandninemenquittedLaNavidad.Beltranthecookitwaswhoheardandprocuredagreatsmokingtorch,andsentoutagainstthemavoicelikeabullofBashan\'s.Aranasprangup,andtherestofuswhoslept.Theywereelevenmen,armedandalert.Therewereshouts,blows,aclutchingandathrowingoff,adetainingandrepelling.Intheeastshowedlongghostfingers,therainheldaway.Theywereatthegatewhenweranuponthem;theyburstitopenandwentforth,leavingoneoftheirownnumberdead,andtwoofthemwhostayedwithAranadesperatelyhurt.Wefollowedthemdownthepath,throughthewood,buttheyhadthestart.TheydidnotgotoGuarico,buttheyseizedtheboatofthe_SantaMaria_whichtheAdmiralhadleftwithusandwentuptheriver.Weheardthedashoftheiroars,thentheraincamedown,withaweepingofeverycloud.
ThedeadmantheyleftbehindwasFernando.IhadseenPedrointhegate,goingforth.
Fourteenmen,twoofwhomwereillandtwowounded,stayedatLaNavidad.Aranasaidwithpassion,``Honestmenandagarrisonatone!Thereissomegain!\'\'
Thatcouldnotbedenied.Gainhere,buthowaboutityonder?
ItwasMay.Andnowtherainfellinagreatcopiousflood,huge-droppedandwarm,andnowitwasrestrainedforalittle,andthereshoneasunconfusedandfierce.Earthandforestdrippedandstreamedandsmoked.WewereAndalusians,buttheheatdrainedus.Butweheld,wefourteenmen.AranadidwellatLaNavidad.WealldidwhatwecouldtoliveliketruenotfalseCastilians,truenotfalseChristians.AndInameBeltranthecookasheroandmightyencouragerofhearts.
WewentbackandforthbetweenLaNavidadandGuarico,forthoughtheAdmiralhadleftusastoreoffoodwegotfromthemfruitandmaizeandcassava.Theywereallfriendlyagain,forthefourteenwithheldthemselvesfromexcess.NordidwequarrelamongourselvesandshowthemEuropeanweakness.
Guacanagariremainedabig,easy,somewhatslothful,friendlybarbarian,achildinmuch,butbraveenoughwhenrousedandnotwithoutcommonsense.Hehadanitchformarvels,lovedtoheartalesofourworldthatforallonecouldsayremainedtothemwitchcraftandcloudland,worldabovetheirworld!Whatcouldthey,whohadnogreatbeasts,makeoftalesofhorsemen?Whatcouldtheirhutsknowofpalaceandtowerandcathedral,theirswimmersofstonebridges,theircanoesofathousandshipsgreaterfarthanthe_SantaMaria_andthe_Nina_?WhatcouldGuaricoknowofSeville?Insomeslightwisetheypracticedbarter,buthugemarketsandfairstowhichtraveledfromallquartersandafarmerchantsandbuyerswentwiththetalesofhorsemen.Andsowithathousandthings!Wewerethewavingoaktalkingtotheacorn.
Buttherewereamongthisfolktwoorthreereadyforknowledge.Guarinwasalearningsoul.HeforegatheredwiththephysicianJuanLepe,andmanyatalktheyhad,likeamasterandpupil,insomecornerofLaNavidad,orunderapalm-thatchedroof,or,whentherainheld,byriverorsoundingsea.Hehadmindandmoralsense,thoughnottheEuropeanmindatbest,northeEuropeanmoralsenseathighest.Buthewaswellbegun.Andhehadbeautyofformandcountenanceandaneager,deepeye.
JuanLepelovedhim.
ItwasJune.GuacanagaricametoLaNavidad,andhisbrownfacewasasseriousasatragedy.``Caonabo?\'\'askedDiegodeArana.
