CfforncU Intngtaitg Siihrarg Strata, JJeui ^atk .?.?es. J, Gf, Sphuj'oian The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924022430452 rs Cornell University Library PS 2459.M985E7 Estevan:a story of the Spanish conquests 3 1924 022 430 452 " THET GAZED ON A STBANOE VALLEY AND A WONDERFUL CITY.' ESTEVAN A STORY OF THE SPANISH CONQUESTS JOHN Ef f:USIOK AUTHOR OF " COLUMBIA, A STOKY OF THE DISCOVERT OF AMERICA" ILLUSTKATIONS BY F. A. CARTER FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY London and Toronto 1894 Printed in tlie TTnited States. (\4SS\65 Copyright, 1893, by the . FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY PREFACE. The first volume of this series, covering the age of discovery, concluded with the death of Colum- bus. This volume, designed to cover the period known as the age of conquests, begins with the sailing of Ojeda and Nicuesa to Darien, and con- cludes with the discovery of the Mississippi. As in the former work, historical events are narrated with great regard for accuracy. There is so much romance in the Spanish conquests in America, that one has only to select incidents, and, by the exer- cise of a little skill in weaving them together, an entertaining novel is made. Hernando Estevan, one of the leading characters in "Columbia," ap- pears in the beginning of this volume; but the ro- mance centres about his son, Christopher, and the daughter of Vasco Nunez de Balboa. John E. Musick. Kirksville, Mo., February 1, 1892. TABLE OF OONTEl^TS. CHAPTER I. PAGE An Infant World 1 CHAPTER II. The Man in the Cask, 16 CHAPTER III. An Unknown Sea, 85 CHAPTER IV. A Fickle Lover, 55 CHAPTER V. Love and Death, ....... 71 CHAPTER VI. The Opportunity, 93 CHAPTER VII. The Young Humanitarian, . . . . 107 CHAPTER VIII. DoSa Marina, 131 CHAPTER IX. The Bloodhound's Victim 136 CHAPTER X. The Golden Conquest 148 CHAPTER XI. Matchlocks in the Air, 165 V vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. PAGE Off fok Spain 183 CHAPTER XIII. Inez Oviedo, . . 395 CHAPTER XIV. Love and Hate, . 310 CHAPTER XV. PiZAKRO AND CORTEZ, 224 CHAPTER XVI. Return to the New World, .... 237 CHAPTER XVII. A Mysterious Friend . 250 CHAPTER XVIII. The City of Gold 266 CHAPTER XIX. Seizing a King, ........ 282 CHAPTER XX. A Banquet of Death, 300 CHAPTER XXI. The Secret Marriage, ...... 318 CHAPTER XXII. An Indian Girl's Love, . . ... 334 CHAPTER XXIII. The Father of Waters, 350 CHAPTER XXIV. The Wanderer Finds Rest, ..... 366 CHAPTER XXV. Conclusion, . , 382 Historical Index 391 Chronology, 401 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. They gazed on a strange valley and a wonderful city (see page 152) , .... Frontispiece Caravel at sea' Balboa's strategy, "Will you take me?" Leoncico, "Santiago ! And at them !" A vast ocean glittered in the morning sun, "Don't you see how happy I am?" "Hold, lieutenant, would you kill your slave?" "From what country did you come?" " Santa Maria ! I am slain !" . . . Madly he leaped toward the frightened steed, . Side by side they floated down the narrow stream. With a glad cry she was in his arms, " You are going away to Peru, " Nicosia advanced toward the beast, " Follow all who can, " " She comes !" De Soto, Then came long weary months of wandering over the plains, " Estevan, farewell !" . "Behold your son !" J(Iap of the period. 1 19 33 36 39 53 97 113 138 181 203 217 335 341 259 306 851 363 368 380 388 156 ESTEVAN CHAPTBE I. AN INFANT -WOELD. THE evening of JSTovem- ber 9, 1509, the little ;• town of San Domingo was in a fever of excite- ment. It had been a busy day, and the confusion and hubbub continued until late in the night. Ships were lying in the harbor ready to sail with It was their object to explore and conquer the then xinknown " Castilla del Oro,"or what was supposed to be the "Aurea Chersonesus" of the ancients, whence King Solomon procured the gold used for building his temple. A qiiestion which but a short time before had threatened to plunge the colonies into a civil war had been amicably settled. Ojeda and Nicuesa, two 1 the rising sun. 2 ESTEVAN. bold, enterprising cavaliers, claimed the governor ship of Jamaica and Darien. Juan de la Cosa in- duced the rival governors to allow the river Darien to be the boundary line between their respective jurisdictions at that point. Don Diego. Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus, and hereditary ad- miral and viceroy -general, settled the dispute over Jamaica himself. He already felt aggrieved at the distribution of governments without his consent and even his knowledge, contrary to the privileges inherited from his father the discoverer. Jamaica lay almost at his own door, and he would not brook its being made a matter of dispute between these brawling governors; so, without awaiting the slow and uncertain course of remonstrating with the king, who had already shown little regard for his wishes and rights, he took the matter in his own hands, and offered the governorship of Jamaica to his stanch friend and brave officer Juan de Es- quibel, who with seventy men took command of the island and held it subject to Don Diego Columbus, notwithstanding that the fiery Ojeda swore he would strike off his rival's head if he did so. The above stirring incidents formed live topics for conversation among the inhabitants of San Domingo. Ojeda had become somewhat reconciled to the act of Diego Columbus, and was, on the next morning, to sail with his vessels to the conquest of AN INFANT WORLD. 