Sea-Dogs All!

by Tom Bevan

  Chapter XXXII.

  A GLIMPSE OF THE FABLED CITY.

  A week went by, and the _Golden Boar_ still lay in the bay of SanJoseph. Her captain and the Spanish commandant had exchanged manycivilities, and the latter was surprised that the fire-eating Drake hadcommitted no deed of violence. He suspected that some deep scheme layhidden behind all this appearance of friendliness and courtesy. Hissuspicions were, in a measure, correct; he was wrong only in his ideaof the nature of the Englishman's plans. Double guards were set roundthe fort each night, and the native chief was compelled to sleep withinits walls. Morning after morning the Spaniards awoke, surprised tofind that the hours of darkness had brought no sudden assault on thefortress. The natives freely visited the ship with fruit, flowers, andmeats, and the English sailors spent hours ashore, wandering in thenear forests or fraternizing with the natives on the beach. TheSpaniards imagined their own midnight extermination was being planned,and therefore was the chieftain compelled to sleep within reach of aSpanish sword, and his subjects were given to understand that the firstsound of tumult in the darkness would end Ayatlan's life. Thecommandant apparently forgot that the great admiral had sacked townsthree times the size of San Joseph with a less capable force than thecrew of the _Golden Boar_.

  Truth to tell, Captain Drake had never once contemplated any attack onSan Joseph; he valued the place at less than a scratch on anEnglishman's skin. His stay in the harbour was dictated solely by adesire to glean information concerning the Orinoco and the land of goldthat he sought. The delta of the great river lay, the nearest land, tothe south of the island; the natives professed to know much of theriver and the tribes dwelling on its banks, and they exchangedmysterious nods and signs one with another when "El Dorado" wasmentioned.

  Presents were liberally bestowed, and promises were scatteredbroadcast. Dan Pengelly and the two Johnsons, often accompanied byMaster Jeffreys and Morgan, spent hours at the doors of native huts,eagerly questioning the Indians, or listening to long, jumbled stories,eked out in a jargon of Spanish and Indian. Almost invariably theycame away as wise as they went. The natives either knew nothing ofreal significance or would not disclose their secrets.

  The adventurers grew impatient. They were in no mood to spend dayafter day idling off a dirty Spanish-Indian settlement. Their thoughtsaye fled southwards, and they wanted to spread sail and follow theirthoughts. Dan's papers had been read and re-read until many knew themby heart. But they obviously contained little, save rumours and vagueindications of locality. What the eager adventurers wanted weredefinite directions as to route and distances, and also a native guidealong the lower reaches of the river. At length both appeared to beforthcoming.

  Ayatlan came aboard early one morning and asked for the captain.Ushered into the cabin, where a council was being held, he bowedhimself down to the floor, then squatted on a mat and began his storywithout further prelude.

  "My white brother, who has come from the great and good White Motherthat rules the rising sun, is growing angry with Ayatlan because he hasnot told him that which his heart so desires to know."

  "My Indian brother has received gifts and made promises; the promiseshave not been kept. I do right to show anger," replied Drake sharply."The Spaniards would have flogged Ayatlan, and maybe have killed hissons, for such bad faith and crooked dealing."

  The chief bowed. "Spaniards are beasts and the children of beasts.The Englishmen are sons of the Father of Heaven, and Ayatlan prays tothem as to his gods. Why has my brother grown soft-hearted to hisenemies and mine? The tongue of rumour tells how he has eaten up theirarmies at a mouthful. Is my brother grown old and toothless?"

  John Drake flushed. He had had more than one reminder that theadmiral, his brother, would have acted more energetically than he haddone. But the younger man was by nature more cautious and diplomatic.He made answer: "My teeth are sound, Ayatlan, and the fire of manhoodis still in my heart. Do not foes sometimes make peace for a while?"

  "True; but when one makes peace with them that hate him, he is guiltyof folly, for the enemy gathers strength whilst at rest, and waits tostrike at an advantage."

  "What has all this to do with the thing I seek?"