Afortnightbeforethisthecacique,atArana\'sdesire,hadsentthreeIndiansinacanoeuptheriver,theobjectnewsifpossibleofthattenwhohaddepartedinthatdirection.
NowtheIndianswereback.Theyhadgonealongwayuntilthehighmountainswerejustbeforethem,andtheretheyheardnewsfromthelastfolkwhomightbecalledGuaricoandthefirstfolkwhomightbecalledMaguana.
ThemightystrangershadgoneonupintothemountainsandCaonabohadputthemtodeath.
``Todeath!\'\'
Itappearedthattheyhadseizedwomenandbadbeatenmenwhomtheythoughthadgoldwhichtheywouldnotgive.Theyweremadmen,EscobedoandGutierrezandallwiththem!
GuacanagarisaidthatCaonabohadinvitedthemtoafeast.
Itwasspreadinthreehouses,andtheyweredividedso,andaroundeachSpaniardwasputaringofIndians.Theywereeatinganddrinking.Caonaboenteredthefirsthouse,andhiscomingmadethesignal.EscobedoandPedroGutierrezwereinthishouse.Theyraisedashout,``Undone,Spaniards!\'\'Butthoughtheywereheardintheotherhouses——thesehousesbeingnothingmorethanbooths——itwastonouse.Therefollowedstruggleandmassacre;
finallyGutierrezandEscobedoandeightmenlaydead.
ButcertainIndianswerealsokilledandamongthemasonofCaonabo.
ItwasJuly.WebegantolongtowardtheAdmiral\'sreturn.Amanamonguswentmelancholymad,watchingthesea,threateningtherainwhenitcamedownandhidthesea,andtheAdmiralmightgoby!Atlasthethrewhimselfintooceanandwasdrowned.Anothermanwasbittenbyaserpent,andwecouldnotsavehim.WeweretwelveSpaniardsinLaNavidad.WerestedfriendswithGuarico,thoughnowtheyheldustobenothingmorethandemigods.Andindeedbynowwewereragged!
Then,inanight,itcame.
Guacanagariagainappeared.IthadreachedhimfromuptheriverthatCaonabowasmakingpactwiththecaciqueofMarienandthatthetwomeanttoproceedagainstus.
Standing,hespokeatlengthandeloquently.Ifherestedourfriend,itmightendinhishavingforfoesMaguanaandMarien.Therehadbeenlongpeace,andGuaricodidnotdesirewar.Moreover,CaonabosaidthatitwasidletodreadCaribsandletinthemightystrangers!Hesaidthatallpalemen,afraidofthemselvessothattheycoveredthemselvesup,werefilledwithevil_zemes_andwereworsethanathousandCaribs!ButCaonabowasamockerandahard-of-heart!DifferentwasGuacanagari.Hetoldushowdifferent.ItallendedingreathopethatCaonabowouldthinkbetterofit.
Wekeptwatchandward.YetwecouldnotbeutterlycoopedwithinLaNavidad.Errandsmustbedone,foodbegathered.Morethanthat,toseemtoGuaricofrightened,tocrythatwemustkeepdayandnightbehindwallwithcannontrained,notwithstandingthatCaonabomightbeasleepinthemountainsofCibao,wouldbebuttomineourownfame,wewho,forallthatbadpassed,stillseemedtothisfolkmighty,eachofusahostinhimself!Andasnothingcameoutoftheforest,andnomoremessengersofdanger,theythemselveshadceasedtofear,beinglikechildreninthiswise.Andwe,too,atlast;fornowitwaslateAugust,andtheweatherwasbetter,andsurely,surely,anydaywemightseeawhitepointrisefromblueocean,——awhitepointandanotherandanother,likestarsafterlongcloudednightskies!
Sowewatchedthesea.Andalsotherewasamantowatchtheforest.Butwedidnotconceivethatthedragonwouldcomeforthinthedaytime,northathecouldcomeatanytimewithoutourhearingafarthedraggingofhisbodyandthewhistlingofhisbreath.