3 his possessions in Darien, which were rumored to contain fabulous wealth. Long after the darkness of a tropical night had settled over the little town, people were busy either making arrangements for their departure, or, in knots and clusters, on the streets and in the houses, were discussing the wonders which the expedition was to unfold. We invite the reader's attention to a group of four men assembled in one of the apartments of Hernando Estevan's house, a substantial dwelling, standing on an eminence in the suburbs of the town, with a fine view of the bay and ships riding at anchor. The best-known man of the group at this time was Hernando Estevan himself, who had come with Columbus on his first voyage, and was among the first to touch the soil of the infant world. Hernando loved the great admiral, whom he had served since boyhood, and who on more than one occasion had saved his life. When he became cognizant of the intrigues of Bovadilla to deprive Christopher Columbus of his rights, he was loud in his denunciation of the admiral's enemies, thereby bringing down upon his own head some of the thunderbolts which ruine-d Columbus. The three companions of Estevan on this evening were Hernando Cortess, Vasco Nunez de Balboa, and P'rancisco Pizarro, three men since known to 4 E8TEVAN. fame as explorers and soldiers. Of the four, Cortez, although by no means diminutive in size, was the smallest. He was slender, graceful and handsome, a native of Medellin, of an ancient and respectable family, but of dissolute habits, and the last person one would expect to engage in the desperate enterprises which later in life marked his career and placed his name first among the Spanish conquerors. He was gallant, kind-hearted and jovial, and in the old world as well as in the- new was continually involved in some love scrape. He bad fought a score of duels, and on this evening was suffering from a sword thrust in the hip which compelled him to go on crutches. Vasco Nuflez de Balboa was a native of Xeres de los Caballeros, of a noble though impoverished family. He was a Boldier of fortune, of loose, prodigal habits, and, like Cortez, a libertine. At present he was as badly crippled with debts as was Cortez with a eword thrust. The fourth man, all things considered, was, per- haps, the most remarkable of the group. Francisco Pizarro was a modern Romulus. Instead, however, of building up an empire, as did Romulus, he de- stroyed a kingdom. He was born about the year 1472, -at Truxillo, a city of Estremadura, in Spain, being an illegitimate son of Gonzalo Pizarro, a colo- nel of infantry, who was an uncle to Hernando AN INFANT WORLD. 5 Cortez. Pizarro was abandoned by his mother, Francisca Gonzalez, when a cHld, and his early life was very obscure. He never received any educa- tion, and tradition says that in infancy he was suckled by a sow, a story quite as plausible as that Romulus in early life drew his nourishment from a wolf. In boyhood he was a common swineherd and was kicked up into the world until he be- came old enough to kick back. He inherited his military ability from his father. Pizarro was moody, taciturn, and at times sullen. There was a natural ferocity about him, strangely in contrast with his cousin Hernando Cortez. The latter was always friendly with Pizarro, regardless of their difference in rank, station and birth, and even ac- knowledged him as his cousin. The four men whom we have thus introduced sat about a table on which was a jar of wine and some drinking cups, for Estevan, the host, was noted for his hospitality. " So a truce has been patched up between the rival governors," said Balboa, sipping his wine. "A truce which will be permanent," answered Estevan. "The admiral has disposed of Jamaica." "To the dissatisfaction of Ojeda," put in Cortez. "Ha, ha, ha! the fiery little fellow has had many drawbacks of late. It was worth seeing him when he proposed to settle the dispute in single combat." C E8TEVAN. "Would not Nicuesa accept his challenge?" asked Pizarro, in his deep orotund voice. "Accept! ha, ha, ha, ha! He did accept," laughed Cortez; "but that was the joke. Nicuesa proposed, as a preliminary to the duel, that they have something worth fighting for, and that each should deposit five thousand castillanos, to be the prize of the victor." " Such a swordsman as Ojeda need not long hesi- tate at such a proposition," remarked Balboa. "Nor would he, had he possessed the money. The cunning Nicuesa knew he had not a single pistole in his treasury when he made the proposi- tion." Cortez laughed loudly, Estevan and Balboa smiled, while Pizarro sat gazing sullenly at the wall. "Ojeda will make his fortune now," sighed Balboa, after a short silence. "I would that I could go with him." "Why can't you?" Pizarro asked. "Creditors!" sighed Balboa. "They are on every side. There is gold for the idiots at Cas- tilla del Oro. I have a strong arm and a keen sword to earn it, and why won't they let me go?" "Do they object?" asked Estevan. " Yes. To-day a delegation of my creditors paid me an unwelcome visit, and gave me to understand AN INFANT WORLD. 