University of Virginia Library

26. CHAPTER XXVI.

In a low but spacious apartment, the walls and
floor of which were both covered with mats, the neophyte
found Don Hernan, attended by Sandoval and
one or two other cavaliers, busy, to all appearance,
in the examination of the page and a Moorish slave
of Cortes's own household, whom he seemed to confront

with the other. It needed no more than the
tears which Amador discovered on the cheeks of the
youth, to rouse him to a feeling very like anger.

“Señor,” said he, stepping forward to the side of
Jacinto, and looking gravely on his judge, “I have
exercised the privilege of a master,—or rather, as I
should say, of a servant,—for this boy is in the ward
of Don Gabriel, whom I myself follow,—to enter
into your presence, without the ceremony of a previous
request; for which liberty, if it offend you, I
ask your pardon. But I was told the boy Jacinto
was dragged away by one of your excellency's menials;
and I claim, as asking in the stead of his master,
to know for what offence?”

“By my conscience, for none at all!” said Cortes,
courteously; “at least, for none of his own commission.
And had he truly been guilty, both of treason
and desertion, I should have pardoned him, for
the precocious shrewdness of his answers. Señor,”
continued the general, “it was my intention to beseech
your presence at this examination; and nothing
but the suddenness of it, as well as the present
defection among my servants, could have caused me
to defer the invitation for a moment. By my conscience,
you have a treasure of wisdom, in this boy!”

This was an assurance Don Amador did by no
means deny: for, in addition to the singular address
with which he adapted himself to the humours of the
knight, he had seen in Jacinto many other evidences
of a diseretion so much in advance of his years, as
to cause him no little wonder; added to which, the
incident of the past night, in which the page had
stumbled upon a name, and indeed (for the after explanations
had not removed the first impression,) a
story, which he did not remember to have breathed
to any living creature, had attached to the youth a
sort of respect that bordered almost on superstition.
But Don Hernan gave the cavalier no time for reflections.

“Señor Don Amador,” said he, “the fault, if there

be any, which we are now strrving to investigate,
lies, not in the page, but in his father, Sidi Abdalla,
the cannonier; who is charged by my varlet here,
this unconverted heathen, to be meditating, if not
now engaged in the accomplishment of a very heinous,
and yet, let me add, for your satisfaction, a
very improbable conspiracy. This is charged to be
nothing less than desertion from our standard, with
a design to throw himself into the arms of the enemy;
and what makes the matter worse, allowing it
for a moment to be credible, is, that he plots to carry
away with him all his countrymen who are slaves
with us, in number, I think, somewhat above half a
score.”

“This is, assuredly,” said Don Amador, “a very
vile offence; for which, if guilty, I must needs allow,
the Sidi deserves to suffer. Yet, I agree with your
excellency, the design seems quite as incredible as
its accomplishment must be impossible.”

“No one,” said Cortes, “could have shown this
with better argument than this same weeping boy;
for, `First,' said he, `'tis wrong to receive the accusation
of an unconverted man against a Christian;
and such an infidel hound is Yacub,—whom I will,
at some future day, give over to be burned for his
idolatry; but, at present, I cannot spare so precious
a servant, for he is an excellent cook, and a good
maker of arrow-heads for the crossbowmen.—In
addition to this argument, señor,” continued the general,
“the boy advances me another of still more
force; `For how,' says he, shrewdly, `would my
father leave his Christian masters and protectors, to
go over to savages, whose language he cannot understand,
and who would sacrifice him as a victim
to their detestable gods?'—which gods may heaven
sink into the pit, whence they came! and I say,
Amen!—Now, though one part of this argument is
answered by the subtle art of Yacub; for whether
he have Yacub or any other Moor who hath picked
up something of the tongue, to interpret for him, or

whether he have no interpreter at all, it is not the
less certain, that, the moment he entrusts himself
into the power of the barbarians, that moment will
he be clapped into a great cage like a wild beast, and
devoured what time he is fat enough for the maws
of their diabolical divinities; I say, nevertheless, for
that very reason, it is not probable Abdalla should be
so besotted a fool.”

