 | CHAPTER III.
NEW PARTIES—PROPOSALS AND REJECTIONS. The damsel of Darien |  |
3. CHAPTER III.
NEW PARTIES—PROPOSALS AND REJECTIONS.
The voices of the persons approaching were now distinguishable
by those within, and some surprise was apparent
in consequence, upon their faces.
“That, surely, is the voice of the bachelor Enciso!”
was the exclamation of the cavalier, his look changing as
he spoke to sternness with the conviction.
“You are right, it is Enciso.”
“Now, what seeks he here,—what brings him! He
hath for me no feeling of the friend, and the thought that he
should find the soul to seek me as an enemy, were a mere
folly. There is something strange in this.”
“Wherefore should it trouble thee, Vasco,” demanded
the astrologer, with expostulating earnestness, as he beheld
the visible harshness growing upon the features of his companion.
“No matter what brings him, my son; there is
no need that such as he should move thee to anger, still less
is there any need that he should see that thou hatest him.
Smooth thy brow, he cannot greatly help, and can but little
harm thee; and didst thou hold him to be baser even than
the worm that crawls, it is not wise to chafe angrily when
the worm comes forth into thy sight.”
“No! but when it crawls upon my path, Codro, when
it leaves its slime before my eyes, then do I trample it beneath
my feet, or thrust it from my presence. I care not
that Enciso should feed and fatten at the expense of better
men in Santo Domingo; but, why comes he here? What
brings him to the dwelling of a man, who hath neither favour
nor feeling in common with him? But, let him have
care while he stands before me. Let him but look awry,
or chafe me with a word, and I will set my foot upon his
ever crawled upon my path.”
“He will not chafe thee with either look or word,” was
the reply of the astrologer; “he knows thee quite too well
for that; and, trust me, he comes for other objects. He
comes now to find favour in thy sight; to win thee, perchance,
to some common purpose with Ojeda in his proposed
venture, in which, I told you, he had taken part. If
this be his aim, he will spare no toil to propitiate thee. It
may be well for thee to listen patiently, my son—there
may be profit from his service, since there are none so
base and worthless, of whom the wise and deliberate may
not make fitting use. Let us see—let us hear him, without
anger. Smooth thy brow, Vasco; look not on him
with scorn, and beyond all things, preserve thy temper.
The man hath some power to foil in part, if he may in nothing
help our enterprise. If we cannot favour his desire,
at least, there is but little need to offend him.”
“We need him not, Codro, and where should be his
power to hurt our enterprise. Be the barque but ready,
Codro, as with thy present moneys, thou wilt soon have
it, and I will plant my feet in that southern sea, my father,
even as the stars have promised, and we shall laugh to
scorn the whole swarm of legal reptiles that find so thriving
a nest here in Santo Domingo. But, be it as thou
sayest, however little reason there be for keeping countenance
with one so little worthy as Enciso. I will say nothing
to vex the creature; not that I fear his venom, but
that I may not feel his slaver, which, to my thinking, is
far the worst evil of the two.”
“No more, my son, he comes,” said the astrologer;
“take the dog in thy hands: Leonchico loves him even
less than thou, and, following thy looks, would fasten upon
his throat the first moment that he appeared in sight.”
“A wise dog, a brave dog, and a just,” replied the cavalier,
with an approving laugh, “but what other voice is
that which answers to Enciso? By my faith, it is sure,
old Gomez Davila that comes with him. His loan to thee,
Codro, gives him license. I trust he comes not for new
conditions. But open, open!”
The old man unfastened the door at this moment, and
the lawyer, Hernando de Enciso, appeared at the entrance,
had enabled the astrologer to complete the equipment
of his friend for the great enterprise which he had in view.
The ready grasp and sudden word of Vasco Nunez, alone
prevented Leonchico from springing upon the first named
visiter with a ferocious vigour, scarcely less than that to
which he was commonly aroused by the studious provocations
of the trainer, on the eve of Indian combat.
“Ah, Señor Vasco: I thank thee. The dog is a brave
dog—a terrible dog—but for thy timely hand he had
clutched me,—he had given me trouble, I think,” was the
rather tremulous and insinuating speech of the bachelor.
“He had cut thy throat, señor,” was the cool reply.