7 if I made any effort to leave the island without first having satisfied their demands, I would be arrested and thrown into prison." "Then you are in reality a prisoner at San Do- mingo?" remarked Estevan. " I am going to escape and carve out an empire for myself," ansv/ered Balboa. "Ojeda would have been in the same plight as I, had not Bachelor Encisco loaned him the money." ■'Try a loan yourself?" laughingly suggested Cortez. "Where, pray, could I secure one?" "Not from me, I swear," answered the merry Cortez; then, with a sudden contortion of the muscles of his face, he added: "Ah! that wound pains me! The devil drove his sword well nigh to the hip joint." "How did you receive this last wound?" Este- van asked. "It's another lady affair. Alonzo Bestiadez be- came mortally jealous o^ his pretty wife because she deigned to smile on me, and forthwith challenged me. It adds one more scar to my list," and Cortez laughed as if it were a joke. "Could you swear he was jealous without a cause, Cortez?" asked Hernando. " Nay, nay, my good friend, do not press me too dose. Alonzo has his wife, I have my wound, so 8 ESTEVAN. let the matter end, tlLough the wound is unlucky for me." "Why so, friend!" asked Hernando. "Per- chance it may keep you out of some worse scrape." "I was to go with Ojeda on this expedition." " I thought he excluded friends of the late ad- miral." "Not so, he is hard pressed for men and will take any who can go. Even Pizarro goes with him." Pizarro nodded his head in silence. "And Balboa would go if he could escape the embraces of his creditors." "So I would," and Balboa laughed as reck- lessly as did the merry Cortez. "This ugly wound is all that detains me. Our friend Estevan, here, is in love with adventure; why, don't you make one of the party?" asked Cortez, directing the last part of his speech to Estevan. "I have a wife," answered Estevan. "So you have, the beautiful Christina, though I have not seen much of her of late," continued the rollicking Cortez. " You must be madly in love with her, indeed, to forego the pleasure of this -con- quest for her society." "I am soon to be a father," added Estevan. "Aha!" cried his three convivial companions, AN INFANT WORLD. 9 starting to their feet. Cortez, with a spasm of pain, clutched his wounded leg and sat down. As soon as he could speak he said: "You are a lucky dog, Estevan, to be the father of the first white child born in the New World. You will have richer treasures than Castilla del Oro can furnish." "I would not care to sail with Ojeda, anyway," added Estevan. "Why not?" " He is an enemy of the admiral, and I am Don Diego's friend." "That is a truth," said Cortez, "and woe is the man under Ojeda who is friendly to Columbus." " Of all of us, Francisco Pizarro, alone, will ac- company the expedition," put in Balboa. Pizarro answered with a silent nod. These men were typical of the great explorers and cavaliers of the age. They were men whom noth- ing discouraged or dismayed. In the fervor of their belief, they seemed to be inspired and to in- spire. Pizarro, foundling and swineherd as he had been, was one of the class of daring enthusiasts. He was a man of brain as well as brawn. Eeason first kindled his passion, but passion was the instrument he used. While appearing -to appeal to men's judgments, he forced himself into their hearts. 10 ESTEVAN. Nothing is more contagious than enthusiasm; it moves stones and charms brutes. It is the genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without it. Though gloomy and taciturn as he usually was, Pizarro could become loquacious, and even eloquent at will. When he became roused at last and told his companions of the golden conquests which awaited those brave and daring enough to secure them, Cortez, for the time being, forgot his wound, Balboa his creditors, and Estevan his wife and prospective heir. "Before us is a vast unknown world, with treasures that would outrival a Croesus," said Pizarro. " The season is ripe for wealth and fame. Both await the man who has the courage to draw his sword and carve out his fortune." "I will go!" cried Balboa, enthusiastically. "But your creditors," interposed Cortez, with a smile. " My creditors may wait until I have amassed a fortune, when I will return and satisfy them in full." It was late when the little party broke up that night. Cortez with his crutch and cane hobbled away to his humble abode, regretting that he could not be one of the crew to sail on the morrow. Estevan, fired by the oratory of Pizarro, wished that his affairs were so arranged that he couid em- AN INFANT WORLD. 11 bark in the dangerous enterprise of conquering Darien. At early dawn he was awakened by the tumult of embarcation. Hurriedly dressing, he hastened^ toward the bay, which presented a scene of unusual excitement. The horses, which had been left until the last, were being taken on shipboard. Cavaliers in glittering helmets and shining armor were hurry- ing here and there. Crossbow-men, arquebusiers, halberdiers and sailors were embarking. Thg morning air resounded with music. The departing soldiers and adventurers indulged in song and jest, as though they were going on a mere holiday ex- cursion. The Spanish imagination was easily quickened, and the Spaniards, naturally enthusias- tic, caught the contagion of conquest, while their fancies wove triumphs and treasures exceeding the most marvellous dreams. "You have come to witness the departure," said a familiar voice at Estevan's side, and turning, he beheld Cortez leaning on his crutch. " It is a glo- rious sight, Cortez, and I feel a desire to go my- self," answered Estevan. "This accursed wound holds me here; but I will bide my time. God ordains us for different fields of action, and, perchance, it is best that we do not go to Darien." "Poor fellows! Many of them who march so 13 ESTEVAN. proudly to board tlie