Itwashalfwaybetweensunriseandnoon.Fiveofuswereinthevillage,sevenatLaNavidad.Thefivewerethereformelonsandfruitandcassavaandtobaccowhichweboughtwithbeadsandfishhooksandbitsofbrightcloth.
ThreeofthesevenatLaNavidadwereoutofgate,downattheriver,washingtheirclothes.DiegoMinas,thearcher,ontopofwall,watchedtheforest.Walkingbelow,BeltranthecookwassinginginhisbigvoiceaMoorishsongthattheymademuchofyearbeforelastinSeville.IhadabookofMesserPetrarca\'spoems.IthadbeenGutierrez\'s,wholeftitbehindwhenhebrokeforthtothemountains.
Beltran\'svoicesuddenlyceased.Diegothearcherabovehimonwallhadcrieddown,``Hush,willyou,amoment!\'\'
DiegodeAranacameup.``Whatisit?\'\'
``Ithought,\'\'saidthearcher,``thatIheardastrangeshoutingfromtowardvillage.Harkye!There!\'\'
Weheardit,aconfusedsound.``Callinthemenfromtheriver!\'\'Aranaordered.
DiegoMinassenthisvoicedowntheslope.Thethreebelowbytheriveralsoheardthecommotion,distantasGuarico.Theywerestandingup,theireyesturnedthatway.Justbehindthemhungtheforestoutofwhichslid,darkandsmooth,thenarrowriver.
OutoftheforestcameanarrowandstrucktotheheartGabrielBaraona.Followeditawildprolongedcryofmanyvoices,peculiarandcurdlingtotheblood,andfifty——ahundred——ahostofnakedmenpaintedblackwithwhiteandredandyellowmarkings.Guaricodidnotusebowandarrow,butaCaribcaciqueknewthem,andhadsomany,andalsolancesflintorbone-headed,andclubswithstoneswedgedinthemandstoneknives.GabrielBaraonafell,whetherdeadornotwecouldnottell.JuanMorcilloandGonzaloFernandezsentascreamforaiduptoLaNavidad.Nowtheywerehiddenassomesmallthingbyfuriousbees.DiegodeAranarushedforhissword.``Downandcutthemout!\'\'
DiegoMinasfiredthebiglombard,butforfearofhurtingourthreemensentwidetheball.Welookedforterroralwaysfromtheflame,thesmokeandgreatnoise,andsotherewasterrorhereforamomentandabearingbackinwhichJuanandGonzalogotlooseandmadealittlewayuppath.Butabarbarianwasherewhocouldnotlongbeterrified.CaonabosenthalfhishordeagainstGuarico,buthimselfhadcometoLaNavidad.Thatpaintedarmyralliedandovertookthefleeingmen.
Shouting,makinghisswungsworddazzleinlight,DiegodeAranaraceddownpath,andDiegoMinasandBeltranthecookandJuanLepewithhim.Manyatimesincethen,inthisisland,haveIseenhalfadozenChristianswiththeirarmsandthesuperstitiousterrorthatsurroundedthemputtoflighttwentytimestheirnumber.Butthiswasearly,andthespiritofthesenakedmennotbroken,andCaonabofacedus.Itwashehimselfwho,whenthreeorfourhadbeenwoundedbyArana,suddenlyrusheduponthecommandant.
Withhisstone-headedclubhestrucktheswordaway,andheplungedhisknifeintoArana\'sbreast.Hedied,abravemanwhobaddonehisbestatLaNavidad.
JuanMorcilloandGonzaloFernandezandDiegoMinaswereslain.Isawaliftedclubandswerved,buttoolate.