“Thou hadst never got from beneath his hair, but with
the loss of all thy own, and thy own hands, even then, had
never helped thee. Enter señores, he is now subdued;
as tame and harmless, as, but a moment ago, he was wild
and vengeful. Enter—ye are both safe.”
“Truly, Señor Vasco, thy control over him is wonderful,”
said Enciso. “He sleeps at thy bidding.”
“Wonderful indeed my masters,” echoed old Davila,
with a grin of affected admiration. “But, truly, it should
be so, else were it no less evil to the hand that prompts
him into combat, than to the savage he is taught to seek.
Thou canst depute thy power upon him to another, Señor
Vasco; for so I have heard it said of thee.”
“Ay, if it pleases him to serve that other, Felipe Davila;
but the dog is choice no less than strong, señores,
and he hath taste and wisdom, not a whit less because of
his fierceness. There were some cavaliers in Santo Domingo,
that even my word could not make him follow,
save to rend. He loves thee not, Enciso; he loves not
thy looks; I marvel much where he found this prejudice!
but he hath it, and small provocation would move him to
so close a freedom with thy throat, that thou would'st
think the hangman far more merciful, should he once take
hold upon it.”
The bachelor forebore any near approach to an animal of
whom he had such awkward information; and muttering
some unmeaning words of congratulation to the owner of
so terrible an agent, he crossed over to the mat to which
the hands of the astrologer motioned him, and took a seat
seeing them thus disposed, Vasco Nunez made his way
towards the entrance, as if to depart.
“You would be private with my friend Codro, señores;
I will leave you,” he said, as he laid his hand upon the
door.
“No, no!” replied Felipe Davila hastily, “not so, sweet
Señor Vasco; it is no such private matter; indeed, we
would also have speech of you, Señor Vasco; the bachelor
Enciso, hath something for your ears.”
“Ah! if that be the case, Señor, I am ready,” replied
the cavalier, turning with cold dignity to the hesitating
bachelor. The latter felt himself in the presence of his
superior; but there was an additional consciousness which
was not less annoying than this, to one of the ambitious,
yet small, pretensions of the lawyer. He had been long
taught to know that Vasco Nunez held him in contempt.
There had been dealings between the two in former days,
when the cavalier was a rash royster in the New World, to
whom adventure was always attractive, even when it was
not always legitimate. Such was the sort of persons from
whose errors the griping hands of the pettifoggers had derived
those profits which he was now about to launch
upon the deceitful seas, in sustaining the pretensions of
Ojeda. The knowledge which the former had acquired in
these early days, of the practices of the latter, had inspired
him with that hostile feeling of dislike, which his prudence
had not always been sufficient to conceal. The lawyer
felt the contempt which he had not the courage to resent;
and at the moment of the present interview, it may be farther
said, that with his primary object of gain before his
eyes, he was not unwilling to forgive the injury, and forget
the contempt, provided he could persuade his enemy
to assist in the prosecution of his schemes. The gold for
which he toiled, would, in his eyes, sanction any contact,
as well of the hate that spurned, as of the pollution that
defiles. The ice once broken by his companion, the miser,
the eyes of Enciso brightened, and a pleasant and conciliating
smirk of the lips prefaced the opening of his business.
“Yes, Señor Vasco; it is even as my friend Davila
hath said. There is a matter in my thought to which I
favouring attention.”
The person addressed, slowly returned to the centre of
the apartment, seated himself upon a mat distinct from the
rest, and signified his willingness to listen to the promised
communication. Felipe Davila, in the meantime, drew to
himself the regards of the astrologer, with whom he conversed
in under tones apart. Enciso, with a hesitancy of
manner that somewhat belied the confident smirk upon his
lips, then proceeded, with sufficient directness, to the business
on which he came.
“It is bruited, Señor Vasco, throughout the city of Santo
Domingo—nay, I have heard it said by many very worthy
men,—that the voyage thou hast resolved to make for the
southern sea, in the goodly barque, called the `Maranon,'
will bring thee to the province of Veragua, and most probably
into the immediate government of my patron and
very good friend, the gallant cavalier, Alonzo de Ojeda.”
