westward ho-第126章
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ill be your will to stay； the Lord forgive you； if you be wrong； in the meanwhile； we will leave with you all that we can spare。 Stay here and pray to God to make you； and me too； wiser men。〃
And so Amyas departed。 He had come out stern and proud； but he came back again like a little child。
Three days after Parracombe was dead。 Once in camp he seemed unable to eat or move； and having received absolution and communion from good Sir John； faded away without disease or pain； 〃babbling of green fields；〃 and murmuring the name of his lost Indian bride。
Amyas； too； sought ghostly council of Sir John； and told him all which had passed through his mind。
〃It was indeed a temptation of Diabolus；〃 said that simple sage； 〃for he is by his very name the divider who sets man against man； and tempts one to care only for oneself； and forget kin and country； and duty and queen。 But you have resisted him； Captain Leigh； like a true…born Englishman； as you always are； and he has fled from you。 But that is no reason why we should not flee from him too； and so I think the sooner we are out of this place； and at work again； the better for all our souls。〃
To which Amyas most devoutly said； 〃Amen！〃 If Ayacanora were the daughter of ten thousand Incas； he must get out of her way as soon as possible。
The next day he announced his intention to march once more； and to his delight found the men ready enough to move towards the Spanish settlements。 One thing they needed： gunpowder for their muskets。 But that they must make as they went along； that is； if they could get the materials。 Charcoal they could procure； enough to set the world on fire； but nitre they had not yet seen； perhaps they should find it among the hills： while as for sulphur； any brave man could get that where there were volcanoes。 Who had not heard how one of Cortez' Spaniards； in like need； was lowered in a basket down the smoking crater of Popocatepetl； till he had gathered sulphur enough to conquer an empire？ And what a Spaniard could do an Englishman could do； or they would know the reason why。 And if they found nonewhy clothyard arrows had done Englishmen's work many a time already； and they could do it again； not to mention those same blow…guns and their arrows of curare poison； which； though they might be useless against Spaniards' armor； were far more valuable than muskets for procuring food； from the simple fact of their silence。
One thing remained； to invite their Indian friends to join them。 And that was done in due form the next day。
Ayacanora was consulted； of course； and by the Piache； too； who was glad enough to be rid of the rival preacher； and his unpleasantly good news that men need not worship the devil； because there was a good God above them。 The maiden sang most melodious assent； the whole tribe echoed it； and all went smoothly enough till the old cacique observed that before starting a compact should be made between the allies as to their share of the booty。
Nothing could be more reasonable； and Amyas asked him to name his terms。
〃You take the gold； and we will take the prisoners。〃
〃And what will you do with them？〃 asked Amyas； who recollected poor John Oxenham's hapless compact made in like case。
〃Eat them；〃 quoth the cacique； innocently enough。
Amyas whistled。
〃Humph！〃 said Cary。 〃The old proverb comes true'the more the merrier： but the fewer the better fare。' I think we will do without our red friends for this time。〃
Ayacanora； who had been preaching war like a very Boadicea； was much vexed。
〃Do you too want to dine off roast Spaniards？〃 asked Amyas。
She shook her head； and denied the imputation with much disgust。
Amyas was relieved； he had shrunk from joining the thought of so fair a creature； however degraded； with the horrors of cannibalism。
But the cacique was a man of business； and held out stanchly。
〃Is it fair？〃 he asked。 〃The white man loves gold； and he gets it。 The poor Indian； what use is gold to him？ He only wants something to eat； and he must eat his enemies。 What else will pay him for going so far through the forests hungry and thirsty？ You will get all； and the Omaguas will get nothing。〃
The argument was unanswerable； and the next day they started without the Indians； while John Brimblecombe heaved many an honest sigh at leaving them to darkness； the devil； and the holy trumpet。
And Ayacanora？
When their departure was determined； she shut herself up in her hut； and appeared no more。 Great was the weeping； howling； and leave…taking on the part of the simple Indians； and loud the entreaties to come again； bring them a message from Amalivaca's daughter beyond the seas； and help them to recover their lost land of Papamene； but Ayacanora took no part in them； and Amyas left her； wondering at her absence； but joyful and light…hearted at having escaped the rocks of the Sirens； and being at work once more。
CHAPTER XXV
HOW THEY TOOK THE GOLD…TRAIN
〃God will relent； and quit thee all thy debt； Who ever more approves； and more accepts Him who imploring mercy sues for life； Than who self…rigorous chooses death as due； Which argues over…just； and self…displeased For self…offence； more than for God offended。〃
Samson Agonistes。
A fortnight or more has passed in severe toil； but not more severe than they have endured many a time before。 Bidding farewell once and forever to the green ocean of the eastern plains； they have crossed the Cordillera； they have taken a longing glance at the city of Santa Fe； lying in the midst of rich gardens on its lofty mountain plateau； and have seen； as was to be expected； that it was far too large a place for any attempt of theirs。 But they have not altogether thrown away their time。 Their Indian lad has discovered that a gold…train is going down from Santa Fe toward the Magdalena； and they are waiting for it beside the miserable rut which serves for a road； encamped in a forest of oaks which would make them almost fancy themselves back again in Europe； were it not for the tree…ferns which form the undergrowth； and were it not； too； for the deep gorges opening at their very feet； in which； while their brows are swept by the cool breezes of a temperate zone； they can see far below； dim through their everlasting vapor…bath of rank hot steam； the mighty forms and gorgeous colors of the tropic forest。
They have pitched their camp among the tree…ferns； above a spot where the path winds along a steep hill…side； with a sheer cliff below of many a hundred feet。 There was a road there once； perhaps； when Cundinamarca was a civilized and cultivated kingdom； but all which Spanish misrule has left of it are a few steps slipping from their places at the bottom of a narrow ditch of mud。 It has gone the way of the aqueducts； and bridges； and post…houses； the gardens and the llama…flocks of that strange empire。 In the mad search for gold； every art of civilization has fallen to decay； save architecture alone； and that survives only in the splendid cathedrals which have risen upon the ruins of the temples of the Sun； in honor of a milder Pantheon； if； indeed； that can be called a milder one which demands （as we have seen already） human sacrifices； unknown to the gentle nature…worship of the Incas。
And now； the rapid tropic vegetation has reclaimed its old domains； and Amyas and his crew are as utterly alone； within a few miles of an important Spanish settlement； as they would be in the solitudes of the Orinoco or the Amazon。
In the meanwhile； all their attempts to find sulphur and nitre have been unavailing； and they have been forced to depend after all （much to Yeo's disgust） upon their swords and arrows。 Be it so： Drake took Nombre de Dios and the gold…train there with no better weapons； and they may do as much。
So； having blocked up the road above by felling a large tree across it； they sit there among the flowers chewing coca； in default of food and drink； and meditating among themselves the cause of a mysterious roar； which has been heard nightly in their wake ever since they left the banks of the Meta。 Jaguar it is not； nor monkey： it is unlike any sound they know； and why should it follow them？