“Please your highness,” said Yacub, with the obstinacy
of one who presumed on his master's indulgence,
or on the strength of his cause, “he urged
me, last night, at the pyramid of Tlascala; and this
noble gentleman, as well as this boy, saw me in his
company.”

Don Amador started, as he perceived the eyes of
Yacub fastened on him, as well as those of every
other individual in the chamber. The look that Jacinto
gave him was one of terror and beseeching
earnestness.

“Señor,” said he, hositating a little, “though what
I have to say, may, in part, confirm the charge of
this fellow, I cannot scruple to speak it; and though
I may not aver, on mine own knowledge, that I beheld,
last night, either this man Yacub, or his countryman,
Abdalla, yet must I admit that I saw, stealing
by the basis of that heathen temple, three men,
whom my friend De Morla, who accompanied me,
pronounced to be the cannonier and two of your
excellency's servants.”—Jacinto wrung his hands.—
“But what passed between them,” the cavalier went
on, “whether they were hatching a plot, or discoursing
together of their hard fate, as would seem reasonable
for men like them, that have neither friends
nor country, I cannot take upon me to pronounce;
though, from what I know of Abdalla, as a courageous
and honest man, I am fain to think, their communication
could not have been of an evil nature.”

“He said,” muttered the treacherous Moor, “that,
provided he had but some one to interpret for him, he
had no fear of the Mexicans; but could promise us

much favour and wealth from their kings, by virtue
of certain arts possessed by his son; and thereby he
hinted the boy was an enchanter.”

All started at this sudden announcement, and none
more than Don Amador de Leste; for though, as he
had said himself, he was, in his cooler moments, very
sceptical in affairs of magic, this incredulity was no
consequence either of nature or education; and besides
the shock that had been given to his doubts by
the disclosures of De Morla, the story of Jacinto, so
unaccountably begun, and so abruptly terminated,
had made a deeper impression on his mind, than such
a trifle should.—Its importance had been imputed by
his own feelings; but either he did not remember, or
he knew not that.—He stared at Jacinto, who stood
pale as death and trembling, now rolling his eyes
wildly on Don Hernan, and now on his patron. Before
the latter could summon composure to answer,
he was relieved by the general saying, humorously—

“I cannot doubt that this little caitiff is an enchanter,
because he has the faculty of exciting both
admiration and pity in an eminent degree; and,
though I doubt the power of such a charm over the
ears of barbarians that delight in the thunder of wooden
drums, and the yelling uproar of sea-shell trumpets,
yet I can believe, for it has been told me by good
judges, that the art with which he touches his lute, is
as magical as it is marvellous.”

The boy clasped his hands in delight, and seemed
as if he would have thrown himself at the feet of his
judge.

“Wherefore, my most worthy and honoured friend,”
continued Cortes, “have no fear that I will rob thee
of so serviceable a henchman. I could not burn so
pretty a log in the fire that was kindled for one who
had sold his soul; and I cannot, by allowing the
claims of a rival to lawful magic, kill my astrologer
Botello with envy.”

“He has a talisman round his neck, wherein is a
devil, that I have overheard him talking to!” said the
resolute Yacub.

“Thou art an ass,” said Cortes, laughing at the
trepidation of Jacinto; for he again turned pale, and
lifted his hands to his neck, as if both to confess and
guard his treasure. “'Tis some gewgaw, given him
by his mother, or, perhaps, by some sweetheart
wench;—for these Moorish boys are in love when a
Christian urchin is yet in his grammer.—Señor,”—
he addressed himself to the neophyte,—“you may
perceive that the very grossness of Yacub's credulity
has destroyed the force of his testimony; for he who
can believe such a junior as this to be a conjurer, will
give credit to any other ridiculous imagination. I
will now confess to you, that, beside these charges,
which are already answered, there is only one more
circumstance against Abdalla; and that is, that at the
very moment of our halt, and while engaged in the
audience with those ambassadors, (whom I treated
somewhat harshly, but for a cunning purpose, which
you will soon understand,) he vanished away, in company
with another dog of my household called Ayub;
and hath not been since seen. Nevertheless, I attach
no more importance to this matter than to the others;
but, I swear to heaven, if he be caught stealing turkeys,
or any such trumpery things from these villains
of Cholula, I will give him to the bastinado!”