The lawyer paused, as if waiting for an answer. The
keen, cold eye of the person he addressed met his own,
but his lips for some moments were closed. The warning
glance of the astrologer, however, reminded the cavalier of
the policy which had been agreed on between them, prior
to the entrance of their visiters, and the muscles of his
face relaxed into something like a smile. Speaking with
ominous deliberateness and few words, he thus replied:—
“Well, Señor Hernandez, what more of this. Methinks
thou hast more to offer.”
“Of a truth, I have, Señor Vasco,” answered the lawyer,
“but thou hast not yet given me to know if the rumour
of the town be right. I would hear from thy own lips,
whether they that speak of thee in this wise do thee not
great injustice.”
“Perhaps, but of this I make no heed. I tell thee,
Señor Hernandez, it is not my wont to hearken to that
busy idleness which makes free disposition of my thoughts
and purposes, having none of its own. I were no less
profligately idle than the town, did I toil in the correction
of its errors.”
“Then, these are errors, Señor Vasco,” replied the
other, with some eagerness, “and it is not thy purpose to
seek for thy southern ocean in the government of the noble
Ojeda.”
“Nay, thou dost vex thy curiosity without profit, Señor
Hernandez,” replied the other with cool contempt, “thou
wilt scarcely take what thou camest for. Thinkest thou,
that I, who have kept so secret all my purposes of discovery
for so many months in Santo Domingo, will reveal
them to other voyagers, even now setting forth upon the
same ocean. I were scarcely wise to do this, and thou
mightest well leave me with laughter, and exult over the
miserable folly of one, upon whose weakness in this respect
thou hast made bold calculations. Go to, Señor—
go to. I have had experience of the seas, and of the cavaliers
that go upon them. Do thou, and the valiant captain,
Alonzo de Ojeda, sail for the province of New Andalusia;
unfurl thy sails, and be the winds obedient that bear
ye to your port. Be your foothold sure, and your bucklers
thick, that the Caribs drive ye not into the sea, and
pierce ye not through with their lances. And, chiefly to
thyself, Señor Hernandez, would I impart sober counsel.
Thou hast not tried the valour of the Indian; let thy hand
be well practised in thy sword, and be heedful that the
temper of thy armour be proof against his shaft; for so
sure as I shall follow thee soon, wilt thou find thy strifes
in the battles to which Ojeda will bring thee, no such
strifes as thou hast known in thy pleading, and perchance,
even less profitable to thy fame and fortune. I trust thou
wilt have as little cause of complaint with the Carib, as thy
noble patron. Ojeda, will have with me.”
“But, Señor Vasco, it may be that, as thou unfoldest
not to us thy own route for this great southern sea, of
which thou hast spoken so confidently, the Señor Alonzo,
whose purpose it is to explore all the country in the neighbourhood
of his government, shall, without so designing,
happen upon it, and thus unwittingly deprive thee of the
fame and profit of so noble a discovery.”
“Let Alonzo de Ojeda find it if he may, Señor Hernandez,
or do thou find it, if it be thy wish, and good fortune
so to do,—it matters not. I fear not that either of you will
do me evil, or greatly stand in the path of my adventure.
There are wide dominions that these seas unfold, and wide
are the lands and waters lying open, yet still withheld from
us. It is not for you, or for me, señor, to exclude other
cavaliers from the greatness and the wealth which they offer
to the bold spirit which is willing to seek and do battle
push your prows wherever they may go. Ye have the
start of me, ye can sail, I doubt not, to-morrow. It will yet
be weeks before I can follow ye, and so far, ye have the
advantage. Scruple not, for my sake, to employ it as ye
may, I ask from ye no favours. I crave not your forbearance.
As for this Indian Sea, I hold it locked up from your
grasp. I defy ye to find its holy and untravelled waters.
Brave though your captain prove himself, I know well that
he may not find it—wealthy and cautious though you be,
Martin Hernandez de Enciso, I am bold to think it cannot
be your luck to find it. The prize is for men of another
make than yours. Ye would toil for it in vain.”
“And wherefore dost thou fancy this, Señor Vasco?”
replied the lawyer quickly, and with an air of pique;
“wherefore dost thou think this achievement denied to
our adventures? Thou dost not impugn the valour of
Alonzo de Ojeda? Methinks, valorous and skilful though
thou art, Señor Vasco, it were scarcely wise in thee to do
this, and—”
“No more, Señor Hernandez; thou dost waste thyself,”
replied the cavalier, resuming the cold tones and deliberate
manner with which he had begun, and from which, more
than once during the progress of the dialogue, his warm
temperament had moved him to depart. “Alonzo de Ojeda
is a brave cavalier and a daring; but it asks something more
than valour to achieve the purpose which I have in view.