  "Ayatlan has been working for his white brother since the hour when hisship came into the bay. He has thought night and day how he might helphim to the desires of his heart."

  "Well?"

  "Last night a youth from another tribe came into the village with oneof my messengers. He knows the great river, and hath journeyed manydays on its bosom. He will guide the children of the great White Queento the city of the 'Gilded One.'"

  The quiet announcement thrilled the whole cabin. Here was the end ofuncertainty. Drake grasped the chieftain by the hand. "What bargaindoth Ayatlan wish to make?" he asked.

  "I make no bargain," was the proud rejoinder. "Have I not given mywhite brothers joy? They will not forget. The guide waits in my boat."

  "Let us speak with him."

  The chief spoke to one of his attendants, and the guide was brought in.The adventurers looked at him with great curiosity; he was an object ofthe intensest interest to them. The youth's appearance was notprepossessing. To begin with, he was very dirty; the rags of a Spanishdoublet hung about his body; legs and feet were bare, but a batteredhelmet, several sizes too large, covered his head and came down abouthis ears; a pair of cunning eyes peeped from under the bent rim of theheadpiece, and quickly took in the details of the gathering. Thehearts of the adventurers sunk at the first sight of the ludicrous andsomewhat sinister personage. So this was the long-sought guide to whomthey were to submit their lives and fortunes! Not one present likedthe prospect.

  There was a moment's silence. "Tell the zany to uncover," exclaimedthe captain. Then he turned to Ayatlan. "Will my brother tell theyoung man what we want with him, and question him as to his fitness forthe duties he offers to fulfil?"

  "He will speak for himself. He has been a servant of the Spaniards,and knows their tongue better than I do."

  Master Jeffreys took the young Indian in hand, and questioned himpretty closely. He answered glibly enough, with a "Yes" to almostevery question. He had been many voyages up the Orinoco.

  "How many?"

  He held up the fingers of one hand. One voyage had lasted from thefirst night of the young moon until it was full.

  What did he know of the city of gold?

  Apparently he knew everything. The city lay on the headwaters of theriver under the great mountains. A mighty lake lay at the foot of thecity. The sands of the lake were composed of the yellow gold that thesigners desired.

  Had he met any one who had visited the city?

  Yes; an Indian trader. He had once come into the camp of his Spanishmasters when they were many days' journey up the great river. Hismasters had used him as interpreter. The houses of the city were ofdazzling white stone, and the roofs of plates of gold. The peoplebathed in the lake on certain festival days, and afterwards sprinkledthemselves so thickly with the precious yellow dust that they lookedlike golden images. Yes; they had temples, and the gods were of gold,and sacrifices were offered on golden altars. Sparkling stones, suchas the signers loved, were found in the waters of the lake.

  How far off was the city?

  Oh! many moons' journey. No; the inhabitants were not warlike. Theywould welcome the white strangers from the land of the rising sun, andgive them yellow dust and sparkling stones as much as their heartsdesired. Yes; the dangers of the way were great, for many forests andswamps must be passed; roaring waterfalls blocked the passage of theriver. The flow of the waters was fierce, the tides strong, and therewas a thousand channels to bewilder the voyager. But he knew the waythrough the maze of waterways.

  Could he guide the Englishmen?

  He could. He hated the Spaniards, and would never act as guide tothose who oppressed his own nation. But the Englishmen were brothersto the Indian.

  What reward did he desire?
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  Clothes like those worn by his white brothers, and a sword to slay hisenemies.

  Needless to say, a bargain was struck forthwith. The guide clapped onhis shapeless headpiece and strutted off, a happy man. He had told nota few lies; indeed, he had agreed with everything the adventurersseemed to desire, and spun them the yarns he had heard from theSpaniards, which tales he knew would gratify his new audience. Andwell-nigh a score of brave but credulous men shook hands with oneanother most gleefully, rubbed those same hands in joyous anticipation,and confidently looked forward to fabulous wealth and the glories ofthe city of marble and gold, the matchless capital of "El Dorado."