vessels may never return," thought Estevan. Little did he dream how few would return. In shining harness, glittering helmet and clank- ing sword, Ojeda rode his prancing steed to the water's edge. Dismounting, his horse was driven into a scow to be taken on board, while the gov- ernor waited on the sands to oversee the embarca- tion. As a boat was about to pull from shore, a man darted forward and entered it. "Pull away — pull away!" he shouted to the oarsman. But ere an oar could be dipped in the water to speed the boat forward, several harpies of the law rushed forward, and, seizing Balboa, dragged him from the boat. "Unhand me!" he cried, drawing his sword. "What have we here?" demanded Ojeda, hurry- ing to the scene. "This is Balboa, a fellow who owes us, and takes this means of escaping his just obligations," answered one of the creditors. " We intend to drag him before the alcalde mayor and send him to prison." Francisco Pizarro, in the hope of aiding his friend, quitted, the boat, and, with his hand on his sword, was advancing toward the officers. Know- ing it would not do to interfere with the rights of AN INFANT WOULD. 13 Balboa's creditors, Ojeda turned toward Pizarroand said: "Back to your boat, fellow; if lie owes debts, let him pay them." " Unless lie can induce Bachelor Bncisco to do it for him!" put in a jester who was on the beach. This remark being a direct thrust at Ojeda, who had been helped out of a financial strait by the lawyer Encisco, so enraged the governor that he drew his sword and chased the young knave for two hundred paces, but the jester was swift on foot and Ojeda heavily encumbered with his armor, so the culprit escaped. Ojeda returned, and, entering his boat, was pulled away to his vessel. Anchor was weighed, sails spread, and amid the thundering of cannon and glad huzzas, that portion of the fleet which Ojeda was to take with him sailed. Some of the vessels under Bachelor Encisco, who had borne the expenses of the expedition, remained be- hind for recruits and supplies, to follow a few months later. Estevan and Cortez watched the sails until the fleet disappeared, never to return. Cortez, cursing the ill luck which prevented his enlisting in the expedition, hobbled back to his house, where he was soon joined by Balboa. "Did they release you so soon?" asked Cortez. " They only detained me until the fleefwas gone; 14 ESTEVAN. but I will join Ojeda yet. I will be .an explorer, Cortez, and carve a name for myself among tlie conquerors of the New World." Cortez winced, as lie tried to move Ms wounded hip. "I wonder whose sword it will be next to pierce my flesh?" he coolly remarked. Months rolled on, and only the wildest rumors of the expedition reached San Domingo. Those whohad friends and relatives with Ojeda strained their eyes, gazing seaward in the hope of seeing a sail. None dreamed of the dangers, trials and sufferings from the ocean, treacherous reefs, un- healthy morasses, and poisonous arrows of revenge- ful enemies, which menaced the adventurers at Darien. The winter passed, ushering in the year 1510, a year memorable in the history of the New World. Bachelor Encisco was beating up recruits and loading his ships with supplies for San Sebas- tian, and expected soon to weigh anchor and go in search of Ojeda. One bright morning, early in the new year, the feeble wail of an infant was heard in the house' of Estevan. No sooner was the glad news spread over the town, than old and young flocked to gaze on the first white child born in the New World. The admiral, Don Diego Columbus, who had always been Estevan' s warmest friend, was among AN INFANT WORLD. 15 the first to congratulate him over the birth of a son. The babe grew strong, and as he lay on his bed, gazing with great blue eyes at Balboa, Cortez, and Diego Columbus, he seemed to be reading in their faces his own stormy future. What a wild career was marked out for that child ! Well for the peace and joy of his parents that they were not permitted to read the future of their son. At the proper age the child was christened by the bishop of San Do- mingof. His parents gave him the name of Chris- topher Eodrigo Estevan, and appointed Don Diego Columbus as his godfather. Those who saw the child thought its bright face foretold a grand des- tiny. The good bishop declared that it was no ordinary child. It was seldom ailing, and still more seldom gave evidence of grief. It seemed quietly concentrating all its energies for a wonder- ful future. Those little feet were to tread, great mountain systems then unknown, to thread deep and almost impenetrable forests in far-off- lands, and those deep blue eyes were to behold golden cities, witness kings hurled from their thrones, and see dynasties overturned. CHAPTER II. THE MAN IN THE CASK. Bachelor Bncisco had almost received his complement of men and supplies, and was busily engaged loading his ship. Neither Ojeda nor Nicuesa had been heard from since their departure, and there were various conjectures as to their fate. But new adventurers had arrived from Spain and the island, ready to engage in new and dangerous enterprises. On the day before the vessel sailed, Balboa met Estevan on the street, and led him apart from the crowd. "Estevan, I want to talk with you." "Do. you wish to negotiate a loan?" Estevan asked with a. smile. " No, I prefer running away from old debts to contracting new ones. I want to tell you that I intend to go in the ship which is about to sail." "Will not your creditors interpose an objection?" asked Estevan. "No doubt, if they know it," Balboa answered. 