Blacknessandneithercarenordelight.Then,faroff,alittlebeatingofsurfonshore,veryfarandnothingtodowithanything.ThenaclueofpainthatitseemedImustfolloworthatmustfollowme,andatfirstitwasalittlethinthread,butthenacableandallmycarewastothinitagain.Itpassedintoanacheandthrobthatfilledmybeingliketheraincloudsthesky.Thensuddenlytherewereyetheavycloudsbuttheskyaroundandbehind.I
openedmyeyesandsatup,butfoundthatmyarmswereboundtomysides.
``Wearen\'tdead,andthat\'ssomecomfort,Doctor,asthecocksaidtotheothercockinthemarketpannier!\'\'
ItwasBeltranthecookwhospokeandhewasboundlikeme.Arounduslaythefivedead.AscoreofIndianswardedus,mightystrangersinbonds,andweheardtherestupatthefortwheretheyweresearchingandpillaging.
Guarico,andthementhere?
WefoundthatoutwhenatlasttheyweredonewithLaNavidadandtheyandwewereputonthemarch.WecametowherehadbeenGuarico,andtrulyforlongwehadsmelledtheburningofit,aswehadheardthecryingandshouting.
Itwasalldown,thefrailhouses.ImadeoutintheloudtalkingthatfollowedtheblendingofCaonabo\'sbandswhathadbeendoneandnotdone.Guacanagari,wounded,wasfledafterfightingawhile,heandhisbrotherandthebutioandallthepeople.Butthemightystrangersfoundinthevillage,weredead.Theyhadrundowntothesea,butCaonabo\'smenhadcaughtthem,andafterhardworkkilledthem.JuanLepeandBeltran,passing,sawthefivebodies.
IdonotthinkthatCaonabohadlessthanathousandwithhim.Hehadcomeinforce,andthewholeassilentasabatormoth.Weweretolearnoverandoveragainthat``Indians\'\'coulddothat,travelverysilently,creaturesoftheforestwhotookbysurprise.Well,Guaricowasdestroyed,andGuacanagariandGuarinfled,andinallHispaniolawereonlytwoSpaniards,andwesawnosailuponthesea,nosailatall!
CHAPTERXXVI
WEturnedfromthesea.Thickforestcamebetweenusandit.WeweregoingwithCaonabotothemountains.BeltranandIthoughtthatithadbeeninquestionwhetherheshouldkillusatonce,orholdusinlifeuntilwehadbeenshownastrophiesinMaguana,andthattheprideandvanityofthelattercourseprevailed.Aftertwodaysinthisruinedplace,duringwhichwesawnoGuaricoIndian,wedeparted.Theraidwasover.Alltheirwarisbyraid.Theycarriedeverythingfromthefortsavethefortitselfandthetwolombards.Inthenarrowpathsthatarethisworld\'sroads,onemanmustwalkafteranother,andtheircolumnseemsendlesswhereitwindsandislostandappearsagain.BeltranandIwerenolongerbound.Norwerewetreatedunkindly,starvednorhurtinanyway.AllthatwaiteduntilweshouldreachCaonabo\'stown.
Caonabowasamosthandsomebarbarian,strongandfierceandintelligent,morefierce,moreintelligentthanGuacanagari.
Allhadbeenpainted,buttheheatofthelowlandandtheirgreatexertionhadmadethecoloringrunandmixmostunseemly.WhentheyleftGuaricotheyplungedintotheriverandwashedthewholeaway,comingoutclearred-brown,shiningandbettertolookupon.Caonabowashed,butthenhewouldrenewhismarkingwiththepaintwhichhecarriedwithhiminalittlecalabash.
Apool,stillandreflectingasanypolishedshield,madehismirror.Hepaintedinaterrificpatternwhatseemedmeantforlightningandserpent.Itwasarmorandplumeandbannertohim.Ithoughtofourowndevices,comfortingordiscomfortingkinships!Hehadblack,lustroushair,nobeard——theypluckoutallbodyhairsavetheheadthatch——highfeatures,astudiedlookofsettledandcoldfierceness.
SuchwasthisCaribinHispaniola.