“Señor,” said Amador, earnestly, “the Sidi is of
too magnanimous a nature to steal turkeys.”

“I will take Don Amador's word for it, then. But
I see the page is still in some mortal fright, as dreading,
if he remain longer in our presence, lest some
new accusation should be brought against him.”

If Jacinto be absolved from censure, and is no
longer desired by your excellency, I will withdraw
him from your presence; and, thanking you, señor,
for the mildness with which you have questioned him,
I will beg your permission to take my own leave.”

Don Hernan bowed low, as the neophyte withdrew
with Jacinto; he waved his hand to Yacub,
and the Moor immediately retired.

“What think ye now, my masters?” he cried, as

soon as these were out of hearing;—“Is it possible
this stupid cannonier hath either the wit or the spirit
to hatch me a brood of treason, to help the kites of
Mexico?”

“If he have,” said Sandoval, “he should hang.”

“Very true, son Gonzalo,” said the general; “for
in our condition, to be suspected, should be a crime
worthy death, especially in so contemptible a creature
as a Moor.—Didst thou observe what mortal
consternation beset our worthy and very precise
friend, Don Amador, when Yacub called his boy a
conjurer?”

“I think, that should be examined into,” said Sandoval;
“for if he be, 'twill be well to give him to Botello,
as a pupil; lest Botello should be, some day,
knocked on the head, as is not improbable, from his
ever thrusting it into jeopardy, and we be left without
a diviner.”

“By my conscience, 'tis well thought on,” said
Cortes, laughing, “for this boy, if he had but as
good a reputation, is much superior in docility, as
well as shrewder in apprehension; whereas Botello
hath such a thick-head enthusiasm for his art, as to
be somewhat unmanageable; and, every now and
then, he prophesies me all wrong; as was the case,
when he anointed the wound of De Leste's secretary,
and stupidly told him 'twould be well in a few
hours: and yet, all the camp knew, the lad was near
losing his arm.”

“Botello excuses himself there,” said Sandoval,
“by protesting that his injunctions were disobeyed,
especially that wherein he charged the youth not
to touch his weapon for twenty-four hours; whereas
he killed a man, that very night, on the pyramid,
very courageously, as I witnessed,—though the man
was hurt before; for I had charged him with my
own partisan.”—

“Amigo mio,” said Cortes, abruptly, “in the matter
of these Moors, I must have thine aidance. I
know not how it may have entered into the brain of

such a boor, to suppose he could make himself useful
to the frowning infidels in Tenochtitlan; but I would
sooner give them a dead lion than a living dog. If
thou hast any very cunning and discreet rogues
among thy fighting men, send them, in numbers of
two and three, secretly about the city; and especially
charge some that they watch at the gate that opens
to Mexico.”

“I will do so,” said Sandoval, “and I will myself
hunt about the town till I find the rascal.—Shall I
kill him?”

“If it appear to thee he is deserting, let him be
slain in the act. As for Ayub, if he be found in the
cannonier's company, bring me him alive: I will
hang him for an example; for in his death shall no
intercessor be offended. I have no doubt, that, for
the boy's sake, both Don Amador and Calavar would
beg for Abdalla, if he were brought a prisoner; and
it would grieve me to deny them. Kill him, then,
my son, if thou findest him, and art persuaded he is
a deserter.”

With this charge, very emphatically pronounced,
and very composedly received, the friends separated.