16 THE MAN IN THE CASK. 17 " I propose to sail without their knowledge aad thus spare the public another scene. I have sold the Bachelor some casks of provisions from my farm, and they are coming to-night to take them on board. I want you to superintend the shipping of the casks." "Where will you be?" "In one of them." Then he explained that Estevan was to nail him up in a cask, that he might be taken aboard, and his presence be kept secret until the ship was well out at sea. While they were discussing the wild scheme, Cortez, still limping from his sword thrust, was discovered coming down the street. , " There comes our friend Cortez, who has some judgment, if he is a gallant, devil-may-care fel- low," said Balboa. "Let us take him into our counsel." Estevan assented and called to Cortez. " What mischief are you twain concocting now?" he asked, as he approached them. "I am in distress, Cortez, and want the aid of both of you," answered Balboa. "If it is a loan you wish, my friend, I swear, by St. Anthony, I am unable to aid you. When I shall have settled with my surgeon I will not have a pistole left. I, who came to the New World in search of gold, have so far found nothing but steel." 18 ESTEVAN. "I do not want a loan." "Not -want a loan; then your nature has ex- perienced a complete revolution, for I thought you wanted nothing but loans? What do you wish." "I want you to help me in a strategy." Cortez was always ready for any wild harem- scarem enterprise, and when the scheme had been explained to him he laughingly answered: " Certainly, I will assist to ship you as pork to Terra Firnia." Bstevan and Cortez went to Balboa's farm, and headed him up in a cask. An armed escort was sent to convey the provisions which had been sold to Encisco. The cask containing the stowaway was placed on a cart and hauled to the harbor, where it was taken on ship-board. Cortez, whose wits were always at his command, formed a valid excuse for the absence of Balboa. Before midnight all were safely on board, and the stowaway, who was to make the expedition among the most famous of Spanish conquests, crouched dozing in the cask, wishing they were well out at sea. At sunrise anchor was weighed, sails unfurled, and amid salutes from the fort, answered by cannon from the ship, Bachelor Encisco began the voyage. The shore grew fainter and fainter as the vessel bounded over the billowy way until at last it faded THE MAN IN THE CASK. 19 from view. Encisco was walking the quarter deck when his attention was attracted by a noise in a large cask which was supposed to contain salt pork. Balboa's Strategy. He paused for a moment, listening, and hardly able to credit his senses. "Let me out!" he heard a voice calling. 20 KSTEVAN. At once suspecting that lie liad a stowaway on board, the enraged Bachelor called for a hammer and knocked in the head, when Vasco Nuflez de Balboa, to the great surprise of master and crew, emerged like an apparition from the cask. Encisco was highly indignant at being thus outwitted, although he had gained a valuable recruit by the deception; and in the first ebullition of his wrath, he gave the fugitive debtor a rough reception. "This is Balboa, whom > Ojeda refused to take with him!" he cried, seizing him by the shoulder. " Why have you come in this manner?" At a glance, Balboa saw that the armed escort, which had piloted them some distance from land, had returned, and he felt little fear of the enraged Bachelor. He calmly surveyed the scene before answering. "I took this means to come," he said, "because my creditors would allow me to come no other way." " You think to impose on me," the irate Bachelor returned. " But I will have nothing to do with you, and shall set you ashore on the first unin- habited island we reach." "Surely not; that would be murder." " It will be justifiable. I will have no worth- less vagabonds to breed dissensions in my colony." Balboa possessed as haughty a spirit as any noble THU MAN IN THE CASK. 31 in Castile, and those cruel words cut his pride. Gnashing his teeth he laid his hand on his sword. Encisco was also a spirited man, and a fatal en- counter might have resulted, had not the pilot interfered. He persuaded the Bachelor to be rec- onciled, assuring him that Balboa, though poor and in debt, was a gentleman of good family, and, being in the prime and vigor of his days, tall and mus- cular, seasoned to hardships and of intrepid spirit, was an acquisition to their forces to be desired. Thus a truce was patched up between them, though the spirited Balboa never fully recovered from the cruel words of Encisco. At first he was morose and sullen, but after a few days he began to mingle among the men, with whom he became very pop- ular. Having been to the coast on a former voy- age, his knowledge was valuable to the commander of the expedition. Arriving at mainland, they touched at the fatal harbor of Carthagena, the scene of the sanguinary conflicts of Ojeda and Nicuesa with the natives. They were alarmed, while working on a boat, by the appearance of a body of armed Indians, threatening to give battle. A few days later, two Spaniards while on shore were surrounded by savages, and threatened with death. One of .the Spaniards, speaking the Indian language, communicated with them and terms of peace were made. From them S2 ESTEVAN. Encisco learned something of the terrible fate of the colonists who had