CHAPTER XXVI.
In a low but spacious apartment, the walls and floor of which were bothcovered with mats, the neophyte found Don Hernan, attended by Sandovaland one or two other cavaliers, busy, to all appearance, in theexamination of the page and a Moorish slave of Cortes's own household,whom he seemed to confront with the other. It needed no more than thetears which Amador discovered on the cheeks of the youth, to rouse himto a feeling very like anger.
"Senor," said he, stepping forward to the side of Jacinto, and lookinggravely on his judge, "I have exercised the privilege of a master,--orrather, as I should say, of a servant,--for this boy is in the ward ofDon Gabriel, whom I myself follow,--to enter into your presence, withoutthe ceremony of a previous request; for which liberty, if it offend you,I ask your pardon. But I was told the boy Jacinto was dragged away byone of your excellency's menials; and I claim, as asking in the stead ofhis master, to know for what offence?"
"By my conscience, for none at all!" said Cortes, courteously; "atleast, for none of his own commission. And had he truly been guilty,both of treason and desertion, I should have pardoned him, for theprecocious shrewdness of his answers. Senor," continued the general, "itwas my intention to beseech your presence at this examination; andnothing but the suddenness of it, as well as the present defection amongmy servants, could have caused me to defer the invitation for a moment.By my conscience, you have a treasure of wisdom, in this boy!"
This was an assurance Don Amador did by no means deny: for, in additionto the singular address with which he adapted himself to the humours ofthe knight, he had seen in Jacinto many other evidences of a discretionso much in advance of his years, as to cause him no little wonder; addedto which, the incident of the past night, in which the page had stumbledupon a name, and indeed (for the after explanations had not removed thefirst impression,) a story, which he did not remember to have breathedto any living creature, had attached to the youth a sort of respect thatbordered almost on superstition. But Don Hernan gave the cavalier notime for reflections.
"Senor Don Amador," said he, "the fault, if there be any, which we arenow striving to investigate, lies, not in the page, but in his father,Sidi Abdalla, the cannonier; who is charged by my varlet here, thisunconverted heathen, to be meditating, if not now engaged in theaccomplishment of a very heinous, and yet, let me add, for yoursatisfaction, a very improbable conspiracy. This is charged to benothing less than desertion from our standard, with a design to throwhimself into the arms of the enemy; and what makes the matter worse,allowing it for a moment to be credible, is, that he plots to carry awaywith him all his countrymen who are slaves with us, in number, I think,somewhat above half a score."
"This is, assuredly," said Don Amador, "a very vile offence; for which,if guilty, I must needs allow, the Sidi deserves to suffer. Yet, I agreewith your excellency, the design seems quite as incredible as itsaccomplishment must be impossible."
"No one," said Cortes, "could have shown this with better argument thanthis same weeping boy; for, 'First,' said he, ''tis wrong to receive theaccusation of an unconverted man against a Christian;' and such aninfidel hound is Yacub,--whom I will, at some future day, give over tobe burned for his idolatry; but, at present, I cannot spare so preciousa servant, for he is an excellent cook, and a good maker of arrow-headsfor the crossbowmen.--In addition to this argument, senor," continuedthe general, "the boy advances me another of still more force; 'Forhow,' says he, shrewdly, 'would my father leave his Christian mastersand protectors, to go over to savages, whose language he cannotunderstand, and who would sacrifice him as a victim to their detestablegods?'--which gods may heaven sink into the pit, whence they came! and Isay, Amen!--Now, though one part of this argument is answered by thesubtle art of Yacub; for whether he have Yacub or any other Moor whohath picked up something of the tongue, to interpret for him, orwhether he have no interpreter at all, it is not the less certain, that,the moment he entrusts himself into the power of the barbarians, thatmoment will he be clapped into a great cage like a wild beast, anddevoured what time he is fat enough for the maws of their diabolicaldivinities; I say, nevertheless, for that very reason, it is notprobable Abdalla should be so besotted a fool."
"Please your highness," said Yacub, with the obstinacy of one whopresumed on his master's indulgence, or on the strength of his cause,"he urged me, last night, at the pyramid of Tlascala; and this noblegentleman, as well as this boy, saw me in his company."
Don Amador started, as he perceived the eyes of Yacub fastened on him,as well as those of every other individual in the chamber. The look thatJacinto gave him was one of terror and beseeching earnestness.
"Senor," said he, hesitating a little, "though what I have to say, may,in part, confirm the charge of this fellow, I cannot scruple to speakit; and though I may not aver, on mine own knowledge, that I beheld,last night, either this man Yacub, or his countryman, Abdalla, yet mustI admit that I saw, stealing by the basis of that heathen temple, threemen, whom my friend De Morla, who accompanied me, pronounced to be thecannonier and two of your excellency's servants."--Jacinto wrung hishands.--"But what passed between them," the cavalier went on, "whetherthey were hatching a plot, or discoursing together of their hard fate,as would seem reasonable for men like them, that have neither friendsnor country, I cannot take upon me to pronounce; though, from what Iknow of Abdalla, as a courageous and honest man, I am fain to think,their communication could not have been of an evil nature."
"He said," muttered the treacherous Moor, "that provided he had but someone to interpret for him, he had no fear of the Mexicans; but couldpromise us much favour and wealth from their kings, by virtue ofcertain arts possessed by his son; and thereby he hinted the boy was anenchanter."
