The lad, as soon as he saw there was no escape, resigned himself to his fate with true Indian stoicism, was brought in, and treated kindly enough, but refused to eat.For which, after much questioning, he gave as a reason, that he would make them kill him at once; for fat him they should not; and gradually gave them to understand that the English always (so at least the Spaniards said)fatted and ate their prisoners like the Caribs; and till he saw them go out and bury the bodies of the Spaniards, nothing would persuade him that the corpses were not to be cooked for supper.
However, kind words, kind looks, and the present of that inestimable treasure--a knife, brought him to reason; and he told Amyas that he belonged to a Spaniard who had an "encomienda" of Indians some fifteen miles to the south-west; that he had fled from his master, and lived by hunting for some months past; and having seen the ship where she lay moored, and boarded her in hope of plunder, had been surprised therein by the Spaniards, and forced by threats to go with them as a guide in their search for the English.
But now came a part of his story which filled the soul of Amyas with delight.He was an Indian of the Llanos, or great savannahs which lay to the southward beyond the mountains, and had actually been upon the Orinoco.He had been stolen as a boy by some Spaniards, who had gone down (as was the fashion of the Jesuits even as late as 1790) for the pious purpose of converting the savages by the simple process of catching, baptizing, and making servants of those whom they could carry off, and murdering those who resisted their gentle method of salvation.Did he know the way back again? Who could ask such a question of an Indian? And the lad's black eyes flashed fire, as Amyas offered him liberty and iron enough for a dozen Indians, if he would lead them through the passes of the mountains, and southward to the mighty river, where lay their golden hopes.Hernando de Serpa, Amyas knew, had tried the same course, which was supposed to be about one hundred and twenty leagues, and failed, being overthrown utterly by the Wikiri Indians; but Amyas knew enough of the Spaniards' brutal method of treating those Indians, to be pretty sure that they had brought that catastrophe upon themselves, and that he might avoid it well enough by that common justice and mercy toward the savages which he had learned from his incomparable tutor, Francis Drake.
Now was the time to speak; and, assembling his men around him, Amyas opened his whole heart, simply and manfully.This was their only hope of safety.Some of them had murmured that they should perish like John Oxenham's crew.This plan was rather the only way to avoid perishing like them.Don Guzman would certainly return to seek them; and not only he, but land-forces from St.Jago.Even if the stockade was not forced, they would be soon starved out; why not move at once, ere the Spaniards could return, and begin a blockade? As for taking St.Jago, it was impossible.The treasure would all be safely hidden, and the town well prepared to meet them.If they wanted gold and glory, they must seek it elsewhere.
Neither was there any use in marching along the coast, and trying the ports: ships could outstrip them, and the country was already warned.There was but this one chance; and on it Amyas, the first and last time in his life, waxed eloquent, and set forth the glory of the enterprise, the service to the queen, the salvation of heathens, and the certainty that, if successful, they should win honor and wealth and everlasting fame, beyond that of Cortez or Pizarro, till the men, sulky at first, warmed every moment; and one old Pelican broke out with--"Yes, sir! we didn't go round the world with you for naught; and watched your works and ways, which was always those of a gentleman, as you are--who spoke a word for a poor fellow when he was in a scrape, and saw all you ought to see, and naught that you ought not.And we'll follow you, sir, all alone to ourselves; and let those that know you worse follow after when they're come to their right mind."Man after man capped this brave speech; the minority, who, if they liked little to go, liked still less to be left behind, gave in their consent perforce; and, to make a long story short, Amyas conquered, and the plan was accepted.
"This," said Amyas, "is indeed the proudest day of my life! I have lost one brother, but I have gained fourscore.God do so to me and more also, if I do not deal with you according to the trust which you have put in me this day!"We, I suppose, are to believe that we have a right to laugh at Amyas's scheme as frantic and chimerical.It is easy to amuse ourselves with the premises, after the conclusion has been found for us.We know, now, that he was mistaken: but we have not discovered his mistake for ourselves, and have no right to plume ourselves on other men's discoveries.Had we lived in Amyas's days, we should have belonged either to the many wise men who believed as he did, or to the many foolish men, who not only sneered at the story of Manoa, but at a hundred other stories, which we now know to be true.Columbus was laughed at: but he found a new world, nevertheless.Cortez was laughed at: but he found Mexico.Pizarro: but he found Peru.I ask any fair reader of those two charming books, Mr.Prescott's Conquest of Mexico and his Conquest of Peru, whether the true wonders in them described do not outdo all the false wonders of Manoa.