preceded them, though he could learn little of Ojeda and Nicuesa. One day a cry of, " Sail ! sail ! " rang out from the harbor, and Encisco was amazed to see a brigantine come to anchor in the bay. Ordering a boat he was rowed to the side of the strange vessel. Bal- boa, who was one of the crew to row the Bachelor to the vessel, was astonished to find the brigantine under command of Francisco Pizarro, who had left San Domingo a few months before as a common sailor. "The brigantine is manned by men who sailed with Ojeda," cried Bachelor Encisco. "The vil- lains have mutinied against their commander and deserted with the vessel. I will arrest them and inflict on them the severity of the law." Hurriedly ascending to the deck, followed by Balboa and five or six men, he beheld a sight which might have shocked even the most desperate of Spanish conquerors. The men who, but a few months before, had sailed away full of vigor and buoyant with hope, had dwindled to a single ship's crew of ragged, miserable, half-starved wretches, who, wild-eyed and savage as the men and beasts with whom they battled for existence, glared at Encisco with a fury that might have made even hi? dauntless spirit quail. THE MAN IN THE CASK. 23 "Who is your commander?" demanded the Bachelor. "I am," Pizarro 'haughtily returned. "By whose authority?" "Governor Ojeda, whose lieutenant I am." Pizarro's naked sword was in his hand, his eyes flashed, and his manner was so ferocious that En- cisco became more civil. "Where is your authority?" he asked. Pizarro produced his letter patent signed by the unfortunate Ojeda, showing that he left Pizarro as his hcum tenens at San Sebastian. "Where is Ojeda?" asked the Bachelor. "Some time ago he sailed for San Domingo for reinforcements and supplies, as we were starving." "What vessel did he sail in?" "With Bernardino de Talavera, who joined U9 with a crew of desperadoes and cutpurses." "I fear, then, he is lost," said Encisco. "Ber- nardino de Talavera is a pirate and stole the ship in which he and his desperate crew sailed. Where are you going, and why have you deserted the colony?" "We were starving," replied Pizarro," dying by sickness, famine and poisoned arrows. If we re- ceived no news in fifty days, we were to embark in the ships left with us for Hispaniola. We waited fifty days, and, not hearing from Ojeda, were go- '24 ESTEVAN. ing to embark in the two brigantines left us, but having seventy men and only two small vessels, all could not go. We decided to wait until sickness, famine and poisoned arrows had reduced our num- bers, so that we could all go in the two vessels. It did not take long; we were soon sufficiently re- duced. Then we killed the four horses left with us, and salted them away to supply us with food. The other brigantine, commanded by Valenzuela, was foundered at sea, and all on board perished." One of Pizarro's sailors added: "I saw a great whale or some other monster of the deep, strike the vessel with its tail and stave in its side as well as shatter the rudder, and it sank so near to us that we could hear the cries of our friends, hvA could not aid them." "Why did you come here?" asked Encisco. "We put in for provisions?" Pizarro answered. Encisco being of a sanguine temperament, not- withstanding this melancholy story, determined to proceed to the conquest of Darien, and establish the government at San Sebastian. Expeditions made into the country were productive of rumors of gold in the interior, which raised the cupidity of the Spaniards. Gold was said to be so plentiful at a place called Zenu that it was taken in fishing nets. It was no easy task to induce PizaiTO and his THE MAN IN THE CASK. 25 starving crew to return. Balboa, burning with ambition, secretly urged Pizarro to do so. " Come back with tis, Pizarro, and we will rule the colony. Ojeda will return no more, no one knows where Nicuesa is, and this wild life will not long suit the Bachelor." Pizarro's ambitious spirit at last took fire again, and, with his crew, he returned to San Sebastian to battle once more with the natives and explore the wonders of the New World. Bachelor Encisco was unsuited for governor of the colony. The good generalship early displayed by Balboa soon placed him at the head of every successful expedition. He grew in favor so rapidly with the men, that Encisco became alarmed lest this man whom he had brought away in a cask should depose him. At Balboa's suggestion they landed at the village of a powerful cacique named Zemaco. After a skirmish, the natives abandoned their town, and a Spanish colony, under the name of Santa Maria de la Antigua del Darien, was formed. Encisco had, not long entered upon his duties as alcalde mayor and lieutenant governor, when there arose dissensions and disputes, in which Balboa and the Bachelor were arrayed against each other. In one of their discussions, Balboa openly defied En- cisco' s authority. 