All started at this sudden announcement, and none more than Don Amadorde Leste; for though, as he had said himself, he was, in his coolermoments, very sceptical in affairs of magic, this incredulity was noconsequence either of nature or education; and besides the shock thathad been given to his doubts by the disclosures of De Morla, the storyof Jacinto, so unaccountably begun, and so abruptly terminated, had madea deeper impression on his mind, than such a trifle should.--Itsimportance had been imputed by his own feelings; but either he did notremember, or he knew not that.--He stared at Jacinto, who stood pale asdeath and trembling, now rolling his eyes wildly on Don Hernan, and nowon his patron. Before the latter could summon composure to answer, hewas relieved by the general saying, humorously--
"I cannot doubt that this little caitiff _is_ an enchanter, because hehas the faculty of exciting both admiration and pity in an eminentdegree; and, though I doubt the power of such a charm over the ears ofbarbarians that delight in the thunder of wooden drums, and the yellinguproar of sea-shell trumpets, yet I can believe, for it has been told meby good judges, that the art with which he touches his lute, is asmagical as it is marvellous."
The boy clasped his hands in delight, and seemed as if he would havethrown himself at the feet of his judge.
"Wherefore, my most worthy and honoured friend," continued Cortes, "haveno fear that I will rob thee of so serviceable a henchman. I could notburn so pretty a log in the fire that was kindled for one who had soldhis soul; and I cannot, by allowing the claims of a rival to lawfulmagic, kill my astrologer Botello with envy."
"He has a talisman round his neck, wherein is a devil, that I haveoverheard him talking to!" said the resolute Yacub.
"Thou art an ass," said Cortes, laughing at the trepidation of Jacinto;for he again turned pale, and lifted his hands to his neck, as if bothto confess and guard his treasure. "'Tis some gewgaw, given him by hismother, or, perhaps, by some sweetheart wench;--for these Moorish boysare in love when a Christian urchin is yet in his grammar.--Senor,"--headdressed himself to the neophyte,--"you may perceive that the verygrossness of Yacub's credulity has destroyed the force of his testimony;for he who can believe such a junior as this to be a conjurer, will givecredit to any other ridiculous imagination. I will now confess to you,that, be
side these charges, which are already answered, there is onlyone more circumstance against Abdalla; and that is, that at the verymoment of our halt, and while engaged in the audience with thoseambassadors, (whom I treated somewhat harshly, but for a cunningpurpose, which you will soon understand,) he vanished away, in companywith another dog of my household called Ayub; and hath not been sinceseen. Nevertheless, I attach no more importance to this matter than tothe others; but, I swear to heaven, if he be caught stealing turkeys, orany such trumpery things from these villains of Cholula, I will give himto the bastinado!"
"Senor," said Amador, earnestly, "the Sidi is of too magnanimous anature to steal turkeys."
"I will take Don Amador's word for it, then. But I see the page is stillin some mortal fright, as dreading, if he remain longer in our presence,lest some new accusation should be brought against him."
"If Jacinto be absolved from censure, and is no longer desired by yourexcellency, I will withdraw him from your presence; and, thanking you,senor, for the mildness with which you have questioned him, I will begyour permission to take my own leave."
Don Hernan bowed low, as the neophyte withdrew with Jacinto; he wavedhis hand to Yacub, and the Moor immediately retired.
"What think ye now, my masters?" he cried, as soon as these were out ofhearing;--"Is it possible this stupid cannonier hath either the wit orthe spirit to hatch me a brood of treason, to help the kites of Mexico?"
"If he have," said Sandoval, "he should hang."
"Very true, son Gonzalo," said the general; "for in our condition, to besuspected, should be a crime worthy death, especially in so contemptiblea creature as a Moor.--Didst thou observe what mortal consternationbeset our worthy and very precise friend, Don Amador, when Yacub calledhis boy a conjurer?"
"I think, that should be examined into," said Sandoval; "for if he be,'twill be well to give him to Botello, as a pupil; lest Botello shouldbe, some day, knocked on the head, as is not improbable, from his everthrusting it into jeopardy, and we be left without a diviner."
"By my conscience, 'tis well thought on," said Cortes, laughing, "forthis boy, if he had but as good a reputation, is much superior indocility, as well as shrewder in apprehension; whereas Botello hath sucha thick-head enthusiasm for his art, as to be somewhat unmanageable;and, every now and then, he prophesies me all wrong; as was the case,when he anointed the wound of De Leste's secretary, and stupidly toldhim 'twould be well in a few hours: and yet, all the camp knew, the ladwas near losing his arm."
"Botello excuses himself there," said Sandoval, "by protesting that hisinjunctions were disobeyed, especially that wherein he charged the youthnot to touch his weapon for twenty-four hours; whereas he killed a man,that very night, on the pyramid, very courageously, as Iwitnessed,--though the man was hurt before; for I had charged him withmy own partisan."
"Amigo mio," said Cortes, abruptly, "in the matter of these Moors, Imust have thine aidance. I know not how it may have entered into thebrain of such a boor, to suppose he could make himself useful to thefrowning infidels in Tenochtitlan; but I would sooner give them a deadlion than a living dog. If thou hast any very cunning and discreetrogues among thy fighting men, send them, in numbers of two and three,secretly about the city; and especially charge some that they watch atthe gate that opens to Mexico."
"I will do so," said Sandoval, "and I will myself hunt about the towntill I find the rascal.--Shall I kill him?"
"If it appear to thee he is deserting, let him be slain in the act. Asfor Ayub, if he be found in the cannonier's company, bring me him alive:I will hang him for an example; for in his death shall no intercessor beoffended. I have no doubt, that, for the boy's sake, both Don Amador andCalavar would beg for Abdalla, if he were brought a prisoner; and itwould grieve me to deny them. Kill _him_, then, my son, if thou findesthim, and art persuaded he is a deserter."
With this charge, very emphatically pronounced, and very composedlyreceived, the friends separated.