Presentlytheyputawatchandtherestalllaydownandslept,Beltranbesideme.Thedayhadbeenclear,andnowagreatmoonmadesilver,silver,thelandaround.ItshoneupontheSpanishsailorandupontheCaribchiefandallthenakedManguanamen.IthoughtofEurope,andofhowallthisoritslikehadbeengoingonhundredyearsbyhundredyears,whileperishedRomeandquickenedourkingdoms,whileCharlemagnegoverned,whiletheChurchroseuntilshetoweredandcoveredlikethesky,whilewewentcrusadesandpilgrimages,whileVeniceandGenoaandLisbonroseandflourished,whileletterswentonandwestudiedAristotle,whilequestionarose,andwiderknowledge.
AtlastJuanLepe,too,wenttosleep.
Nextdaywetraveledamongandovermountains.Ourpath,sonarrow,climbedbyrockandtree.Nowitoverhungdeep,tree-crammedvales,nowitborethroughjust-
partedcliffs.BeltranandJuanLepehadneedforalltheirstrengthofbody.
Theworstwasthatthatoldtremorandweaknessofonelegandside,leftaftersomeseafight,whichhadmadeBeltranthecookfromBeltranthemariner,cameback.Isawhisstepbegintohaltanddrag.Thisincreased.Anhourlater,thepathgoingovertreerootsknottedlikeserpents,hestumbledandfell.Hepickedhimselfup.``Hardtokeepdeckinthisgale!\'\'
WhenhewentdowntherehadbeenanexclamationfromthoseIndiansnearestus.``Aiya!\'\'Itwastheirwordforrotten,nogood,spoiled,disappointing,crippledordiseased,foramisformedchildoranoldmanorwomanarrivedathelplessness.Such,IhadlearnedfromGuarin,theyalmostinvariablykilled.Itwaswhy,fromthefirst,wehardlysawdwarfedorhumpedorcrippledamongthem.
Wehadtocrossatorrentuponatreethatfallinghadmadefromsidetosidearoundedbridge.Againthatoldhurtbetrayedhim.Heslipped,wouldhavefallenintothetorrentbelow,butthatI,turning,caughthimandtheIndianbehindushelped.Wemanagedacross.``Myship,\'\'saidBeltran,``isgoingtopiecesontherocks.\'\'
Thepathbecameladdersteep.NowBeltrandelayedall,foritwasalamemanclimbing.IhelpedhimallIcould.
Thesunwasnearitssetting.Wewerealoftinthesemountains.Greenheadsstillroseoverus,butwewerealoft,farabovethesea.Andnowweweregoingthrougharavineorpasswherethewalkingwasbetter.Here,too,awindreachedusanditwascooler.Cooleveoftheheightsdrewon.Wecametoabubblingwellofcoldestwateranddranktoourgreatrefreshment.Veritablepinetrees,whichweneversawinthelowlands,toweredaboveandsang.Thepathwaseasier,buthardly,hardly,couldBeltrandraghimselfalongit.Hisarmwasovermyshoulder.
Outofthedarkpasswecameuponatablealmostbareoftreesandcoveredwithafinesoftgrass.ThemountainsofCibao,fiveleagues——maybemore——away,hunginemeraldpurpleandgoldunderthesinkingsun.Thehighestrockypeaksrosepalegold.BelowusandbetweenthosemountainsonwhichwestoodandthegoldenmountainsofCibao,spreadthatplain,sobeautiful,sowideandlong,sofertileandsmilingandvast,thatafterwardswascalledtheRoyalPlain!Eastandwestonemightnotseetheend;southonlythegoldenmountainsstoppedit.Andriversshone,onegreatriverandmanylesserstreams.Andwesawafarmanyplumesofsmokefrommanyvillages,andwemadeoutmaizefields,fortheplainwaspopulous.
_VegaReal_!Solovelywasitinthatbrighteve!Theverypainofthedaymadeitlovelier.