Thou, too, mayst have thy virtues, but thou wilt not hold
it my purpose to disparage them, when I say that they are
not the virtues which can give thee success in this adventure.
Yet, though I speak thus coldly, let not my words
discourage thee. The great sea of the south will await
both of us—find it if thou mayst.”
“But, Señor Vasco, there is yet a matter. It is thought
by those having knowledge of Darien, that this great sea of
the south, should such a one exist, lies within the province
which the king, our royal master, has given exclusively to
the government of Alonzo de Ojeda. Now, Señor, if this
be the case, then wilt thou see that it cannot be suffered
thee to pursue thy search of it, save with the permission
of the governor, or of myself, as the alcalde mayor
thereof—”
“This is too much, Señor Martin de Enciso. Let us
Vasco Nunez de Balboa knows well what is permitted
him, is able to determine his own limits by the royal commission,
and has the weapon, Señor Martin, ay, and the
spirit too, to assert and maintain his rights, whether it be
against a royal governor or his alcalde mayor. Methinks,
you have finished your commission.”
“Nay, señor; you are hasty; you would be angry;
you would do us injustice, and mayhap wrong yourself.
Hear now what farther I have to say, and judge whether
our purpose be not friendly.”
The manner of Enciso was, studiously, even more conciliatory
than his words. The cavalier, Vasco Nunez,
whose blood was already in commotion, found it difficult,
however, to subdue himself to the required degree of patience;
but with a visible effort he did so, and while amusing
himself with stroking with his hands the shaggy neck
of Leonchico, he bade the other proceed.
“I have an offer to make thee, Señor Vasco, which, I
trust, will please thee, and prevent all future difficulty.”
Vasco Nunez looked up, but said nothing.
“The armament deemed needful to the voyage and
government of Ojeda, is yet incomplete. It lacks one good
vessel such as the `Maranon.”'
“Ha! The `Maranon!' Well,—well, go on.”
“We learn from Señor Felipe that he hath provided thy
friend, Micer Codro, with the needful sum towards the
completion of thy stores and crew.”
“It is the truth, señor,” interposed the miser; “seven
hundred and fifty castellanos—a great sum—its loss to me
were beggary. I have lent it on the faith of that good fortune
which the wisdom of Micer Codro hath assured me
awaits the brave Señor Vasco. The blessed Virgin smile
upon the venture, and give success to the good ship.”
“The money which helps thee, Señor Vasco, is, I may
say, so much taken from us,” continued Enciso.
“Thou wouldst not have us yield it thee, wouldst thou?”
demanded Vasco Nunez impatiently.
“No! It is thy good luck, Señor Vasco, to have found
it ere we searched; but we would have thee share thy adventure
with us, and take in return a full third of our spoils,
whatever they may be, the royal fifth being first excepted.
Thy vessel is needful to our armament, but she shall remain
on equal terms together touching thy adventures, and
only claim the exclusive dominion which hath been granted
him by the king, when he shall have reached his province
of New Andalusia. If then it please thee to part company
with him, be it so. The power and the right are thine.
What say'st thou, Señor Vasco, doth not our proffer find
favour in thy sight?”
The lawyer paused, and the two old men looked up
with something of kindred anxiety in their faces, to learn
the determination of the cavalier. In that of the miser
might be seen a degree of earnestness, which, while it
spoke for the interest of one whose castillanos were at
hazard, at the same time clearly enough conveyed his approval—even
if his coming in company with Enciso had
not shown it—of the proposed change of plan which the
latter had suggested. This expression could not be mistaken
by the cavalier, and it was, perhaps, because he beheld
something like a similar approval in the face of his
friend the astrologer, that the answer of Vasco Nunez was
uttered in almost impatient accents, and with a harsh haste
in its tone which indicated a latent sentiment of anger.
“You have spoken, you have made your proposals,
Señor Hernandez, which, I doubt not, you hold to be gracious
and generous. Now hearken you my answer. I
will have none of your venture. I ask none of your
shares. Be the good fortune of your armament your own.