26 ESTEVAN. "Then you defy the power of the king," cried Encisco. "Ojeda's commission is from the crown, and I hold under him." "You are not in Ojeda's domain," Balboa answered. "The boundary line which separates the jurisdiction of Ojeda from Nicuesa runs through the centre of the gulf of Uraba. Darien lies on the western side, allotted to Nicuesa. As lieutenant of Ojeda your authority here is an usur- pation." This bold speech being uttered in the hearing of the colonists, most of whom were already opposed to Encisco, sounded the death knell of the Bache- lor's power. His authority was set at defiance, and a few weeks later lie yielded up the reins of govern- ment, returned to San Domingo and thence sailed for Spain. To depose Encisco was an easy matter, for most men are ready to assist in pulling down, but to choose a successor was a task far more difficult. The time had come for Balboa to act, and he was not slow to avail himself of the opportunity. Some of the people were in favor of Nicuesa, as they were within his province, and while the discussion was running high, Colmenares, who was searching for Nicuesa, appeared on the scene. Balboa was will- ing to do what was fair among the men, and favored an equal division of gold. He ruled as governor THE MAN IN THE CASK. 27 de facto until Nicuesa was found, at tlie port of Nombre de Dios, in a miserable starving condition. From Colmenares, Nicuesa learned of the ricli and prosperous settlement at Darien in his own domain, md set out to take possession of it. But he proved as injudicious as was Encisco. Scarce had he taken possession, when he said to Balboa: "Your men have gold taken in their conquests?" "They have," admitted Balboa. "Where is it?" "It is theirs, won by hardships and perils, and will but ill requite them for what they have under- gone." Upon this, Nicuesa flew into a rage and swore the gold belonged to the crown, and that he would punish all private individuals for retaining it. Pizarro heard the remark, and as soon as he was alone with Balboa, asked: "Are we compelled to yield up our private pos- sessions? " "Inform the men of the governor's demands," was the answer he received. The cunning Balboa knew that this decision of Nicuesa would prove his ruin. An influential lawyer. Bachelor Carrol, was in favor of dispossess- ing Nicuesa and selecting Balboa in his stead. He became bold in his denunciation of Nicuesa. "A blessed change we have made," he said. 38 ESTEVAN. " In summoning this Nicuesa to the command, we have called in the stork to rule who will hot be satisfied until he has devoured us." Two parties immediately arose in the colony, and Nicuesa was forced to fly for his life to the woods, and then to his brigantine in the harbor. The life of the unfortunate governor was in danger, and Bal- boa began to relent. "Men and Spaniards!" he cried. "Deal not so harshly with Nicuesa. Eemember he is a gentle- man and our governor." "No, no, no! We will receive no such a fellow among us as Nicuesa," interrupted a brawling rascal named Francisco Benitez. " Take out that brawling jester and reward him with a hundred lashes on his bare shoulders for the remark he has made against his governor," cried Balboa. In a few moments the howling of Benitez was evidence that the order was being obeyed. The colonists were outspoken in their determination not to permit Nicuesa to rule over them. Balboa, a gentleman by birth, repented what he had done. He had not anticipated the popular fury which, in his ambition for power, he had helped to kindle. But Darien had rejected Nicuesa and would not have him under any consideration. In vain Nicuesa reminded them that he was THE MAN IN THE CASK. 29 governor of the territory, and that they were guilty of treason to the crown in thus opposing him; in vain he appealed to their humanity, and protested before God against their cruelty and persecution. The Spaniards were in that state of tumult when they were ready to add cruelty to injustice. Not content with expelling the discarded governor from their shores, they allotted to him the worst vessel in the harbor, an old, crazy brigantine, totally un- fit to encounter the perils of the sea. Seventeen followers embarked with him, and the frail bark set sail March 1, 1511, for the island of Hispaniola, but was never seen or heard from In less than one year from the time he left San Domingo in a cask, an absconding debtor, we find Balboa governor de facto of Darien, with nations of untold wealth all about him. He exhibited wonder- ful ability, both as a conqueror and as a ruler. While he dealt the most terrible vengeance on the warlike and rebellious natives, he conciliated the conquered, and made them his friends. From In- dian captives he heard wonderful stories of vast countries beyond the mountains, where gold was found in great abundance. Pizarro, returning from a cruise along the shores of the Isthmus, brought with him two Spaniards, clad in painted skins, like Indians, whom he took to Balboa. 30 ESTEVAN. "From whence come you?" asked the governor. "We escaped from Nicuesa about a year ago, and took refuge with Careta the chief of Coyba, " one answered. " Has he much gold and provisions?" " He has more gold than you have ever seen, but it and his provisions are concealed." The stories they related roused Balboa's cupidity and he resolved on the conquest of Coyba at once. With one hundred and thirty well-armed men and several bloodhounds, he set out for Careta's dominions. The difficult and dangerous march was made in three days. Learning of their ap- proach, the cacique received them kindly just without his town. Through interpreters, Balboa informed Careta that they were hungry and thirsty. "If you are hungry and thirsty I will soon sat- isfy your wants," said the cacique, and he ordered food and drink to be brought them. When their wants were satisfied, Balboa explained: "I am governor of Darien, and my people are in want of food. Will you give me food for the colony?" "I am sorry, I cannot," answered Careta. "I have no corn nor meat to spare. We