Part 26 (1/2)
Which words he next day, being Sunday, repeated in his sermon which he made on that chapter, hich all, even Salvation Yeo himself, ell content and edified, and allowed him to be as Godly a preacher as he was (in spite of his simple ways) a valiant and true-hearted coht away the Spanish officer's sword (a very good blade), and also a great chain of gold which he wore about his neck; both of which were allotted to Bri the sword, steadfastly refused the chain, entreating Amyas to put it into the common stock; and when A those of the boat's creho had succored hiood-will ”And indeed” (says the chronicler), ”I never saw in that worthy man, from the first day of our school-fellowshi+p till he was laid in his parish church of Hartland (where he now sleeps in peace), any touch of that sin of covetousness which has in all ages, and in ours no less than others, beset especially (I know not why) theh he was ugly and lowly in person, and in understanding si but a poor parson's son, had yet in hi and cheerful, so lifted from base and selfish purposes to the worshi+p of duty, and to a generosity rather knightly than sacerdotal, that all through his life he seeive than to receive And all that wealth which he gained in the wars he dispersed a unmarried till his death like a true lover and constanthardly ith to bring his body to the grave At whohed once, we should now rather envy hi to be here what he was, that we may be hereafter where he is Amen”
CHAPTER XIX
WHAT BEFELL AT LA GUAYRA
”Great was the crying, the running and riding, Which at that season was made in the place; The beacons were fired, as need then required, To save their great treasure they had little space”
Winning of Cales
The ua for another pearl prize But As,” was loth to hang about the islands after the alariven They ran, therefore, south-west across the reat bay which stretches froht hand Tortuga, and on their left the reen lines but a few inches above the tideless sea Yeo and Dre every foot of the way, and had good reason to know it; for they, the first of all Englishthis coast with Hawkins And now, right ahead, sheer out of the sea froe of the Caracas mountains; beside which all hills which most of the crew had ever seen seemed petty mounds Frank, of course, knew the Alps; and Aht were bounded by M'Gillicuddy's Reeks, and Brimblecombe's by Exmoor; and the latter, to Cary's infinite a, and staring upwards with his chin higher than his nose, till he got a stiff neck Soon the sea becaentle; and ere they were abreast of the Cape, they beca the winter o to the ard All night long they struggled through the billoith the huge wall of Cape Codera a thousand feet above their heads to the left, and beyond it again, bank upon bank ofshowed theht upon the opposite course, and was now a good tenher Of the latter he h, for the breeze blowing dead off the land, was a ”soldier's wind, there and back again,” for either shi+p; but A
”Why, Yeo, you said that one dayus to La Guayra”
”All the hly, when He has brought us safely so far on our journey”
”She can pass well enough, and no loss”
”Ah, sirs, sirs, she is delivered into your hands, and you will have to give an account of her”
”My good Yeo,” said Frank, ”I trust we shall give good account enough of many a tall Spaniard before we return: but you know surely that La Guayra, and the salvation of one e believe dwells there, was our first object in this adventure”
Yeo shook his head sadly ”Ah, sirs, a lady brought Captain Oxenham to ruin”
”You do not dare to compare her with this one?” said Frank and Cary, both in a breath
”God forbid, gentlele eye to the Lord's work; and that is, as I take it, to cripple the Spaniard, and exalt herwas h's heart”
Amyas stood somewhat irresolute His duty to the queen bade hio on to La Guayra It may seeh
However, the counsel of Frank prevailed, and on to La Guayra he went He half hoped that the Spaniard would see and attack them However, he went on his way to the eastward; which if he had not done,
About ering toward thee three-cornered sail As it came near, they could see two Indians on board
”Metal floats in these seas, you see,” quoth Cary ”There's a fresh marvel, for you, Frank”
”Expound,” quoth Frank, as really ready to s any fresh marvel, so many had he seen already
”Why, how else would those two bronze statues dare to go to sea in such a cockleshell, eh? Have I given you the dor now,past dors, Will But what noble creatures they are! and how fearlessly they are colish, and the avengers of the Indians?”
”I suspect they just take us for Spaniards, and want to sell their cocoa-nuts See, the canoe is laden with vegetables”
”Hail them, Yeo!” said Amyas ”You talk the best Spanish, and I want speech of one of theside, and lowered her felucca sail, while a splendid Indian scrah, and as bold and graceful of bearing as Frank or Aly, showing his white teeth; but the next, his countenance changed; and springing to the side, he shouted to his comrade in Spanish-- ”Treachery! No Spaniard,” and would have leaped overboard, but a dozen strong fellows caught him ere he could do so
It required so was he, and so slippery his naked limbs; Amyas, meanwhile, alternately entreated the men not to hurt the Indian, and the Indian to be quiet, and no harm should happen to hiave in sulkily
”Don't bind hi round him Now, listened, and he took the coin
”All I want of you is, first, to tell o thither on board of overnor's house, and which the custom-house”
The Indian laid the coin down on the deck, and crossing himself, looked Amyas in the face
”No, senor! I am a freeman and a cavalier, a Christian Guayqueria, whose forefathers, first of all the Indians, swore fealty to the King of Spain, and whom he calls to this day in all his proclamations his most faithful, loyal, and noble Guayquerias God forbid, therefore, that I should tell aught to his enerowl arose from those of the men who understood him; and more than one hinted that a cord twined round the head, or a ers, would speedily extract the required information
”God forbid!” said Amyas; ”a brave and loyal man he is, and as such will I treat him Tell me, my brave fello do you know us to be his Catholic majesty's enemies?”
The Indian, with a shrewd s to each, ”Not Spanish”
”Well, and what of that?”
”None but Spaniards and free Guayquerias have a right to sail these seas”
Aht valiant bit of copper Pick up thy dollar, and go thy way in peace Make room for him, men We can learn ant without his help”
The Indian paused, incredulous and astonished ”Overboard with you!” quoth Amyas ”Don't you knohen you are well off?”
”Most illustrious senor,” began the Indian, in the drawling sententious fashi+on of his race (when they take the trouble to talk at all), ”I have been deceived I heard that you heretics roasted and ate all true Catholics (as we Guayquerias are), and that all your padres had tails”
”Plague on you, sirrah!” squeaked Jack Brimblecombe ”Have I a tail? Look here!”
”Quien sabe? Who knows?” quoth the Indian through his nose
”How do you knoe are heretics?” said Amyas
”Humph! But in repayment for your kindness, I would warn you, illustrious senor, not to go on to La Guayra There are shi+ps of war there waiting for you; and overnor Don Guzman sailed to the eastward only yesterday to look for you; and I wonder much that you did not meet him”
”To look for us! On the watch for us!” said Cary ”Impossible; lies! Ahten us away”
”Don Guzman came out but yesterday to look for us? Are you sure you spoke truth?”
”As I live, senor, he and another shi+p, for which I took yours”
Amyas stamped upon the deck: that then was the shi+p which they had passed!