Not even for the fifth of Veragua itself will I take shares
with you. You may hold me selfish—it may be so. But
let the penalty of such selfishness rest with me. I need
no fleet of ships to find the sea of the south of which I
am in quest. One good ship, the `Maranon,' whose
equipment you estimate so highly, will be sufficient for
such discovery.”
“But she may sink, Señor Vasco; the broma may eat
into her sides among these unknown waters; the currents
of strange shores may suck her down into their devouring
abysses. You may lose, having but one barque, the fruits
of all your toil, of all your courage, of all your speculations
and foresight.”
The astrologer and miser looked with increasing anxiety
to the cavalier, as Enciso uttered these words, in which
they both fancied lay no little wisdom. But the prompt
his thoughts, and that he suffered from no such apprehensions.
“And if the seas suck the `Maranon' down into their
deep jaws, Señor Hernandez, they suck down Vasco
Nunez along with her, and thus ends the struggle of one
man along with the many hopes that now warm and wake
within his bosom. Still, would the profit of his toils be
yours, and it would be a marvel, indeed, if, when the good
captain, Alonzo de Ojeda, or his worthy alcalde mayor,
went back to Spain, they should say, `Lo! this conquest
is due to the unfortunate cavalier, Vasco Nunez; it was
his prow that guided us to the great sea of the south; it
was his venturous skill that found these sunny shores, and
gathered up these golden and pearly treasures.' Methinks
it were too much to look for such generosity from the
Spanish voyager now; and I look for none, and I ask for
none of it. No, señor, we must steer separate barques.
Seek your province, and may the treasures of New Andalusia
be such as you hope to find them. I give you back
your offer, with many thanks.”
A deep sigh escaped the miser, who had no doubt been
promised a liberal reward if he could succeed in any manner
in changing the direction of his castillanos. There
was also some disappointment visible in the eye of the
astrologer, but neither of them uttered the dissatisfaction
which was clearly felt by both. The disappointment of
the lawyer, however, was not so quietly expressed. It
spoke in his contracted brow, in his kindling eye, in the
impatient movement of his lips. His voice, too, was
somewhat raised when he spoke again, and there was an
air of the official about him which was not less premature
than indiscreet.
“Señor Vasco,” he said, “you have rejected a most
liberal offer. Time will show if you have done wisely.
But, let me warn you, should it be, as some think, that the
great southern sea lies within the province—”
The short, quick, and somewhat hoarse accents of Vasco
Nunez interrupted the speaker.
“Beware, Señor Hernandez, that your warning takes not
the shape of a threat. I tell thee, I am in no mood to suffer
thee to speak, as from thy present looks thou seemest
free to do. Enough for Alonzo de Ojeda when he gets his
good ship `Maranon,' or on the waters of the southern sea,
I tell thee that Vasco Nunez is resolved to maintain his.
What more wouldst thou say, señor?”
The lawyer muttered some regrets that the other was so
impatient, professed the best feelings, denied any disposition
to hostility or threats, and finally, finding that nothing
was to be effected with one equally jealous and resolved,
he took his departure followed by Felipe Davila.
The latter plucked the sleeve of the astrologer, who had
gone with him to the door, and drawing him a few paces
beyond the entrance, whispered in some anxiety—
“And thou thinkest, worthy Micer Codro, that the fortune
of the brave youth is good, albeit he doth reject the
offer of Enciso. Will the stars keep faith with him that
is so obstinate. Doth his good planet rise yet,—will he
swim? It were beggary to me, worthy Micer, should the
castillanos—seven hundred and fifty—”
“Fear thou nothing,” replied the astrologer, interrupting
him, “thy money is safe to thee, and at profitable risk.
The stars have Vasco Nunez in keeping; and though it
was my thought that he should have taken the venture
with Ojeda, it is my faith now that his fortune is the better
counsellor. Fear nothing for thy treasure.”
“Of a truth I fear nothing. He is a brave youth, and
will conquer the savages. I glad me he gave no knowledge
to the Bachelor touching the route to the southern
sea. He is a close youth—he hath a knowledge of his
fellow that shall make him fortunate. I have faith, Micer
Codro, in his star.”
| CHAPTER III.
NEW PARTIES—PROPOSALS AND REJECTIONS. The damsel of Darien | |