have long been at war with Ponca, a neighboring cacique, and my people were prevented from cultivating the lields." THE MAN IN THE CASK. 31 One of the ungrateful spies, who had been so kindly cared for by Careta, spoke up : " The old wretch speaks falsely, Grovernor Bal- boa. He has an abundance of provisions stored away in secret places." "How can we get at them?" asked Balboa. " Pretend to depart for Darien, but return in the night with your troops and take the village by sur- prise." Balboa complied with the suggestion. Taking a cordial leave of Careta, he set off for the settle- ment. In the dead of night, when the entire village was buried in deep slumber, he led his men back into the midst of it. Slow matches were lighted, arquebuses loaded, crossbows strung, and lances couched for deadly work. Before the inhabitants could be roused for resistance, the cacique and many of his people were captives. All was accom- plished without the shedding of a drop of blood. Secreted provisions were discovered, and two brig- antines were filled with food and provisions, and Balboa set out for Darien. Careta was separated from his people and taken by Balboa himself to Darien. Not until he was brought into the governor's house did he discover that his wife and children were prisoners also. A cry was lieard on the morning air, and an Indian princess, all glittering with ornaments of gold and 33 ESTEVAN. pearls, burst into the apartment and fell weeping on the neck of her captive father. The new-comer was Careta's beautiful daughter, the most lovely aborigine the Spanish governor had ever seen. Her costume was wild, but becoming. It consisted of a skirt of tinted doe-skin, and moccasins orna- mented with precious jewels. Her abundant black hair was gathered from her forehead and fell in a glossy flood over her shoulders. Escaping the gen- eral captivity of her family, she had followed the Spaniards to Darien to learn the fate of her parents. At sight of his favorite child, the stoicism of the old chieftain forsook him, and, giving way to a flood of tears, he turned on Balboa a look of reproach. " "What have I done that you should treat me so cruelly?" he asked. "None of your people ever came to my land that were not fed and sheltered, and treated with loving kindness. When you came to my dwelling, did I meet you with a Javelin in my hand? Did I not set meat and drink before you and welcome you as a brother? Set me free, therefore, with my family and people, and we will remain your friends. We will supply you with provisions and reveal to you the riches of the land. Do you doubt my faith ? Behold my daughter, I give her to you as a pledge of friendship. Take her for a wife, and be assured of the fidelity of her family and people." "WrLL YOU TAKE ME ?'' THE MAN IN THE CASK. 33 Then the forest queen rose, turned from an ap- pealing father to the stern-browed conqueror, and, smiling through her tears, took one timid step toward Balboa. Each graceful action and hope- lighted smile seemed to say : "Will you take me?" What would not society's queen give for that simple grace, that appealing action, natural to the untutored maiden? Her marvellous beauty melted the heart of the stern Spanish conqueror, and, clasping her in his arms, he exclaimed: "Your father is saved, and you are mine!" Careta remained three days at Darien, during which time he was treated with the utmost kind- ness. Balboa took him on his ships and showed him every part of them. He had the war-horses displayed before him with their armor and rich caparisons, and awed him with the thunder of his artillery. Fulvia, the Indian maiden, was almost constantly at his side, evincing a fondness for her lord, which soon become a passion. Balboa caused his musicians to perform a harmonious concert on their instruments, at which the natives were lost in admiration. Having thus impressed Careta with the idea of his wonderful power and endowments, he loaded the cacique with presents and permitted him to depart. Careta joyfully returned to his territories, and 3 34 ESTEVAN. his daughter remained with Balboa, willingly, for his sake, giving up her family and native home. Though never married according to the forms of the Catholic religion, she regarded herself as his wife, as she was in sight of Heaven and according to the usages of her country. He treated her with great fondness, and she gradually gained great influence over him. Fulvia became a chief character in the great tragedy enacted at Darien early in the six- teenth century. To his love for her, Balboa owed his ultimate ruin. CHAPTEE III. AN UNKNOWN SEA. Fulvia's wild, strange beauty was in harmony witli the new world in which she lived. Balboa, the gallant, who had never been smitten, though assailed by the fairest of Spain, yielded to the power of this strange being. She studied his every want, and seemed to live only to make him happy. His comfortable home was daily decorated and festooned with rare tropical flowers. All her trinkets and golden treasures were brought to adorn their little temple, in which she worshipped her lord as a god. Being intellectuitUy bright, she soon learned to speak his language, and her mellow voice was heard every evening breathing soft Spanish words of love. "You are a treasure, indeed, Fulvia," said Bal- boa one evening on entering his home, made fra- grant with rare exotics. "I regret to leave you, even for a few days." "Must you leave me?" she asked, her face growing sad. 35 36 ESTEVAN. He was